So my F250 has the dual piston front calipers. It's my understanding that most 16" wheels will not fit over the caliper, (I say most because my 16" steel wheels fit). I would eventually like to put some nicer wheels on my truck and have been struggling to find something I like. I have been thinking about upgrading to a 17" wheel because I shouldn't have an issue with fitment, and a lot of newer trucks come factory with that size, which means I should have plenty of tire options. However, whenever I search for 8x6.5 17" wheels all I find are ugly (IMHO) newer style wheels with the "bead lock" look and are just too flashy. It seems all these wheels are all marketed for newer 4x4 trucks with low profile mud tires (stupid and useless), and I just hate them. I do like the look of some factory wheels, and have thought about getting some newer dodge wheels, either aluminum, or steel, if I can find blank center caps, (no rams head). What are your all's thoughts on this? Have any of you done this, or found any other tasteful wheels that will fit over the dual calipers on a Camper Special? Since my truck is 2WD, I don't want too much of an "Off Road" style wheel. I also really like the factory Alcoa wheels used on mid 90's F250 and F350 trucks. I believe those are 16's. Does anybody know if they'll fit over the brakes? I would hate to buy a set just to find out they don't fit. I just want something that looks clean and doesn't clash with the truck. Thanks in advance for any advise you all can give.

 

Beginning in 1999, F250/350 wheels are metric.

Any 16" 8 lug on a 6.50" bolt circle wheel from a 1968/96 F250/350; 1969/74 E300; 1975/2014 E250/350, 1997 F250 H/D & F350 will fit.

 

Cool. I was under the assumption that the Camper Special's larger dual piston brake caliper was hard to fit a 16" wheel on. If that's not the case, then that will certainly open up more options.

 

There was nothing larger about the brakes. A 16" wheel with the proper backspace fits just fine.

 

Optional dual piston caliper disc brakes were not exclusive to Camper Specials.

Dual piston caliper disc brakes were optional on all 1968/72 F250 2WD & F350.

1966/72: F250 Camper Specials and F250 2WD's with a 7,500 lbs. GVWR have 12" x 2 1/2" rear brakes.

With optional disc brakes, the F250 rear brakes are 12" x 2 1/2."

 

So just to give you all an idea why I was thinking 16’s, wouldn’t fit, here is a quote from a thread in the Fordification forum where I first read about the Issue.

“The truck I'm driving, a 1969 f250 Custom Cab with the Camper Special option package, has gianormous, twin piston calipers for the front disk brakes. I don't have the exact dimension at hand, but these calipers are HUGE! With stock wheels, there is perhaps 1/4 inch of clearance between the inner part of the wheel, and the top and bottom of these calipers.

The fella up there saying he's put later model sixteen inch Ford-lug-pattern wheels on his truck, obviously has drum front brakes, half-ton front running gear, or some other different set up than I have. I've had dozens of sixteen inch wheels on this truck at this point, and not a one has cleared the brake caliper. Can't even mount the wheel in most cases.”

It is a relief to learn that this is false.
I would still love some suggestions on different wheels, (16’s or 17’s) for these trucks. Thanks.

 

Disc brakes became standard equipment on F250 2WD's and F350's in 1973. There were TWO types:

Single piston and dual piston calipers, it depended on the GVWR which type was installed. Camper Specials had dual pistons.

Disc brakes for F100/250 4WD's introduced in 1976.

1967/72 F250 & F350 used the same wheels, 1968/72's with disc brakes made no difference.

 

 

 

Dodge has some pretty nice factory wheels that I wouldn’t mind using. Plus there seems to be several different designs available.

I even like their 17” steel wheel. You can get these in chrome too I believe. The only thing I’m not sure about is the backspacing. These wheels look like they have quite a bit of backspacing, and I’m afraid it my look off, or not fit right on my truck. Have any of you tried these wheels? Again I would love your all’s opinion? Thanks.

 

"lambchops25", Check out the dodge rims at a local junkyard, or at a tire shop (Les Schwap) just to see if the rims will fit. Some places will let you test fit the rim on your truck. Then you can decided what style, or manufacture you want to go with, and you'll know that they will fit.

 

 

As noted from the parts guru :

One of the options on my 1970 F250 Sport Custom 2WD is equipped with front disc dual caliper piston brakes (6900 GVWR) and was strictly my camper hauler from 1996 thru 2016.....My only other truck that I owned at that time in 1996 is my 1970 Dodge D200 2WD which I still have and numerous times in the past I interchanged tires/wheels on both trucks (6.50 - 7.00 8 lug sixteen inch rims) and ran the F250 with stock and split rims on the front wheels without any NO clearing caliper issues of any kind.

My second 1970 F250 Sport Custom 2WD truck is actually a "Camper Special" and is only standard equipped with "manual" four drum brakes....go figure.

My 1975 F250 Ranger XLT Camper Special 2WD truck also equipped with front disc dual caliper piston brakes (8100 GVWR) and swapped my camper rig tires from the 1970 F250 onto the Ranger XLT with no issues either.

This is the first I heard or reading about a typical 16 inch rim not clearing a Ford Truck dual caliper piston setup.

 

 

These you may have trouble fitting If the inner rim I.D is as small as the front looks. Factory wheels...no problem.

I can see some aftermarket wheels not fitting. It all depends on the "aftermarket" wheel rim I.D. The style and shape of an aftermarket wheel may dictate it's rim I.D being smaller than a factory wheel.