A truck and trailer thread.

[McMXi]

They do glow red. Put 12v to one of the ones you pulled. They run off a single relay so they all get the same juice. The relays are known to fail so if trouble starting comes your way diagnose that first. I think it’s on the passenger side of the engine bay.

The DP-Tuner programmer indicated that two of the glow plugs were bad and that was more than a few years ago. Since the IDM failed it got me to finally address the glow plug issue. I've got everything back together and all is good with no codes showing up yet.

You're right about the relay. It's on top of the engine and more towards the passenger side.

I bought a top side creeper a few years ago and that thing is essential when working on these big trucks. So much easier to get access to the back of the engine.

 

[Poohbear]

Couple questions for you regarding your set up:

1. I dont remember your trim level on the truck (lariat or higher?)…but I wonder do you have to have a subscriptions for some of the services? (I am not a fan of that, but industry going that way…I think at least one manufacturer has that for the heated seats…honestly I don’t have a a helpful comment about that). Anyway I wondered how does the Navi work and same for your radio? Is there subscription or you can do what you want thru your phone?

2. On the trailer side, any reason not using gooseneck? (I thought your previous green machine had a cap, so I can do the math there…how about the 450? Any thoughts one way or other on a gooseneck? Or using bumper pulls you had or maybe going to add a cap at some point? Just curious.

3. Do you have a power tailgate? If so any concerns or troubles with it or including cold weather / freezing up?

Thanks in advance.

On my 2022 F450 it's a lariat trim. heated/cooled seats & the Sync4 big screen display. the Ford navigation subscription is $80 yearly and it has the ability to input your trailer info but when in that mode its just a lot of warnings ( I won't renew) so I stick to my Garmin RV gps or display RVLife navigation on the screen thru my iPhone, I am still testing the RV Life App against my trusty Garmin. Love playing Amazon Music to my radio.
I use both the factory gooseneck hitch and rv puck system but I also use a Curt puck adapter for my air ride 5th wheel hitch as I had it long before I had this factory puck system.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

On my 2022 F450 it's a lariat trim. heated/cooled seats & the Sync4 big screen display. the Ford navigation subscription is $80 yearly and it has the ability to input your trailer info but when in that mode its just a lot of warnings ( I won't renew) so I stick to my Garmin RV gps or display RVLife navigation on the screen thru my iPhone, I am still testing the RV Life App against my trusty Garmin. Love playing Amazon Music to my radio.
I use both the factory gooseneck hitch and rv puck system but I also use a Curt puck adapter for my air ride 5th wheel hitch as I had it long before I had this factory puck system.

Thank you.

Does your truck have the power T/G? Any issues with no manual release handle?

(Have you used it in winter and does the gate freeze? - i could not see there is a manual way to open should the e lock not work or if the gate froze, how open?)

Thanks.

 

[Poohbear]

Thank you.

Does your truck have the power T/G? Any issues with no manual release handle?

(Have you used it in winter and does the gate freeze? - i could not see there is a manual way to open should the e lock not work or if the gate froze, how open?)

Thanks.

I only have the auto lock that locks with the doors and I actually have a love/hate mindset on that feature. I have a friend that has a 2021 with power open/close tailgate and no issues so far. if I could have 2 more things added it would be the pro-trailer assist & adaptive cruise control . I have found with those heated/cooled leather seats I don't get near as tired on a long tow with my 45 ft RV as I did with the Chevy 3500.
if mine froze where couldn't open I would go back inside & have another cup of coffee or something. That's too cold to be out there IMHO.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

I only have the auto lock that locks with the doors and I actually have a love/hate mindset on that feature. I have a friend that has a 2021 with power open/close tailgate and no issues so far. if I could have 2 more things added it would be the pro-trailer assist & adaptive cruise control . I have found with those heated/cooled leather seats I don't get near as tired on a long tow with my 45 ft RV as I did with the Chevy 3500.
if mine froze where couldn't open I would go back inside & have another cup of coffee or something. That's too cold to be out there IMHO.

Great point. Thank you.

 

[McMXi]

Thank you.

Does your truck have the power T/G? Any issues with no manual release handle?

(Have you used it in winter and does the gate freeze? - i could not see there is a manual way to open should the e lock not work or if the gate froze, how open?)

Thanks.

I have the power down tailgate as previously mentioned, but I also have a handle in the tailgate. Power down and power up is also an option but I would assume that the tailgate still has a handle.

