New 2017 F350 on Order...

[CougarCouple]

Hello Riverrrunner

Congratulations on your marriage, and receiving your f350, it's a nice looking truck. I know you will enjoy it as we have a 2016 F250 4x4 gasser. Your right about passing others going up hill. Thought I would share a shot ot our combined/cargo weight sticker. By the way we picked this out of dealer stock, unlike you ordered your's. Pulls our ATC Cougar no problems. We also had a Kawasaki mule on a 14 ft tamden wheel trailer once with the camper was ok but knew it was there, lost a couple mpg' with the trailer. Our trip to Red Lodge recently with just the camper got about 12 mpg on that trip. Truck rides real nice and I'm guessing we're at our 10,000 GVWR.

Russ

 

[Riverrunner]

No, but I can get you to the person to talk to. BTW, my F350 is a '14, but I suspect they're the same. It was about $130.

Thanks. I can talk to the local dealer. It maybe the same. Let's hope so for $130!

CougarCouple - I looked at a F250 but it was only $1350 difference to get the F350 so I went that way plus I wanted the HD tranny instead of the G that the 17 F250 gassers have. Truth be known, we are also contemplating a bigger camper again or maybe doing what Wandering Sagebrush does and having a travel trailer also. The FWC is a tad tight in the off season and crummy weather.

 

[CougarCouple]

Hay Riverrunner
I didn't mean to say that you should have got a F250. I thought your posting on the F350 was very informative. Just wanted to provide others what you might end up with if you bought something from dealer stock. Going your route got an impressive payload.
Do you know what the difference is between the trans you ordered vs. the -G automatic I have in mine. We have no intention of a HS camper. I agree if going to camp in extremely cold weather a hard sided camper would make difference. Liking the red color you chose, you know that's a faster vehicle so be careful

Russ

 

[Riverrunner]

No worries, I didn't take it that way at all. Just wanted to say I looked and the F250 but for the small cost difference I ended up back to an f350 is all.

You don't have the G in yours since it's a 16. The G is in the new 17+'s and is a beefed up F150 tranny. I hear good things about it but time will tell. You have the 6R140 like I do. They say there is less parasitic loss in the G so it should get better MPG's.

HAHA and yes it is fast... the couple times I've been on the freeway it goes faster than I realize.

 

[CougarCouple]

Riverrunner
Got it. You think the 6R140 is a proven platform? How much better mpg's do you think the letter G can make.

Russ

 

[smlobx]

You don't happen to have a part number for that camera do you?

Not trying to hijack the thread but this is the 2017 version of the camera that I put on my '16 SD.

https://camera-source.com/automotive-cams/ford-oe-fit/2017-super-duty-w-360-view-mini-universal-trailer-cam.html

Ford has a proprietary plug for their camera so it's important to get one that will work. My Hallmark camper extends about 4 inches beyond the bed of the truck so I was able to mount it directly to the bottom of the camper.

 

[fish more]

Riverrunner, you can buy a seven pin plug w/harness from Ford to mount in the inside panel of the bed. This will allow 12 volt power for batteries and exterior lighting. I purchased from local dealer, plugged right into factory harness, no cutting of wires. Check it out, I'm sure Ford has this for the 2017's.

 

[Riverrunner]

Riverrunner
Got it. You think the 6R140 is a proven platform? How much better mpg's do you think the letter G can make.

Russ

Yes, the 6R140 has been around since 2011 I believe and is probably the best HD tranny Ford has ever made. First service interval is at 150K miles. The 17's have a thermostat so it gets to 196deg and it pretty much sits there. I had a temp gauge on my 4R100 and it was anywhere from 140 to 220+ depending on ambient temps and load. As far as the G, I'm not sure on the better MPG's but It won't be huge. Not huge enough for me to want it.

smlobx - Thanks for that. Will look into that for sure

fish more - yes there are several plug and play harnesses. The issue with the 17 that I've seen is that the truck will only send power to the charge wire if it detects there are trailer brakes. There should be some sort of work around for that as I'd like to have only one plug in the bed. It's too smart for it's own good...

 

[Riverrunner]

4200 miles on the odo and finally had the chance to get the rig out on the freeway for a longer trip for some work related conferences. From Home to Pendleton Or (256mi) I got 15.3mpg with the cruise set at 65. From Pendleton to home, then to Creswell and back home (513mi mixed roads) I got 13.7mpg. The trip from Pendleton to home we bucked a 20-30mph head wind the whole way to Portland so I'm not going to complain about these numbers at all. It's within my expectations and I'm happy with it.

I also finally got the camper mounted. I ended up using a 7 spade RV plug since it was plug and play and at some point I may add a gooseneck hitch. With no running lights the truck doesn't show it as a trailer and will not energize the charge wire so I need to find a solution to that. It's probably as simple as buying the adapter that Curt sell for trailer that have LED lights. The truck is too smart for it's own good.

