UTVGuide.net 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty Tow Rig Buildup
Stock: 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat 4×4 Crew Cab
By Jon Crowley, UTVGuide.net
Crowley Offroad recently purchased a 2011 Ford F-350 Super Duty Lariat 4×4 Crew Cab tow vehicle and quickly embarked on a mild buildup to improve ride quality, looks, and also feature some aftermarket parts and accessories.
Before we get into the specifics on the goodies we added to make the truck better, let’s take a look at the truck as it came from the factory.
Ford F-350 Towing 24 ft. Enclosed Trailer
I need a truck than can tow and haul, and the best choice for that is a diesel. At the heart of this F-350 is the 6.7L Power Stroke®
V8 Turbo Diesel. Best-in-class power and fuel economy. Clean and quiet operation. The new Power Stroke features a Single-Sequential Turbocharger that is located between the cylinder heads and the top of the block, and the exhaust manifold positioned inboard and adjacent to the turbocharger. Closer proximity means faster air displacement and more power.
The 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel was designed and built entirely by Ford and is capable of producing 390 hp at 2800 RPM and 735 lb·ft of torque at 1600 RPM.
The Ford TorqShift® 6-Speed SelectShift Automatic Transmission has big, strong gears that take on extra torque, meaning you use fewer rpm because the torque converter locks up at lower speeds.
Likes:
- Quiet (I no longer have to turn off the truck in the drive-thru)
- Comfortable
- Powerful
- Backup camera and power mirrors provide excellent visibility
- AC power outlet near rear of console
Dislikes:
- F-350 overload spring causes tremors/chatter when truck is lightly loaded or empty when traveling on washboarded or bumpy roads.
- Smog – Diesel exhaust fluid needed
- Small fuel tank – 26 gallons is too small for a tow rig.
Our new truck is packed with a long list of options and option packages. Included are heated and cooled front seats, rear view camera, tailgate step, remote start, power-slide moon roof and FX4 off-road package.
Our truck does many things and must remain versatile. I tow on a regular basis and also use it as a daily driver so a big lift and huge tires, although very cool looking, is not practical for me. The ride quality of the F-350 was pretty harsh, and I know what a good set of aftermarket shocks can do for a UTV, so it seemed only natural to do the same for my truck.
The F-350 is made for hauling and sits with quite a rake to it. I started to look at leveling kits. Some of them included spacers to raise the front and this seemed like a lower quality patch to me. After looking around for a while, I found a stage-4 2.5″ Leveling Kit with 2.5″ shocks from ICON Vehicle Dynamics that also includes new progressive rate front springs.
ICON Vehicle Dynamics – Ford Super Duty 2.5″ Stage 4 System
The system’s components provide for better-than-stock ride quality and is perfect for the cost-conscious truck owner who wants a level truck and a smooth ride. This stage 4 system upgrades the front and rear shocks to 2.5″ diameter Piggy-Back shocks. The system also includes the adjustable pan-rod bar and steering stabilizer kit and shocks.
What I found was the Mojave in Black made by Fuel. I went with a larger 20″ wheel in black and they have a faux beadlock with chrome bolt heads. For tires, I knew I needed something a little bigger than stock but didn’t want to trim anything or affect my gear ratio too much. I decided on a LT275/65R20 Nitto Crosstek HD.
Once I received the lift from ICON Vehicle Dynamics, I arranged to have it installed and the front end aligned at Keith’s Alignment & Brake in Placerville, CA. The kit came complete and went together well. The downside to leveling a truck is once you put a load in the bed, it will sit low in the rear. The solution is to add air springs.
Firestone Air Springs
With the truck a little taller, side steps were necessary. I found a nice set of oval cab-length steps from Tuff-Bar.
I often carry a UTV on a rack in the bed of my truck, and the ultimate solution is frame mounted camper tie-downs. Tork-Lift had a setup for the 2011 model.
I hooked up with Line-X in Placerville to protect the bed. I opted for their “Premium” product that has UV protection built in.
During the trip to Barstow for the Arctic Cat Wildcat media introduction, I tested the suspension on multiple road types:
- Curvy mountain roads
- Washboarded dirt roads
- Sand dunes
- Rough highways
The ICON shocks provided improved comfort, stability, and safety.
My next detour was at the Olancha Dunes and later gathered photos for DuneGuide.com.
Once again, I was impressed with the added comfort and performance.
The ICON suspension helped tremendously on the rough Central Valley highways. The shocks can also be valved to personal preference.
Overall, I am thrilled with the changes. The truck looks tougher, rides more comfortably, remains safe on and off road, and continues to retain its strong towing and hauling abilities.
Sources:
- ICON Vehicle Dynamics – Lift Kit
- MHT Wheels – Wheels
- Nitto – Tires
- Firestone – Air Springs
- Tuff-Bar – Side Steps
- Tork Lift – Camper Tie Downs
- UTV Rack – Roggy Enterprises
Ford F-350 with Kawasaki Teryx on UTV Rack
Ford F-350 with Fuel Wheels, Nitto Tires and Tuff-Bar Steps
ICON Vehicle Dynamics .25″ Shocks and Firestone Air Spring
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