 

[McMXi]

I only have the auto lock that locks with the doors and I actually have a love/hate mindset on that feature. I have a friend that has a 2021 with power open/close tailgate and no issues so far. if I could have 2 more things added it would be the pro-trailer assist & adaptive cruise control . I have found with those heated/cooled leather seats I don't get near as tired on a long tow with my 45 ft RV as I did with the Chevy 3500.
if mine froze where couldn't open I would go back inside & have another cup of coffee or something. That's too cold to be out there IMHO.

I just took a trip to Great Falls this weekend and the F-450 is such a wonderful road trip truck. The adaptive cruise control is awesome and it's a feature that I use a lot. The F-450 has a lot of features specifically intended to improve the towing experience and I'm a fan for sure. There is very little to complain about with this truck and my ownership experience so far has been excellent.

This truck came with just about every option and I don't think a power up tailgate is of much use. You have to get out to secure the trailer so I think that power down is useful, but power up not so much.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

I have the power down tailgate as previously mentioned, but I also have a handle in the tailgate. Power down and power up is also an option but I would assume that the tailgate still has a handle.

When you say ‘handle’ do you mean the rod that comes out of TG that creates a hand hold when using the step? Or handle as in lever to open TG? I ask as one that I looked at seemed to have no handle to open TG, only a button and power down. There was a rod that pulls out that severed as hand hold for stepping up…make sense? (Basically I am surprised no manual lever to open the TG…but my anxiety may be much a do about nothing).

Only thing I could see is that power down may seem slow if pouring down rain and need to put something in/out of the bed.

 

[McMXi]

When you say ‘handle’ do you mean the rod that comes out of TG that creates a hand hold when using the step? Or handle as in lever to open TG? I ask as one that I looked at seemed to have no handle to open TG, only a button and power down. There was a rod that pulls out that severed as hand hold for stepping up…make sense? (Basically I am surprised no manual lever to open the TG…but my anxiety may be much a do about nothing).

Only thing I could see is that power down may seem slow if pouring down rain and need to put something in/out of the bed.

I have a handle in the tailgate which you can see in the photo below that I took at the dealer when I first saw the truck. I also have the tailgate step which I've yet to use. The step has a fold up handle to assist stability when getting on/off the tailgate. There's a button on the underside of the handle that if depressed quickly (at least twice) will automatically lower the tailgate. There's a button in the cab that works the same way.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

I have a handle in the tailgate which you can see in the photo below that I took at the dealer when I first saw the truck. I also have the tailgate step which I've yet to use. The step has a fold up handle to assist stability when getting on/off the tailgate. There's a button on the underside of the handle that if depressed quickly (at least twice) will automatically lower the tailgate. There's a button in the cab that works the same way.

View attachment 165051

Thank you. That explanation makes sense. I must have misunderstood either what salesman said or how the handle worked. I’ll find out first person soon enough unless the chip shortage holds things up.

 

[biketopia]

Thank you. That explanation makes sense. I must have misunderstood either what salesman said or how the handle worked. I’ll find out first person soon enough unless the chip shortage holds things up.

The tailgate does not have a typical latch handle configuration like you're probably imagining. There is a button that signals an actuator inside the gate to release the latches and lower. The same system has been in use in SUV lift-gates for at least a decade.

 

[McMXi]

The tailgate does not have a typical latch handle configuration like you're probably imagining. There is a button that signals an actuator inside the gate to release the latches and lower. The same system has been in use in SUV lift-gates for at least a decade.

I can see the point of power down on a tailgate such as when backing up to a gooseneck trailer, but I'm not sure about the usefulness of a power up feature.

When I added the DECKED toolbox I lost the ability to see the gooseneck ball in the bed so plan on adding another camera at some point, perhaps under the rail and protected in a steel housing. There's a provision for an RV camera on the main 12" screen so I'll need to figure out a few things in order to get that done.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

The tailgate does not have a typical latch handle configuration like you're probably imagining. There is a button that signals an actuator inside the gate to release the latches and lower. The same system has been in use in SUV lift-gates for at least a decade.

Thank you. That describes what feature I believe I saw on lot as a standard feature.

 

[McMXi]

I can't see how you'd add the power up feature based on Ford's "build and price" tool on their website, but if you get that feature it includes back up sensors and an additional camera on the top of the tailgate which activate when the tailgate is down.

There are a lot of ways to operate the tailgate as @biketopia said. Key fob, button on the tailgate "handle", button in the cab, key pad on the door, and lifting the tailgate at least 4" up if you have the power up option. Here's a better photo of my tailgate. Ford calls it a handle but it's not spring loaded like my '02 F-250.

