I'm on the verge of trading my 1999 Light Duty F250 SC for a Super-Duty F250 Crew Cab.
I've stuggled with the Diesel vs. Gas equation, and since I want a 2002 model for the incentives I will end up with the diesel. That's a sledgehammer for a a flyswatter for me but I like the truck. The most I forsee towing is a 2 bike enclosed MC trailer and then only a few times a year. Mostly, I'll just be driving to work. While I think the 5.4 would have been fine for my needs, that set up is nearly impossible to find in this area. Therefore I think this issue is settled and it will be diesel.
My current delimma is with the split bench vs. captains chairs. I like the look of the CC's and the fact they are both power, but the seat seems narrow (I'm not THAT fat) and the armrests being narrow tend to cut off the circulation after a while.
The bench seems really well designed, potentially more comfortable with the added benefit of being able to add a 3rd front seat passenger if needed. The only down side I see is less storage area.
What do folks think? Is the split bench the way to go?
I had the split bench in my '99 F150 and also have it in my '00 Superduty. I would not have bought a truck with the bucket seats- the bench is much more verstile. Plus, I prefer cloth to leather- it's just too hot here in the summer for cow skin.
-V10gunner
'00 SD F250 Super Cab XLT, 4X2, 142"WB, 6.8L V10, 4R100, 4.30LS, LT265 tire upgrade, Camper Package, Dark Toreador Red over Silver, Line-X, Husky mud flaps, Snugtop Xtra Vision Cab-high shell, AutoMeter Tranny Temp Gauge, Banks Stinger and TransCommand
If I could do it again (Umm...I probably will soon I'm shoppin' now. SHHHH. Don't tell Mrs. Monsta!) My next Excursion or SD CC will have a 40/20/40 front seat. To heck with the storage. It is so deep that half the stuff at the bottom you forgot was down there anyway...
__________________ Ken
97 Ranger XLT 4x4 with a FlipPac on back!
I like big trucks as much as the next guy but a Diesel F250 Supercab for commuting to work seems like a strange choice. Is there something else you're planning to use it for?
I rarely tow, but I still have the PSD for the mileage and I commute 43 miles every day. As for the seats, I just found out that I have sciatica sp? or inflamation of my sciatic nerve near my hip. I have the 6sp and it seems that the split bench seats have aggravated my condition as those seats are too wide for my skinny little butt/back. The bottom line (pun intended) is that there isn't enough lumbar support in the split bench, but the captains chairs have more support and in my humble opinion much more comfortable. In hindsight, I wish I had gotten the captains chairs...
OK. I am gonna have to go against the norm here and stick up for the captain's chairs. I think they are way more comfortable and supportive. Plus they look cool. They got the whole cowboy cadillac thing going! Not too mention the heated seats sure feel nice on those cold winter mornings we get here in CT. Plus the larger center console can hold more beer. And if you don't like the armrests you can always fold them up.
I know some of you guys on here have spoke of your "large" women so in those cases maybe you might need to go with the bench seat so you can accomidate them easier. Or you can buy a Crew Cab and throw them in back.
Just my .02 cents,
Rich
2002 F-350 Crew Cab Lariat Short Bed 4x4, V10, 4:30 LS, Black w/ Med. Parchment Leather, Off-Road Pkg, Snow Plow Prep pkg, Heated Captain's Chairs, Towing Pkg, Privacy Glass, Rear Sliding Window, Power Telescopic Trailer Tow Mirrors, Auto Shift-On-The-Fly, Fog Lamps
Mods: Westin Nerf Bars, Front Side Windows Tinted, Bed-Liner, Tonneau Bed Cover, 16x10 Mickey Thompson Classic II Rims (not installed yet)
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Jul-02 AT 04:43 PM (EST)]>I like big trucks as much as the next guy but a Diesel F250
>Supercab for commuting to work seems like a strange choice.
>Is there something else you're planning to use it for?
>
>rplett
I agree but ya' see it's a slippery slope. A F150 SCREW would probably be fine for my use 95% of the time, but my wife says there is hardly any more room in the back seat of a 150 SCREW than my extended cab. Since she knows she'll end up riding back there sometimes she pulled out her VETO.
So, then I think, what if I got an F250 with the 5.4? Hardly any difference in price compared to a comparable 150 SCREW, I only occasionally pull a trailer, and when I do it's probably only 3000 lbs or so, so why not.
So with that in my head, I get my heart set on a F250, but I can't find any Crew Cab Lariat's with the 5.4. In fact, I've only seen one in this area with the V10. Diesel? What color ya' want, we got dozens of them.
So that is how you end up where I am.
Besides driving to work, my truck is used to haul the trash on weekends(we don't have pick up) and to push a light duty snowplow 3-4 times a year. The plowing is just my driveway and a couple of neighbor's depending on my mood.
On dealer close by has two trucks with every thing I want on them, one with the bench one with the CC's. The one with the bench is my first color choice but the one with CC's is nice too.
First the seats. I vote for the 40/20/40 split bench HANDS DOWN. It is far more convenient and functional, especially if you hunt, fish or are active outdoors. I have the heated seats in my XLT. They are available in the bench, and in cloth, I ordered it, so it might be hard to find, btu they are available. They are nice in the cold Canadian winters. I've found that the CC may be slightly more comfortable, but you're not getting an old fashioned bench, it' basically CC's with a fold down seat in between rather that a large, relatively useless space. Anything from around town to 8 hour road trips I find the seats quite comforatble.
