Ordering an F350 in the next few days and I want your guys' input.

This is what I got so far. 4WD XLT Scab Gas SRW, 4.30 locking diff, bed delete. I will be putting a Deweze 675 bale bed on it- Appr. 2K lbs.

I've always had Chevy HD's before now and I have several questions.

(1)The limited slip adds $1K. Should I do the locker or this? I drive in a lot of slop in the wintertime.
(2)I don't see a bed delete option on Ford's build website. Have to go to their commercial cab and chassis which adds 10" to the frame length (which I don't need). Bed delete is how I ordered my Chevys. Can you do the same with Fords?
(3)Assuming I should stay away from ESOF and go with manual hubs for durability. But does that mean getting in and out of the truck as I drive from pasture to pasture? (Have to get on paved road intermittently)
(4) Have always had to add air bags on my Chevys to deal with the extra weight. Bed + 2 bales - whatever stock bed would weigh- looking at 4 to 5K lbs loaded. Any other options here or is that still the way to go? I don't want DRW because they suck ***** in the mud.

Thanks for your input.

 

I believe for the bed delete (66d) you have to order through the fleet division.

http://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/...BOX_DELETE.pdf

http://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/...-350_F-450.pdf

 

Hi Buff1, welcome to FTE!

1. Most people seem to be dissatisfied with the factory limited slip differential, but most are very satisfied with the e-locker. I really liked the e-locker in my last truck because it's controlled directly by the driver.

2. Yes you can get a truck ordered without a bed. From the 2015 Order Guide:

3. Most people with manual hubs seem to be very satisfied with the simplicity and durability of the system. I've had both and liked the ease of use of the ESOF. But you can leave the hubs locked in and switch from 2WD to 4WD by simply pulling the shift lever if you choose. The downside is that would mean the front axle and driveshaft would spin the entire time which is bad for fuel economy. Since this is a work truck I don't think you'll have an issue with that.

4. There is NO WAY I would recommend ordering a single-rear-wheel truck for 4-5,000 lbs payload. The maximum rear axle weight available on an SRW truck is 7,100 lbs. Empty they are around 3,200 lbs. Add to it the weight of your bed and a single bale and you're right at max capacity. Yes you could supplement with airbags, but you'd be over your wheel, tire, brake, and axle ratings. NOT recommended at all. You really need a DRW truck for your use at minimum, and preferably an F-450 with the beefier rear axle.

A Super Duty should do the job just fine, but make sure you get the right one. The gas engine will do a fine job with that kind of weight, but the DRW is really not optional for your use in my opinion.

 

Thank you so much for the feedback.
Tom, I'll have to look into this more with the SRW. I really need to keep that config. So I wonder how much the bed delete saves? It would include the weight of the bed, bumper, tailgate, and spare.
So fully loaded I drive 3 miles of mostly gravel road at about 35-40mph each day if that makes any difference.

Thanks again.

 

The bed only weighs a few hundred pounds, it's not as significant as you'd think with how big it is. I'd haul one bale all day long with that configuration, but there's no way you'd be within spec with two. Maybe a small trailer would make sense?

 

Hmm. OK. May have to go with DRW.

Can anybody speak about how the DRW setup does on soft ground/ mud? My neighbor tells me to stay away from it.

 

I would suggest buying it with the bed and then removing it and selling it. When my dad bought my 2004 F250 new they only gave him like a $150 credit. Just a thought if you have the space and the time.

 

Never thought of that but if that's all they give then definately. I've got all kinds of space under a roof to store it.

I will price it both ways. Thanks.

 

I have the e-lock diff in my truck and I am very happy with it.I also have the manual hubs and I like them also.I leave them locked in all winter and unlock them in the spring.it causes about .2 mpg loss.I would unlock them if I was taking a long trip and there was good road conditions

 

I would go for the limited slip myself, if i remember correct the e-locker doesnt work over a certain speed. I think it was 20mph, maybe someone will confirm that.. I had a 2000 f 350 dually with a hydra bed and got along well with it in most conditions, the worst thing was getting mud and manure in between the rear tires when backing up to a hay ring. With that being said a srw is definetly better in mud snow than a dually.

 

Hey buff1. We have a f350 dually regular chassis cab with a deweze bale bed on it and we love it. Even in the lots in the winter time it seems to do just fine with an open differential. Of course it slides around a little more than a single wheel but it doesn't sink quite as easy either. When backing up to a feeder with a bale on to drop the bale in I just get a good run at it to get through the manure pile, drop the bale in and pull right out. It has more flotation and if you're working in tight places in slippery conditions then it's probably not the best but I've never gotten stuck in lot with it. There are several times I've decided not to drive somewhere because of the potential of getting stuck, there's a lot to be said for a little caution when driving in soupy poo.

The extra length on the bed is nice for hauling two bales also. When u put the second one on it will push the first one up closer to the headache rack so you don't have to drive with one hanging over in the back. The factory springs seem to do just fine with the weight too. Doing the extended cab with the extra long bed might be getting pretty long though, it depends on what you're used to I guess.

 

I've wondered about those hydra beds. They seem to have a good reputation but I don't see many around here. My Chevy has the limited slip and I don't like the way it'll still let one wheel spin sometimes. Maybe Ford's LS works better?

Sounds like this is how I'll probably run 90% of the time as well.

I know what you're saying about the longer bed and how the 2nd bale doesn't hang off the back. Although I'm used to running the shorter 475 Deweze so I'll probably stick with that. Plus you're right, that cab and chassis ext cab would be long as a well rope.
So you guys almost have me talked into a DRW. I think I had built it up in my head as being much worse offroad than it really is. Most of the DRW trucks with a hay bed around here have a feed box as well but I have a dedicated truck for that so I don't know.

 

maybe get a detroit locker, can read all kinds of opinion sin the locker in my dd rig thread.

 

It's a dream pulling rowdy bulls with a dually too!

 

When you think about it, despite the slightly increased weight of a DRW, you have more tire contact area on the ground. This equates to less pressure per square inch, so soft ground and mud would be less of an issue.