New Owner Recommendations

[Craigga542]

Just bought a 2018 shorty Limited 302a with bench and heavy duty tow. My wife will be the primary driver. Any tips, tricks, advice? Features you love?

Also, on my end, what’s on your list of upgrades I should/should not do? I’m open to hear any mods, performance or interior/family life stuff. Only got 4300 miles on it, so not even broke in..


Thanks!

 

[scottdm]

Welcome to the forum! Many upgrades are based on personal preference. I also have a 2018 Limited 302A with HD tow, but mine has the captains chairs and factory rear entertainment system (RES). Things that I've done are as follows:

1. Front windows tinted to match the rears
2. Paint Protection film on front fenders, hood, bumper, and A pillars
3. Added Weathertech mudflaps and floor mats.
4. Added JLT 3.0 catch can
5. Installed 5 Star 93 performance tune
6. Added FX4 skid plates and Raptor transmission skid plate.
7. Added Stahlbus oil drain valve (mine has the metal oil pan). If your 2018 was an early production model, it may have the plastic oil pan.
8. Performed many mods with Forscan (lighting preferences, eliminate double horn honk, enabled numeric values on gauges, disable fake engine noise, etc, etc )
9. Updated to Sync 3.4
10. Traded factory 22's for factory 20's and installed Michelin Defender M/S tires for improved ride with CCD.
11. Bought black 5 spoke Factory 20's and installed Nokian snow tires for winter use.
12. Added NAVIK's wired audio input module to Sync head unit to eliminate bluetooth audio issues with factory RES.

 

[Craigga542]

Great list! Thank you.

1. What tint did you go with on the front? I’m debating ceramic all the way around as the privacy tint doesn’t do much for heat rejection. Thinking about just 70% or so on rears but not sure what would match up front.
2. Is the JLT really worth it?
3. Mine has factory all weather mats, I’ve always used weather tech. Any ideas if weather tech is worth the price coming from factory ones?
4. I’ve been highly debating a 5 star and potentially an intercooler and piping. Any opinions on doing that before warranty? I thought about ESP after, but not sure if I do the tuning.
5. Will be delivered on Wednesday, build date 5/18. Fingers crossed on a metal pan, although I read plastic pans may have a better support??
6. May look into Forscan, I’ll have to search forums on that.
7. Do I have to do anything for sync 3.4? Is it automatic, dealer or self installed?

 

[LokiWolf]

Great list! Thank you.

1. What tint did you go with on the front? I’m debating ceramic all the way around as the privacy tint doesn’t do much for heat rejection. Thinking about just 70% or so on rears but not sure what would match up front.
2. Is the JLT really worth it?
3. Mine has factory all weather mats, I’ve always used weather tech. Any ideas if weather tech is worth the price coming from factory ones?
4. I’ve been highly debating a 5 star and potentially an intercooler and piping. Any opinions on doing that before warranty? I thought about ESP after, but not sure if I do the tuning.
5. Will be delivered on Wednesday, build date 5/18. Fingers crossed on a metal pan, although I read plastic pans may have a better support??
6. May look into Forscan, I’ll have to search forums on that.
7. Do I have to do anything for sync 3.4? Is it automatic, dealer or self installed?

Honestly. Do some searching and reading on here. Many of your questions can be answered in a quick search. Many threads about the 3.4 upgrade, JLT, and a whole area dedicated to FORSCAN.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[scottdm]

Agreed. The search function works pretty well and you can get different perspectives on various mods and what works best for you.

 

[Craigga542]

Yes, a lot of searching will ensue. But things change from threads a year or two ago as well. I appreciate the list either way, helps me narrow down what I need to look into (had no idea about the catch can, or forscan). This forum is massive with lots of information. I’ll be busy for a while

 

[Dice Roll]

All the stuff scott said is good. I added weather tech kickmats because of the kids. I went with ford all weather mats first and second row. Husky third row because it has the walkway for buckets, and husky again for rear cargo.

I added black lettering on the tailgate. It’s a small thing, but it sharpened the look back there so much it’s a major upgrade. You can get red and carbon fiber as well. On amazon.

