F250/350 bed height my Monty won't clear

[uhftx]

I just looked at the newer 2017's. The top of the bed rails are ridiculously high. My wife is 5 ft 4inches and the top of the rails were 5ft 2inches when she stood next to it.
The newer trucks will not accept my Montana without serious modifications.
Is anyone here towing with a newer Ford.
I get a x-plan discount thru Ford. I'm so disappointed and currently frustrated. I had my heart set on a aluminium body just because of the rust vs oxidation I'm currently facing.

I may have to eat the price difference and go with chevy or dodge depending on bed rail and hitch heights.

Any suggestions / opinions on an option to stick with ford, even the bed lift in height is over what I consider comfortable and forget dropping something into the bed from the Side of the truck.

I don't want to ride nose high and place more weight on the rear set of tires. With all the tire problems I have experienced, I don't want to overload the rear tandem wheels.

Thoughts and suggestions welcome.

[dieselguy]

Keep the 7.3 ... they'll run forever, Way cheaper personal property tax, cheaper insurance, little to no pollution stuff to mess with ... eventually an antique liscense plate that costs even less ... Ha! I'm with you ... see no reason the beds should be soooo tall.

[uhftx]

I would like to keep my truck but the rust from the salt and sand has taken its toll. I had to do major cosmetic patches just to get by and inspected. Then while under there The bed support brackets are almost missing on the front drivers side.

quote:Originally posted by dieselguy

Keep the 7.3 ... they'll run forever, Way cheaper personal property tax, cheaper insurance, little to no pollution stuff to mess with ... eventually an antique liscense plate that costs even less ... Ha! I'm with you ... see no reason the beds should be soooo tall.

[BB_TX]

I looked those 2017s a few days ago and agree about that ridiculous bed height. I already run just slightly nose high with my 2012 F350. If I were serious about a 2017 I would negotiate with the dealer to replace the 4" blocks on the rear axle with 2" blocks. Or even shorter if available. I did that on my previous 2007 F350 to get the trailer level. Did not affect the ride and trailer was level.

[mlh]

I measured the bed height of a F205 2017. The several I checked measured 60 to about 60.5 inches. They are about 3 to 4 inches higher than the 2016 F250. The trucks were all long bed crew cabs.
Lynwood

[uhftx]

I was fortunate to be able to compare the 2016 and 2017 models. In my opinion the 16 models fairly similar equipped 4x4 crewcab and supercab as well as regular cab.
The height difference on the Dealers lot (fairly level) was only about 2 inches estimated shorter on the 16's. Both 250's and 350's there was no bed height difference in the 3/4 vs 1 ton.
I'm going to compare the other two Chevys and Rams now that I know the Fords are out of the picture.

There suggestion was to raise the hitch and lower the pin to accommodate the truck to the trailer. Like I want to do that. How much weight will I be transfering to the rear tires on the Monty 500, 800 or maybe a thousand pounds. I don't think so. No way and I left in disgust with their responses.
Even with the bed floor so far off the ground. I could see needing a step stool just to load anything and not fall off. Can you imagine throwing something into the bed and I would have to jump 4 ft off the ground to get into the bed. I'm only 5'10 but I would have difficulty getting my butt onto the tailgate to crawl into the bed.

These height wars have to stop, and the running boards are almost knee high so getting in and out without them you would have to slide off the seat and pivot and still not reach the ground. I"m sure the 4x2's are shorter but here in New England that is not an option and down right dangerous, telephone poles will be jumping out at you driving in the snow sleet and icing conditions. Guard rails are just a big ouch but they work.

quote:Originally posted by mlh

I measured the bed height of a F205 2017. The several I checked measured 60 to about 60.5 inches. They are about 3 to 4 inches higher than the 2016 F250. The trucks were all long bed crew cabs.
Lynwood

[uhftx]

quote:Originally posted by uhftx

I was fortunate to be able to compare the 2016 and 2017 models. In my opinion the 16 models fairly similar equipped 4x4 crewcab and supercab as well as regular cab.
The height difference on the Dealers lot (fairly level) was only about 2 inches estimated shorter on the 16's. Both 250's and 350's there was no bed height difference in the 3/4 vs 1 ton.
I'm going to compare the other two Chevys and Rams now that I know the Fords are out of the picture.

