'95 F350 CCLB 7.3 4x4 aka Clifford

[Night_Prowler]

Nice truck. I have a 96 single cab though. 35's fit under these trucks with no mods. Still leaves plenty of room in the wheel well.
One word of advice. Make sure you have a large transmission cooler and change tranny fluid and filter every 15-20,000. Mine loved to eat transmissions, but In her defense she works hard. Banks makes a transmission shift kit that helped a lot with that problem.

 

[R3D2]

Check out the rock shox bluto, it is a fat bike specific fork. Also, a lot of guys are modding the crown on a Cannondale lefty fork, probably the cheapest way to go. The entire industry is going fatter...wider rims, higher volume tires etc... my current trail bike is a full susp fat bike, salsa bucksaw, it is incredible.

Interesting points on the GV unit, I did not know that. If I had the cash or simply drove enough miles to justify I would get one but I just don't. Would be nice to see someone come out with a more updated concept on what they have already done and address splitting 1-2 for folks that haul on grades.

Imagine an aerotank and the F26E...talk about range!! I think I will just go for the F26E as it is cheaper and my spare is in the bed of the truck right now. I never liked keeping a spare under my trucks, especially in the winter. They salt the roads heavily up here as I am sure you knows so everything just takes a beating. I am going to go with a tiregate or hitchgate, that is, unless I come across a cheap bumper with a swing out.

Your description of "lugging" makes total sense to me now. I had come across the on other vehicles but had not understood why or how I could get worse mileage at a lower rpm. Shows you how green I am. I'd be happy with 15-17mpg. I guess we'll see once I get tires. Speaking of tires...I am thinking some BFG ATs or MTRs. I want some tread but don't need a mudd tire. Hopefully either of those won't be too bad. Anyone have any suggestions?

I was under the impression my truck weights 6500lbs. That's what it said on my title so I just assumed it was right. I am finding mixed answers searching online so thanks for bringing that up. I'll have to take it to the scale at my local dump and check for myself. My camper loaded up is around 1000lbs then with two bikes, wife and I, gear etc I figured another 500 tops so that is where I got to 8000. I'll loop back in with you when I figure out my weight.

I moved to NYC back in 2010 for a job. I found myself leaving every weekend to go ride my bike or ski in the winter. It just wasn't for me but was good for my career so I made the most of it. Once I could get out of there I did with the quickness. That place will eat your soul if you aren't careful. I moved about 3.5 hrs directly north to Saratoga Springs. It's a quiet little town except for 2 months of the year when the thoroughbred track is open.

 

[R3D2]

Nice truck. I have a 96 single cab though. 35's fit under these trucks with no mods. Still leaves plenty of room in the wheel well.
One word of advice. Make sure you have a large transmission cooler and change tranny fluid and filter every 15-20,000. Mine loved to eat transmissions, but In her defense she works hard. Banks makes a transmission shift kit that helped a lot with that problem.

Thanks, Night_Prowler. Supposedly the tranny was rebuilt at 180k, has 205k on it now. I should replace the fluid and filter, though, so good call. I won't be hauling much so hopefully that won't require a tranny cooler. I go easy on old Clifford.

 

[redthies]

If I'm outside of NY I'll have the camper on the flatbed and even all geared up I would be sub 8,000lbs I'm sure. Fortunately I won't have to worry about that until I save some money and get a flatbed and a new camper...

As mentioned above, I would be careful with GVW on these trucks. The only reason I sold mine was the 9200 lb GVW. I scaled it with my camper on, and was at 11,200!!! (My camper is shown on the truck in my first post, and is close to 3000 lbs). The truck handled it fine with airbags and the Sky shackle reversal, but I would have ended up in handcuffs if I ever got into an accident where somebody was hurt or killed. In other words, you still want to keep an eye on weight with these beasts!

 

[R3D2]

Been busy so I just logged in and caught your thread. NICE truck! You gotta go the tire route. I too have a CCLB 7.3 with 4.10s. I went with add-a-leaves at all corners and 315's (35's). I can cruise at 70 and get 17 mpg. I also didn't have to trim any metal. I got a thread down the page somewhere documenting everything I did. I haven't updated it for a while so it's a ways back. The only thing I'd change is I wish I'd done the front shackle reversal. It would ride better. But, the bigger tires do a good job of soaking up bumps. I love my ole truck. And I like yours too. Here's a pic of the great white whale.

