Although I don't think Ford should "force" a sunroof on anyone, it's a shame because the new sunroof is *awesome.* Really is a gigantic piece of glass and the actual opening area is very large. The sunshade is solid, not mesh, and does a fine job keeping the sun and heat out. The whole mechanism seems quite solid, and I expect years of reliability.

I don't like sunlight blasting in during sunny days, but on a cloudy day, evening and night it is fantastic.

BUT...you should be able to get the LEDs without it.

And adapter will almost certainly be necessary. There are no front parking lights on the LED equipped trucks and there are on the halogen trucks.

Keep in mind if you buy the LED headlights, you're missing out on the equally awesome LED taillights. These are big and have the red LED stripe going around the entire perimeter. They also include LED backup lights, turn signals, and of course the license plate lamps are LED too...

 

Here is a paragraph from the letter I wrote to the Director of Consumer Affairs (Ford). Since I have not heard back from them regarding the failure to produce vehicles for the earliest orders I will probably put the whole letter up in a few days. Kind of a "Rasalas Leaks."


"And while I am explaining my position why is it I ask, that in order to take advantage of the latest technology in LED headlights, a safety factor for sure, only the buyers of the highest end vehicles are eligible? I do not want to be forced into a full crew cab nor do I want to be forced into a $4000 dollar package with a glass roof I do not want for the privilege of then buying a safety oriented technology. This is wrong."

 

I'm not so sure I fully agree, Rob...I've seen the standard halogen lit trucks now, and they do pretty well. The halogens are a big upgrade over previous Super Duty trucks...they really are quad beam halogen, with 4 beams on during high-beam operation. Brighter than the new F-150 halogen headlamps. Otherwise, from a visibility to other driver's perspective...the LED lights are brighter...but even on a halogen truck...you can still get LED cab and mirror clearance lamps, mirror turn signal repeaters, LED 3rd brake lamp, and LED dually clearance lamps if ordered in DRW config.

I think the LED package has a lot to do with appearance and a little to do with safety. Just like you pay more to have a truck with fancier wheels, fancier grille, fancier paint...you pay more for the fancier lighting.

The best argument to make is the competition: GM is offering standard LED day running lamps and standard HID or LED lighting on every 1500 truck they sell, even a W/T trim truck with steel rims. Note, however, that GM only includes rear LED taillights, etc on their high end trucks. (It is nowhere near as nice as the new Ford lighting). They also do not offer 3rd brake light in LED regardless of trim, far as I know.

 

I understand exactly what you are saying and I have no qualms with your argument. The primary goal of the communication was about the production scheduling debacle but while I had their ear I included a couple of other things such as the LED lighting. Safety is always a hot button with manufacturers and hence that reference. The biggest gripe is still the several parameters which must be met in order to have the ability to order a very expensive option. Even Kia has LED's now and if they were still here I presume Yugo would as well.

 

Yep, I agree. What bugs me the most is how a lowly Corolla has standard LED headlights. Ford has LED headlights standard on the Explorer. Yet, on a pickup truck costing much, much more...you have to pay quite the premium to get it.

From a Lariat-level truck, which I consider a luxury truck, you have to spend the following to get LED lights - not just the cost of the lights package themselves, but the Ultimate and BLIS as eligibility prerequisites:

Lariat Ultimate Package: $4280
BLIS: $540
Quad-Beam LED Headlamps: $1080

Total you must add to Lariat pickup for LED headlights: $5,900.

The only caveats are that one, the Super Duty LED lighting is excellent. The Explorer and Corolla and the like are only low beams only. That money in the truck literally makes every single exterior light an LED. LED turn signals, tail lights, reverse lamps, etc...are quite expensive. Some LED lamps are also more expensive and better looking than others. For example, certain Toyota Tacoma pickups up to 2014 had LED tail / brake lights. These were the cheap small dot LED's and the overall area was very small. The Ford tail lamps are huge and remarkably bright. The Ford DRL C-clamps are on par with Audi. There are 4 individual high-cost LED lighting elements.

All Super Duty's use 100% interior LED lighting...except for the illuminated vanity mirrors are still incandescent.

The other caveat is that while you pay all that extra money...its not just going towards the lights. It gives you a ton of other nice luxury.

 

The big issue for me is being forced into a CrewCab.

 

I'm just going to wait for the aftermarket to catch up.... There will be LED replacements...
Heck, I still have a new set of Fan-Cooled LED replacements for the halogens on my 2015 that may work...

 

Have you guys heard of
4x4TruckLEDs.com

He has come up with a very nice LED optionfor the 15/16 F150s and I am sure he would be able to create one for the 17 Superduty.

 

Yeah, that will add even more to the cost.

I would have no interest in aftermarkets, no matter how good. Just doesn't seem the same. Of course, that's just me.

 

At least on the f150, you can get the leds on a supercab and i think you can get them by themselves without paying thousands for other stuff you dont want.
If your luck is anything like mine, you will spend the money and time getting the leds added on after the fact, only to find out that next year they will come standard on all trim levels.

 

Right on brother. I had an offer to work with one of the aftermarket lamp suppliers to help build a system for the new truck at half price for the cost of a few pictures and a write up. No thanks. Bad headlight in Oklahoma when I live in NY is not it the cards. OEM or no thanks.

 

Yeah - for those of us that want nothing to do with a leaky-@zz moon roof that just reduces our head clearance, it just looks like we are screwed.
I've had two other trucks from Ford with Moon roofs and they both leaked eventually. In all fairness so did the moon roofs on two of the generals trucks I owned. I am not going there again....
Yes if there is a good OEM solution to this, I will pay extra for it - but I don't believe that solution is worth more than $1,000 complete.
I will, instead, purchase and install multiple LED driving lights that I control manually. Although I would have preferred something tastefully integrated into the truck.
If a proven aftermarket solution comes up - I will look into it at that time...

 

I'm now leaning towards waiting to see what the 2018's offer.

 

You do realize that you can get the LEDs without the moon roof on the King Ranch or Platinum, right?

 

As of right now, our only option is to buy the led whole assemblies from ford for around $1800 to $2300, depending on your dealer. then another $350 - $400 for conversion harness. That is what the harness cost for the f150, not sure if it will work on the SD or not, but im sure they will have one out eventually if it doesnt. So your looking at around $2500, when all they had to do was offer it as a $1000 option like they are on the higher trim models and/or the f150. Just another way for them to rake in more money.
To add insult to injury, now you see base level gm work trucks running around now with standard led running lights. And ford wont even let you have them for under $65000