New towing beast

[TXiceman]

We just picked up a new 2012 F350 crew cab dually. Man, that new 6.7L is something else. I'll get some photos up pretty soon.

The old 2002 7.3L is going to a good home as well.

Ken

[W5DOK]

Congrats on the new ride. Ford finally got it right with the 6.7.
Doc

[Radio]

2002 up to 2012...yep, a man needs to go get himself a new truck about every ten years, whether he really needs it or not.

[KF5BET]

Nice! My '05 and its 6.0 wish it were me with the new truck....

[W7PSK]

You wont regret the 6.7. I have a 2011 F350 SRW long bed.

Tows my 5th like it isnt there.

[TXiceman]

Just got it back from the dealer with all of the after-market items added that we got in the deal. Hopefully I can get a photo or tow this afternoon.

I ordered the mounts for the Lil-Tarheel II today, so that is next.

Also got to fighure how to mount the FT-857D and used the detachable face plate. This weekend, I'll build my bonding straps and start the bonding of the bed, doors and hood. Hope I have enough strap material.

Ken

[Radio]

In my F150 I mounted the "body" of my Kenwood D700 dual bander to a cross member that is underneath and part of the front passenger seat. There's room for at least two smallish rigs under there. Holes already in the cross member, drilled the mounting brackets to match the holes.

[W7PSK]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Also got to fighure how to mount the FT-857D and used the detachable face plate. This weekend, I'll build my bonding straps and start the bonding of the bed, doors and hood. Hope I have enough strap material.

Ken

Look under the Passenger seat on the drivers side, mine has a great storage place with lots of room and a 20 amp Cigarette lighter type plug (Now called a power plug) sitting there.

Also depending on the model the center seat if you have one has a power port under it. If its a Lariat with the center console you have a power port and a 120v plug (its only a big enough 120 to run a laptop though)

[TXiceman]

The truck has 5, 12 VDC power ports , 2 up front, one in the center console, one on the back of the center console and one in the storage compartment in the left rear storage compartment.

I got the radio mounted under the passenger seat, power pulled directly from the battery on the right side, the vhf/uhf antenna on a Madol mount on the right edge of the hood. The HF (lil' Tarheel II) will go on the right front corner of the bed side rail. The HF antenna will be next weekends project and finish hiding the wires.

ken

[NN5I]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Man, that new 6.7L is something else.

Since I know nothing of newer vehicles (can't afford them anyway), I'm curious: is that a diesel or a gasoline engine?

[TXiceman]

The 6.7L is a diesel...400 HP and 800 lb.-ft. torque.

Ken

[NN5I]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

The 6.7L is a diesel...400 HP and 800 lb.-ft. torque.

Ken

Wow -- makes my 230 hp Cummins look like a go-kart.

[TXiceman]

Got my antenna mounts from Tarheel yesterday. I have the FT857D mounted, power run from the battery, coax to the VHF/UHF antenna and coax and antenna power run to the back of the cab. The radio is mounted under the passenger seat and the control head on the dash. I need to make a mount for the antenna controller and my LDG meter for the radio this weekend. A new VHF/UHF antenna is also on the way. The HF will be my Lil' Tarheel II.

I'll get some photos as soon as I finish.

Ken

[TXiceman]

HPIM0187.jpg
HPIM0187.jpgYeah, it all works.

Ken

[TXiceman]

http://www.openroadsradio.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=555&stc=1&d=1344733057

[Radio]

Now the rig is getting properly equipped!

[TXiceman]

After operating the radio a bit, I ordered a Turbo Tuner to replace the Ameritron programmable turn counter.

I'll sell the Ameritron SDC 102 for a reasonable $$$. It has the connectors on it for a Tarheel antenna.

I will get a longer stinger to help the low band tuning. Not on 6m enough to worry with tuning there.

Last weekend, we pulled the 5er for the first time. Ran about 20 miles out the highway and back to get the trailer home and do a bit of maintenance getting ready fro a trip to West Texas in a month or so.

All I can say about the new truck is WOW, what a towing beast. It will have no problems with the trailer. I do need to get it to the scales for some weights.

I thought the old 7.3L towed good....but holy bat guano batman, with a stock 400 HP and 800 lb.-ft. of torque.....this thing will make going a pleasure ...as long as I can afford diesel.

Ken