V-10 for offroad use?

[Pirate]

I am thinking about getting an F-350 reg cab V-10. This would be a daily driver as well as seeing some offroad use such as trails and sand dunes. A 4X4 with XL trim and offroad pkg would cost about 25k, according to Ford web site. Any comments?

[gossamar]

...go and visit a few sites like http://www.kbb.com/ or http://www.edmunds.com/newtrucks/ and check to see what invoice pricing is. I paid $500.00 over invoice for my truck over one year ago. Price doesn't sound to bad...got mine loaded with xlt trim, 4x4 and supercab for about $29,000.....

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Y2K 250 4x4 Island Blue XLT SB SC V-10 Auto 3:73LS every option except esof. goodies: BORLA exhaust, K/N filter, Jet performance chip, RHINO Liner, Husky Floor Liners

[Pirate]

Thanks Gossamar,
I have done that. I guess what I'm trying to ask is more about a HD for offroad use. I like the V-10 power, but I'm wondering about the weight of a HD for offroad use. I currently have a F-150 SC SB 4X4 Lariat 5.4
but I want more power and more tire and lift options.

Here's my current truck:
http://www.piratehome.50megs.com/index.html

[acn]

I got an F-250 with the same thing in mind as you. I wanted to get a heavier truck since I knew the components would be more durable, and I really liked the solid front axle on the superduty's. Your F-150 has IFS, I don't know what kind of luck you've had but they tend to fall apart after too much time off-road.
If you don't plan on towing or hauling anything too heavy and you're worried about weight, you should probably get a 250 instead of a 350 - little less weight to be lugging around (although the 350 is a little stronger). Also make sure you get the SWB if you want to do much off-road.
I have seen plenty of 3/4 and 1 ton pickups offroad, both on beaches in MD and on trails in CA, they never seem to have much trouble. If you ever go in the mud, the weight may help you get through the cr@p and down to something a little more solid, so the weight may help there.
Just look at the HMMWV's the Army uses, they weigh more than a SD and do real well off-road (of course the tires and ground clearance don't hurt)
Sorry to ramble, hope this helps. Good luck.
- Alex

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2001 F250 4x4 XLT, SWB S/C, Black, V10 5-spd, 4.30 ltd slip, Snow plow/off-road Pkgs, LT265
Ordered: 04 Oct 00 Built: 01 Nov 00
Now I've just got to get out to CA and get it...

[Pirate]

Thanks acn,
I think I am leaning to the F-350. I have been doing some more research and I like what i'm seeing. First round with dealer is tomorrow eve. I think I am pretty well prepared. wish me luck!

[SuperDave]

I go offroading in mine occassionally.
Definately go for the Super-Cab, Short Bed.
I couldn't imagine turning around, making turns with the crew cab long-bed. The SC,SB
is hard enough to get turned around in a jam, but manageable. I've been stuck in snow with mine already. (Did it on purpose to see how it would do...it was going up hill so it wasn't too difficult to get out going back down....just had to rock it a bit and steer the wheels some.) It's got plenty of power for blasting through things when needed. Couldn't "blast" through this patch of snow because of a narrow opening into a corral I was trying to get into. I was afraid of crashing into the fence posts. The snow was about a foot and a half deep at about 8,000 feet.

For climbing really steep dry stuff, the 4-low with the V10 and the weight makes it climb effortlessly! You can just creep along
up the hill without blasting up it till you know what is at the top.

For mud, it slides around alot like anything else. The reaction times for correcting a slide a higher speed are a bit slower though because of the weight. Takes a bit more effort to get it into a slide and a little more time to recover and correct from a slide. Still good, though. Haven't tried any deep mud....I don't like deep mud in any vehicle. That's a bit too rough on a nice vehicle.


Watch out for wheel-hop if peeling out at slower speeds in stuff like sand, certain types of snow, and other dirt. The wheels will hop pretty severly and shake things up quite a bit because of the stiffer suspension. (250 with overloads vs 150) I've also got the 4" factory blocks from Ford in the rear....that adds to the spring-wrap phenomenon a bit. Just let off when wheels start to hop and it settles down quick.

