Building a Dodge, oops, Ford TV

[Bobbo]

I have an appointment Monday at Dodge to order a truck to be built for me.

Question: Should I spring for the Anti-Spin Differential Rear Axle for $435 and/or the 4-Corner Air Suspension for $1,715?

I am new to towing. It will have the 3.92 axle (as opposed to the 3.21 axle). The 3.55 axle requires the EcoDiesel or the V6 gas engine.

[Bobbo]

I've been reading about those problems. The Pro Trailer Assist is for DW, I won't need it. We will see.

[IdaD]

A guy I work with has a 2016 3.5 Ecoboost and he can't get the trailer backup deal to work with his Airstream - something to do with not being able to mount the sticker on the tongue with the way the tanks and etc. are configured. I can't remember the details. I believe his Airstream is a 2015 model, also a Flying Cloud (but longer). Anyway just a heads up that you might run into some issues. He just decided to learn to back it up the old fashioned way which you ought to know how to do anyway, imo.

[Bobbo]

transamz9 wrote:
Just out of curiosity, what features did you order that you couldn't on the Ram?

3.5l EcoBoost V6
10 speed transmission
Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert
Pro Trailer Assist
Reverse Sensing System
Tailgate Step
Power Movable Pedals
Hill Start Assist

If any of this is available on the RAM, they didn't tell me about it.

[Groover]

"I have created a spreadsheet to estimate the available payload. This is what I am guessing.

1850 - capacity (thanks Mike Up)
-200 - topper
-400 - us (we are fluffy)
-900 - max pin weight
-150 - a PortaBote that we take sometimes

200 - available for stuff."

Don't forget that the load distributing hitch will put some of that weight back on the trailer so you should be able to get a good percentage increase in the 200lbs for other stuff.

[transamz9]

Bobbo wrote:

MNGeeks61 wrote:
OP - Out of curiosity mainly - since I'm not looking but enjoy dreaming - did you get your price down to around what the RAM was?

Price? No

Value? Yes

The Ford is still significantly more expensive than the RAM, but it has a lot of nice features that the RAM doesn't. That makes it a better value for us.

Groover wrote:
It is a shame that you can't get all of those options with the max payload package, at least I couldn't at the time that I ordered my truck.

I would have jumped at the max payload package. It was not offered on the truck I bought.

I have created a spreadsheet to estimate the available payload. This is what I am guessing.

1850 - capacity (thanks Mike Up)
-200 - topper
-400 - us (we are fluffy)
-900 - max pin weight
-150 - a PortaBote that we take sometimes

200 - available for stuff.

Just out of curiosity, what features did you order that you couldn't on the Ram?

[Bobbo]

I have discovered that I can track the progress in the building of my new Ford truck at the factory. This link Building a Ford and the VIN of the truck is all you need. The paperwork they gave me when I ordered the truck has the VIN printed on it.

[Bobbo]

MNGeeks61 wrote:
OP - Out of curiosity mainly - since I'm not looking but enjoy dreaming - did you get your price down to around what the RAM was?

Price? No

Value? Yes

The Ford is still significantly more expensive than the RAM, but it has a lot of nice features that the RAM doesn't. That makes it a better value for us.

Groover wrote:
It is a shame that you can't get all of those options with the max payload package, at least I couldn't at the time that I ordered my truck.

I would have jumped at the max payload package. It was not offered on the truck I bought.

I have created a spreadsheet to estimate the available payload. This is what I am guessing.

1850 - capacity (thanks Mike Up)
-200 - topper
-400 - us (we are fluffy)
-900 - max pin weight
-150 - a PortaBote that we take sometimes

200 - available for stuff.

[Groover]

Mike Up wrote:

Bobbo wrote:
Yes, we have the 36 gallon fuel tank. Not that it matters. We have 25 gallon bladders. :B

The packages we ordered are
1 - 302A Equipment Group
2 - XLT Chrome Appearance Package (standard on the XLT)
3 - Max Trailer Tow Package
4 - BLIS
5 - Tailgate Step with Tailgate Assist
6 - Front Seat Console

All of this on an F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab 6.5' bed with the 3.5l Ecoboost V6 with 3.55 axle and locking differential.

Going by the excel sheet, should be right around 1850 lbs., give or take 50#s. Those extended cabs are lighter and they still get a higher GVWR than the Crew.

It is a shame that you can't get all of those options with the max payload package, at least I couldn't at the time that I ordered my truck. For some reason Ford is convinced that the only people that want max payload package are fleets ordering plain trucks for employess to drive. The idea of you buying one for going on vacations towing a camper seems to be a foreign idea to them.

[Groover]

MNGeeks61 wrote:
OP - Out of curiosity mainly - since I'm not looking but enjoy dreaming - did you get your price down to around what the RAM was?

On the subject of price my dealer gave me all of the promotions that were in effect at the time of order and the ones the were in effect at the time of delivery. Since they were different I got more promotions than I would have had I simply purchased off of the lot at either time. With the market slowing down I would not be at all surprised to see more promotions come out any time. Also, you may still have time to join AQHA and get a $500 promotion for that. You need to have been a member for 30 days to claim that one but membership only cost $40.

[MNGeeks61]

OP - Out of curiosity mainly - since I'm not looking but enjoy dreaming - did you get your price down to around what the RAM was?

[Mike_Up]

Bobbo wrote:
Wonderful information. Better than I had hoped. That 2017 SuperCab 4x4 on his spreadsheet is almost the same as mine. I have the BLIS instead of the tow mirrors, and I have the tailgate step. Neither of those should be heavy.

Yep, adding your tailgate step to the mix is where I got around 1850 lbs.

[Bobbo]

Wonderful information. Better than I had hoped. That 2017 SuperCab 4x4 on his spreadsheet is almost the same as mine. I have the BLIS instead of the tow mirrors, and I have the tailgate step. Neither of those should be heavy.

[Mike_Up]

Bobbo wrote:
Yes, we have the 36 gallon fuel tank. Not that it matters. We have 25 gallon bladders. :B

The packages we ordered are
1 - 302A Equipment Group
2 - XLT Chrome Appearance Package (standard on the XLT)
3 - Max Trailer Tow Package
4 - BLIS
5 - Tailgate Step with Tailgate Assist
6 - Front Seat Console

All of this on an F-150 XLT 4x4 SuperCab 6.5' bed with the 3.5l Ecoboost V6 with 3.55 axle and locking differential.

Going by the excel sheet, should be right around 1850 lbs., give or take 50#s. Those extended cabs are lighter and they still get a higher GVWR than the Crew.

[Mike_Up]

TooManyVehicles posted an Excel spreadsheet of all of us F150 owner's payloads and truck trims and options. Very useful for others ordering without knowing what to expect.

Here's TooManyVehicle's thread.

Here's the Excel spreadsheet.

[blt2ski]

Payload? That estimatable with in 10 maybe 20 lbs max. Hopefully more than 1500 or so lbs.

Marty