Update: installed Firestones ride rite air bags (5000# capacity) pumped them up to 45# in 10# increments from 5#. The shuddering deminished with each additional increment. It is about 80% gone. At 45#, loaded with the Montana, the truck is now about an inch above level. The dealer discovered a bulletin dealing with this issue. They are suppose to replace the drive shaft & carrier bearing this week. No other problems with shuddering to 75 MPH after getting out of 2nd. gear.
Update will follow after drive shaft is replaced.

 

Update: Drive shaft (2 piece) & carrier bearing assembly was replaced as an assembled unit from Ford. The shuddering was completely eliminated. I dropped the air pressure to zero and tested it at 0,7,15 & 40#'s. The air bags really improve the smoothness of the overall ride with the camper & empty. Am running the truck at 7# empty. The new drive shaft seems a little smaller in diameter, the carrier bearing looks smaller and the rubber support ring is much stiffer. I still have a touch of vibration at the speeds that were experiencing the shuddering. But it is such a little bit I think it may be my inexperience with a diesel engine. The dealership said to bring it in loaded and they would be glad to check it out. May take them up on it. Anyone out there with a similar experience?

I overlooked in my first post that the truck was a 4 x 4 also.

 

Let me know if you decide to head in to your dealership, Oldetimer; I'll be happy to loop in your regional customer service manager. All I'll need from you is a PM with your full name, best daytime phone number, VIN, mileage, and servicing dealership.

Crystal

 

Update: Just took a drive with the dealership manager and we agree the shudder problem is gone. The small amount of vibration I was experiencing
we believe is normal. I may be a little paranoid due to the experience with
the shuddering with the original drive shaft which was very discouraging. In order pick up the vibration we had to initiate a hard acceleration, which was a lot more than needed for normal navigation. The HP available from the 6.7 diesel allowed us to start and stop on a hill normally without inducing the vibration. If we pushed it hard we could pick up a little vibration.

 

Update: We now have 7,400 miles on the 2014 F-250 4x4 Diesel Long Bed
Crew Cab. We only have one trip on it pulling the Montana. We pulled it to
Florida, 800 miles over 2 days. The shuddering problem is 99% gone, at the present time I believe the 1% is not detrimental to the drive train etc.
When we first start out it is 100% gone, after we are on the road about 2 hours you can begin to pick up the 1% only in 1st. gear. We traveled 400 miles the first day from Culloden, W. Va. to Columbia, SC. Plenty of hills, stops & starts, Interstate speeds to 85 mph & etc. Since we are 70 somethings we take our time (rest tops ever 2 hrs. & top off the tank even though it doesn't need it) averaged 12.2 mpg all things considered . We are happy with the F 250 for our set up now. Extra happy with the 400 HP, it is very snappy at 75 mph pulling Montana at 12,000# plus. Power wise it does give you the feeling you can't tell the Montana is back there. Sorry for the late update. Having more problems with pinched nerves in my lumbar area than truck problems. By the way, the ride for my back was so comfortable driving was not a problem for the 2 days of traveling. Just had 3 Epidural injection in the lumbar area.

 

Great report for the truck...painful for the back.


What kind of tires are on the Montana? I hope they are LT tires for those speeds you indicated.

 

Thank you for the reply. The tires are new Goodyear ST 235/80 R 16's. We ran them at 80# cold, after 150 miles, 65 degree day the pressure came up to 88#. The actual weight for the Montana (2006) on the scales was 11,300 pounds ready to roll for the trip.
My traveling buddy was ahead of us on the trip down and he blew a tire on
his Montana 2011, 15,000# and he had the same tire size. BUT he was running 65# cold. We did not have an infared temperature gun so I don't know how hot his tire was. He got it off the road in less than 30 seconds from the blow out time. I had too really clamp the brakes to keep from rear ending him. The first thing I checked was the temps. on his other tires by hand feel and then compared them to mine. There was a significant difference between 65# temps.on his and the 80# temps. on my Montana. Needless to say when Good Sam showed up to change his tire they pumped up the other tires to 80+.
Just finished up on the 3rd epidural shot yesterday, for now the back is 110% and the nurse said don't get too frisky.

Any recommendation? On the Montana, not the back.

 

ST tires should always be aired to 80 psi. Speed should never go over 65 mph.


I think you are very lucky to have not blow more tires.


LT tires is a different matter.

 

After the experience we went thru we have decided to limit top MPH to 65 (it so easy to go with the flow of traffic with the 400 HP) and we both purchased IR guns to check tire temps. every time we stop on the road.

We have been told (after our incident) that LT's were better, then we talked to the tire shop and they said if we went to the LT there would be no road hazard or mileage guarantee . Primarily due to curbing situations are much more likely while trailering. They suggested we step up to load range G I think. The ST's were E. I believe the tire shop told us there was not much of a guarantee on trailer tires anyway?? Our incident happened the last week of Oct. 2014 and my over exposed photographic memory doesn't recall the trailer tire details.