I'm in the process of ordering a 2019 F350 Lariat CCLB SRW 4x4... Why does Ford jump the gears from 3.31s to 3.55s when increasing from an 18" wheel package to a 20" wheel package? Will I notice a decrease in fuel economy vs my current '16 with the standard Lariat wheel package and 3.31s?

 

Slightly lower MPG with the 3.55 all else being equal. I chose the 3.55 and 18" wheels to get the best ratio for towing my 11K toy hauler up into the mountains. If a 3.73 had been offered I probably would have chose that.

3.31 with 18" wheels and 3.55 with 20" wheels end up being very similar in final ratio.

 

 

Hm. We are planning to order a 2019 F350 CCSB next month. Lariat trim, diesel, SRW. We have done a little looking, and it seems like every Lariat we saw had the chrome package and 20" wheels. I don't want either. I had figured that the 18's with 3.55 would be better for towing (we have already ordered the 5th wheel!) plus I would think the cost of replacement tires would be less. I didn't think that the ride would be any much different - you really noticed that big a difference? I do appreciate the back thing, we are all getting older and we plan to do a lot of driving with the truck and camper. Any other comments on wheels appreciated. I also figured that I'd spring for the electronic locker, which I thought was a $350 option but my wife thinks not. Either way, I'd like it. Any comments on that appreciated too.

HRTKD - Did you have an option on which 18's? There are a couple this year, IDK which is any better or if it's just cosmetic.
PaulT

 

18" wheels get my vote. 3.55 with the e-locker is a $390 option at list. I would probably add ELD on my next truck again just so it's there but in reality, I've only needed it to assist 4x4 three times in eight years.

 

 

As I recall, I could get the all-season or all-terrain tires. I ended up with the all-terrain tires and they are the Goodyear Wranglers with Kevlar. I had been considering the all-seasons just to get a quiet tire. But the all-terrain tires quiet enough that I don't notice them. I think the all-season tires are the Michelins. I've heard less than good things about the Michelins here.

 

Yes it was a huge difference.....even my wife noticed how much better it rode after the tire swap.
My King Ranch F350 came with 275x65x20's
I swapped them out with 35x12.5x18's

Using this tire size comparison calculator: https://tiresize.com/comparison/
It works out to a 8.5" sidewall for the 18's vs a 7" sidewall on the 20's.............so 21.4% more, according to the calculator.
Anyway it was a big difference in the ride quality, about the same as when I went from the stock Rancho shocks to Fox 2.0 shocks.
So now with both changes it rides one heck of a lot better, really notice it over speed bumps, wash board gravel roads, and man hole covers.

 

Thanks, guys. Yeah, the ELD seems like the way to go - so can I turn it on and off? That will be a little different, used to either open or limited slip, not selectable LOL.

HRTKD, well, hell. I had thought the same thing, that I would get the all-season for the noise reduction. Plus, not really planning any off-road to speak of. I'll have to start looking that up if the Michelins are not all that great, with SuperDutys, anyway. Funny what a difference tires can make. I bought a Mazda 3 for DD 5-6 years ago, and the tires were terrible in the snow. Not a good thing in NH! I forget what came with the car, but I swapped them all out the next summer - with plenty of tread left - for I think Goodyears and the difference that next winter was like night and day. Mazda 3 overall was a great little car, just sold with tires that were not so good for the cold and snow.

Paul T

 

Yes. On the 2011-16, pull out the ESOF **** to engage. I'm fairly certain it's the same on the 2017+, just a new **** design.

 

I'm running firestone destination AT on the 20" wheels. they are good in the snow, look good, and dead quiet on the road.

 

Given that tires on the 20" wheels are about 34" tall, and the 18" wheel tire is 33" tall, the side wall is about the same.
(34 - 20) / 2 = 7
(33 - 18) / 2 = 6.5
Ride has a lot to do with the actual tire brand/model too.

Yes an aftermarket 35" tire on an 18 wheel will have more side wall than either factory option and should ride better. Same as 37s on 20s

 

Using the tire size of 275-65/20 provided by 06KingRanch above to compare against my 275-70/18 tires there is a sidewall difference of 7.9%. Not a huge difference but not zero either.

I used the tire size calculator found here: https://tiresize.com/calculator/

 

Don't these trucks come with Michelin Defenders regardless of tire size in a Lariat trim package? Currently, it states: LT275/65Rx20E OWL A/T Tires. So 18" really makes that big of a difference?

Do the '19s still come with the garbage fake Ranchos w/ the FX4 package?

My '16 has the rear electronic locker and I've never used it. I've played around with it to see how effective it was, but found 4WD to be exponentially more effective every time. Regardless, they come with the the ELD on the rear anyway, at least the one I've built has it.

This truck will be my daily driver. I have a 70 mile round trip commute, which I currently run in my '16, daily. I'm going to rack up just under 25k miles per year, mostly country road and highway driving.

Thus far I have the Lariat CCLB 4x4 PSD in Oxford White w/ the Magnetic Two-Tone, Ultimate Pkg, Tow Tech. Pkg, FX4 Pkg., 20" wheel pkg, splash guards, hood deflector, spray-in bedliner, Gooseneck trailer tow prep pkg, engine block htr, BLIS, LED clearance lights, 6" angular chrome step bars (worth it to get the extended ones?), all weather floor mats, heated rear seats and upfitter switches.

A guy I work with claims my rear seat in my '16 is much more comfortable that another guy's '18. Do any of you find this to be true? I'd think the drastically more room in the '17s and up would be a bit more comfortable, but I'm being told the actual seat comfort is lower.

 

My Lariat came with Goodyear tires. It sounds like Ford ditched the Rancho shocks on the FX4 package. The back seat in mine is fairly stiff but I don't have to sit back there so I don't care.