Help With Ford F250 Options

[Wire]

Bear with me, I’m having a purchasing crisis and need advice from experienced folks. I’m having to buy an F-250 on short notice. If you’ve seen my other posts, I’m the guy who bought a brand new RAM 3500 and have to sell it (I’ve had it for one whole day), because I didn’t realize that any manufacturer in the great U.S. of A. sold vehicles without a shoulder harness. The center jump seat does not have one and I refuse to put my kids there (not to mention it is illegal). I have two sets of twins, 10 and 6 years old. And my assumption that it would have a harness on that center seat is costing me about $10k. Maybe only $5k if you know someone who wants to buy it (see the classified section). But I digress…

I need to buy a Ford pretty quickly and have never researched them. Ram was fairly simple, there weren’t that many options, but I got to know the options. With Ford, I am overwhelmed and even the salesmen don’t know the answers to my questions. And I don’t think I have time to order exactly what I want, so I’m dealing with what’s available and trying to prioritize.

So what IS my question, you ask….

If you were getting an Eagle HT fifth wheel (30.5 MBOK to be precise), what would be the options you would prioritize in a Ford.

I’m pretty confident an F250 will be fine. I went to a 3500 in the Ram because it was a simple $1,000 more for an extra 1,000lbs of payload. The Ford weights are all over the map, I can’t tell what I get by going to a 1-ton. But I’m gun shy, as the 250 has better resale value and I’m feeling the resale pain of my 3500 right now. And 250’s are more common and it seems good enough… with a 3350-3450 (crew cab 6’ bed) payload weight and my dry hitch will be 1750. And I read that the 350s vibrate like hell without a load. Don’t know if its true.

I know I need a 5th wheel prep. But what the heck is the camper package. Salesman says it’s for a slide in camper that’s top heavy but the option on the website shows a fiver being pulled. It’s beefier suspensions, but is it necessary? Anyone have it?

How good is the BLIS Blind Spot system?

Camera packages:
Individual Trailer TPMS/Trailer Camera Prep Kit
Trailer camera prep kit
Ultimate trailer tow camera system.

My head is spinning. I ordered my HT with a rear camera but I have time to change that. Should I go with Ford’s instead? As far as the Ultimate system, is it great or is it a gimmick?

I know this is long and convoluted, but any guidance would be appreciated (but please no comments about rigging a shoulder harness in the RAM, its not possible to do it the way you can in an old back seat… the seat itself doesn’t lock, there’s no anchor points, and nobody will do it for liability reasons).
Thanks all!!

Wire

[Grumpy]

I know that there is a camper package and a trailer tow package. 2 different options.

[Magnolia Tom]

Camper package on a 250 gives you the rear overload springs and upgraded front suspension. In essence you get a 350.


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[Doubleheader]

Wow, let's take a step back. I can't believe if you've only had the vehicle a day that you can't return it. Surely I'd check with an attorney to understand if there are buyers remorse laws that might protect you. If not I might investigate a custom seating option for your Ram. Again, there must be options out there. Now, if you indeed end up going with the Ford, I think you are smart to go with the F250. With your planned 5th wheel you'll have plenty of payload capacity and in my state anyhow, annual state registration fees are way less in a 3/4t vs a 1t. As for option I'd get the package that gives you factory pucks and in-bed trailer electric. I'd also get full length step rails, and for diesel, the diesel just my personal preference. All other options are just personal choice.


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[Larry Mac]

Originally Posted by Magnolia Tom

Camper package on a 250 gives you the rear overload springs and upgraded front suspension. In essence you get a 350.


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One less leaf than the 350.

Options
Fifth wheel gooseneck hitch
Trailer brake control
Blis

[Doubleheader]

The factory puck system will give you the goose neck puck plus 4 additional pucks for a traditional style 5th wheel hitch. The factory trailer brake control is a definite, as is an exhaust brake.


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[Fishermanbb]

I have a 17 350 CCSB SRW 6.7.

BLIS is great...BUT, it is only supposed to work with travel trailers 30' or less. It is not supposed to work with 5th wheels. I cannot verify this and I have read that some people can get it to work with larger trailers and shorter 5th wheels. For everyday driving it is nice.

