2024 F350 one month review

Joe1967

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Location
Duluth MN
I bought a new 2024 F350 Lariat Ultimate diesel SRW short bed in early November. I traded in a 2022 that was basically the same truck. Things the new truck has that the old did not: Much more comfortable front seats, sun roof, snow plow prep package, pro power on board, heads up display, and better shifting in the transmission. I have put about 1,200 miles on it so far (no towing) and really like this truck. The bottom of the front seats are very supportive and after driving for 2 hours my back feels completely relaxed, whereas in the 2022 it was sore. I know everyone is different, but this was a big plus for me. Even with the snow plow prep package (I won't be putting on a plow) it rides as good as the 2022 without the SPPP. There are a couple of bumps in the road near where I live, and even at a moderate speed the front suspension of the 2022 would bottom lightly. Not so with the 2024. The 2024 with the SPPP also corners better, which I hope will help the handling while towing the fifth wheel. One other thing I discovered in the buying process was that a regular Lariat does not steer as nice and you feel more of the road in the steering wheel. I think this has to do with electric assist that the Lariat Ultimate and higher trims have. Nobody on the sales floor new anything about this. If you look inside the wheel well on the drivers side above the tire you will see a large aluminum bracket. This is where the electric steering assist motor mounts (I think). I do know that if the truck has this bracket, it steers really nice. Fit and finish are good so far. It's very quiet going down at 78 mph. Overall, I am very happy with the truck.
 
I bought a new 2024 F350 Lariat Ultimate diesel SRW short bed in early November. I traded in a 2022 that was basically the same truck. Things the new truck has that the old did not: Much more comfortable front seats, sun roof, snow plow prep package, pro power on board, heads up display, and better shifting in the transmission. I have put about 1,200 miles on it so far (no towing) and really like this truck. The bottom of the front seats are very supportive and after driving for 2 hours my back feels completely relaxed, whereas in the 2022 it was sore. I know everyone is different, but this was a big plus for me. Even with the snow plow prep package (I won't be putting on a plow) it rides as good as the 2022 without the SPPP. There are a couple of bumps in the road near where I live, and even at a moderate speed the front suspension of the 2022 would bottom lightly. Not so with the 2024. The 2024 with the SPPP also corners better, which I hope will help the handling while towing the fifth wheel. One other thing I discovered in the buying process was that a regular Lariat does not steer as nice and you feel more of the road in the steering wheel. I think this has to do with electric assist that the Lariat Ultimate and higher trims have. Nobody on the sales floor new anything about this. If you look inside the wheel well on the drivers side above the tire you will see a large aluminum bracket. This is where the electric steering assist motor mounts (I think). I do know that if the truck has this bracket, it steers really nice. Fit and finish are good so far. It's very quiet going down at 78 mph. Overall, I am very happy with the truck.
Nice write up. We are deciding between Ram and F350, the GMC is a distant 3rd. Appreciate you taking the time to post.
 
I bought a new 2024 F350 Lariat Ultimate diesel SRW short bed in early November. I traded in a 2022 that was basically the same truck. Things the new truck has that the old did not: Much more comfortable front seats, sun roof, snow plow prep package, pro power on board, heads up display, and better shifting in the transmission. I have put about 1,200 miles on it so far (no towing) and really like this truck. The bottom of the front seats are very supportive and after driving for 2 hours my back feels completely relaxed, whereas in the 2022 it was sore. I know everyone is different, but this was a big plus for me. Even with the snow plow prep package (I won't be putting on a plow) it rides as good as the 2022 without the SPPP. There are a couple of bumps in the road near where I live, and even at a moderate speed the front suspension of the 2022 would bottom lightly. Not so with the 2024. The 2024 with the SPPP also corners better, which I hope will help the handling while towing the fifth wheel. One other thing I discovered in the buying process was that a regular Lariat does not steer as nice and you feel more of the road in the steering wheel. I think this has to do with electric assist that the Lariat Ultimate and higher trims have. Nobody on the sales floor new anything about this. If you look inside the wheel well on the drivers side above the tire you will see a large aluminum bracket. This is where the electric steering assist motor mounts (I think). I do know that if the truck has this bracket, it steers really nice. Fit and finish are good so far. It's very quiet going down at 78 mph. Overall, I am very happy with the truck.
I wonder if its the weight of the diesel motor (in your case) that helps tame that plow package added spring strength. I have the plow/camper package on my '23 F250 Lariat 4x4 SBCC SRW (no Ultimate) with a 7.3 gasser. Got the camper package for the factory swaybar, and the plow package for the added spring strength. In stock form with the lighter 7.3 gasser I noticed the front end was light going down the road since new.

