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Why so tall?

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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 07:46 PM
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Why so tall?

I've seen a few different 17's now. Mostly gassers, but a couple of diesels. What I've noticed is they are much taller than the 16 models. Both the bed rail height and the cab height. I saw a 250 ext. cab gasser 4x4 that was as tall as the 15 F250 with a 4" lift and oversized tires parked next to it. Top of cab measured 85" (I grabbed a tape measure and checked). This was in the dealer lot and they couldn't tell me why it was so tall.

Seems like a 250 2wd is as tall as a 350 4x4 used to be. The 350 4x4 crew cab long bed srw was a good 4" higher than it's predecessor when measured at the bed rail. The block on the rear axle only looked to be around 3" or so.

Any ideas? Can it be ordered shorter?
 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 07:51 PM
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Some have put tape measures on the cab and it's 81.5 inches top of cab. It is tall and when I level the front end it will be about 83 inches tall. Tall enough to keep me out of almost all underground parking. I'm waiting to hear about bed rail heights though. 5th wheel pullers want to know. I wonder how the truck you measured showed 85 inches. That's way up there and outside Ford's published numbers.
 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 08:00 PM
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I think he is talking about the video that was just posted on youtube with the two trucks in the parking garage parked next to each other and the guy that owned the truck mentioned he had a 4" lift on it... lol
 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by EpicCowlick
Some have put tape measures on the cab and it's 81.5 inches top of cab. It is tall and when I level the front end it will be about 83 inches tall. Tall enough to keep me out of almost all underground parking. I'm waiting to hear about bed rail heights though. 5th wheel pullers want to know. I wonder how the truck you measured showed 85 inches. That's way up there and outside Ford's published numbers.
Yes it is way outside the published numbers and no one could tell me why. Different folks offered guesses ranging from this 250 has the 10k package (I asked why the 2016 10k package wasn't that tall), one said the aluminum body lightened up the weight on the springs ( I heard this same excuse at another dealer when asking about the height on the 350)

The 2 wheel drive I measured was between 80" - 81"

Originally Posted by Rutcutter
I think he is talking about the video that was just posted on youtube with the two trucks in the parking garage parked next to each other and the guy that owned the truck mentioned he had a 4" lift on it... lol
No, I'm actually talking about 2 trucks sitting on the lot at Autonation Ford in Burleson Texas if anyone wants to go by and verify. I've put a 4" lift on more than one vehicle. They're not that hard to spot. I have no idea what youtube video you're referring to.
 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by F350-6
Yes it is way outside the published numbers and no one could tell me why. Different folks offered guesses ranging from this 250 has the 10k package (I asked why the 2016 10k package wasn't that tall), one said the aluminum body lightened up the weight on the springs ( I heard this same excuse at another dealer when asking about the height on the 350)

The 2 wheel drive I measured was between 80" - 81"No, I'm actually talking about 2 trucks sitting on the lot at Autonation Ford in Burleson Texas if anyone wants to go by and verify. I've put a 4" lift on more than one vehicle. They're not that hard to spot. I have no idea what youtube video you're referring to.
Automation ford - are they 250s??
 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 08:31 PM
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Originally Posted by F350-6
one said the aluminum body lightened up the weight on the springs
Wow, that's a good one. I don't think I could have let that one lie. You are kinder than I.
 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 08:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Azuretruck
Automation ford - are they 250s??
The one in Burleson was a 250.

Originally Posted by EpicCowlick
Wow, that's a good one. I don't think I could have let that one lie. You are kinder than I.
The second guy who told me that said it was because the alumium was 300 lbs lighter and that's why it sat higher. I asked him if that meant if I put 300 lbs of cargo in the bed that the truck would sag that much to get back to the normal level.

He then started talking about how the box frame was so much stronger so I interrupted and asked if he hadn't been coached to tell folks for years how the Chevy boxed frame was prone to cracking because it wouldn't flex.

I'm not really that nice. I was just trying to stay on topic.
 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 09:04 PM
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These trucks are much taller than previous gen trucks for sure. Tailgate below my chin on 2016, above my mouth on 2017. Looking at them head on 2017 looks gigantic
 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 09:48 PM
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I stopped and looked in Buleson as well. I had the same observation. They had a white XLT parked by a lifted truck, and there wasn't much difference. I'm not a short guy, and it was hard for me to see in the bed. Don't think I'll even have to mess with a level on these. It'll be interesting to see what size tires will fit on factory height.

Is the frame taller? Is there more head room in the new cab?
 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 10:14 PM
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Last week I stopped at my dealer to check out their first '17. It was an F350 6.2. Snapped this quick photo as the bed height was the most noticeable increase to me vs my 250 2016. Reminds me of when the '99's came out and the bed was too tall for most farmers around here running a gooseneck.

 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 10:26 PM
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might be a taller frame, look how much deeper the bumper is also.
 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 10:50 PM
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Originally Posted by F350-6
I've seen a few different 17's now. Mostly gassers, but a couple of diesels. What I've noticed is they are much taller than the 16 models. Both the bed rail height and the cab height. I saw a 250 ext. cab gasser 4x4 that was as tall as the 15 F250 with a 4" lift and oversized tires parked next to it. Top of cab measured 85" (I grabbed a tape measure and checked). This was in the dealer lot and they couldn't tell me why it was so tall.

Seems like a 250 2wd is as tall as a 350 4x4 used to be. The 350 4x4 crew cab long bed srw was a good 4" higher than it's predecessor when measured at the bed rail. The block on the rear axle only looked to be around 3" or so.

Any ideas? Can it be ordered shorter?
Remember....as mentioned many times on here already...for the new 2017s, both the 250 4x4 and 350 4x4 will be the same height...same blocks....same stance...or pretty close. Years ago....250 was on 2" blocks....350 on 3 1/2 or 4' (whatever the actual measurement was). These 250s are back to beast proportions......do they make a two step retractable AMP Research step....I kid...I kid....kinda....lol
 
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Old Aug 31, 2016 | 11:48 PM
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my wife would need that step
 
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Old Sep 1, 2016 | 05:19 AM
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Does the 2016 and the 2017 superduty trucks come with the overhead air canopy? If the 2016's don't have it then that could explain why the cab is so tall like on the F-150's. As for the bed rails, Ford actually lowered the bed rail height a tad on the 2015 F-150 but made it about an inch wider.

Looking at the tail gates in the pics above, the 2016 looks to have a slightly deeper bed but the 2017 has a better rake front the rear to front.
 
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Old Sep 1, 2016 | 05:30 AM
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im acually hoping that they dont look like a 2 wheel drive truck, i have a 08 f250 that looked like a 2 wheel drive, i changed all the springs and it now looks like a truck should. its not really lifted, it just looks like a obs 350... anyone notice the wheel well spacing on the new ones? im curious if its just a taller cab vs acual suspension hight..
 
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