A FANTASTIC write-up. Thanks. I’m the Tundra guy who started the “To Ford or Not To Ford” thread. I received some good information from the responses, along with some heat and derision. You have to accept and respect everyone’s opinions. We have towed a 9,500lb trailer with a LOADED Tundra 4x4 for three years now, and we’ve had no problems or issues. But we are ready for a new truck, tow vehicle, since we are full timers. While the Tundra has performed flawlessly, we would like more pulling power.

I found your write-up very informative and encouraging. We are from the west-southwest, so I could relate to your travels, locations and TEMPERATURES. Having lived in Tucson, Arizona for 14 summers (it was how I marked my time in the desert - # of summers ‘survived’), I have to say that you are a glutton for punishment having traveled in those areas in the summer. However, your perseverance provided exceptional real-life data. It was very encouraging. I really liked the mileage information and the temperature data.

I recently learned about the 2-1/2” hitch on the 2019’s; I believe they used a 3” on the 18’s which required two inserts to reduce to 2”, both of which Ford supplied with the truck. I asked the guy at Ford in Flagstaff yesterday about the reducing sleeve, 2-1/2” to 2”, not being supplied with the 2019’s as I’ve read herein. He told me that it DID come with the truck; my take - he really didn’t know. But I will find out. I was very interested in your comment about the “factory reducer” being sloppy. I was going to get a Ford Reducer, thinking it would fit well. Guess Not. Looks like I’ll be buying a $200 Equal-I-Zer 2-1/2” shank, which is a bummer because I own two 2” Equal-I-Zer shanks!

I test drove my first Ford F-250 Diesel yesterday, a Platinum. Quite frankly, I was very pleased. I’ve read on this forum people who think the interior of the Super Duty trucks are lacking. That was not my first takeaway opinion. I found it to be quite comfortable, for 10 minutes on a test drive, and the layout was fine. We are looking to buy a 2019 Lariat, probably with an Ultimate Package because I want the MEMORY steering column, and the only way to get that in the Lariat is with the Ultimate Package. Haven’t yet decided on a 250 or 350; however, we are leaning towards a 350 based on comments on this forum. It is undoubtedly more truck than we need, but it might be the better choice for the stiffer rear suspension with the fourth leaf spring. Also aren’t decided on a SB or LB; we only need a SB since we pull a conventional travel trailer.

I have read about possible serious defects on this site: Death Wobble, Self-Dropping Remote-Release Tailgate, Failing Adaptive Steering. Nice to hear that you haven’t experienced any of these things on your truck. At least I will know what to watch out for. I have to say that I like the Remote Release Tailgate; I can live with the potential for it to have a mind of its own.

We will continue our test drives. Got one setup in Tucson this Friday and Mesa next Monday. We are getting a feel for the truck, the options and the interior comfort. As I learned herein, the leather on the Platinum, KR and Limited Seats is much better than that in the Lariat, a fact that was obvious from our first observation. But you GET OUT YOUR WALLET for that most-likely small luxury. We are sold on the Power Running Boards, something I was not initially enamored of but was swayed by comments on this forum. I was quite surprised to find the height of 20” A/T Michelin tires on the Platinum exactly the same as 18”’Goodyear Wranglers on a Lariat - 33”. I have been under the impression that 20” tires are 2” taller than 18” tires. Live and Learn. We were choosing the 20” Michelin A/T’s for our truck for what I think will be a better highway ride since we do most of our traveling pulling the trailer on paved roads. The Wranglers look rough and aggressive, more suited for off-road adventuring.

I would very much like to hear any other information about your truck and also any comments you would make about my comments herein. Thanks again for collecting and disseminating the informative informative.

While I do appreciate your opinions on tires, I must set you straight. No one “told me” about the height of the tires that I referred to in my post. Now I’m not a contractor or framer, but I am pretty adept at using a TAPE MEASURE. I personally measured the tire heights of the tires as described yesterday in an asphalt lot at the dealership. I will admit to neglecting to stipulate the tire sizes, which were 265 20” versus 275 18”. And I will admit to knowing only enough to be dangerous about tire sizes; that information doesn’t stick in my brain for regular retrieval. And I will state that I was surprised that those two wheel/tire setups were EXACTLY the same height - 33”. I will make some more measurements as I visit dealerships in the coming weeks, and I will take notes on the types and sizes of the tires - for my own edification.

I also used my tape measure on the hitch on both 2019 F-250’s, a Lariat and a Platinum. Both were 2-1/2”, confirming what I’d read in this forum that people who recently took delivery of their 2019 Super Duty trucks discovered the hitches to be 2-1/2”. Additionally, several people have stated that Ford is no longer supplying the reducers. I don’t really care what size the hitch is; I do care to enjoy a decent fit with whatever I stick in it. Really, I don’t make this stuff up, even if I do own a Tundra, a Toyota, a Japanese car, that by the way is manufactured in TEXAS and field tested in MICHIGAN. As for the interior of a Tundra “not setting a very high bar”, I have no idea what kind of vehicle(s) you own or are experienced with. However, I find the interior on my 2014 Tundra Limited to be quite satisfying and well built. As for plastics in modern vehicles, I have no engineering or chemical background from which to base my opinions. But I do have some practical experience, being 63 years-old and having owned and driven cars and trucks for over 48 years, from when everything was metal to today when much of a vehicle is plastic. I do not find the modern plastics cheap, fragile or weak. To each his or her own opinion.

The foregoing was meant with all due respect TOVERMAN.