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At least he got info! Took me 4 months before my rep could get any info out of Ford on the hold up. According to the factory rep the fifth wheel prep packages did not really start becoming available until Feb for the 25’s. My truck was ordered in October and I now have a (tentative) 3/31 date. But that may mean they have a backlog in front of any new orders, assuming it is only that option holding up a truck.
And BTW, eTrailer sells a Curt 24,000lb fifth wheel hitch for the Ford puck system for under $1,000, a little more for the sliding option. Might even be cheaper elsewhere. Love mine, use it in my 2018 and trailer hooks up with ease. A call with the Curt factory rep confirmed it will still fit. Ford makes it sound like only their hitch option will fit. So make sure the hitch isn’t the hold up too. You can delete that up until it goes into production.
Curt hitches are sloppy, I have two of the, the Q and C and both cause clunking when stopping and starting. Even when fixed with the sidewinder they clunk. The fingers have too much gap around the pin, so the pin slides around the hitch as you drive. It's why I am switching to a gooseneck type for my 5th wheel. That and the Curt puck doesn't fit the 5th wheel prep, just like BW doesn't. Probably going to have to have the 5th wheel prep replaced.
Curt hitches are sloppy, I have two of the, the Q and C and both cause clunking when stopping and starting. Even when fixed with the sidewinder they clunk. The fingers have too much gap around the pin, so the pin slides around the hitch as you drive. It's why I am switching to a gooseneck type for my 5th wheel. That and the Curt puck doesn't fit the 5th wheel prep, just like BW doesn't. Probably going to have to have the 5th wheel prep replaced.
They got that crap figured out right? I assume that is part of the Fifth Wheel Prep commodity delay right now: resourcing the original parts.
Well, they "did" figure out that one puck was incorrectly positioned, which is why the tight fitting puck brackets like BW weren't fitting, then corrected it, I think mid April 2024. Who knows maybe the place making them screwed up again and they caught the problem before they got installed.
what are the trade offs in getting a non ford system like the B&W systems? Other than the extra $500 in install costs are they better? Worse? Is the wiring in place or would that have to be taken care of additionally?
The B&W system is a good system, though they changed the Companion eccentric tightening system to a 'torque to a value' system. This has led to some people over-torquing the bolt when they install their Companion hitch, which means you've got to replace it. The eccentric was better in that you didn't need to carry a torque wrench with you. If you don't opt for the Fifth Wheel/Gooseneck Prep, I'd argue the B&W system is one of, if not the best, on the market to get away from having rails in the bed of your truck. It is VERY well built.
What you DON'T get when you don't get the factory Fifth Wheel/Gooseneck Prep, is the plug in the box. It can be added later, but again, that's another expense (on top of the installation of the hitch), and now I would have to cut the hole in the box, which I'd rather not do. Or you have to drape your trailer cord over your tailgate and plug it in at the bumper, which I have done but can scratch the paint on your tailgate if there's dirt or anything on the cord. I'd rather not scratch up such an expensive truck.
The Fifth Wheel/Gooseneck Prep option is a REALLY good value for everything you get in it - and the truck is ready to rock and roll without another stop at a hitch installation place.
They got that crap figured out right? I assume that is part of the Fifth Wheel Prep commodity delay right now: resourcing the original parts.
(And yes, Curt hitches seem like flimsy garbage)
As said above, yes, they did figure it out and it was supposedly corrected. But if that vendor is still having issues, well, it would explain the holdup.
And I agree, I don't like Curt fifth wheel hitches. Their bumper-pull stuff is alright and a good value, but I have never had good luck with a Curt fifth wheel hitch. I haven't personally owned one (I have always bought a B&W or a Husky), but my FIL has owned two different ones. His first clunked a LOT, and his second didn't want to unlatch or latch unless the tongue was in a specific spot for some reason. Never had that issue with a B&W or a Husky.
The B&W system is a good system, though they changed the Companion eccentric tightening system to a 'torque to a value' system. This has led to some people over-torquing the bolt when they install their Companion hitch, which means you've got to replace it. The eccentric was better in that you didn't need to carry a torque wrench with you. If you don't opt for the Fifth Wheel/Gooseneck Prep, I'd argue the B&W system is one of, if not the best, on the market to get away from having rails in the bed of your truck. It is VERY well built.
What you DON'T get when you don't get the factory Fifth Wheel/Gooseneck Prep, is the plug in the box. It can be added later, but again, that's another expense (on top of the installation of the hitch), and now I would have to cut the hole in the box, which I'd rather not do. Or you have to drape your trailer cord over your tailgate and plug it in at the bumper, which I have done but can scratch the paint on your tailgate if there's dirt or anything on the cord. I'd rather not scratch up such an expensive truck.
The Fifth Wheel/Gooseneck Prep option is a REALLY good value for everything you get in it - and the truck is ready to rock and roll without another stop at a hitch installation place.
thank you!
point taken. Wait the time and get the factory to do it.
Today is day 14 of "In Production" status and Ford emailed and texted an update. Wonder what the delay is? Apparently not enough for them to throw up the hat and reschedule it just yet. Also, still nothing of any significance showing up under the Motocraft Service "As-Built" screen. The text message said: "Your Super Duty is almost built, but is taking longer than estimated. We’ll send an update as soon as we can."
