I really like the improvement in the 04 F250, I hope they have all the bugs out of the 6.0L when I decide on which of the big 3 I'm gonna drive next as I have written all I can off my tax's on the 01 chevy. Don't get me wrong I haven't had a lick of trouble besides early updates on the tranny after I bought it and love the truck since I replaced the ECM to a TTS and put pressure box on it,it just flat out haul A--. but I want something different as I really don't care for the new front ends on the GM . Help me out guys.

 

It sounds like you have made your decision

What do you use your truck for?

How many people do you haul?

What do you like for options?

Where do you live?

If you answer these this will give me a good idea as to what direction to point you in.

Good Luck.

 

Well I use my HD to haul lumber, tractors etc. I just need the space of a crew cab for all my stuff,heck its my office and I can pile the crew in it. Does ford still offer the leather seats with a vinal floor?

Thanks for the welcome.

 

Alrighty now we have somewhere to start.

First off I suggest looking at the price between an F250 and an F350. For my dollar I would go with the F350 because its more truck for not much more money.

Model:

Whether it be F250 or F350 get the Lariat so you can have leather seats, this will also give you all the main options (Power Windows, Power Doorlocks, Air Conditioning, Tilt Steering, and Cruise Control)

Packages:

Go with the FX4 offroad package if you are going to be doing any offroad driving, it gives you skid plates, rancho shocks, and a steering damper. You must get limited slip with this option as well.

Camper package for heavy front suspension

A Must Options:

Reverse Sensing, it will save your bumper and tailgate more then a few times, and you can shut it off when trailer towing.

Heated Telescopic Power Trailer Towing Mirrors, these are the ultimate for trailer towing.

40/20/40 Split bench seat, you have the center console for storing stuff and have a 6th seat when need be.

6 disc in dash cd player, if you like your music then this is one of the nicest systems you will find.


What I would suggest now is to go to www.fordvehicles.com to build your ideal truck and if you have any questions then please feel free to ask.

I hope this helps.

 

GMtoFord,

I noticed that you are located in Arkansas. You may want to re-think the leather seat option. I had a Mercury with leather seats, and it wasn't so bad when I lived in the North. I moved to North Carolina and leather seats are MISERABLE in the summertime when you live in the South. They get so hot when your vehicle is sitting that you'll feel the heat right through a pair of jeans. Or just jump in when the truck has sat in the sun for a couple of hours and you're wearing shorts. Talk about 2nd degree burns!!!

I'd suggest that if you know someone who has leather seats, try it out first before you decide on that option.

 

Is it really? Ive been truck shopping recently, found one with everything I wanted, only thing it was a 350 instead of a 250 (wich I wanted). After doing some research the only difference seems to be the 350 badge and a 4" spacer block between the axle and springs (250 has 2" blocks). The axle, springs and frame are the same. Aparantly fords reasoning is it takes about another 1000lbs for the 350 to squat enough to make the trucks geometry unsafe (unlevel). Again this is from the research Ive done and may not be absolute fact.

 

Thanks guys for the replys, I wanted the durability of leather seats and vinal floors,I have vinal floors in my HD and love them but the cloth is showing signs of dirt and wear. I also would want the captain chairs up front with the console,thats what I have in the chevy and love it,so I want to go back to that config.

If the only diff. is the badge and a 4" block in the rear than im going with the 350.

 

you can get rubber floor mats from the dealer, the rear one is one big mat, which is nice. Vinyl (vinal ?) floors are hard to find on the XLT, as they are usually on the XL models 'stripped to the bone' variety... I would have loved to stay with vinyl floors but the dealers all told me it would be special order....

the sales guy told me the F350 is only different from the F250 in the 'suspension' which could mean the simple spacer block, or perhaps a bit heavier shock, they are about $800 more, so maybe nice Rancho shocks and 2" suspension kit could be had for the same price effectively making your F250 the same as a factory F350.... just a thought.....

PS I love my F250 6.0L diesel.....

 

Keep in mind that based on teh $800 difference between the F250 and F350 you are also going from 2145lbs payload in an F250, to 3235lbs payload in an F350, thats more then a pound per dollar, well worth it to me.

 

Is an additional leaf in the rear spring pack worth $800?? It didn't seem like it to me. I went with the F250. If it just the spacer then you are just throwing money at it. If you don't mind that, throw some my way. I could use it somewhere.

 

Has anyone just added the 4" block in the back? I have some 285's on my HD that I plan on swapping over so tires I'm not worried about.

 

Yep, paying your fines for being over your allowed GVWR.

Paying $800 for the additional payload is, IMHO, the single smartest thing you can do when buying a new SD. That door sticker is CRITICAL, if not to you, to the next guy when you go to sell it.

Money well spent.

Waxy

 

The $800 wouldn't be just for different springs. All else being equal, the higher GVWR likely has a thicker frame. At least with the 1970's and 1980's trucks, that's the case.

 

i like the new 2004 f-250 harley truck but how much is it going to be ! do you guy"s know ? also some of the sales guys told me ford is going to have a f-250 lightning do any of you know about that

 

F-250 lightning?? Never heard of that!