So I suppose the power up feature saves you the effort of raising the tailgate, but it's so light that it's no big deal to lift it.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

I can't see how you'd add the power up feature based on Ford's "build and price" tool on their website, but if you get that feature it includes back up sensors and an additional camera on the top of the tailgate which activate when the tailgate is down.

There are a lot of ways to operate the tailgate as @biketopia said. Key fob, button on the tailgate "handle", button in the cab, key pad on the door, and lifting the tailgate at least 4" up if you have the power up option. Here's a better photo of my tailgate. Ford calls it a handle but it's not spring loaded like my '02 F-250.

So I suppose the power up feature saves you the effort of raising the tailgate, but it's so light that it's no big deal to lift it.

View attachment 165093

I’m not sure but I believe the power up feature was part of an upgrade package. From what I can tell F has not found a limit to what people will pay yet.

I think the power down and up feature is convenient if hands full or if the TG is heavy (it’s not for me but it could be for some), I thought it seemed slow.

I realize this is truck and trailer thread, and I like it. I wonder we can talk about the receivers too? What are others doing for their receivers and balls (don’t make it weird)…I am currently using a CURT (adjustable up/down with 2 ball) made for 2.5” hitch. What are folks doing for 3” hitch?

@McMXi, I assume that 450 monster of your has 3” hitch, no? What doing for your receiver? Using sleeves over old receiver or upgrade to something 3”

 

[McMXi]

What are folks doing for 3” hitch?

@McMXi, I assume that 450 monster of your has 3” hitch, no? What doing for your receiver? Using sleeves over old receiver or upgrade to something 3”

Yes, 3" receiver that came with a 3" to 2-1/2" sleeve that I have no use for. I have a B&W tow & stow with 3" shank and 2" and 2-5/16" balls. I bought it for the M-1078 when I made a custom receiver for it but got lucky when I bought the F-450 and discovered that it comes with a 3" receiver. I use a B&W OEM gooseneck ball and safety chain kit in the bed.

I don't buy anything other than B&W hitches and have tow & stow variants on the F-250 and Jeep TJ as well. By the way, I never use the "stow" feature of the B&W tow & stow hitches but I do have rubber covers on the balls to keep them as clean as possible.

Tow & Stow Adjustable Ball Mount

The Tow & Stow adjustable ball mount trailer hitch gives you the versatility to swap ball sizes, adjust the height in seconds, and stow it under your vehicle when you're not towing.

www.bwtrailerhitches.com

OEM GOOSENECK BALL AND SAFETY CHAIN KIT

The grip latch handle keeps your hands grease-free, while the ultra-heavy-duty construction and safety chains give you peace of mind with your OEM setup.

www.bwtrailerhitches.com

 

[McMXi]

So I'm not ready to call the '02 F-250 ICM/IDM fiasco solved quite yet but did have a good test run to town and back today with at least two stop and start cycles. The truck wasn't billowing out black smoke as it did last year when I parked it. After driving the new truck over the last six months or so and more than 5,000 miles, I really enjoyed the significant difference in driving experience today. The '02 F-250 and the '24 F-450 are both kind of awesome but very, very different. I've always enjoyed contrast and it's one of the things I like about having an MX6000 and M6060, as well as a manual transmission Jeep and automatic truck, and now an old and new Super Duty.

I was getting all manner of codes on the Autotel scanner this morning as I was sorting out the final details in preparation for a test run, but not sure if they were stored after the failure last year or not. Attempts to clear the codes didn't immediately work and I ran some checks with the ignition on/engine off and ignition on/engine on and eventually was able to clear all the codes and get "no codes detected" with the engine running. The truck passed that test twice. Overall the F-250 seems to be running well but I'm still wondering if the glow plug control module is bad. There was an error message P0683 (glow plug control module communication failure) but so far no check engine light today after multiple engine starts and stops, but it'll be a while before I'm confident that all is good.

I did measure the resistances of the passenger side injectors this morning before reinstalling the wheel well liner. The resistance is of the entire harness and through the injector to ground via the ICM/IDM plug. After changing the valve cover gasket on the passenger side all the values are now within the specified range. I checked the driver's side injector/harness resistances again and two are still a little out of whack but I don't know if this is or will be a problem.

Passenger side before > after (ohms)

4.3 > 3.2
4.2 > 3.0
8.4 > 3.0
5.5 > 3.6

I really can't complain much though since I've had this F-250 for about 7 years and put on 65,000 trouble-free miles, and this is the first major issue. Not bad for a truck that only cost me $8k.