As said above, yes, they did figure it out and it was supposedly corrected. But if that vendor is still having issues, well, it would explain the holdup.
And I agree, I don't like Curt fifth wheel hitches. Their bumper-pull stuff is alright and a good value, but I have never had good luck with a Curt fifth wheel hitch. I haven't personally owned one (I have always bought a B&W or a Husky), but my FIL has owned two different ones. His first clunked a LOT, and his second didn't want to unlatch or latch unless the tongue was in a specific spot for some reason. Never had that issue with a B&W or a Husky.
Surprised at all the negative comments on Curt. I have the A16 w/slide and only get a clunk occasionally starting on a hill. Then again I only have a 31’ fiver. I rarely have a hook up issue and typically if I do the level on the site is really off. Had a Reese before, horrible. My son has a Q25 with a 39’ fiver but has a Road Armor pin and does not get the clunk.
I did speak directly with a Curt tech and he said Ford has not given them a new spec since I bought my 2018 F350. A little worried about comments saying there is a fit issue now. I’ll be pissed if that is the case.
Got an update on mine today, kind of. Dealer says one of their systems shows my truck built, in their inventory, and in transit to the dealership. Other system shows it scheduled for production on 3/24. The Ford reps don’t seem to be able to provide any clarity on the situation. I guess we’ll see what happens. I told them we’ll give it until 3/24 for it to show up or to confirm it’s in production and if neither of those happen we’ll cancel it move on.
Well, looks like there has actually been some progress since my post earlier today. A check of my order status now shows today's date, AND a check of the As-Built data shows the fields populated.
Surprised at all the negative comments on Curt. I have the A16 w/slide and only get a clunk occasionally starting on a hill. Then again I only have a 31’ fiver. I rarely have a hook up issue and typically if I do the level on the site is really off. Had a Reese before, horrible. My son has a Q25 with a 39’ fiver but has a Road Armor pin and does not get the clunk.
I did speak directly with a Curt tech and he said Ford has not given them a new spec since I bought my 2018 F350. A little worried about comments saying there is a fit issue now. I’ll be pissed if that is the case.
The fitment issue was a vendor issue with the brackets in the truck. They were slightly off-level IIRC, enough that tight-toleranced hitch assemblies (like the B&W one) wouldn't fit properly. If I recall some of the Ford ones didn't fit either. Some guys took to grinding on their hitches which I would NOT do. Enough complaints were lodged that Ford investigated and found it was a vendor issue that was corrected. However, OEMs, when they find an issue that causes customer or safety concerns, will watch vendors and make them complete 100% inspections at their facilities for 6 months to a year afterward, and ANYTHING that doesn't meet spec is scrapped or reworked. If anything makes it to the OEM that shouldn't, that inspection timeframe starts over. So it's quite possible that the hitch vendor is having to complete 100% inspections, and aren't able to get enough product out the door to meet demands for the fifth wheel prep trucks.
The fitment issue was a vendor issue with the brackets in the truck. They were slightly off-level IIRC, enough that tight-toleranced hitch assemblies (like the B&W one) wouldn't fit properly. If I recall some of the Ford ones didn't fit either. Some guys took to grinding on their hitches which I would NOT do. Enough complaints were lodged that Ford investigated and found it was a vendor issue that was corrected. However, OEMs, when they find an issue that causes customer or safety concerns, will watch vendors and make them complete 100% inspections at their facilities for 6 months to a year afterward, and ANYTHING that doesn't meet spec is scrapped or reworked. If anything makes it to the OEM that shouldn't, that inspection timeframe starts over. So it's quite possible that the hitch vendor is having to complete 100% inspections, and aren't able to get enough product out the door to meet demands for the fifth wheel prep trucks.
Helpful and hearing there was an issue last spring I can see where they are finally catching up almost a year after this surfaced. Just fingers crossed they have dug out of that hole so it does not screw up my order. Thanks for the info. I get more out of this forum than I do from Ford.
Helpful and hearing there was an issue last spring I can see where they are finally catching up almost a year after this surfaced. Just fingers crossed they have dug out of that hole so it does not screw up my order. Thanks for the info. I get more out of this forum than I do from Ford.
But as to your post about thinking Curt (fith wheel) hitches are just fine, I ask have you ever compared one to a B&W in person? I don't mean the question in a smartazz way, what I mean is by all objective standards one of them is superior and it would be plain to anyone that used both.
But as to your post about thinking Curt (fith wheel) hitches are just fine, I ask have you ever compared one to a B&W in person? I don't mean the question in a smartazz way, what I mean is by all objective standards one of them is superior and it would be plain to anyone that used both.
One month to get the VIN from order date, two months to build week. F450 Platinum
I followed factory shortages and made sure to remove the ones I could easily add later. I remove the spray-in bed liner and it was scheduled the next week. It is limited
in availability and can be added later.
Built this week and says SHIPPED(in new screen, not above).. will take awhile to get to Texas I bet..
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