Now, as far as the Superduty vs. F150
I went Superduty for a number of reasons, not the least was that I was able to buy it at fleet rate, which made the cost differnce between the two a non issue.
Two, RESALE. Around these parts they are starting to get real sticky about GVW and max tow ratings, which is why I went 350 rather than 250, and why the Superduties, especially the Crew Cabs, are in high demand.
Three, they are OVERBUILT for my purposes, so by my reasoning, if treated right, the truck should last me a lifetime. I've seen too many transmissions and diffs fall out of half tons as soon as they are being worked near their limits. If you use the truck for anything other than car like activity, aka anything you couldn't do with a car, on a regular basis, the Superduty will simply do it better and with more staying power. I abuse my truck pretty hard during hunting season each fall, fishing in the spring, and towing snowmobile trailers in the winter, I'd guess this only makes up maybe 15-20% of my driving, but that's the percent that'll do a 1/2 ton in.
Four, interior room, the crew cabs are cavernous, there's more interior room than the average SUV. Six people can ride in relative comfort.
Five, well four is illogical, but I just plain like the look of the Superduties better. I never really cared for the look of the F150's, but I love the Superduty look.
HiPower, Purchased a f-250 CrewCab 4x4 -v-10, w/ bench leather, 3:73 Reg, tow pack.offroad, gray.....bench is good feel to it ,i know u can get extra goodies w/ the Captins Chairs but i'm very satisfied and all i carry is my lunch box...
I agree with Waxy. I think the 40/20/40 is more comfortable especially since I raised my armrest about 1 1/2 inches when I built my console. I feel that captains chairs are too confining, particularly, when you have bulky clothes on such as cold weather, hunting gear.
As far as having a Superduty goes, he also hit the mark here. I feel it not only looks tougher, it is tougher. It will definately hold better resale value, because it will last longer.
I would definately get atleast the V-10 though. While the 5.4 may do the job, the V-10 will do it with less work. That makes the engine last longer, and better milage under load.
Bluehawk
http://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=4318&.jpg
F-250 SD XLT CC 4x4 Shortbed; MAAP nerf bars, Rally/Lightbar combo, PIAA 1300 driving lights, Lund bugshield, Lund SunVisor, tinted windows, K&N airfilter, Access tonneau cover, Rhino Liner, remote starter/security system, custom built console, Cobra 29 ST/WX CB with a Wilson 1000 magnet mount antenna, Realistic 500 channel police scanner, Kenwood 10 disk CD changer, Compaq laptop, SVP 100 Watt siren, and 24 Strobe lights.
Upgrades for the near future include: Warn Rio Grande pushbar with a 12,000# winch, 4" lift kit, fender flares, and 35" BF Goodrich T/A KO tires.
I have a 00 Superduty Crew with the 5.4 and split bench. I have the exact same driving conditions as you.........can't really justify the truck but since I have the testosterone, money and I'm not a tree hugger I still have the truck.
If fuel economy is any consideration then stay away from the v10. The 5.4 will do whatever you need on occassion, and you will not even notice the enclosed bike trailer. I also toyed with the idea of going diesel but could not justify the option cost basically just to sound bigger badder etc.
My usual load is a large tent trailer and a quad in the bed and the remaining spaces jambed with whatever I can fit in. The truck still drives fine and fuel economy still seems reasonable.
I particularly like the split bench because with the center rest folded down you are left with a nice sized kitchen table, work bench,etc.
I don't know what kind of mileage superbent250 gets with the 5.4, but I think his comment about fuel economy is misleading. On my last trip I got 18mpg hwy and I usually get 12-13mpg around town. I'm far from light footed around town, and was averaging around 75mph on the hwy trip. See my set up in my signature.
My brother has a 99 F250 Superduty SC 4x4 with the 5.4 and 4.10's, his mileage is rarely better than mine, usually worse if he's loaded or towing.
As for power, I can't comment on the 2000 and newer 5.4s, but comparing my V10 to his 5.4 is ridiculous. More than worth the small trade off in mileage as far as I'm concerned.
Regardless of the 5.4L's ability to meet my needs, the only crew cab Lariat with that engine I've found in over a month of looking was sold before I could get up to test drive it.
I found one V10 in my favorite color and equipped as I would like but it was traded out to another dealer, again before I got a chance to drive it.
That left a choice between 2 crew cab Lariats with the diesel. I decided to suck it up and put a deposit on the one with the bench seat. Not sure about previous models but the 40/20/40 bench in the 2002 seems to give you the exact same seat bottom and back as the captains chairs, just with a padded seat in place of the console.
My new truck is Dark Shadow Gray with Black lower accents, medium flint leather interior 7.3L Diesel. I can't wait to pick it up tommorow.
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I'm shoppin' now. SHHHH. Don't tell Mrs. Monsta!) My next Excursion or SD CC will have a 40/20/40 front seat. To heck with the storage. It is so deep that half the stuff at the bottom you forgot was down there anyway...
I think the 40/20/40 is more comfortable especially since I raised my armrest about 1 1/2 inches when I built my console. I feel that captains chairs are too confining, particularly, when you have bulky clothes on such as cold weather, hunting gear.
I feel it not only looks tougher, it is tougher. It will definately hold better resale value, because it will last longer. 