Haven't modified my suspension in any way.
I'm pretty easy on the truck so I probably won't need to.

Hope that helps.

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WarWagon-1999 F250 XLT, SD, SC, SB, 4x4, V10, AUTO, Manual xfer case/hubs, 3.73 SRW Open-Axle.

[N2BOOST]

Check out www.foutzmotorsports.com

These guys have a bad ass F250 std cab sht bed w/ V10 and it is bad!
Ricky B
added on edit: Oops! Sorry guys. Apparently the link is no good right now. I have visited this site many times and am hard pressed to believe that they have stopped their internet service. Check back periodically or check with yahoo. They're listed under Foutz. They have taken the Superduty and the V10 further than anybody that I know of so far. R.
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Silver '00 Supercab F250XLT SWB 2wd w/ Vortech Supercharged V10, JBA, Magnaflow, Fabtech, SwayAway, Centerline, BFG, Autometer.........
www.vortechsuperchargers.com

[This message has been edited by N2BOOST (edited 11-20-2000).]

[Bikeman]

I had mine in Moab with 1100 mi on it and since then added the winch and other trail items. It does real well off road and I have seriously got myself into trouble with it. The reg cab longbed is the shortest wheelbase avail. except the suber cab SB, so longer is not better in this case. I have a big scrape on the transfer case skidplate where it high centered. Too bad no shortbed reg cab. You can't beat the heavy duty running gear on these trucks, lacked on my 1998 F-150. On the 350, if you are not going to carry alot of weight, you will want to soften up the rear springs and take off the swaybars and definately not get the camper pkg. The only bad experience was four wheeling in snow with the rear limited slip being very scary even creepy crawling on roads with a dropoff on the other side. Had the truck on sand dunes near Parker, AZ and aired down to 25psi and it made a difference, but it dug in alot on hillclimbs. I got my truck right at invoice, and I think on the XL's they have in stock dealers like to move. Get the 4.3 gears for sure. Hope this helps your decision, and let us know how it went.

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'00 F250 Reg.cab, 5.4, Superchip, 4R100, 4.10LS, ORP, 255/85R16 Big O XT, Kenwood CD, white grill, K&N, Removed swaybar, Astro 1800 Topper with off road roof rack, hi lift jack, front levelled, Kennesaw winch bumper, Ramsey 9000# winch, custom 2x6 rear bumper.

[mlucas]

I researched past threads a bunch before I changed my 250 order to a 350. A comparably equipped 250 weighs virtually the same as a 350 (3 or 4 lbs.? for the 4" blocks, the heavier springs and axles weigh the same) Several guys have compared the ride and could feel no difference. I went with the 350, and paid a few hundred buck for another half ton of payload. Also, I don't know how much more a V10 weighs, but it can't be enough to make difference for off roading.

Good luck, and don't pay over $500 over invoice!

Mark
01 350 CC 4X4 SWD LB Lariat 12/4 build date!

Good lu

[N2BOOST]

Ahh haa!!!! I knew I would find a link to the Foutz Motorsports truck. Check this thing out. It uses many stock components and factory Ford high output V10.
Ricky
www.foutzmotorsports.com/JuneUpdate/F-250%20action%20shots.htm

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Silver '00 Supercab F250XLT SWB 2wd w/ Vortech Supercharged V10, JBA, Magnaflow, Fabtech, SwayAway, Centerline, BFG, Autometer.........
www.vortechsuperchargers.com

[This message has been edited by N2BOOST (edited 11-21-2000).]

[V10 man]

375 hp and 525 tq.. wholy crap! What ever they did they need to market it!

[N2BOOST]

That's what I'm sayin. I need to go look at my truck but I'm pretty sure that motor has a different style plenum than our std. production units do. Could be wrong though. If it does.....I need to get my hands on one.
Ricky

[SDV10]

I have the F250, with 4.30 ls diff. I took it to Silver Lake in MI and had no trouble navigating the dunes. The V10 has plenty of power for getting around the dunes.