Good stuff, Seabass and thank you. Sounds like RSK really is a must. Awesome rig btw!! I will look up your build.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[R3D2]

As mentioned above, I would be careful with GVW on these trucks. The only reason I sold mine was the 9200 lb GVW. I scaled it with my camper on, and was at 11,200!!! (My camper is shown on the truck in my first post, and is close to 3000 lbs). The truck handled it fine with airbags and the Sky shackle reversal, but I would have ended up in handcuffs if I ever got into an accident where somebody was hurt or killed. In other words, you still want to keep an eye on weight with these beasts!

Yeah, makes sense, these trucks are freaking big. I will definitely keep an eye on the weight. Should be able to get it weighed this week to see where it's at unloaded. Keep you guys posted.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[amgvr4]

Here are some pictures of my truck at stock ride hight and the military 37" tires. Looking back I did trim the front lower edge of the bumper instead of spacing it out because I didn't like the look of it with the spacers. Your truck might not need that since it is already 2" taller than mine was. The edo4 should be even better as far as freeway rpms from what I understand. I love having 4.10s in my truck, I still start in 2nd and only need first when starting on a hill with my trailer. 4x4 low and first are just amazing to crawl with! So low and awesome and I love it.




Even flexed pretty good

 

[underdrive]

Check out the rock shox bluto, it is a fat bike specific fork. Also, a lot of guys are modding the crown on a Cannondale lefty fork, probably the cheapest way to go. The entire industry is going fatter...wider rims, higher volume tires etc... my current trail bike is a full susp fat bike, salsa bucksaw, it is incredible.

Oh I've seen the Bluto, but you know, anyone can walk into the bike shop and walk out with one. On the other hand how many folks do you know of with fat Shivers, especially if it's the SC version? It's the whole built not bought mentality, way more fun to come up with something on your own, bonus points if it actually looks good on top of working good

Interesting points on the GV unit, I did not know that. If I had the cash or simply drove enough miles to justify I would get one but I just don't. Would be nice to see someone come out with a more updated concept on what they have already done and address splitting 1-2 for folks that haul on grades.

Realistically with the way new trucks are there's little demand for such unit - anyone walking into a Dodge dealership can nowadays drive out in a 30k-rated tow monster. 10-speed automatics with multiple planetary gearsets and beastly torque converters provide all the low-end gearing one can ever need, I'm thinking the engineers are going pretty much for downsized railroad engine performance there. Whoever doesn't feel this is enough, upgrades to a medium-duty truck or directly to Class-8 with big multi-range transmissions, I think gone are the days of the 5-6 speed sticks with an aux box hanging under there to bridge the gaps between the main shifts.

Imagine an aerotank and the F26E...talk about range!! I think I will just go for the F26E as it is cheaper and my spare is in the bed of the truck right now. I never liked keeping a spare under my trucks, especially in the winter. They salt the roads heavily up here as I am sure you knows so everything just takes a beating. I am going to go with a tiregate or hitchgate, that is, unless I come across a cheap bumper with a swing out.

Don't have to imagine it, our large truck can carry literally over a full ton worth of fuel Range is awesome, filling up however can be quite the horrifying experience with respect to the wallet damage!

Your description of "lugging" makes total sense to me now. I had come across the on other vehicles but had not understood why or how I could get worse mileage at a lower rpm. Shows you how green I am. I'd be happy with 15-17mpg. I guess we'll see once I get tires. Speaking of tires...I am thinking some BFG ATs or MTRs. I want some tread but don't need a mudd tire. Hopefully either of those won't be too bad. Anyone have any suggestions?

I'm a fan of the General Grabber AT2 and Cooper A/T3. The she-devil swears by GoodYear Duratrac. All of them are good all-around tires, Coopers being the quietest on the paved roads and Duratracs the loudest. No problems in snow with either, same with ice. In deep mud they all suck, that's what the winch is for The Generals seem to be wearing the slowest, Goodyears the fastest. I think for a truck that spends a ton of miles on paved roads I'd suggest the Coopers, Grabbers are the happy medium, and Duratracs being the most offroad-oriented model. No idea how they compare to the BFGs, but going by tread pattern the Grabbers appear to be quite similar to the BFG A/T.

I was under the impression my truck weights 6500lbs. That's what it said on my title so I just assumed it was right. I am finding mixed answers searching online so thanks for bringing that up. I'll have to take it to the scale at my local dump and check for myself. My camper loaded up is around 1000lbs then with two bikes, wife and I, gear etc I figured another 500 tops so that is where I got to 8000. I'll loop back in with you when I figure out my weight.

