Anyone planning on buying a 2017 F-350?

Thomas/NH wrote:
I bought a 2016 F250 and I'm sorry I did. Coming from a 2014 F150, ecoboost, HP payload, snowplow pkg. and max tow. It was a far better truck with almost the same load range. The cab was bigger, seats more comfortable, lower entry height, better lights and bigger bed. Going to F250 was like going back 17 year in technology. Yes, I will be buying a 2017! They are putting all the things I liked best about the 150 in the new truck. Now if they'd just go with independent front suspension like every other truck manufacture.

BTW: both trucks were the Lariat trim package and equipment. The reason for the change was the tongue weight (1600 lbs.) of my new trailer, even-though the 150 handled it very good.

I heard something about the steering being different, maybe something about steering assist in the F150, but not the F250/F350.

What is meant by independent front suspension?
I have 4 suspensions attached to 4 wheels. They are all independent of each other. Not one depends on the other.

Is the front suspension not independent on the RWD?

The Chevy/GMC is the only independent front axles that I know of.

I'm also not too sure if it makes a difference between solid axle versus independent axle when it comes to comfort. The big change was going from front leafs to coil, that I believe had to do with the vertical movement. There's also some suspension tuning that makes the rides different.

Talking about F450 - mine 1999 F450 scaled over 20,000lb more than once.
Tires gave it over 22k capacity
Dana 80 (?) broke with over 200k, what I blame PO -for running low oil in it.
I remember that differential to have 14k rating, so maybe I don't remember Dana model, or they change over the years?

I know the OP said F350, but I was **this** close to picking up a 2016 F-450 until I heard about the changes coming to the 2017. They're shedding 700lbs of weight in the body, while making the frame stronger by going fully-boxed.

The 2015, 2016 and 2017 F450 have the Dana110 rear end and 19.5's, while the 2014-2011 all have the Dana 80 and 17". The Dana 80 is rated at 10k, while the Dana 110 is rated at 14k - and includes the tires that can handle it. Add 4K for the front and you've got 18k GVW. However, Ford has intentionally under-rated the carrying capacity for what ever reasons - from what I read keeping the GVW rating under 14k keeps it out of a commercial class. The F350 with a Dana 80 on 17's, and the F-450 with a Dana 110 on 19.5's have a virtually identical GVW on the sticker.

Motor and transmission will be the same as the 2016.

I bought a 2016 F250 and I'm sorry I did. Coming from a 2014 F150, ecoboost, HP payload, snowplow pkg. and max tow. It was a far better truck with almost the same load range. The cab was bigger, seats more comfortable, lower entry height, better lights and bigger bed. Going to F250 was like going back 17 year in technology. Yes, I will be buying a 2017! They are putting all the things I liked best about the 150 in the new truck. Now if they'd just go with independent front suspension like every other truck manufacture.

BTW: both trucks were the Lariat trim package and equipment. The reason for the change was the tongue weight (1600 lbs.) of my new trailer, even-though the 150 handled it very good.

Kayteg1 wrote:
I am window shopping for new dually and was shocked that some dealers post $13,500 discounts on the spot on new 2016 trucks.
If 2017 trucks are just around the corner, we can have real bargains on 2016 models.

True... I got a good deal on new 2015 DRW truck 3 months ago...

Our 2004 Mercedes has lot of aluminium body parts.
Not frame, but rear suspension cross member is cast aluminium.
The model beats its older, all steel sibling in corrosion resistance by a mile.
For owner the only difference is that you can't stick magnetic light to the hood or front fenders.
Anybody have solid info when 2017 duallies will reach dealers?
I will have cash in a month and might be first in line.

If the 2017 F350 were a complete drive train change then I would be concerned. Since it is not a drive train change, my personal feeling is no need to worry about the new model. Traditionally, Ford has not been known for severe chassis/body problems, it was the 6.0/6.4 drive train issues that got them a reputation.

Golden_HVAC wrote:


I can recall Ford putting out a new car in April, (I think it was in April 1993, and it was a model year 94 car) as the next model year! So it can happen. . .

Fred.

Fred.. when Ford introduced the 97 F150, (which was probably the most changed new model ever) they were building them in 1995. The regulations were that they could not sell a certain model year, two calendar years early. So they had many built in 95, I can't recall if they shipped in 95 or shipped after Jan 1st 96, but in any case we were selling and delivering 97 models in Jan 96.

The guys who bought early really did well as they had almost 2 years before their truck was a one year old model. Also, the trucks were great sellers and the price increased a few hundred dollars every couple months so that dragged the value of those one/two year old trucks up pretty high.

HMS Beagle wrote:
I considered this, I like the sound of the stiffer frame, not so sure about the aluminum body. The problem being you wouldn't know if there are problems till 5 years down the road or so. My worries would be paint and cracks.

Truck forums seem to have it that the drive train will be about the same (but a bit more power), and the MSRP will jump about $10K. I guess that's what it did on the aluminum 150 last year. I bought a new 2015 off the lot for about $9K under MSRP.

The '15 is worlds apart from my '99.

For the better?

realter wrote:
Is there a cut off already in January?

If Ford has a planned 'Last Day' to build a 2016 F-350 then yes it might have come already.

Lets say that they want to close the plant on September 1, and their last truck will have to be produced a couple of days before that date. So any custom orders already in the pipeline must be completed by that date, and so must any 'new' orders put in already.

They might have 500 dealerships all with 10 - 35 of the 2016 trucks on order to have both on the lot and as customer orders, as well as the commercial truck lineup of F-450/550 for crane platforms and other uses. So that is a lot of truck production for each week until the plant shut down date.

I really don't know the shut down date to start changing over to the new aluminum body truck, but traditionally it is done in June or July. So they will build 2,000+ trucks before the 'official release date' of September whatever? And have those trucks in the dealerships by September 1.

Now if this Ford dealer is saying to this customer 'If you order a new 2017 we will have it on our lot by July whatever or something, it will indicate that Ford will be changing over to the 2017 early in the year. . . That is why I asked if the Ford dealership is offering a delivery date if they order a 2017 right now.

I can recall Ford putting out a new car in April, (I think it was in April 1993, and it was a model year 94 car) as the next model year! So it can happen. . .

Fred.