Kory04

I think it helps. My truck is very close to level with the plow/camper package. Not sure on crew cab. Seems like those naturally dive a little more than supercab trucks do. I was worried about a rough ride with this package, but its not too bad. Its pretty stiff over large bumps, but smaller ones its a pretty smooth ride

I have ran gas trucks with single battery/single alternator for years, operating a 950lbs snow plow without issue, and that is a big power draw. I did not want dual batteries/alternator on my new truck, but it was required when I added the upfitter switches I believe. Funny that the plow/camper package didn't require it but the switches did. I'm tempted to remove the extra alternator and battery, as it seems unnecessary to me. I would have to check again, but I believe the two alternators looked different, so even If I removed one and stored for a while, it may not bolt on to the other bracket when the other alternator quits working someday

I got the 7.3 because I'm afraid of maintenance costs on a diesel, not only expensive oil changes, but also potential emissions and fuel system problems that can add up extremely fast. I've heard about $10-20k+ in repairs for some fuel system problems that requires removal of the cab. That would be upsetting to say the least. My truck is a f250 supercab with 3.55. I love the truck, it has plenty of power for any trailer I'll ever tow, and 7000 lbs would be no problem at all. Driving empty, very easy (under 70 mph) on longer but still local trips it will get around 14.5 mpg. Driving easy on rural roads for shorter trips (10 miles or less per trip), it will be around 10-11 mpg. When I first got the truck, with only 300 miles on it at the time, I towed a 14' aluminum enclosed trailer about 1600 miles to Montana, and got between 7.5 and 8.5 mpg, and I was taking it easy. Trailer was probably less than 3500#, but did have 6" extra height over a standard cargo trailer. Way worse than I expected, but there was a very strong headwind/crosswind the whole way, and it was a bit of a handful staying in my lane. Trailer only had one ATV in it and I think it would have handled better if it had a few more thousand pounds in it. Coming home without the trailer I averaged 15.5 mpg....this was driving pretty hard, but with a nice tailwind. My average mpg this winter has been around 8-9 mpg, but it is a lot of short trips to and from town a few miles away, idling in drive thru restaurants...etc. Yes, I'd like better mileage, but when I live only a few miles from town, and also do lawn care, the truck usually doesn't have a very far run every time I use it, and I think that would be bad for the new diesel engines....the (frequent idling, and short trips)

I may have to try that, because I can't find anyplace to adjust the intensity of the notification. Easier when the truck does the notification though, just hit the button and it tunes to the right station.

I've thought about getting a dash cam. What make/model is yours and how do you like it?

This has been an interesting thread! My new truck was a well equipped XLT model with gas engine, so although it was expensive, it was no where near the cost of some other trucks out there. Previous to my new truck, I had a 2006 reg cab f250 xl for my work truck with, 191,000 miles, and a 2004 dodge ram diesel for my nice truck, 172,000 miles. Both had snow plows on them, but I only used the dodge as a back-up plow truck, as I didn't want to drive it in the winter salt. I also didn't like insuring/plating both at the same time, so over the years I'd always have one truck stored for several months at a time, I played a lot of musical license plates and also had lots of problems of sticky brake calipers. (I played musical license plates, because In the great state of Michigan it seems to be legal for the gov't to steal.....for example, lets say the plate on my plow truck expires in May, and I do not renew it because the truck will be stored until December, When going for a plate in December, they try to make you renew the plate from May, at a full year cost (plus late fees). The only way to avoid this was to transfer a current plate to the vehicle with the lapsed plate.) Constantly repairing brakes, and multiple trips to the secretary of state/dmv every year got old for me, so I finally sold both my old trucks with the plows, and a 2012 Fusion that was my get around vehicle. Bought the new truck and a new plow, and it is now my only vehicle, and I'm enjoying the simplicity compared to my old arrangement. With a bit over 20K from the other vehicle sales, I was able to pay cash for my truck. The 2% auto rates are very attractive, and for me it would have been a great business decision to take advantage of because I have a large commercial mortgage in the 5% neighborhood that I could have also placed the truck money on. In the end though, I just did not want a car payment, and I think the monthly $1200-1500 truck payments would cause me undue stress, even though it would be no problem making them, and I'd maybe enjoy the truck a bit less because of the payments. I'm getting ready to chat with the banks about re-doing the commercial loan before rates creep higher, and If they don't come to 4%, I may still finance the truck, and also put in extra cash to pay the commercial loan down

