Due to costly repairs and needing a reliable truck, I had to kick my beloved 2014 Ram 2500 down the road to rockier pastures in Val Verde county where it will spend its remaking life hauling water and materials. 10 years and 228k miles of great service.

I really wanted to go back to Ram and Cummins, but they were in an awkward position and dumping prices, which is a good thing, but not when there are big changes coming. I needed a better suited off road truck, y’all know why the Ram was affectionately named the “Beached Whale.” So I set off looking for a better suited off road truck with with 1 requirement, it had to be a diesel.

Initially I was looking at the Ram Mega Cab Limited as they have by far the nicest interior, but they are also by far the worst off road truck in existence, even if you get the rear limited slip differential. The Rebel 2500 is about the ugliest truck I’ve ever seen, and the Power Wagon only comes in a quad cab gas engine configuration. So, with that said I reluctantly turned away from Ram.

After reading the review of the AT4X posted on here, and the less than stellar fuel economy, I had to turn away from that truck, even though I think it’s one of the best looking trucks on the market. The IFS, stupid center console design, misplaced and small infotainment screen, and some other poor designs ultimately killed that option for me.

So I turned to Ford. If you know my history with Ford, then you know why I was very hesitant on buying one. That really hasn’t changed after owning one for about a month. Ford got it right in the full size truck department for off road capability. 35’s from the factory. Electric rear locker. Very good front limited slip. Goodyear tires that actually have an aggressive tread. Driving modes for snow, sand, mud, rocks, and the ability to bypass those and do what you want. And the trail turn assist, which is found on serious off road vehicles up until a few years ago when it was introduced to the Broncos, about the handiest thing you can have on a full size truck on tight trails.

What I love? The massaging seats. Absolutely a must have for making those 16 hour drives. The 10 speed transmission is incredibly smooth. The power stroke is stupid fast, 500hp and 1200tq, and gets 19.5mph mixed, 21 mpg straight highway keeping cruise set on 75-80, and around 15mpg with cruise set on 80 pulling a 18 foot trailer with a SxS and bunch of gear. Bed space is way more than the Ram. The tailgate step doubles as a toilet in the woods. The side bed steps and bumper steps are priceless.

What I don’t love? The sun roof leaks in car washes. The Apple car play is sketchy and needs to be reset every few days, and constantly drops and starts back up after a few minutes. The dash rattles and squeaks. Passenger front window won’t roll up 75% of the time, you have to hold the switch and help push it up. The steering wheel is crooked but “aligned”.

Off road it’s amazing, it gets around the lease as easy as my SxS does, way better than my Ram did. A few members here have experienced getting stuck going downhill in the sand in the Ram.

Overall I like the truck, time will tell if I keep it or return to Ram in a few years.

I’ll get into the other features this truck has in an update.

First road trip with the SxS.

After adding AMP steps

The day she came home.

That sounds like my experience with Dodge and my Tundra and would be enough to make me want to sell it. It's those little naggy things that piss me off.

As I said when you got it...going to be fun watching you tear this one up...I still feel that way To say I'm shocked by the fuel economy is an understatement...that's impressive and something Ford's rarely won that title. Chebby has owned that title for a couple decades...their fuel economy is as shocking to me but in the other direction.

Good looking truck too.

Love my F-350 long bed. Gets pretty much the same mileage as yours. Goodyear tires have held up nicely. I have something like 98K miles on it, with only regular oil changes done at the dealer. If and/or when I trade it in they will have a complete maintenance history. The wife's, F-150, diesel, has held up well also. It' got like 115K on it and still pulls in a 23-24 mpg average. The sunroof on it is a pain in the rear though. But it came with that truck. Had a dodge years ago, and will never go back to them for anything. Only Chevy I've had was a 1/2 ton, gas 4x4, which was okay, but nothing to fall in love with.

I've got a 2019 F250 w/ 108K and am getting the bug for something new. Was really leaning towards the AT4X but you're scaring me a little bit. I need to do some more research. The sunroof on mine has never leaked but it creaks pretty good from time to time. I found a fix for that if anyone is ever interested.

