I traded in my 01 V10 for a 16 6.2 truck. Old was an F-350, the new a 250.
Hated to lose the old truck but at 217k hard miles it was starting to nickel and dime me to death. After the oil cooler failure, a blown plug, center support bearing, and every rotating piece on the front of the engine just this calender year, it still had a bad spindle bearing, wheel bearings, shocks, bushings, sagging springs, it all needed replaced. So I ponied up for something fresh.

New truck is an F-250 XL SCLB with the FX4 and power equipment. I couldn't find a 4.30 geared truck anywhere, so I'll try the 3.73s for a while. My understanding is that if a Ford dealer does the gear swap with Ford gears, they stay under warranty, so I'll be preparing for that.

I ended up going with the 6yr/125k extended warranty, since I travel so much for work, that gives me a long time of not worrying about anything but maintenance.

The dealer owes me 4 wheel centers , apparently this one got robbed for another truck while it was on the lot.

Just took a few quick pics to send the wife before I had to swap everything over. I've shopped around for about 3 months, trying to decide whether or not to pull the trigger or keep fixing the old truck,
But a laundry list of mechanical problems and always being several hundred miles from home just wasn't working. This is my first New vehicle, any advice on break-in etc.?

 

Good luck with your new truck

 

Congrats on the new ride. I love my XL 6.2. You will have a long, trouble free road ahead of you now. About the gears, if you are fine with that stock size tire height, the 4.30 won't be as critical compared to the trucks that run the tires closer to 34" tall. The stock tires on the xl 3.73 vs the lariat 20" wheel tires w/4.30 net almost the same rpm.

 

Here's a better pic, sitting beside the camper

I believe I may have the rear blocks swapped out for some F-350 versions, if they still have the taller blocks than 250s. I'm afraid it sits too level unloaded, how much do these new trucks squat with a big load on the back?

 

Nice, I had a 6.2 with NO problems..

 

That's a nice truck! When is a heavy duty bumper like on the old truck coming to the new truck?

 

The new truck looks nice. It is much nicer to drive around in a new vehicle worry free of issues. I think the only break in was no towing for the first 1000 miles and avoid running at a constant speed.
How much do you tow? My 6.2L with 20" wheels & 373 gears tows well.

 

I don't think I'll go with another ranch hand. That one was on the 01 when I purchased it back in 2010. It did save the front clip a time or two from suicidal deer, but I think I want a simple winch mount similar to the Westin Max bull bar/mount. Throw in one of those Warns with the OBA, may take a while to get the funds for that, though

Now I'm just towing a 34' travel trailer, about 6700 empty, but with all my work tools, clothes, etc I've estimated it 8-8.5k lbs. I used the old F-350 to pull an off-road beater or a tractor/loader on a gooseneck, but sold those recently. Joined the IBEW as a lineman a year ago, so after 9 yrs of paid lodging and home on the weekends but barely any $ and benefits, now I'm all over the country and hauling my hotel behind me.

That old V10 has hauled everything though, JLG's, a load of power poles that had to weigh far beyond it's ratings. I'm going to miss that truck, but the cost of getting back to a dependable condition was so much higher than it's value, it just made more sense to move on

 

Congrats on the new truck. The new ones like to squat under load. Not sure how much hitch weight you're going to run with, but this shot is with 2500 lbs on the hitch, stock suspension:





Here's the same 2500 lbs pin weight with Firestone airbags:





I would just plan on getting airbags now.

 

I have a WD hitch for the camer, I would expect that to help with the sag, the hitch weight on my TT is 765lbs unloaded, I normally don't have much inside the front storage compartment, but probably another 100-150lbs. I do carry a lot in the bed of the truck when I move the trailer.

I would really hope a 2016 would handle that load as well or better than my old 2001. That truck had a very aggressive rake, partly due to the ranch hand in front I assume, but the TT and all I carry wouldn't even level it out. The only 2 loads I ever had squat that truck down past level was my friend's broke down z71 on my gooseneck, and when I filled the 8' bed up to the rails with crush & run gravel.

 

350 blocks and airbags👍🏻 OR...
6" lift and airbags OR....

Just airbags....

So many choices. Nice truck

 

Nice looking truck. The new truck will squat more than the old one, Ford started putting softer springs on the super duties in 2011 to please the people who think a heavy duty truck should ride like a 1/2ton. I'd plan on getting some airbags or maybe a set of Timbren SES.

 

Mine squats more than I expected it to. I thought it was because I have the snow plow prep package. It handles the load just fine.

 

Another question or two for you guys who have bought trucks brand new and/or dealt with having a warranty.

I'm approaching 1k miles on the truck now, I had an oil change scheduled for yesterday, but was offered some weekend work, and couldn't turn down the OT, ended up putting some more miles on today, wife and girls are visiting me in FL at work so I took them to the beach today.

The folks at the dealer thought I was insane for wanting to do an oil change so early, maybe I am, but I still intend on getting it done asap.

My question is, how many of you are doing your own maintenance on new vehicles in warranty? Such as oil changes, transmission fluid, fuel filters etc etc. What do you do for a maintenance log? I've never bothered keeping receipts except for expensive parts for repairs. On the old V10 I always knew the mileage and was also adding oil so often I would just change it out when it started getting dark, which was around 2k.

I would prefer to do the simple things myself when possible, right now it's not due to being so far from home for an extended time, so I'm planning to get a small folder to keep in the truck to keep records of anything done to the truck.

Would it be best to just use dealerships during the warranty? I haven't found any quick lube places around where I am staying that stock MC oil and filters, they don't want to use customer provided products either.

What do you guys do? And what would be acceptable proof for DIY maintenance?

 

I've just been using the dealer. With the Ford customer awards program & periodic coupons from the dealer, I can get the works done for about $40.