Why do we need a stronger frame?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 113
Likes: 6
From: Pacific Northwest
Why do we need a stronger frame?
Serious question here and maybe someone that's an extreme truck user has an answer, but Ford is touting a frame that is 24x stronger (or something to that effect) of the previous version. What real world benefit is that when, apparently, the old frame was strong enough to tow/haul loads far in excess of the truck's rating? This frame has been around for 18 model years and I've never heard of a failure. Is this just hype that doesn't really matter?
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I don't agree that it's all hype.
Most people who compare the Super Duty to the Silverado HD will admit the ride and handling are much better in the Chevy. Lots of reasons for that, but not having as much frame shimmy makes quite a difference.
I think it's about time that we've caught up to the competition in this area. Shame it took so long!
Most people who compare the Super Duty to the Silverado HD will admit the ride and handling are much better in the Chevy. Lots of reasons for that, but not having as much frame shimmy makes quite a difference.
I think it's about time that we've caught up to the competition in this area. Shame it took so long!
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 515
From: WNY
I don't agree that it's all hype.
Most people who compare the Super Duty to the Silverado HD will admit the ride and handling are much better in the Chevy. Lots of reasons for that, but not having as much frame shimmy makes quite a difference.
I think it's about time that we've caught up to the competition in this area. Shame it took so long!
Most people who compare the Super Duty to the Silverado HD will admit the ride and handling are much better in the Chevy. Lots of reasons for that, but not having as much frame shimmy makes quite a difference.
I think it's about time that we've caught up to the competition in this area. Shame it took so long!
I just bought a 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 to plow with, and the ride is far, far superior to my last 2500hd.
The suspension components look the same, but the ride is incredible for a truck with a front gvwr of 6200 lbs.
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Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,019
Likes: 1,518
From: Maine, Virginia
The tailgate damage video was a jig built by GM to force the Ford to buckle under a certain angle of approach. I highly doubt that any really buckled in the wild.
IMHO, Ford did more to harm their own rep with questionable engines over the term of the superduty lifespan.
Lots of PO'd F-150 guys for the same reasons, engines.
IMHO, Ford did more to harm their own rep with questionable engines over the term of the superduty lifespan.
Lots of PO'd F-150 guys for the same reasons, engines.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 198
I work for a big fleet, and we have large numbers of late model Silverado 2500HD's and Super Duty F-250's. Our drivers all say the Chevy's ride and handle better than the Fords, and feel more stable when loaded. I think it is due to the stiffness of the GM boxed frame. That having been said, we have never had any frame issues with the Fords that I know of.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
To be fair, I've never heard of anyone bending or breaking the frame of their Super Duty. I think it's a ride, handling, and NVH thing more than anything capability related.
Road tractors use open C-channel frames. And they twist, shimmy, and shake far more than any light duty truck I've ever seen. Sure they're strong enough to haul lots of weight, but they certainly don't do it gracefully.
Road tractors use open C-channel frames. And they twist, shimmy, and shake far more than any light duty truck I've ever seen. Sure they're strong enough to haul lots of weight, but they certainly don't do it gracefully.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 6
From: Massachusetts
I had to park my truck in a severe twist ditch a couple of days this last week. The cab and bed twisted about 1/4 of an inch and the tailgate opened fine. In my 30 years of working construction I never heard of a ford owner say "Help I'm in a twist ditch and can't open my tailgate"
I would be worried if I had a fully boxed frame about the frame rusting out. Especially here the northeast. With mostly a c-channel configured frame on my 2015 f350 I can wash salt and sand off the inside of the frame and coat it with fluid film.
I'm happy with the ride and handling of my truck!
I would be worried if I had a fully boxed frame about the frame rusting out. Especially here the northeast. With mostly a c-channel configured frame on my 2015 f350 I can wash salt and sand off the inside of the frame and coat it with fluid film.
I'm happy with the ride and handling of my truck!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
Us in the rust belt wonder if they did the salt test on the frame. Salt gets in everywhere, unless sealed very well. We rate the salt by the leftover salt when spring comes. We have white roads until a large rain washes it off.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
My 1997 Lincoln Town Car has a fully boxed frame, and it's in fine shape. Bought it in Ware, MA, and the CARFAX shows it's lived in MA and NY its entire life until I moved it to Minnesota. It has 176,000 miles at the moment, and frame rust is about the least likely thing to put it in the grave.
I haven't been underneath a vehicle that didn't have a fully boxed frame up front, and with rare exception frames don't seem to rust out. I've been wrong before, and I'm sure I'll be wrong again. Can you or someone else point me to the myriad rusted out front frames in Super Duties?
