Changes for 2018?
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 92
Likes: 8
From: Central New York
This was the thread I was remembering.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ent-color.html
Not sure if it can be ordered as an accent any longer but as a solid color, it was balanced out a month or so ago according to the above thread.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ent-color.html
Not sure if it can be ordered as an accent any longer but as a solid color, it was balanced out a month or so ago according to the above thread.
I've been wondering about this as well. Post 47 in this thread contradicts that...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...r-guide-4.html
But --- the '18 F-150 build-n-price only shows stone grey for an accent choice and no sign of Caribou. Maybe on the F-150 eliminated caribou??
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 1
From: Corpus Christi, TX
The ONLY real advantage of the F450 over an F350 Dually is the much better turning radius (45 Degrees vs 39 degrees). 19.5" Alcoa wheels look amazing but are far more troublesome and expensive to get worked on, changed, find tires for, as well as get tire service for. The difference between the 2016 F450 and F350 were significant. In 2017, not so much. I LOVED my 2016 F450 Platinum vs the 2016 F350 Dually. Now, I only miss the sharper turning of the F450 (quite a bit).
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 12
The ONLY real advantage of the F450 over an F350 Dually is the much better turning radius (45 Degrees vs 39 degrees). 19.5" Alcoa wheels look amazing but are far more troublesome and expensive to get worked on, changed, find tires for, as well as get tire service for. The difference between the 2016 F450 and F350 were significant. In 2017, not so much. I LOVED my 2016 F450 Platinum vs the 2016 F350 Dually. Now, I only miss the sharper turning of the F450 (quite a bit).
Some other benefits to consider on F450 vs F350 DRW
- The 19.5 tires are thicker (less likely to get a flat) and last much longer than the LT tires on the F350. They provide superior lateral stability and also look great.
- The brake pads are 50% larger
- The brake rotors are a little larger
- The wider front stance may help some with tow stability, though I'm sure the F350 DRW is very stable like my F450.
It's hard to overstate the benefit of the turning radius on the wide-track. Nearly every time you park or back in a trailer, you'll be very glad you have it.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
Some other benefits to consider on F450 vs F350 DRW
- The 19.5 tires are thicker (less likely to get a flat) and last much longer than the LT tires on the F350. They provide superior lateral stability and also look great.
- The brake pads are 50% larger
- The brake rotors are a little larger
- The wider front stance may help some with tow stability, though I'm sure the F350 DRW is very stable like my F450.
It's hard to overstate the benefit of the turning radius on the wide-track. Nearly every time you park or back in a trailer, you'll be very glad you have it.
- The 19.5 tires are thicker (less likely to get a flat) and last much longer than the LT tires on the F350. They provide superior lateral stability and also look great.
- The brake pads are 50% larger
- The brake rotors are a little larger
- The wider front stance may help some with tow stability, though I'm sure the F350 DRW is very stable like my F450.
It's hard to overstate the benefit of the turning radius on the wide-track. Nearly every time you park or back in a trailer, you'll be very glad you have it.
Otherwise, aside from the sharper turning radius, the 450 mainly has drawbacks. Less payload capacity, more expensive to buy, worse fuel economy, no TPMS.
Would I like a sharper turning radius? You bet. But I tow trailers several times each week and I've not run into any problems getting in or out of where I need to go.
Prolocutor
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 13,618
Likes: 1,245
From: Western MA
Tyler, you should do a thread about retrofitting the wide track into your 350. I bet you'd start a trend.
I agree on the tires. If I went 450, I was going to swap out the wheels and tires for 22's and LT's.
I agree on the tires. If I went 450, I was going to swap out the wheels and tires for 22's and LT's.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
I wish I could find a Tow Boss 350 in a salvage yard with an intact front end...study it to see what the differences really were beyond fender flares and the axle...and maybe think about doing it to my truck. Would be a nice upgrade, for sure.
I'm surprised Ford offered this feature, then dropped it. Was the take rate too low on the 350 DRW?
I'm surprised Ford offered this feature, then dropped it. Was the take rate too low on the 350 DRW?