I don't have navigation, but good idea on the separate volume setting. I'll go poke around and try to see if that's a possibility. But as far as adjusting volume during the notify, I think there wouldn't be enough time to react to it

This is the 8" screen. I saw a YouTuber change it out, and it was plug and play, but I'm sure it was expensive. I agree the terminology can be very confusing, and I think it needs a different name, such as Instrument cluster

When I ordered my 2022 xlt in April, the 8" was not an option, and my truck came with the 4.3" one. I feel like the main product page mislead me as well...it made me think my xlt would have the lane departure warning...and it does not. I believe that requires the multi cameras and ptba to get in the xlt.

My truck has sync 3, 8" screen. I have saved songs in the radio that I like, and it will alert me when they are playing on another station. I love the alert feature but cannot stand the notification sound of 3 very intense beeps. It is much louder than volume on the radio, it is startling and stressful. I have sort of gotten used to it now, but it's annoying enough that my wife just turns the radio off when it happens. I can't believe nobody else has commented on this yet. Can this be changed? I wonder if sync 4 is the same way? We have a 2013 Taurus with the feature, and the tone is much more pleasant, just barely Loud enough to hear

Wow, I wouldn't have guessed that. Seems like a lot of extra work. I can see how labor would be the hold up. If they build somewhere around 7000 trucks/day and if 20% get the prep package, that is a whole lot of labor required to install more than 1000 hitches per day

I've been researching tint as well. 3M has a tint called Crystalline available in almost clear to fairly dark. It looks like good stuff, and I want to go that route, Downside is that you can only get it through a dealer, and there are none in my state (Michigan).

I haven't heard or experienced the exhaust system the original post is asking about, but I agree with this statement about the stock exhaust. My truck with 7.3 is all stock, and I find the factory exhaust a very happy medium between a typical factory exhaust that you normally cant hear, and a performance exhaust. My truck sounds pretty good without it being annoyingly loud. And while towing a trailer and running 3000+ rpm, you can certainly hear it, loud enough to put a smile on my face, and quiet enough its not annoying or deafening

The extra battery is on the left side above the fender, main battery on right side above fender. I have the 7.3

I'm not big on the black packages, but I think the carbonized gray looks the best in the black package

Please do, I'd like to hear the experiences of others on this

I have a 250 supercab 7.3, 3.55 with the 10000gvwr. Per ford, the max potential payload is 3450, and my truck came in with a payload of around 2900#. Also got the camper package and the slide in camper certificate says the max camper weight is around 2200#....that was a lower number than I was expecting and while there are campers of that weight out there, it will limit what campers you can use. I am happy with the high gearing and do mild to moderate towing. Never comes close to running out of power. If you cruise a whole tank out on the highway, you can get mid 15 mpg, but a mix of highway and rural driving to town, the mpg usually ends up at 10-11

Yes, my XLT with manual column telescopes

Rob, I've noticed that the truck starts out in 2nd from reverse mainly when I shift before the truck is at an absolute dead stop. If you let it come to a complete stop, then shift to drive, it will usually start in first gear, but only for an instant. In time, I'm sure we'll find a method that works for us, and for now, my method is the deep snow drive mode

Will give that a try next time I plow

Not exactly, I'm complaining because the truck skips first gear completely and starts out in 2nd under a load. truck has plenty of power to do it even with higher gearing. It just seems like doing so would put unnecessary wear and tear on transmission. I'd prefer it to use gear 1 & 2 for plowing not 2 & 3.

No, I believe 3.31 is only available with diesel engine

3.55 because 430 seems really low and totally unnecessary with an engine of such size and power. I wanted the best mpg possible, because i also drive highway a fair amount of the time too. As I said, even in third at low rpm, I'm not lacking power at all, just seems like it is unnecessary strain on the transmission

Yes tow haul made no difference

you can shift manually, but that's not realistic or feasible with so much forward and back, all while holding a plow controller in my right hand. I think the deep snow/sand is the best option. Better yet, Ford should make a snow plowing mode for trucks equipped with plow prep. One other irritating trait, the back defrost only stays on for about 5-10 minutes, and window is constantly fogging up. Would be easier if it would just stay on when I turn it on. Maybe this is adjustable in forscan, If I found someone with the right knowledge to do so?