Anyone with a ca. 2008 V10 SuperDuty?

[Bob W]

I'm thinking of moving 'up', getting rid of the 2004 F350 Supercab, and getting into a 2008 F250 Crew Cab. The lack of a full back seat, rear windows that don't roll down, and super stiff suspension have me motivated to make the switch.

Mainly too, my truck isn't red and I really want a red truck.

One thing I abso-freakin'-lutely love about my '04 truck is the V10 engine, so I want the replacement truck to have the same.

So what, if anything, about the V10 changed between 2004 and 2008?
Anything else about 2008-ish SuperDuty Fords I should be aware of?

 

[Sid Post]

Will the 3/4 ton really ride that much better? Wouldn't the weight of a diesel go a long ways toward softening up the suspension?

You could also put Firestone (or similar) air bags on your one ton. I did that to my pickup and it helps a lot. At 0PSI it rides reasonably well and with 80PSI (or less depending on load) it has the right suspension for the load - not too harsh and no 'squat'.

 

[Bob W]

I'll look into air bags. Still, I need a crew cab. And RED is critical.



The truck has adjustable shocks. I set the front at 3 and the rear at 2. Any lower and there's too much body roll when cornering.

 

[Bo T]

I don't believe the V10 changed at all during those years. I don't remember when they were discontinued. Maybe something was done to boost HP or torque a little over that time. I know one gentleman who swore by one. He didn't put a lot of miles on it but when he towed he needed something that could pull his large trailer. And he needed to haul a couple of tons at a time. The premium on the diesel was not worth it to him.

 

[Bob W]

I don't believe the V10 changed at all during those years. I don't remember when they were discontinued. Maybe something was done to boost HP or torque a little over that time.

Seems they received a horsepower boost in '05, but I wondered what sorts of gremlins might have been introduced.

I know one gentleman who swore by one. He didn't put a lot of miles on it but when he towed he needed something that could pull his large trailer. And he needed to haul a couple of tons at a time. The premium on the diesel was not worth it to him.

I definitely like mine. Back then the V8 engines were underpowered for this elevation, and diesel is an absolute not-gonna-happen. I see some very large trailers being towed in the mountains with the V10 Fords.

One thing I'd like to do with mine, either the old or new one, take it east and feel the power at sea level.

 

[gadgetgeek]

I only ever met one V10, not sure of the year. The owner loved it, despite its horrible mileage. It mostly pulled a trailer though, I think he even hated driving it without the trailer. That said, I've heard bad things about head-gaskets in ford V-10s but that may be all rumor and innuendo.

 

[Bob W]

I only ever met one V10, not sure of the year. The owner loved it, despite its horrible mileage. It mostly pulled a trailer though, I think he even hated driving it without the trailer. That said, I've heard bad things about head-gaskets in ford V-10s but that may be all rumor and innuendo.

Mine is running like a champ, and I've never heard of chronic problems with the newer V10 engines. The very first ones though had serious problems with the spark plugs blowing out, on account of there not being enough threads on the block.

Here's what I'm looking at as far as model years and engines:
V10, 2005-2010
V8, 2011+

2010 was the last year for the V10, and starting in '11 the V8 has more horsepower anyway.

Trouble is just finding one of the things for sale... There was one in Colorado Springs earlier this month, but it sold before I could get home from Australia.

 

[Bo T]

Why don't you get yours painted? Than way you could choose the shade of RED that you like best. Also, you wouldn't be buying someone else's gremlins.

 

[Bob W]

Mine is an F350 Supercab. Hoping to find an F250 Crew Cab. Mine is also an '04; there's a good hp increase if I move up at least one year.

The 350 suspension just kicks my ass. Bluntly, I'm not man enough for my truck.

 

[Sid Post]

The 350 suspension just kicks my ass. Bluntly, I'm not man enough for my truck.

Either "man up" or get some air bags. Seriously, air bags work - just look at any modern semi at the truck stop. Does the 3/4 ton really seem that much softer to you? I never really noticed the difference personally but, both were loaded with farm stuff.

Those Ford SuperDuty tires are really good but, boy are they stiff. They are what my Toyota Tundra now wears and those are what drove me to air bags along with heavier loads. If you typically run empty, get a set of "passenger" tires and save those hard E-rated tires for the trailers and firewood.

 

[Bob W]

Those Ford SuperDuty tires are really good but, boy are they stiff.

I run a standard pickup tire since I rarely haul heavy loads. BFG All-Terrain TA. The truck has 18" wheels (not the correct size for the year), so you know those weren't cheap!

Seriously, air bags work - just look at any modern semi at the truck stop.

I'll have to look into those. Thanks for the heads-up. Still doesn't solve the red or crew cab issue though.
In the long run it seems to make more economic sense to just buy the 'right' truck instead of modifying this one.

Does the 3/4 ton really seem that much softer to you?

The crew cab makes the truck a bit heavier, and when combined with the softer suspension, works out just about right. It's not going to ride silky soft like an F150, that's for sure. But the trade-off of towing and hauling capability, cab space, and cargo space is worth it.

Either "man up"...

I do a bit of backcountry travel, even some 4WD. Crossing a cobblefield in an empty F350... I bet people would stand in line for the chance to experience it.

 

[TwinStick]

I don't have an F-250/350 but i do have a Dodge Power Wagon in RED and it is a Quad cab (4 separate doors- back ones open to 90*). I absolutely LOVE my truck. Rear seats fold up & back & i have the fold flat rear floor - for a flat surface all the way across. :thumbup: Crew cabs ROCK for versatility. V-10 Ford is a great engine. Only thing i can add is: I have read that the V-10 & its trans can both benefit from better coolers, as any big engine & auto trans can. That is the key to long life for any HD truck.