Took a blind leap – ordered a Ford

Machine · June 29, 2004

Feels strange knowing that in a few months the truck parked in the garage will be a Ford F-350 instead of a GM product. I hesitated placing the order but too many factors made it so d**n easy to do. I’m able to get Ford’s X-pricing on the truck + all rebates + another $500 off for being a member of the American Quarter Horse Association + a Small Business Owner incentive…the list goes on. Basically, I’ll be getting about $9500.00 worth of discounts, rebates, etc. So here are the details as of today:

2005, F-350, 6.0 Power Stroke / TorqShift, Lariat, Crew Cab, Small Box, 4WD, Dark Shadow Grey

I really like my 2500HD AND the bulletproof Duramax, but it’s time to try something new. I know the 6.0 have had problems but it appears that Ford is finally getting in front of them. They made 35 changes from the 2003 6.0 to the 2004 6.0. Let’s hope the ’05 PS is even better.

I guess my main concern is if there is anything about this truck, other than the 6.0, that I should be aware of. Any former ford guys out there that could chime in?

Thanks.

GlennRMK · June 29, 2004

Good luck.

To me, I just had the Super Duty interior. Outside of the truck is ok.

Suspension is rough, with leafs front and rear, but works well for lift kits.

Machine · June 29, 2004

Good luck.

To me, I just had the Super Duty interior. Outside of the truck is ok.

Suspension is rough, with leafs front and rear, but works well for lift kits.

Thanks for the feedback. Ford has added coil front springs to the '05 - maybe that'll improve the ride. In addition, I plan to install a 4" lift and put some 315's under it. It should look good.

I agree about the interior - it's rather dull...spacious, but dull

blue2kzr2 · June 29, 2004

What kind of garage do you have that'll fit a SD with a 4" lift? I don't think I could jack up my ZR2 in ours without hitting the ceiling, and it's stock...

black&grayHD · June 30, 2004

They've made a few more changes to the '05s:

2005 Super Duty

Machine · June 30, 2004

What kind of garage do you have that'll fit a SD with a 4" lift? I don't think I could jack up my ZR2 in ours without hitting the ceiling, and it's stock...

We designed the garage this way when we were building our home. It's tall enough to accommodate my lifted 2500HD with 7" additional inches to spare on the top and 32" to spare in length.

wandell · June 30, 2004

Yeah, Ford made a lot of changes with the 05 SD's, kind of like the updates on the GM's from 02 to 03. The main ones are the updated interior, minor exterior restyling and a new coil spring/solid axle suspension up front similar to the HD Dodges. I think you'll be happy.

LikeaRock14 · June 30, 2004

Congrats!

I've always loved the look of the 99? and up Super Duty's. They're pretty roomy too for long trips. My dad's closer and closer to buying one. Fathers day he rode his bike around and went to test drive an 04 Crew w/ the 6.0 powerstroke. He only took it down the road a few miles, but he was realy impressed w/ the power, said the tranny's pretty smooth too. One of our good friends is a Diesel Mechanic and he's happier than hell w/ his 6.0 in his wife's Excursion.

I think towards the end of the year is when we'll be seeing a new one in our driveway. My dad likes to wait until the "end-of-the-year" blowouts at dealers when all the cdurrent yr trucks are trying to be sold to make room. A lady that rents from us is the top salesperson at the local Ford dealer in town, she said she'd give one to use for $2500 over cost, which reeeaaally tempted him, but he's just waiting.

Once again, congrats on the new truck!!!

MCourson · June 30, 2004

Good luck. I hope you have better luck than my aunt has in the 9,000 miles she has had her 04 F-350 PSD.

Machine · June 30, 2004

Good luck. I hope you have better luck than my aunt has in the 9,000 miles she has had her 04 F-350 PSD.

This is the kind of information I want to hear. What were/are the problems?

Bad Bowtie · June 30, 2004

Good Luck with the Ford F-350, there decent and good trucks especially those new 2005 Ford's but i wouldnt bet on Ford taking the competition by storm, trust me when GM release's its 05 and 06 Silverado and Sierra's HD's you wish you stuck with GM, and there's even talk at the head quarter's of a Front Solid Axle to compete in the working mans world against Ford & Dodge.

MCourson · June 30, 2004

Good luck. I hope you have better luck than my aunt has in the 9,000 miles she has had her 04 F-350 PSD.

This is the kind of information I want to hear. What were/are the problems?

2004 F350 Dually Crew Cab Lariat, pulling a 40' Haulmark Edge fifthwheel and thei latemodel dirt car.

So far it has been:

Sometimes it just doesn't have power

Will not idle, have to keep the Rs up with the throttle

Sometimes smokes white

And has spit the turbo hoses off three times.

Ranger354 · July 1, 2004

Buddy owns a Ford F350 2002. Looks good and runs like a scalded dog. Course he has a few add ons under the hood and a Banks exhaust that sounds like a jet coming down the street. He can smoke the tires (35s) from a dead stop.

But his turbo has burned up, his computer has been replaced, injectors have been replaced and so on. I am buying a new HD and he said he got a letter from Ford saying they have a buy back program going. Sounds like they are tired of working on his truck to me.

I told myself that I would never own a dodge. That I would never own a Ford. And so far I have had nothing but good luck with my chevys. Now, saying that I wish I had that dodge (cummins) engine with that Allison transmition and the ford running gear under my chevy body.

That would be a heck of a truck!!!!!!!!!!!!

Machine · July 1, 2004

Good luck. I hope you have better luck than my aunt has in the 9,000 miles she has had her 04 F-350 PSD.

This is the kind of information I want to hear. What were/are the problems?

2004 F350 Dually Crew Cab Lariat, pulling a 40' Haulmark Edge fifthwheel and thei latemodel dirt car.

So far it has been:

Sometimes it just doesn't have power

Will not idle, have to keep the Rs up with the throttle

Sometimes smokes white

And has spit the turbo hoses off three times.

OK, thanks. I think Ford has a recall on that hose problem. Seems to be very common. The other issues I'm aware of, too. Thanks for sharing.

LikeaRock14 · July 1, 2004

I don't think it's just the 6.0's that blow off the Turbo hoses, our friend's blew off when we were headin to Sears point last yr for Nascar, My friend Sean said the hoses on his Dually have blown off about 4-5 times. These are both 00-01 7.3 ltrs too. I wonder why Ford seems to eb the only one we hear about doing that though