Advice on 5TH Wheel Prep Pkg
More Turbo
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 508
Likes: 196
Ditto what FishRanger said. If you are getting a Platinum trim level truck your payload is likely to be on the lower side. If you end up with a 13,000 lb. or heavier 5th wheel and your payload is < 3,000 lbs. you will be over-weight before you put anything in the truck besides yourself.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 87
From: So Cal
This is one of the things I think should just be part of the upper packages. I understand that XL / XLT owners may not be adding a 5er, and just using it for a down and dirty work truck. But how many people buy a KR to haul gravel ?
Years ago, the factory break controller was a special order, and dealers would order most of their Super Duties without it. The cost was very minimal, and why would you not have a built in brake controller on a Super Duty ?
Years ago, the factory break controller was a special order, and dealers would order most of their Super Duties without it. The cost was very minimal, and why would you not have a built in brake controller on a Super Duty ?
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 137
Likes: 39
From: Jersey Shore
If you already placed an order for the truck I don't think you can make changes so the decision may have been done already for you. You can add it later (dealer or do it yourself) but will cost well over $1k so it is much cheaper from the factory. I also think the factory will do a better job on protecting the holes from rusting as its done before paint and not afterwards.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,638
Likes: 2,433
If you already placed an order for the truck I don't think you can make changes so the decision may have been done already for you. You can add it later (dealer or do it yourself) but will cost well over $1k so it is much cheaper from the factory. I also think the factory will do a better job on protecting the holes from rusting as its done before paint and not afterwards.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 370
Likes: 178
I bought my XLT without one, I'm adding it myself. It really isn't that difficult if you have a way to lift the bed off. Don't let these guys scare you off.
The plate cost me 300 bucks shipped from a dismantler. Came off a 2020, doesn't even look like it was ever used...used.
Fwiw the holes are already pre centerpunched in the bed. With access to a hoist, its about a 3 hour job to add it to a truck that doesn't have it. Just drill the holes,, pull the bed, add the plate, then drop the bed on and center the plate in relation to the bed.. If you buy the plate new it's expensive, but there's plenty of them out there from wrecked trucks..
I will say, if you want the cameras and tpms and don't do the prep package from the factory, ford doesn't give you the option to easily add the 12pin plug in the bed. They only give the option at the bumper. There's aftermarket to solve that, but it's not cheap. If you don't ever intend on adding those features, then it doesn't matter
The plate cost me 300 bucks shipped from a dismantler. Came off a 2020, doesn't even look like it was ever used...used.
Fwiw the holes are already pre centerpunched in the bed. With access to a hoist, its about a 3 hour job to add it to a truck that doesn't have it. Just drill the holes,, pull the bed, add the plate, then drop the bed on and center the plate in relation to the bed.. If you buy the plate new it's expensive, but there's plenty of them out there from wrecked trucks..
I will say, if you want the cameras and tpms and don't do the prep package from the factory, ford doesn't give you the option to easily add the 12pin plug in the bed. They only give the option at the bumper. There's aftermarket to solve that, but it's not cheap. If you don't ever intend on adding those features, then it doesn't matter
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Tuned
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 367
Likes: 100
From: Northern NM
$500 to have it done at time of build or have a hoist, spend 3 hours, if you know what you're doing, lift the bed off a brand new truck, that has all of the factory bolts torqued down, drill holes, etc. What?
Just order it now and forget that hassle. Not many have access to a hoist and the skill to lift the bed off.
Just order it now and forget that hassle. Not many have access to a hoist and the skill to lift the bed off.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1,221
From: Southern Crescent
The $30,000 I save will fund a lot of travel.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 370
Likes: 178
$500 to have it done at time of build or have a hoist, spend 3 hours, if you know what you're doing, lift the bed off a brand new truck, that has all of the factory bolts torqued down, drill holes, etc. What?
Just order it now and forget that hassle. Not many have access to a hoist and the skill to lift the bed off.
Just order it now and forget that hassle. Not many have access to a hoist and the skill to lift the bed off.
And skill? Isn't that what the forum is for? To help people out that may not know how to do something? I've noticed around here there's hardly any writeups, and more of a push to just call your service advisor that's on speed dial
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 87
From: So Cal
I recall reading that you can add it yourself and some people say you do not need to take the bed off to add it, but it costs more and a PITB, so if you *think* you might need it at some point, order it up. I think it would help with resale value as well.
I believe they are on backorder last time I looked though.
I believe they are on backorder last time I looked though.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 511
No not really. Some of us will be towing our budget minded (paid for, 12 years old) 5th wheels with a budget minded but comfortable XLT. The new truck will have the 5th wheel prep "puck system" And yeah, the wife wants to haul mulch with it, too.
The $30,000 I save will fund a lot of travel.
The $30,000 I save will fund a lot of travel.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 996
Likes: 193
From: AZ
Several years back I did a comparison and the 350 was about $1100 more than the same 250. Well worth every dollar IMO