6500 sounds about right for a crew cab, with no aftermarket stuff weighing it down. Only 1000 lbs for a loaded camper tho, now that's impressive, are you sure it's really that low? What kind of camper is that actually?

Thanks, Night_Prowler. Supposedly the tranny was rebuilt at 180k, has 205k on it now. I should replace the fluid and filter, though, so good call. I won't be hauling much so hopefully that won't require a tranny cooler. I go easy on old Clifford.

I can't believe I missed to even mention that - unfortunately you are not correct, you do want a transmission cooler, now! The E4OD has a mode of operation where she will make tons of heat, and the factory cooler cannot shed it fast enough - results on gradual rise of transmission fluid temperature in the pan, and if you don't back off you can cook it. Unfortunately while there is a temperature sensor inside the solenoid pack from the factory, it is used only by the PCM (engine and transmission computer), which does not alert you of the approaching danger in any way! So there are two things any E4OD owner must install:
1) temperature sensor - some people put that in the pressure test port on the driver-side of the transmission case, some install a higher capacity oil pan with a port built in it, and some put in the converter discharge line (the hot line) coming out of the trans and going into the cooler. Either location can work just fine, you just read them differently - case or oil pan you wanna see temperatures between 150F and 180F, the hot line sensor can shoot up way past 200F for short durations and depending on road conditions (for example climbing a hill in 2nd gear) that is perfectly acceptable. Personally I prefer the hot line location, and ideally if you tow heavy consistently you may want a both a hot line and a case/pan sensors, I mean who doesn't like gauges, right? LOL
2) big cooler, the biggest one you can find - the factory cooler from a 6.0 PSD or a 10-cylinder gasoline engine are very popular, there's also a universal aftermarket version of the exact same cooler (B&M SuperCooler?) that only differs from the Ford unit in the mounting brackets. This is the cheapest new factory-replacement unit I was able to find on a quick evilbay search: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Replace-Tru...5CA-/231511475182?fits=Model:F-350+Super+Duty (I'm not affiliated with the seller in any way, but I have seen their name show up as a sponsor on some diesel websites and forums so I suppose they are legit to do business with).

 

[underdrive]

I love having 4.10s in my truck, I still start in 2nd and only need first when starting on a hill with my trailer. 4x4 low and first are just amazing to crawl with! So low and awesome and I love it.

What the heck gears do you have in that ZF??? Is it one of the wide-ratio units, with a 5.08 first gear? Or did you somehow end up with a "creeper" 1st of 5.72 which is usually found on gassers? We have the close-ratio with the 4.14 first gear and our experience has been completely different - there's no such thing as taking off in 2nd gear unless on a slight downhill where she can get a rolling start, 1st gear with a trailer uphill makes the clutch scream for mercy, and that idiotic 3.79 reverse gear pretty much mandates shifting into low range if we don't wanna jackrabbit shoot backwards and promptly a run something (or someone) over. Seriously, whoever designed this thing deserves a fierce whip-lashing, what an ************! We came from a 4-speed with 6.69 first and 8.25 reverse, the only good thing about our ZF is that it has an overdrive gear and that is also the only reason we installed it (better MPG means more funding available for trips).

 

[R3D2]

Underdrive- I totally get it, built not bought. More power to you if you can pull it off; I have seen some pretty awesome home built things out on the trail and on online. Having worked in the bike industry I became very susceptible to the "new" stuff and it's "benefits" lol. That and I am fortunate enough to get things at cost so I tend to get the latest thing and sell the previous years things. Pretty much the only things I buy new. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I guess the market for guys who are buying and modding 90s trucks is pretty small so shame on me for thinking anyone would care to update a design like GV has...hahaha. I forget that the masses just go buy a 40k truck with a huge payment every month. Gotta love america. While I'm clearly not a "built not bought" guy I do subscribe to the reuse, recycle, renew mentality (outside of bike related things haha). A lot of life left in used vehicles and used anything really, you just need to know how to find the good ones or have the ability to bring them back to life. That's why forums like this and guys like you all are so incredible, such a wealth of information on here.

I would go for the General Grabber AT2 but I do not see them listed at 315/75/16 in load E, which is something I thought I needed. I did have them on an 87 4runner and liked them a lot.

