TheSolarWizard

USELESS BACKSTORY

About a year an a half ago I spent 90 days on here researching my first Half ton. I ended up with a 2018 STX 4x4 Screw with the 2.7 Payload package, 400w outlet and tailgate step. Before picking up my order, the dealer installed Billsteins shocks all around (front set to 1.75”) and gave me $250 for my factory 20s & tires and installed 285/70R18 Ridge grapplers on black rhinos. (I basically traded them for the labor cost to install the shocks, alignment etc)
I mostly loved the truck and according to my own calculations I’d managed an average of 20.9 MPG in mixed use and as high as 25.6 on a road trip from San Diego to San Antonio.

THE SITUATION

Thursday the police called to tell me that the building my truck had been in had burned and that the truck was a total loss. I haven’t seen it but my insurance company accepted that. (I’ve been flying from San Diego to Chicago building our solar business up there so the truck is in chi town). The insurance will be fully reimbursing me for the retail price of my mods in addition to the 8 ceramic window tint job, husky liners and even the cost of my last oil change and a full tank of gas

WHAT NEXT?

Its gonna be a couple weeks until it’s all cleared up and I don’t need to replace it immediately so I’m looking for ideas on what to do next. I loved the eco boost but I was never fond of the column shift & key start and now that I’ve spent time in some F150s with the pano roof,I want that this time around. My plan was to keep that truck 10-12 years

My top budget for the replacement is $50k so that has me looking at used 502As. I intend to run the exact same lift and tires so my question is more aimed at them. I special ordered the payload package to get 3.73 gears and a locker. I’ve spent hours the last few days calling dealers and It seems like 3.55s are pretty much what exists behind 90% of the 2.7 & 3.5s. Used dealers don’t seem to be able to tell the difference between MAX & regular towing or have even heard of the 2.7PP

ASSUMING
that I can’t find 3.73s behind a 2.7 lariat, how much difference with the higher gears mean behind either engine?

acdii

The 10 speed pretty much negates the rear end. My 3.5EB with 3.55 and 10 speed is pretty quick and gets me 20+ MPG. In fact putting 3.73 on the 3.5 would be handicapping it. They are great on a 5.0 but not so much the low end torque motors, unless you want to pull a house down. Check out a platinum, you can probably get one for what a Lariat costs, and all you need to know is to look under the hitch at the label. If it has a 1320 rating, it is max tow.

Wrenchbender

Do some reading here About the Pano Roof if you clean and lube the Plastic tracks you should be good to go there are 4 drains one in each corner,make sure you keep them cleaned out and they have a tendency to come disconnected put a small Zip Tie on it other wise you will have leaks in the Interior,Make sure you get the Upgraded TSB for your Model year for your 10 speed transmission,Outside of that there is a thread here Model Year 2018 F-150 TSB List.

https://www.f150forum.com/f118/model...018+TSB+Thread

Scott91370

On the pano roof - I've cleaned and lube the tracks as well as the seals around the roof and sill broke. It is great when it works but after 5 times in the shop for it I will never have a pano roof again. Regular one YES.

yokev

They only add a couple hundred RPM's. Besides, he says he's gonna be installing 33's(IIRC), which of course will make his FDR taller
With that set up, he needs shorter gearing. If he can get it.

13XLTEco

HDPP trucks come with 3.73's. 8th 9th and 10th are all overdrive so I doubt a tad lower than 3.55 is bad or handicapping. Looks like the transmission would just shift out faster. Not a bad thing.

FordGate

My new '18 King Ranch was right around $50k. So look for deals I would not settle for a lower end model I would go at least King Ranch or better.

acdii

Ah, missed the larger rubbers. Then again I have towed with 3.15 gears with the EB and it was a beast.

centexlimited

If your going to keep the truck outside of warranty years, Think would pass on the pano roof from what read.
Personally don't care for them. The smaller roof was fine. I've had them on all the BMW's and now this
truck and seldom open, if do its just enough for ventilation. Maybe in northern climates they make more sense.

For that money you should be able to get a good deal on a KR or Platinum instead of a low level lariat. 20's
out soon and will want to dump them

Napalm

In may I think the incentives are the highest - I guess it depends on the area. But I would look hard for a new one.

Meanwhile I agree that on the gearing - the 3.73 and the new 10sp sort of wash out whatever potential loss in MPG there.

Damn that sucks hard though - I assume here the building's insurnace is actually covering. So you might should ask your insurnace company about the details of the payout and who's doing what.