Recently however, I added a 50lb front tow receiver for help parking pull behind trailers due to the F250 poor turning radius. As an added gem, the weight of my new front tow receiver settled down the bounce felt on road bumps and took out the lightness out of the frontend, plus my new front receiver inserted step(which adds 14" height) I purchased gives me better access under the hood. Between being a 4x4 and having the plow package springs its a PITA just to do a OCI or any other underhood maint even for my 6'1" frame and reach. Now with the step, I get alot better access under the hood and its small and light enough to store in the bed of the truck for when I need it.
 
One thing I did when I bought this truck that I have not done before was buy an extended warranty. I have bumper to bumper coverage for 7 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) for $3,153. With what they charge to do repairs these days, I thought it wasn't a bad deal. And it's prorated, so if I get rid of the truck before the warranty expires, I get some money back.
 
I wonder if its the weight of the diesel motor (in your case) that helps tame that plow package added spring strength. I have the plow/camper package on my '23 F250 Lariat 4x4 SBCC SRW (no Ultimate) with a 7.3 gasser. Got the camper package for the factory swaybar, and the plow package for the added spring strength. In stock form with the lighter 7.3 gasser I noticed the front end was light going down the road since new.

Recently however, I added a 50lb front tow receiver for help parking pull behind trailers due to the F250 poor turning radius. As an added gem, the weight of my new front tow receiver settled down the bounce felt on road bumps and took out the lightness out of the frontend, plus my new front receiver inserted step(which adds 14" height) I purchased gives me better access under the hood. Between being a 4x4 and having the plow package springs its a PITA just to do a OCI or any other underhood maint even for my 6'1" frame and reach. Now with the step, I get alot better access under the hood and its small and light enough to store in the bed of the truck for when I need it.
What brand of front hitch did you buy, and did you install it yourself? thanks.
 
What brand of front hitch did you buy, and did you install it yourself? thanks.
I purchased a Draw-tite 65076 hitch. Very easy to install on my 7.3 gasser no removal of the bumper required. Just the inner bolts that retain the skid brackets to the frame had to be removed and replaced with longer bolts for the hitch.

For you deisel guys with a lower cooler, the bumper needs to be removed so that the lower cooler can be loosened and moved out of the way for intallation. Still appears fairly easy to install. Etrailer has a good video on how to do this.

I also purchased this reciever style step for better access to the engine compartment.


Reciever Install instructions.
 

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One thing I did when I bought this truck that I have not done before was buy an extended warranty. I have bumper to bumper coverage for 7 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) for $3,153. With what they charge to do repairs these days, I thought it wasn't a bad deal. And it's prorated, so if I get rid of the truck before the warranty expires, I get some money back.
I did the same on my Ram. I just had my turbocharger blow, the Uconnect screen and computer required replacement, and front bearings come out of spec while under warranty. The parts for the turbocharger alone were ~$7500.00 and the total repair was over $11,000.00, all covered under warranty. The bearings and turbocharger are rare failures to happen early but really glad I had the warranty.
 
I purchased a Draw-tite 65076 hitch. Very easy to install on my 7.3 gasser no removal of the bumper required. Just the inner bolts that retain the skid brackets to the frame had to be removed and replaced with longer bolts for the hitch.

For you deisel guys with a lower cooler, the bumper needs to be removed so that the lower cooler can be loosened and moved out of the way for intallation. Still appears fairly easy to install. Etrailer has a good video on how to do this.

I also purchased this reciever style step for better access to the engine compartment.


Reciever Install instructions.
I noticed the weight restriction is only 500# payload and 9k# pulling. Is this something you see as an issue now that you’ve installed it? 500# isn’t much but I don’t foresee towing my trailer with it. I would install one so I can put a hitch mounted winch in it. Curious as to how you feel now that it’s all installed. Thanks.

Aaron
 
I noticed the weight restriction is only 500# payload and 9k# pulling. Is this something you see as an issue now that you’ve installed it? 500# isn’t much but I don’t foresee towing my trailer with it. I would install one so I can put a hitch mounted winch in it. Curious as to how you feel now that it’s all installed. Thanks.

Aaron
True.... would not pull much more than something like a tandem axle flat bed trailer. This upgrade at best would be good for front driving a trailer into a tight parking spot. I have, and it does a great job! Lots of folks who installed them have posted they'll never not have one again.

As for winching, sure, would definitely use it for a quick winch setup. Most the time the pull factor wont be up/downward force but mostly side/front. 9000lbs pull capacity will definitely get most vehicles out of a jam. Had a buddy one time pull my high centered '68 Chevelle out of a 5' deep ditch with a '75 Datsun B210 and a pull chain! Alot of the time its just the setup (prep for pulling) of the pulling vehicle and how they go about yanking you out.....
 

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