Edmunds states that the 2005 and '06 SD has,"Noisy drivetrains, gas engines' poor mileage, vague steering, spotty build quality."
I am more interested in what real time owners have to say, so your comments in reference to Edmunds would be appreciated.
I have put up with a wandering fool '96 Dodge 2500 since new and am more than ready to steer a straight line.
Is Ford using a rack and pinion or recirculating ball steering box?
Appreciate your comments and look fwd to reading them.

 

My '05 F350 handles surprisingly good for such a heavy and long wheelbase vehicle IMO. Everyone that has ridden in it has commented on how well it rides, espcially for a "one-ton" heavy duty, 4x4 truck. It rides even better with a load in it. I think the turning radius and steering responsiveness is very good, and have no complaints. It turns much better than my last truck ('91 Chevy C3500 DRW), and you can back it up and hook up a trailer with relative ease. As for the build quality..I shopped the competition and the Ford product just looked and felt better and I have not regretted my choice since. Gas mileage? I get about 14 mpg around town in stop and go driving with the PSD. But it can do over 17 mpg on the highway, which is over 50% better than what I got with my previous big bock V8. Noise? Yeah, the PSD is a little louder than a gas engine, but no one expects a truck to be quiet. Anyways, I think the sound is great, especially when people move over to let you go by when they hear and see you coming. Take one for a test drive and see for yourself. All the big three's products have their good and bad points, but are pretty comparable overall. IMO, it comes down to what suits your tastes and needs best, and my Ford has worked out just fine.

 

Don't know how to respond to "vague". My steering is straight, true and solid. I'll admit for the first 6 months I made major turns with two hands, but now I only use one. I have no steering complaints at all, I think my truck handles like a ballerina - well, maybe a porky ballerina..... Of course, given her appetite for gas, even that's understandable.

Now if you want to talk power, my towing capacity is as much as most deisels. I can tow a 15K trailer or a 17K? 5th wheel.

 

As far as I know, The Super Duties retain the tried-and-true Recirculating Ball Steering configuration.

I think that my 04 handles quite well for what it is. We're talking about a truck that is over three tons with a long wheelbase. The notion of a bad ride is interesting to me, though. I get complements on how good the truck rides for a 1 ton truck.

Noisy engines....well, I would venture to say that they've got the loudest diesel outside the cab. Inside, it's not too bad.

Poor mileage? I don't know about that. It's head and shoulders above what the older trucks did, though. I was always impressed at how good my 04 did. The 6.0 PSD will turn out 14-16 mpg runs on short trips and will push 20 over-the-road. Hitch up a trailer and I get between 11 and 14 over-the-road. That's not bad at all in my book.

Soptty build quality? I didn't have a thing wrong with mine, and it's never been back to the dealer. In my 23,500 miles with the truck, the only things I've done have been to put fuel in it, change the oil, and rotate the tires. The truck works hard, too. It's gone back and forth between Pennsylvania and Arizona five times now, every time with a trailer.

These trucks are commercial vehicles. They are not going to handle like a modern sedan or even like a half ton truck. I think that the critics are folks who are used to cars, and the responses you're going to get from us here are going to be from folks who are used to trucks. It really is a whole different ball game.

 

I don't know about all that. I can just speak from my experience. I have a 2000 4x4 f350 Crew Cab Dually (PSD 7.3) that I have had no problems with. It has 78,000 (mostly on the bumpy Alaska highway) on it and everyone of those miles has been with hauling a 6,200 pound Eagle Cap 12 foot camper (it's a cow). Also, a good deal of those miles has been with pulling my 3500 pound 19 foot fiberglass boat. Not a lick of trouble, not even a hint. It has good power and good economy for what it is doing (11-15 mpg at 55-65 mph depending on terrain). My old 78 f250 460 gasser used to get 5-8 mpg with a lighter, smaller camper, while pulling the boat at the same speeds. Even loaded to the gills it steers fine, stops fine, and knowing this how can one say the quality is marginal? It seems like if there wasn't good quality something would have bitten the dust many miles ago. Just my two cents....

 

My 05 F250 PSD FX4x4 handles fine except I'm still not used to it on rough roads. It bounces. Come around a washboarded corner and you can just about lose control. I'm assuming that's the FX off road package and the Rancho shocks?

 

I love everything about my truck ,I ordered it exactly the way I wanted it ,I tow the guts out of it ,run it like it owes me something and all it does is put a smile on my face everytime I drive it

 

go along with what's been said.my '99' 250 has 66000 on it, and i really can't complainabout reliability,mileage,or handling.i get 14-16miles to the gallonrather i am empty,or hauling the stuffing out of it.the only thing that even lowers my mileage is when i drive with the hubs locked in in the winter,even then she only drops to 12.5-14.not too bad for a beast that weighs6600 sitting in the driveway.

 

Edmunds is wrong! My '04 handles great!!!!

I have heard that some of the older higher mileage trucks have had to have the steering box adjusted, but mine is rock solid.

When I tow my 5th wheel, I hardly know it's back there.

 

The ratings on Edmunds and the noisy drivetrain is based on the 5.4 gas engine only and didn't ever consider the diesel. If you look at the Chevy and Dodge ratings they exclude the diesels also. Besides aren't all diesels "Noisy", well maybe not the Jetta diesel. Anyhow I am not sure about everyone else but I know that I wouldn't make a purchasing decision based off Edmunds. You came to the right place by coming to a forum that actually has owners to give you their thoughts.

I agree that the 2005 FX4 needs some refinement coming around corners and on bumpy roads, but I have driven a friends 06 Non-Fx4 and it rides really smooth compared to my 05. Additionally the steering is greatly improved from the 04 to 05 models.

 

I ordered my truck without the FX4 package simply because I didn't like the decals. I added on the skid plates and got the stabilizers & camper package. The only thing I don't have are the Rancho shocks. I drove four brand new F250's today ( I do 2-way radio installs) & was amazed by how much better my truck handles. The FX4's were choppy & bounced sideways on washboard corners

 

'05 F250 handles better than the '93 Suburban 1/2 ton it replaced, tows the tt better, and steers quite nicely. (Don't forget turning radius was decreased for the SD's for '05). There is a little "skitter" on washboard roads, but no problem with a load. I think it's due to the FX4 package as mentioned previously. Haven't noticed any drive train noise, either, (5.4L, 4X4).

 

Gosh, I think my 06 CC F350 drives great. handling is very good and I'm pleased with the quality so far. Gas mileage with the V10 is what I had expected. I bought mine to tow large trailers so it has met all my expectations and then some.

 

IMO...it is all the Rancho shocks causing that problem. Again...IMO...these are terrible shocks. I have a 2003 SD SC SWB 4x4 V10 Auto and it rides the same as yours. I am planning on installing the Bilsteins...proven to be one of the best shocks you can install on a SD.

My SD handles fine on smooth roads, but get bumpy...and you better "HOLD" on tight...due to the Ranchos.

biz

 

My '05 handles like it should. My SRT-10 has a slightly smaller turning radius... But that can be expected. Put some 13" wide tires on that baby, and you will get much better "Feedback" on your steering.