2017 F-350 DRW Thoughts

Wow...delivering Lance Truck Campers all over sounds like the ideal retiree job to me!!! Wonder where I can signup?!?

I'm planning on stopping in at the dealership next week when I'm in Phoenix and driving both the F350 & 450 back to back to see how they compare from an unloaded ride standpoint. I'm quite certain I'm going to have a large truck camper for years to come so I want to get the right truck that will last me for the next 7-10 years+.

USC, here is a pick of my ride with the wedges on nothing else. It brings up the rear end a bit and it reduces the swaying. I went to the Lance factory to get some warranty work done and the ride up there was smooth but a little bit rough on bumps. Nothing too bad but you can tell the wedges were doing the job. But for some reason going south bound back home it was a bit more rough, maybe I was just tired or the roads really sucked. Not sure.




Btw, picks can be tricky, in some pics you can tell it squats in other you cant.

Now that being said, I ran into one of the delivery drivers that was picking up a Lance Camper, all he does is deliver campers. He told me he bought his truck new 4 months ago and now he has 25,000 miles on it. He said the only mod he did was airbags (separate fill ups) with his snow tires and he is completely happy with the setup and highly encouraged the air bags. They were Firestone airbags BTW.



So that being said, I am getting airbags installed as well and see if I need the wedges but that is the extent for my mods for suspension.

I spoke with a Lance rep about those cab over struts for my 1172 as well and he said they were not necessary any longer on the new campers. Just FYI!

Lance is the only company still using the cab over struts. Hopefully they have updated their designs so they do not need them any longer.

Look into the fame mounted Torklift tie downs so you do not have to tie your camper down to the new aluminum bed and have to drill holes in it to fit the mounts.

There should be no reason you have to drill or weld your new truck to mount your camper - There are products today that bolt on through existing holes.

I've owned two F450's, a 2010, and the 2016 in my sig. IMHO, they are the closest thing to the perfect TC hauler for me. I can only speak for myself and my needs. With 30 years of TC experience trying many different options and making a few mistakes along the way, I'm very familiar with what works and what doesn't. Both F450's have hauled my 1121 incredibly well, and have only needed upper stableloads to get the overload springs engaged sooner.

I don't tow with the TC ever, and if I did that might sway me toward the cab-chassis models. But I don't need the higher GVWR, lower available trim level, time and expense of adding a bed, etc.

The 2010 was a very comfortable and quiet ride with the TC loaded, the 2016 is even better. They both have a stiffer unloaded ride, but I certainly wouldn't call it horrible. Neither truck was a daily driver for me.

I only know a little about the 2017 F450's, but so far nothing I've read about them has made me regret buying the 2016 model. I know the 2017's have an aluminum body, and the axles are NOT the same as the 2015/2016 models.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend buying a 2015/2016 F450 for hauling a heavy TC.

:):)

My ford 450 is on its way. Have A lANCE 1172 BUT CANT GET THE HOOD BRACKETS FOR THE cabover struts. They think in march. Happy jack said they are goint to have tie downs for ford period. Dont know for sure if this is all bs

Bedlam wrote:
Running at 65 mph, the 4.30's should not be bad on fuel use. Going faster, I can see you using more due to useless motor spin. I would not suggest 4.88's in the diesel for anyone planning extensive freeway use - This is a good ratio for maximum GCWR applied to a couple hours of driving.

I would dearly love to switch my gearing out to 4.30's, but I don't know if I can afford to have it done, and I don't know anybody who could do it in the driveway. Most of my driving with the RV is on the highway at 65-70.

Running at 65 mph, the 4.30's should not be bad on fuel use. Going faster, I can see you using more due to useless motor spin. I would not suggest 4.88's in the diesel for anyone planning extensive freeway use - This is a good ratio for maximum GCWR applied to a couple hours of driving.

19.5's on any truck take away the sidewall cushioning you are used to. Some of this can be compensated with an upgraded seat or suspension, but it is one of the trade offs of a better weigh carrying tire that lasts longer.

Yeah the dealership I'm going to go to has both to check out...I'll drive them back to back.

One thing is for sure, a chassis cab and 4.88s is quite a bit different than a F450 in pickup form and 4.30s. The springs and frame are different on the chassis cab and the chassis cab is rated to haul more weight.