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Sparky87k5's avatar
Sparky87k5
Explorer
May 30, 2013

Upgraded truck

After completing a 6 week 16 state 7203 mile trip with my Eagle Cap 850 on my 04 F250SC 4x4 short box (8800GVW)equipted with air bags and everything going well for the most part I decided I was ready to start pulling my boat as well. Boat/trailer weighs about 2500#'s and trailer has no brakes. Truck and camper weigh about 10,500. Somehow I couldn't get these combined numbers to bring about a feeling of comfort. Although I never lacked for power on the trip, I did have a few issues with handling in winds and on country windy roads and was not feeling very good about being near maximum load on the rear tires.

After much consideration I sold my beloved truck that I had had since new and only had 76k miles and purchased a 2000 F350 CC DRW 4x4 long box (11,200GVW) with 77k miles. What a night and day difference. I now feel I have a truly safe truck for hauling the TC and towing the boat. I'm only sorry I didn't do this sooner.
Truck Campers
  • Sparky87k5's avatar
    Sparky87k5
    Explorer
    Jun 09, 2013
    Farmerjon wrote:
    Nice Rig.
    The truck sure has a flashy paint job. It looks really good. glad you had a good 1st trip and you have many more good times with your TC


    The paint job is stock and is a part of the Ford Lariat LE package. Fancy aluminum wheels, aluminum trimmed running boards, mud flaps and quad buckets come stock then.

    beel82 wrote:
    How bad was it with your SRW?? Could you drive comfortably at 60-65mph? Im stuck in the same boat right now. I love my 00' F250 2wd, I just really really really dont want a dually......


    I completed a 7k trip with no issues. For the most part it did a good job and I think if Ihad removed the 35" tires and dropped down to 33" load range E I could have made it work. I just didn't like the idea of hauling 3700 pounds and being over 10k GVW and then pulling a boat. I was not comfortable with the DW driving it either. The DWR truck is a piece of cake for her to drive now.
  • Sheriffdoug's avatar
    Sheriffdoug
    Explorer
    Jun 09, 2013
    Hi, I use to have 2002 F250 Supercab Longbed diesel, same color as yours, then the Chev in my profile, as both fitted I'm my garage with 10 inches to spare, but now with beautiful 2012 Ram 3500 Crew Longbed Laramie, won't fit, bur DRW, so much better, bigger, safer. Magnificent Truck!
    Enjoy your f350 DRW.
  • beel82's avatar
    beel82
    Explorer
    Jun 09, 2013
    How bad was it with your SRW?? Could you drive comfortably at 60-65mph? Im stuck in the same boat right now. I love my 00' F250 2wd, I just really really really dont want a dually......
  • Farmerjon's avatar
    Farmerjon
    Explorer
    Jun 09, 2013
    Nice Rig.
    The truck sure has a flashy paint job. It looks really good. glad you had a good 1st trip and you have many more good times with your TC
  • Sparky87k5's avatar
    Sparky87k5
    Explorer
    Jun 08, 2013
    Here is the "before" picture of my last truck


    And this is the "After" my upgrade.



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  • Sparky87k5's avatar
    Sparky87k5
    Explorer
    May 31, 2013
    jimh425 wrote:
    The 8ft bed helps as well. Congrats, but pics or it doesn't exist. ;)


    OK OK, you win. I'll get some pics of it ASAP.
  • jimh406's avatar
    jimh406
    Explorer III
    May 31, 2013
    The 8ft bed helps as well. Congrats, but pics or it doesn't exist. ;)
  • Bedlam's avatar
    Bedlam
    Moderator
    May 31, 2013
    There were some serious upgrades under the same body skin for 2005 SuperDuties. If you have any questions or need pictures of how things look, send me a PM. We're doing a road trip WA - SD - MO - UT - WA soon, but can meet up in the latter half of July and swap stories.

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