Ultimate camera system is AWESOME. These are big trucks and it is amazing how easy the system makes everything from hitch up to regular driving without a trailer, etc.

I have the Ford camera system. It is nice if you are like me and don't want extra screens in your truck. However, it can be a bit of a PIA to install for a 5th wheel as Ford screwed up the hook up placement. For a travel trailer it is perfect. For a 5th wheel you really need to purchase a harness/adaptor plug for the bed, Nichols manufacturing sells the kit and it works like a charm but it is just one more thing to buy/install.

Gas engine 250's have a different rear axle. It is not as beefy as the diesel and will lower your tow weights. Snow plow prep will get you max front springs (6000 LB).

I chose the 350. After driving them both I felt the difference was negligible. Drop the tire pressure in the rear when driving unloaded and the truck rides nicely. Good luck!

[norty1]

I love my F350 but it is to old to campare to the new ones.
My comment is weight consideration. The tongue weight you quote is unloaded. Add about 600 lbs to that in the real world plus hitch and 6 passengers.
I have ridden in the new ones,f350 and they don't viabrate. Also very comfortable seats.

Oh yes, check for shoulder harness on all seats.

[2naEagle]

Go with the F350 if you can. I love my 2017 F350 SRW CCSB.

[klassic]

2017's sit very high.
I think you will have to mod an HT to tow level.
I had to lift my NorthPoint to get level with '17, and I have 6" bed rail clearance which is minimum.
I have way more pin weight then an HT, so the HT won't squat the truck as much making you more nose high.
Don't be too hasty on purchase. You had better check some heights.

[Wire]

Klassic,
My RAM sits pretty high as well. I figured based on all of the previous posts regarding HT heights being tailored to half-tons, that I would have to raise the trailer. How much of an issue is that though? I here the 18 HTs were built with more axle options, but versus getting an older truck that sits lower, is it much of an issue to raise the trailer?


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[klassic]

It's not really too much of an issue to raise the HT. It's all about how much money you want to spend.

I believe your options would be bigger tires, lowering the springs in the hangers (if HT's can do that), installing a sub frame, or the other MorRyde suspension system (I forget what it's called)

I haven't seen an '18 HT..maybe they are higher now.
I'm pretty sure the 17 Superdutys are the tallest stock truck.
The higher bed rails keep you from lowering the hitch also.

[Wire]

Virtually every 2017 F250 gasser I've found is a 3.73. I'll be pulling an HT (granted it's a 37 footer), so I've never felt that I would need a diesel. But on my RAM, I purposely ordered a 4.10, which I guess would equate to the 4.3 with Ford. 4.3 seems very uncommon in the inventory. Anybody pulling like this with some input?

[JeremiahM]

Unless ford has changed, I believe 4.10 is available with the gas engine

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[sobuck1]

I pull my 28.5 RSTS with a 2017 F250 gasser. ordered mine with 430 rear end went thru the Smokey Mtn with a breeze Last truck was a F 250 with 373 Id never go back, no height problem with mine Have a reese 16 k elite Mine is 2 wd if that makes a diff on height

[Wire]

Thanks for that info. It is tough to find a 430 in Fords current inventory.


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[Larry Mac]

Originally Posted by Wire

Thanks for that info. It is tough to find a 430 in Fords current inventory.


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Notice the previous poster ordered his with the 4.30.


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[Wire]

Yes, I was replying to that. I want one, but it is tough to find it in the existing inventory. You can't order a 2017 anymore as they are gearing up for 2018. I am scouring the national Ford inventory and have yet to find a 250 with a 4.3. They make 'em, I just can't find one.


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[JeremiahM]

Originally Posted by sobuck1

I pull my 28.5 RSTS with a 2017 F250 gasser. ordered mine with 430 rear end went thru the Smokey Mtn with a breeze Last truck was a F 250 with 373 Id never go back, no height problem with mine Have a reese 16 k elite Mine is 2 wd if that makes a diff on height

Nice rig, sounds like those 4.30s pair well with the 6.2l, what rpm do you run at 65-70? With those gears I assume you're able to leave it in OD

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[TWP723]

ALL of our F250's have 3.73's. 4.30's are DSO. I had a 2012 F250 6.2L and never really had a problem towing my 328. I only upgraded to the F350 6.7 in anticipation of buying a 5'er.