There suggestion was to raise the hitch and lower the pin to accommodate the truck to the trailer. Like I want to do that. How much weight will I be transfering to the rear tires on the Monty 500, 800 or maybe a thousand pounds. I don't think so. No way and I left in disgust with their responses.
Even with the bed floor so far off the ground. I could see needing a step stool just to load anything and not fall off. Can you imagine throwing something into the bed and I would have to jump 4 ft off the ground to get into the bed. I'm only 5'10 but I would have difficulty getting my butt onto the tailgate to crawl into the bed.

These height wars have to stop, and the running boards are almost knee high so getting in and out without them you would have to slide off the seat and pivot and still not reach the ground. I"m sure the 4x2's are shorter but here in New England that is not an option and down right dangerous, telephone poles will be jumping out at you driving in the snow sleet and icing conditions. Guard rails are just a big ouch but they work.

As far as removing blocks. I did talk to them about lowering. The general manager actually went back and talked to one of (his better techs "the one I get true answers")
The response was it would change the handling and drive train. No kit is available to make it a equivalent low rider even aftermarket. So they are OFF the Purchase Option Because they have no foresight to their target market. I can't even see where a truck this lifted is convenient for contractors or DPW or landscapers. Make it usable and functiona.
l Not when sitting at traffic light to look down on the other trucks that is pointless and does not fit form / function.

[Mike117]

Guess you could order the truck with out a bed and put an after market utility bed on. My dad did this years ago because he wanted all the various compartments to store stuff in it because they full timed. This was years ago and height wasn't the issue. He factory ordered the truck and had a utility bed added after market. Just a thought and don't know if it can be done but it's an option.

[twindman]

When I went from a 2006 to 2012 Silverado, the bed went up an inch (if I remember right) and the rails another 1 or 1 1/2 inches. So my rig is about 3 inches high at the front, but seems to handle okay. Oh, I think I had to raise the hitch or lower the trailer hitch a bit also.
Maybe Ford is just finally raising the height?? If they did it 4-5 years ago also, they must REALLY think people are getting tall!!!

[FordMan1966]

I have to drive 4X2 for that reason. My driveway is steep and i need to keep the front of the Montana as low as I can so the rear will be up on Montana. My 2016 DRW works really well.

[tspoon]

I have the books on 2016 & 2017 super duty. The floor height is about the same depending on configuration. The cargo bed height is 1" more (21" vs 20"). I think the the springs on the rear of the truck sags over the years and makes a new trucks look much higher.

[1retired06]

I have had four 350 diesels over the years, , SRW and Dually, never had springs sag.

[mlh]

I think they are putting longer springs on these trucks so they will ride better when they are empty and compress more when loaded. If that is true the ride height when loaded wouldn't be the 4 inches that difference measured between the identical 2016 and the 2017 F250 long bed crew cabs. Part of that 4 inches is the extra 1 inch in the bed depth which we can't do anything about.
Lynwood

[1retired06]

quote:Originally posted by mlh

I think they are putting longer springs on these trucks so they will ride better when they are empty and compress more when loaded. If that is true the ride height when loaded wouldn't be the 4 inches that difference measured between the identical 2016 and the 2017 F250 long bed crew cabs. Part of that 4 inches is the extra 1 inch in the bed depth which we can't do anything about.
Lynwood

Good observation. My point in my comment above referred to the fact I have never had tired spring sag due to truck age as cited in a previous comment in this thread. On our 2015 dually, had rear end drop the first day when hooked up requiring me to install air bags.

[PPeppel]

I am running the 2016 F250 with 6.7. I have no issues at all. Tows great with no clearance issue using the Moyryde System Pin Box.

[Snoopy]

Just did some fact checking on the ford web sites. Their is less than .01" in bed opening height, and almost none in overall height.

Hope you weren't comparing a 4X4 with 20" wheels to a older 4X2 w 17" wheels
Snoopy

[Mudchief]

Ford has already replaced the rear springs on my truck because of spring sag.

[mlh]

I wasn't comparing 20 inch wheels to 17s. The 2017 height to the top of the tailgate on a F250 crew cab long bed is 60 inches. The tailgate height on a 2016 F250 crew cab long bed is 56 inches. I measured several trucks both 2017 and 2016 with tape measure. All I measured had either 20 or 18 inch wheels. The diameter of the 18 and 20 inch tires is the same.
Lynwood

[pkbridges77]

It's very hard for me to believe that Ford is giving up a huge market segment in fifth wheel haulers. We just drove almost 2000 miles of I-40 and saw several 2017 Super Dutys all hauling 5ers so someone is doing something to make it work.

[mlh]

I don't think you haft to worry about Ford loosing sales. If the new trucks are too high for the campers and that remains to be seen, the camper manufacturer will make their campers fit the truck.
Lynwood