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 7
The 19.5 tires may last longer, but I don't believe there are any dedicated snow tires in this size. If you live in snow country, that is a major drawback. Sure, you can get more aggressive 19.5" tires but dedicated snow tires have a softer compound and millions of sipes which help the tire truly work well on snow and ice. I think the 19.5 wheels look terrific, but the tires are actually a drawback unless all you do is run the snow-free highways.
Otherwise, aside from the sharper turning radius, the 450 mainly has drawbacks. Less payload capacity, more expensive to buy, worse fuel economy, no TPMS.
Would I like a sharper turning radius? You bet. But I tow trailers several times each week and I've not run into any problems getting in or out of where I need to go.
Otherwise, aside from the sharper turning radius, the 450 mainly has drawbacks. Less payload capacity, more expensive to buy, worse fuel economy, no TPMS.
Would I like a sharper turning radius? You bet. But I tow trailers several times each week and I've not run into any problems getting in or out of where I need to go.
But the payload capacity is written on paper to keep these under 14000. In real life the 450 is a heavier platform.
My plans include a truck camper and towing my flat deck with my Land Cruiser. The campers weigh 4500-5000 lbs and the trailer about 11000 with supplies.
I would think this is doable with a 350 but at this point in my life I'm going big. An extra 60 bucks a tire or 1-2 mpg aren't really factors in considering this truck.
Is it overkill for hunting and chores?
You bet!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2006
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Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 10,118
Likes: 650
From: NH
True.
But the payload capacity is written on paper to keep these under 14000. In real life the 450 is a heavier platform.
My plans include a truck camper and towing my flat deck with my Land Cruiser. The campers weigh 4500-5000 lbs and the trailer about 11000 with supplies.
But the payload capacity is written on paper to keep these under 14000. In real life the 450 is a heavier platform.
My plans include a truck camper and towing my flat deck with my Land Cruiser. The campers weigh 4500-5000 lbs and the trailer about 11000 with supplies.
If you have a camper in the truck bed weighing 4500-5000lbs, you have already used all, or even exceeded, the max payload capacity of the 450. That leaves you zero ability to tow a trailer at the same time...especially if you are planning a long hitch extension which is what most of the truck campers require...that further lowers tongue weight.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 1
From: Corpus Christi, TX
It was an easy decision in 2015 for me to go with a 2016 F450. In 2017, it was a really really hard decision. My main and only regret is the turning radius, which I am working on improving!
I just left a friend shop who specializes in extreme suspension work. He looked at my front suspension, and given my tire size, feels he could easily and safely grind back the stops to allow for a 44 degree turning radius without any fear of binding the U-joints or components making contact.
Soooooo.. might be something happening soon.... a little more measuring before I jump into it.
I just left a friend shop who specializes in extreme suspension work. He looked at my front suspension, and given my tire size, feels he could easily and safely grind back the stops to allow for a 44 degree turning radius without any fear of binding the U-joints or components making contact.
Soooooo.. might be something happening soon.... a little more measuring before I jump into it.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 12
It was an easy decision in 2015 for me to go with a 2016 F450. In 2017, it was a really really hard decision. My main and only regret is the turning radius, which I am working on improving!
I just left a friend shop who specializes in extreme suspension work. He looked at my front suspension, and given my tire size, feels he could easily and safely grind back the stops to allow for a 44 degree turning radius without any fear of binding the U-joints or components making contact.
Soooooo.. might be something happening soon.... a little more measuring before I jump into it.
I just left a friend shop who specializes in extreme suspension work. He looked at my front suspension, and given my tire size, feels he could easily and safely grind back the stops to allow for a 44 degree turning radius without any fear of binding the U-joints or components making contact.
Soooooo.. might be something happening soon.... a little more measuring before I jump into it.
I confident that you could load up an F450 at least as much as an F350, even though the payload sticker shows 500# less. Those 500# of extra tire steel & rubber, stronger wheels, bigger brakes, and larger axles (debatable on that last point) make the F450 more capable than the F350, not less! The 500# lower payload is strictly a function of keeping it rated as a class 3 14k# truck.
BTW, anyone reading this forum will notice how people usually strongly favor whatever they bought. Focusing on the positive aspects of our choices and views, and downplaying the negatives is a common human error. It's called a "confirmation bias," and I'm as guilty of it as most.