Truck only squats about an 1". I'll pack the camper around for a couple of days just to make sure. The cab and bed sides are taller so there is a little less clearance but should be fine. My camper was made for a GM and I had to shim the bottom to get to fit the 2000 SD and was hoping I would still be ok and it appears to be.

 

[Happyjax]

Looks good!

 

[CougarCouple]

Real nice looking RR. Looks kinda like the camper is crouching in the bed with the cabover. Wrapping is arms around the cab to become one with.

Russ

 

[Advmoto18]

VERY NICE rig!

Don't know how much clearance you have between the cab roof and bottom of camper, but, be mindful of frame flex when off-road/off-camber.

I'm pretty sure if that had been my truck/camper on the "Short Cut" trail on the Burr Trail, I would had contact between the two.

I'd call the FWC factory and inquire about their minimum recommended clearance.

I went the Amazon route for replacing my tailgate camera; also mounted to the bottom of my Hawk.
Harness/Adapter. $23 I don't see an offering for the 2017 and later on Amazon.
Camera. $20 and a whole lot better than the Ford camera, especially at night.

 

[klahanie]

... ah he'll be fine. Isn't the frame 10x stiffer or is it 100x, LOL.

Thanks for the update RR. Those numbers look respectable. My worry with the gas is 11 or less, that would be running heavy, with a bit bigger tires and driving in the mtns. Maybe those days are gone (I hope but IDK)

 

[Riverrunner]

Thanks, I've got about 2" between the cab and the camper. My driveway is 2 miles of not so smooth (pot hole minefield) gravel and no issues.

Funny you mention the frame... it's a lot stiffer and the first thing I noticed as I headed down the road was the bed and camper do not flex much at all compared to old SD. Next to none... I've got a 48gal fuel tank so if even if I get 9 or 10 I still have some range.

I do notice more side to side sway but I drove a dually with airbags for 15 years and I'm totally stock with this one so there should be more sway.

And yes I will find a back up camera solution for sure... Got used to having that pretty quick.

 

[Advmoto18]

Good to hear!

I had read in the Ford Bodybuilder Manual that the 2017+ F-250/350 SD frame was significantly stiffer. But, actual use is always the truth teller!

The 2018 F450/550 models are getting the technology.

I keep thinking a F-550 SRW home built camper is called for...some day.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

RR, I can't remember if we talked about this, but I got a second camera from the parts folks at Tillamook Ford.

 

[Riverrunner]

RR, I can't remember if we talked about this, but I got a second camera from the parts folks at Tillamook Ford.

Yes we did! On my list of things to do!

I'm totally impressed with the truck and no regrets on going gas. Glad I waited for the 17's before making a choice. Can't say enough about how quiet and comfortable it is and mine is a low end XLT. The vinyl floors are the bomb! I really miss my Jeep as a daily driver and wheeler but I don't miss all of the issues it had.

One thing I'll add...taking the tailgate off is a pain and tough by yourself. The hinges are a pretty tight fit. I used to do the old SD by myself and it was easy. It took the wife and I to put it back on. And with the camera and tailgate having a lock, you have to get on your back under the truck to unplug the 2 wire harnesses. Not much fun if it's wet.

 

[Openroad]

Greetings, I'm new to the forum and also considering a new F350 and Hawk.

Sounds like these new trucks are working out great. For those of you that have the new 2017 or 2018 Super Duty (F250 or F350), what is the distance from the top of your camper to the ground? I'm trying to figure out if this combo will fit into my 8' garage opening. I know these trucks will squat under load but how much? Previous threads have discussed this but the new Super Duty's are higher off the ground and I suspect this might be a push.

I think Four Wheel has kept their Grandby and Hawk camper height at about 59" for awhile now and I know that options and other "stuff" does make a difference but your thoughts and help on the matter would be great.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Riverrunner]

Openroad,

I don't have the camper on the truck at the moment so can't give you any measurements. I do know the truck didn't squat much...maybe 2" at most and I still had a good inch before the overload spring would engage. These trucks do sit higher off the ground for sure...I'd say a good 2-3" or more at least compared to the early 2000's SD.

Updated report:
Average MPG's are up to 11.6 after 6300miles. 11ish in town and anywhere from 13.3 to 15.8 on the freeway empty. 8-9mpg towing anything over 5500lbs seems to be the norm.

Speaking of towing, I know not a lot of folks tow much on this forum but I can verify that the 6.2L will tow fine within it's capacity. We recently acquired a new to us travel trailer that weighs in between 8700-9200lbs semi wet (11K GVWR) . The truck drags it around very well and I don't feel like it's under powered at all. There is a lot of power once you get over 3000rpm (as mentioned) and I have yet to find a hill that I can't accelerate up past 65mph with the TT hooked up. In some situations I'll lock out 5th and 6th gear just to keep the shifting down but the 6.2 will sing that V8 song and not even breath hard. I continue to be impressed with it and still don't miss a diesel.