Hey guys, this is my second post so if I'm in the wrong forum please point me in the right direction. I'm a newb for another hundred posts or so

I am considering a Super Duty F-250 and I was wondering if any of you, if you could take the time, just give me a couple sentences summing up your experiences with your SD?

Any info appreciated and I look foward to your replies

 

Well, if you like to drive, An f250SD will mean you will spend less time at home and more time going places and doing things. I can't keep mine in the drive, if somebody goes somewhere it (F350SD)always seams to be missing. I'm going to have to try taking the tires off when I get home. Maybe it'll stay put.

 

I love my super duty. It is a solid truck with good styling. Have had no problems so far (19K). I drove GM trucks for years and finally had enough with the problems that GM has had for 20 years, like designing pistons that acually fit is the cylinder!!!!!! The truck has all my backing so far. Just one thing to remember, super duties are work trucks, they ride and handle like work trucks. Very stiff and firm suspension. The truck is very heavy 6,000 lbs....so remember this when fuel milage is concerned if you are buying a 5.4L or the 6.8L....I have heard bad things about the injectors on the 6.0L diesel.

Good Luck

 

I have on 03 F250 with the 5.4. I am very happy with it as it does exactly as I wanted. It is not overly fast, but it much better than my old 92 6 cyl when mergine onto a highway. The fuel milage is no all that great, as my old truck did a MUCH better job, but I don't put a whole lot of miles on my truck, so it is good enough for me. At least it's better than the old 76 pontiac I drove daily a few years ago in fuel milage.

 

So far pretty happy with my 04 SD, went from a 97 CK2500 back to Ford. Chevy has some more of the nice nice items in the interior than the SD, but SD appears to built a little heavier. Mileage is not that great, and with $3 a gallon being talked about, oh well, gonna have to live with it.

Road is not as smooth as the CK2500, but then again went to 4X4 with Off Road so expected that - like the height difference and the keyed tailgate.

Would have gone with diesel but heard they were having some problems and the short distance drive to work in the morning would not have been good for it. If I was to do it over may reconsider getting the v10 - discussion here has mileage close to 5.4 but more towing capability and little more pep. Depends on what you want.

Really like the four doors on the Supercab, makes the back a lot more usable and easier to get in and out.

The adjustable power pedals I could live without.

Only thing I would add to the interior is an ammeter gauge or voltmeter - only because last Chevy I had started have electrical problems and prior Ford 150 did also.

 

I have a '03 F250 Crew Cab and its a great truck. I bought mine over the '03 F150 Supercrew because I wanted a full size bed and I like the extra room inside to seat 6 comfortably. Do you have the need for a superduty? I really like the looks and the interior of the new F150, and if it had been available at the time I purchased my superduty I would have given it consideration.

 

What other trucks are you considering?

 

I have a o4 Super Duty (XLT/FX4, 5.4 Extended Cab). Don't much care for it. I traded a 01 F150 Super Crew 5.4 (XLT 4x4, dual exh., hard cap, Harley Davidson grill). The 04 F250 steering is a lot different feeling, front end has had squeeks from day one, I installed dual exh ( cat back, the same brand I had on my F150) on new truck the week after I bought it .Took the duals off the next day because they sounded so crappy. The F150 header pipes have the cats installed on both pipes and then flow into a nice " Y " then to the muffler. The F250 header pipes are made so stupidly, the drivers side comes down and across to the passenger side then the passenger side pipe enters at a 90 degree. Talk about free flow - its non existant, then the exh pipe enters one big converter. This is why the exh sounds so crappy. My F150 had outside air temp./ compass, ash tray light,(standred equipment) lots of storage behind rear seat, beautiful interior and rode very nice. If it wasn't for the new 27' camper I bought and the two motor scooters I would still be driving my Super Crew. Scooters wouldn't fit in back of Super Crew. Over all the F250's engineering doesn't measure up to the F150's especially the new F150's. So if you don't really need the extra hauling capacity go with the new F150.

04 F250 XLT/FX4, EC, 4x4 ( B.F. Goodrich tire option )
Wedgewood Blue/Silver

Hope I have helped some what ........Good LUck

 

I am very happy with my truck, but maybe wait and see what 2005 has to offer if you can. I purchased a left over '03 in August that is decked out for 32,000 and they gave me $6,000 for my '96 tahoe that had 130,000 miles so it was a good deal. If i were to order from the factory this is what i would suggest;

--XLT
--If you have a family get the Crew Cab, super cab is good if your just throwing tools, and whatever luggage for yourself back there.
--Dont bother with the FX4 package, unless you like the stickers. get the Skid Plate package and buy 4 new Bilstein shocks.
--Snow Plow package if you like a level look, and plan on larger tires.
--5.4L Does the basics with the 3.73LS. if you plan to haul/tow often, get 4.10 or numerically higher gears with the 6.8L or PSD. the 5.4L prob does better with the 4.10LS?? BUY STOCK IN MOBILE hahahaha.
--Delux Aluminum rims look sweet
--6 disc in dash CD is AWESOME.
--Adj. gas/brake is a waste personally (mine came w/it)
--cab steps are favorities w/ the ladies
--Manual 4x4, yes its a pain (if your lazy).....but you wont regret it. (i do, but once agian...it was a good deal)
--Reverse senser is a plus on longer trucks
--I have yet to use my Rear Slidding window, maybe once.
--heated mirrors a plus w/ clearance lights. if you like the look of lights get the roof clearance lights also...looks mean at night
--If you dont like all the chrome, get the Sport package...personaly prefferance.
--Fog lights are cute hahahaha, dont do that much but sure get'em
--I get lots of comments on the True Blue Clearcoat Metallic. (personally black is my favorite, but silver tends to hide dirt and scratches pretty good.)
--get which ever tire is standard, buy some new meats later on.
--Long bed if your gonna use it, Short bed if your not.