My camper is a Four Wheel Camper Eagle from 2002. I specifically went with a FWC because of their aluminum construction so it's very light weight for what it is, right around 750lbs. Has a stove, sink, storage, furnace, couch and just about a queen size bed. I don't use the internal 20g water tank but do use the propane and have added 2 deep cycle marine batteries. Other than those it is just bedding and some pots and pans for cooking, so I think 1000lbs-ish is about right. The drawback on my camper is that is it meant for a 6' bed so it will probably look a little funny with the camper not going to the tailgate as my bed is 8'...I'm sure I will get over that. I have a Honda eu 2000, jerry cans etc that can fill that space. Bikes will go inside the camper or in the back seat as I plan on removing it for my trip. I have too many friends who have lost their bikes to thieves even when locked up in the back of their trucks or on top of their cars. I will check the truck out for a bigger trans cooler since I know that it was used to haul, maybe I will get lucky and someone already did it

 

[R3D2]

Here are some pictures of my truck at stock ride hight and the military 37" tires. Looking back I did trim the front lower edge of the bumper instead of spacing it out because I didn't like the look of it with the spacers. Your truck might not need that since it is already 2" taller than mine was. The edo4 should be even better as far as freeway rpms from what I understand. I love having 4.10s in my truck, I still start in 2nd and only need first when starting on a hill with my trailer. 4x4 low and first are just amazing to crawl with! So low and awesome and I love it.




Even flexed pretty good

Awesome truck amgvr4!! Love the short bed. I probably didn't need an 8' bed but it was a clean truck, hard to come by in upstate NY.

 

[Seabass]

I wish my camper were a 6' model. I recently installed a 36 gal fuel cell on the front wall of my bed. It's 19"tall about 60" wide and roughly 9" thick. Don't go figuring gallons on those dimensions- that's just rough figures. Now my camper won't fit with my tailgate closed. Also- I'm a tool pack rat. I love having lots of gear. I lost all that space when I put the camper in. I need my back seat- so that's not an option for tool storage. That's where the shorter camper would be nice. And like you- I love to get the good out if stuff. I got out of the expensive newer truck and paid cash for my truck. While I have mods- they are bought mods that I simply put on in my garage. Except my spare tire mount- I built that. It's nice to be able to just wheel into a parts house and get my crap rolling again. Not to throw off on custom stuff. There are some talented fabricators on here and I couldn't begin to build most of what they have if I needed to! And I'd hunt up some "E" rated tires. There's plenty of them in the 315 make. They just pack the weight so much better. Just my 2 cents.

 

[pappawheely]

I am very happy with my Falken Wildpeaks. I drive long distances on the pavement so I need a smooth rolling tire. I don't hit a lot of mud but I do see some. My Wildpeaks have been good in sand, snow and mud. They are an 8 ply "D" load range but the max weight rating is 3525 lbs. When I was at King of the Hammers, I purposely headed for the deep sand because it was not as rough as the rocky cross grain that beats you to death. The whole week I was there, I never aired down and never put it in 4wd. So far, I've winched out two other media goons who were stuck in stuff that I drove right through in 2wd.

I would also recommend the shackle reversal kit from Sky's Offroad Design. It really smooths out the ride and works 200% better offroad than the factory design. It will give you a 3" lift in front with no other mods. 37's and the shackle reversal would be a good set-up.

 

[snowaddict91]

Pappa, how many miles do you have on your wildpeaks? Had a set on my truck when I bought it and they were 5 solid ribs of tread with no siping left but plenty of tread depth. Have observed the same thing on other sets in parking lots. Also FWIW put 285 E cooper at3s on about 4k miles ago and like them so far. Little to no tire noise (that I can hear over the 7.3 anyhow!). The general at2s on my montero sport seem much much louder, but not really an apples to apples comparison as it is such a different rig.
Also, as Pappa pointed out, weight rating will generally go up as you go up in size. Many D-rated 315s are rated equal to or higher than equivalent E 285s.

 

[R3D2]

Thanks Pappawheelie and snowaddict91 for pointing that out, I had no clue. Opens up a few more possibilities for the tire search. Here I thought I was limited to just e tires. The Sky kit looks nice Pappa, but requires drilling I believe. The PMF kit that I saw doesn't require any drilling and uses existing holes. I do need to call them and see if their kit requires the super duty springs or if I can just use what I have and if I do will that change the advertised height of he kit. I have to do what's easiest as I don't have a lift or a garage or a lot of tools. What takes a normal person a couple of hours takes me all day or longer. That just sounded pretty pathetic didn't it...haha. Pretty much all I have going for me is that I'm pretty stubborn but in the I usually figure things out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk