2020 Ford F350 – XLT or Lariat / options guidance?

John,

I ordered a 2016 F350 XLT SRW 4×4 short bed supercab. I can’t advise you on the more personal choices nor can I address some of the newer electronics. But a couple of choices I made may be pertinent.

Your tire choice between the BSW vs OWL mostly centers around the lettering. Just personal choice. Both tires are same size and rating and A/T. Unless the black sidewall tires that you say are “4×4” have a more aggressive A/T tread which would make them noisier on the highway vs the white lettering tires. If the OWL tires truly do not have a “4×4” designation, then maybe they are quieter. But maybe you want a more aggressive tread and don’t care about the highway noise. But check – it actually sounds like they might be the same tires except for the lettering – if so, I can’t see paying extra to advertise for the tire manufacturer.

Not a Ford option but aftermarket: Since I am often a long way from where a flat tire can be fixed and might be driving on my spare for hundreds of miles, I did not want an unrotated, brand new spare ever being put on the truck with older and therefore slightly smaller, tires. So I bought an aluminum wheel from HubCapHeaven that matched the OEM 18″ aluminum wheel exactly, put a TPMS sensor on it, and mounted the spare on that. Now I do a five way tire rotation, including the spare, and will always know whatever tire ends up as the spare will be same “size” as any of the other tires on the four corners. Downside is I have to buy a set of five at replacement time. But the upside is my five tires last 25% longer than a set of four.

The electronic locking axle is very helpful if you get stuck a long way from anywhere. I ordered my Ford with the 3.73 electronic locker because I often have to drive on highways. The 4.30 will obviously help in many respects on rough terrain and hills, but will be slower and have poorer mileage on the highway. But really, it’s what you want for climbing hills and rough terrain. Your choice.

I did not order the skid plate package as I am weight conscience with my rig but with a pop up it is likely not an issue. If the weight is not a concern, get them for peace of mind.

Not sure it was on your list, but the cab steps I got from Ford were the composite type. The others are made of steel and no matter how nicely the chrome looks on the show room floor, the underside of them gets raked with gravel, mud, sand, water no matter how good your front mud flaps are. Then the steps rust from below. IMO, the composite ones are better because of it.

I would get the camper package, as did I. The camper package will add the rear stabilizer bar which, although not as heavy as the Hellwig sway bar, it has suited me fine. If you don’t order the package, you are likely going to want to install the Hellwig or similar sway bar. Or if you know you prefer the Hellwig, then don’t order the camper package to avoid paying for something you will be removing. But in the Ford camper package literature they make it sound like the camper package is required to get the “slide in camper certification”.

But I would not get the snowplow package unless you really are going to put a plow on it. If you order it, I would bet you might end up with a front end that is too stiff. The camper does not add that much weight to the front as does a cantilevered snow plow. And the Camper Package will max out the front springs for a camper unless already selected by other options. But the snow plow front springs are something else all together.

Jeff

The OP posted his questions in another forum and I responded there earlier. I would note I do have the plough springs on the front (bought the truck used so did not order them myself). In my opinion they are way too stiff unless your are going to use a plough. They only make bump steer worse when my truck is unloaded. They do not do as badly when the camper is riding along, but I would not order them.

My two cents!

I have the 2017 F350, and the power extend / foldable mirrors were not an option until the XLT (or higher) package. The reverse camera is in the tailgate. Once you remove it, you have no rear camera, so not reverse guidance system. I also lost the collision avoidance because the overhang of my Northstar 950 blocked the sensors.

We bought a slightly used ’15 F-350 4×4 XLT CCLB 6.7. Since yours a gas engine, Jeff and Advaark are prolly correct in saying to avoid the snow plow option. With the diesel engine, I had the 6000 lb. springs installed and feel they should be standard on diesel engine F-350. I don’t feel it rides any harsher than the 5600 lb. springs that were on it. With the camper on, at the CAT scale we had 5100 lbs on the front axle. We’re adding a after market bumper and winch, so that was the reason I went to the higher capacity springs.

I would definitely get the Upfitter switches. I installed them myself and they’re a pita to install the wiring harness, but relatively easy to hook up lights and things near the driver’s side firewall if you have smaller hands. The ’20 trucks may be easier to get to the wires in the engine bay.

We have the 3.31 rear with the electronic locking diff. Even at max GVW, it seems to pull find and climb hills w/o a problem. Do the gas engine trucks get the 10-speed tranny? I’d love to drive one just to see how it handles. The 4.30 is too low IMO unless you’re going to a much larger tire. Like a 37″ or something. Just plan on some decent tires down the road. We just bought Nitto Ridge Grapplers. Haven’t mounted them yet, but the Toyo Open Country AT II were pretty disappointing this winter.

I’m with Jeff on the plastic step boards. They help protect body from rocks. 48 gallon tank on the new trucks. Nice!

I wish we had the camper package. I installed a Helwig sway bar. Huge difference. I also installed Airlift air bags.

As far as the FX4 package, on Ford Truck Enthusiasts forum, IIRC the conclusion of folks that had the package was that the Rancho shocks wore out very quickly. Might want to save that money for some good after market shocks. We put 5100 Bilstiens on ours.

Anyway….enjoy the new truck

The FX4 package isn’t much and you do get better shocks and skid plates.
Definitely get the Lariat – the heated and cooled seats are NICE! The
rest of the truck is just icing. ?

I guess I’m a criminal with a 9000 lb F550 without my camper!
But I’m pretty puny compared to a garbage truck or a Culligan
water softener delivery truck with many tons of tanks on board!
What I’m trying to say is, who would care? Some copper isn’t
gonna pull you over because you’re driving a F350 with a camper
on the back, is she?

John,
The curb weight is the weight of the truck with all fluids and full tank of gas but with NO passengers and NO payload.
Go to page 38 of 41 of the 2019 Ford Super Duty brochure and look at your desired configuration. Subtract the payload from the GVWR and that will be the curb weight close to it. With a SRW gasser, most are below 8,000. Usually in the 7,000 lb range.

Fully loaded f350 diesel 4×4 srw crew cab with 35″ tires is 7950lbs.