hope this gives you some good advice, its ALL personal preferance, get what you want the first time around and be COMPLETELY satisfied. dont get me wrong, i love my truck, but i should ordered one with the 6.8L 4.10LS or atleast 4.10LS in the 5.4L.

look forward to seeing your around the forums, good luck.

-bigdawg

ps, a chebbie will definately ride smoother. but the bilsteins will help with that on the SD from what i understand. F250 IS A TRUCK! not a grand trouring vehical, although it is nice to tower over everyone on long road trips.

 

Cruisin,

You're in the right place/forum... and welcome, BTW ! I absolutely LOVE my SD. The crew cab is a great convenience for family/friends and the additioinal room. The ride is VERY smooth on my stock suspension with 62K miles on it and Michelin tires. It has all the creature comforts in the interior, but maintains the looks and styling of a bad boy. The only nit-picking thing I could find is having to replace the accessory plug-in bracket. It's made of plastic with the sliding door (up and down) on it. I bought my truck used w/ 57K on it and I think the person before me was rough on the plug-in, 'cuz it broke the second week. No biggy, I just fabbed a flat, METAL bracket (black) to the bolt pattern, drilled a hole for the plug-in element, and boom, done!

The wheel-to-wheel side steps are a big help, especially for the fiancee and her daughter, and they make it easier to reach the hard-to-get-to places.

Engine-wise... diesel? V-10? or V-8? IMO, it depends on your use of the truck. Obviously, the Diesel and V-10 are the more powerful. Both have great torque and pulling power. The diesel is more $ out of the box, but gets better mileage, great torque, etc. The V-10 gets raves from all its owners: performance, strength, great reliability, etc. Personally, I have the 5.4L V-8 because I don't haul or pull anything. I get 14mpg combined and 16mpg if all highway driving.

4X2 vs. 4X4?? That's solely up to you, depending on your needs/wants. 4X4's typically have a higher resale, but they cost more out of the box and maintenance & operating costs are typically higher. Lots of different rear gear ratio's to got with, too.
I have the 5.4L with 3.73 LS rear and it's plenty for me. With a V-10 or PSD, probably 4.10's would be more than adequate with stock (or close t stock) tire sizes.

Auto vs. Stick? King's choice. I like the convenience of the automatic. It is a bit soft of shifting though, and for under $50, I HIGHLY recommend the Diablo accumulator transmission valve from Kenny, here@ MotorHaven on FTE. I have the "firm" (not "race") version, and it makes the tranny shift how it should have to begin with. So, the "race" version would be even better; the "firm" version that I now have installed is not a dramatic "thumping" shift at all, under any levels of acceleration.

Overall, I highly recommend the SD truck. It's big, comfortable, safe, heavy, and reliable. Not to mention how much I think my "stuff" doesn't stink because I'm driving an F-250 SD !!!

Hope this helps... I don't think you're going to find too much bad press, especially here on a Ford Truck "ENTHUSIASTS" forum!

Best,

 

I LOVE my Super Duty!! I only have 4,800 miles, but I am very pleased with it. The 5.4 with 3.73 gears is pretty strong in my opinion. As far as the ride goes, again I couldn't be happier. It rides a little stiff, but that's what I like. For a heavy duty truck it rides damn good ! I also think it handles extremely well ( I easily outhandled a new dodge around a twisty section of highway ) I have driven a buddy of mines 04 GMC 2500 HD with the 8.1 and Alisson tranny and I was not very impressed. It feels like a car, has to much frame flex, and the overall construction is flimsy in comparison to my SD. After you make the right decision come back and tell us about your nwe SD!

 

jetmech69,
Comparing a f150 to a 250 or 350, is apples and oranges.
F150's are geared for the people who wanty a plush ride of a car and still can bring the groceries home.
If your buying a truck, to use it as it is intended, you cant beat the SD's

 

Yeti
No one has addressed the main issue I have with the SD. It is just engineered as well as the newer F150's. Sure the SD doesn't ride as well as the 150, I expected that. But I didn't expect all this little quirks and I notice a lot of other SD owners have the same gripes. Squeekie front springs, steering abnormalitys, poorly enginered cab door seals, etc. If you look at my gallery pictures take note of my 1979 F250. That was one sweet truck.

04 F250 XLT/FX4, EC, 4x4
Wedgewood Blue/ Silver

 

I do agree the lack of a ammeter is silly. I wish Ford would use actual gauges that tell actual temp. and pressure rather that High and Low.

 

I meant to say in my last post (SD is not as well engineered as the newer F150's).....sorry

04 F250 XLT/FX4, EC, 4x4
Wedgewood Blue/Silver