My Ford has been great, it just rides rough as hell and I've never seen anything near 20 MPG out of it. It does 15.5 now and it actually came up a decent amount at about 100K. Not sure if it's real or if the computer just got wonky. I haven't cared enough to hand calculate it, but what you say you get towing is what I get unloaded. I get around 11 towing. With the little tanks on the short beds the range sucks when you're hauling something.

The interior hasn't really changed much from 2017 to 2024. The truck is desperately in need of an update and I hate buying something that is going to get upgraded the year after I buy it.

The SD will get updated (complete) overhaul in 2029-30, you are safe. It’s a SD cycle.

Btw the interior is completely updated and light years better than my 2017, from technology and power plus mpg.

I’m perfectly happy with my 2019 F350. Only 89k after 5 years, on the fence about the delete. No reason to get rid of it, it should serve me well for the next few years.

The interior for the 25 model year has a getting a big change, not sure if call it an update. My HO with 500hp & 1200tq will become the standard output and the new HO will be 525hp & 1350tq for 2025.

That’s why I didn’t go back to Ram. 2025’s are getting a new 8 speed transmission. 2026/2027 are getting a new body style. Got to let them work the kinks out of the transmission and let the new body style settle in for a year or two.

This is pretty neat… infotainment system no longer works

I quit. Sending this damn thing back to its maker

Thanks for the warning. Sad.

IMO Ford is so busy chasing power they are ignoring other things, such as fixing a sunroof issue that has been going on since 2017

Off road, they are extremely capable. I had Yoko M/T’s on mine and with those skinny pizza cutters and the front limited slip the dang thing would go just about anywhere you could imagine a 3/4 ton diesel would go.

Maybe too late to post this, but you likely had your infotainment set to do “Auto updating”. The most recent update has crashed many infotainment centers. Worse, Ford knows however there is no fix currently available. October is the expected release date.

There is a ton of helpful of info to be found at Fordtremor.com if you are not aware. I have a 21 Tremor. Best Ford I have had thus far.

I’ll check it out. Thanks.

When I was pay for this at the dealer the manager offered me an extended warranty, his sales pitch was “the drivetrain will last, but you don’t want to have to pay for all these electronics and that infotainment system runs about $5,000” I feel like Ford has their finger on the button for not playing their game

There’s some hope this POS will work. No sound and the you can’t make selections on the touch screen, but at least it’s not all black

Hold the power and the seek button till it resets.

New vehicles are nice power is unreal compared to even a decade ago economy is up creature comforts is up, but they are far too complicated. My next truck will be an older gas.

Like the vast majority of the population I don’t need a 1-ton daily or even monthly I drive a car most of the time.

I was going to say the same. Power and the >> button at the same time for a few seconds. My Bronco screen has been doing this since the last update as well.

It randomly started working

You listening to imagine dragons is what caused it to break in the first place

That would crater just about any system

My kid likes them and 21 Pilots, I had to stop playing Pantera and Disturbed because he was repeating stuff in class from the lyrics

1. You’re using heated seats when it’s 104. Could be your issue is it melted the radio.
2. Disable CarPlay and your life will be much better. Just connect via Bluetooth to whatever music you’ve got and the phone. Again, no CarPlay. Had the same issues you’re having and finally listened to the sales lady’s advice when she said I’m gonna connect this for you but you’ll regret it.
3. I had the same crooked wheel but mine pulled left. I took it in first oil change and said fix it. Got it back and they said it was perfect and they only rotated the tires. But now it’s perfect. Who knows but it drives straight now.

My 2010 Tundra with 190,000 miles still takes me everywhere I want to go. I dread the idea $$$ of having to replace it.

What year model is this, 2024? I will be looking at a new truck this time next year maybe and am trying to learn as much as a I can before then. Was it bought brand new?

They had to replace the screen in my 21’. About 3 weeks after I got it.

Didn’t act up after that