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First post here so wanted to say hello. Also first time owner of a Ford pick up. 2017 F-250 diesel, 4wd, crew cab. Has high capacity tow package and more stuff than I can figure out in one day of ownership. Race Red and with chrome package. More bling than I would normally go for, but seem to have gotten a good deal since it is now 2 model years old and been hanging around dealer since last October. Already have a couple things planned:
Feont and rear bumpers in black (hope to help de-bling it by removing some of the chrome)/.
Considering moving up to the CC (6,000 lb) front coil spring to level it, particularly after install of front bumper.
Front/rear sway bar upgrade.
Window tint.
OE gooseneck hitch and in-bed trailer harness.
Bed liner.
Weather tech mats.
One up size tires and maybe new wheels/rims (again, looking to de-bling the chrome).
Any input in the above would be appreciated.
A couple things I noticed today that was hoping someone could weigh in on:
Spare tire - All tires on truck are 20 inch Michelin’s with PVD package chrome wheels. Spare is a steel 18 inch Goodyear Kevlar. The Goodyear is a good tire but is it right the spare tire is smaller than the 4 on the truck and a different style wheel?
There are 2 wiring harnesses on driver side near spare tire (looks like they are secured to the bumper trailer hitch. They are pointed down and one has 6 blue caps the other 2 yellow caps. They seem pretty exposed (stuff thrown up from rear wheels). Does anyone know what these are for?
Looking forward to learning a lot from this forum and hope I am someday able to weigh in and help others.
Hello,
I checked mine and the harness that is plugged in goes from the 2 connectors into the one wire harness and goes up and over the frame and up to drivers side bed for the trailer plug-in in the bed
All the trucks get the same spare tire. It is not intend to be put in rotation, but is a spare. It is close enough in size to the 20 inch tires to get you to a shop and get the regular tire fixed.
The connectors near the bumper as states are for the in bed 7 pin connector, on trucks that have the 5th wheel/goosneck prep package, your appears not to have it.
That’s appears to be correct for trucks fitted with 18”-wheel A/T tires or larger. However, our 2017 F350 4x2 was fitted with 275/65R18E A/S tires, and the spare tire matched. I expect for our new 2019 F350 to be similarly equipped.
For the goose-neck hitch I would recommend B&W Turnoverball, one of the best hitches made, had them on my last couple trucks this one came with the factory(reese) system, seems OK but still not as beefy as the B&W
Thank you for all the feedback above. Mine did not come with the gooseneck package but do plan to install the OE wiring. So great to know that is what it is for. Thanks for that.
Im vacillating between B&W and OE gooseneck hitch. The OE looks cleaner but do realize some other brands may be better.
The different size and type spare tire and misaligned bed is just strange. Not sure why Ford does that.
The different size and type spare tire and misaligned bed is just strange. Not sure why Ford does that.
The bed alignment is just poor QA, or possibly, 'within spec'. For the spare tire, Aluminum and PVD wheels are expensive. As it is not intended to be in rotation, there is no advantage to it 'matching' the other four. It is a simple steel wheel, with a tire that is 'close enough' to the size of what was on the truck from the factory to not cause damage. Its the same with all the car manufacturers where the spare is not visible, meaning the Wrangler is probable the only major offering with 5 matching wheels.
The bed alignment is just poor QA, or possibly, 'within spec'. For the spare tire, Aluminum and PVD wheels are expensive. As it is not intended to be in rotation, there is no advantage to it 'matching' the other four. It is a simple steel wheel, with a tire that is 'close enough' to the size of what was on the truck from the factory to not cause damage. Its the same with all the car manufacturers where the spare is not visible, meaning the Wrangler is probable the only major offering with 5 matching wheels.
I could see the use of a cheaper steel wheel as a spare, and could even see a case to justify a cheaper tire. But a completely different size wheel and tire? That still seems strange to me. I’d hate to be in a situation where I’m towing a trailer and find myself in a situation where I need to change out a tire and use the spare. I’ll be looking for a 20 inch wheel and matching tire to install as a spare. Hope it fits up under the truck.
The actual size difference from 18 wheel tire combo, and the 20 inch combo, is minimal. Once is a smaller rim, and more sidewall, the other is a bigger rim, and less sidewall. The height difference, and therefore diameter is less than between the tires when new, and when ready to be replaced.
The trucks do not have a limited slip diffs (unless it's DRW), which is where different size tires would become an issue.