 

[Artie]

Extended warranty.

 

[Plati]

Buy & install Solid Lug Nutz

Have it Krown treated & cover (or plug) the inner holes in rocker panels (before winter)
- best way to plug holes is to cut a little segment from a "pool noodle" and jam in hole

 

[Craigga542]

Buy & install Solid Lug Nutz

Have it Krown treated & cover (or plug) the inner holes in rocker panels (before winter)
- best way to plug holes is to cut a little segment from a "pool noodle" and jam in hole

You mean it has the capped lugs? Wow. Also didn’t even think about rust with the aluminum body

 

[Craigga542]

Extended warranty.

My local dealer dealer tried selling me their AUL warranty vs the Ford ESP I originally wanted. Still need to research and compare. Only benefit I see so far to the AUL is its local dealer preferred, which should equate to better local service if there’s a warranty issue, and it’s also mileage based and not capped on time. We only drive it around 6-8k per year..

 

[Plati]

You mean it has the capped lugs? Wow. Also didn’t even think about rust with the aluminum body

I didn't even think about aluminum body! My mind is 2014 and before. There is the frame and a lot of other iron based metals in the vehicle though. Is it a waste to Krown an aluminum Expy? I do not know having never thought about that.

 

[Dice Roll]

My local dealer dealer tried selling me their AUL warranty vs the Ford ESP I originally wanted. Still need to research and compare. Only benefit I see so far to the AUL is its local dealer preferred, which should equate to better local service if there’s a warranty issue, and it’s also mileage based and not capped on time. We only drive it around 6-8k per year..

just buy ford plan from flood ford. Buy online. Good at any ford dealer. Cheaper by far than other dealers unless they price match. That was one of the chief reasons my local guys were told to **** off when it was time to sign papers.

 

[Wayne Decker]

If you tint the front windows then make sure you roll them down at intersections so other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians can see you and know if you have seen them. Seems easier and safer for everyone not to tint them.

 

[scottdm]

If you tint the front windows then make sure you roll them down at intersections so other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians can see you and know if you have seen them. Seems easier and safer for everyone not to tint them.

Right. Probably should signal with your arm when turning while you have your windows down just to be sure no one thinks you’re using the wrong turn signal too.

 

[Wayne Decker]

Right. Probably should signal with your arm when turning while you have your windows down just to be sure no one thinks you’re using the wrong turn signal too.

No, I'm serious about this. I ride a bicycle and frequentlyI encounter a vehicle at an intersection that has tinted windows. He has a stop sign, I'm the through traffic. If I'm not sure he's seen me, I'll end up dead. It's no ******* joke.

 

[Craigga542]

Well, back on subject. Anything else anyone wishes they would have done sooner? Not done at all? Don’t make me start asking which oil is best or something

 

[FormerGermanFan]

I wish I had tinted my sunroof earlier! Even with my Expedition being white on tan AND having some of the best A/C I've ever seen it still got way too warm. Llumar makes a clear tint that reflects UV rays and makes a surprising difference. Some members on here have tinted most of their glass and I'm sure have had even more dramatic results.

Best oil? That's always a touchy subject. Definitely not about to start an Amsoil worship party Personally I buy the cases of full-synthetic Mobile 1 5W30 at Costco when they go on sale for $22 because it works and it's cheap.

 

[Dice Roll]

No, I'm serious about this. I ride a bicycle and frequentlyI encounter a vehicle at an intersection that has tinted windows. He has a stop sign, I'm the through traffic. If I'm not sure he's seen me, I'll end up dead. It's no ******* joke.

I thought you were being sarcastic. That’s just a bad driver and no tint makes a difference with such a ******* driver. We used to drive around with some way illegal tint back in the day. Layers of 5%. No issues with hitting people. So legal anything is like not even being tinted to me lol.

 

[Craigga542]

Tint is first on the list. 70% ceramic rear and my choices are either 20% or 35% in the front. Too dark or too light imo, but I will err on the dark side. My company vehicle is forced to be legal, so 35% it is. Too light, so personal will be dark. One place is cheaper and uses Johnson Insulatir, more expensive uses Xpel XR. More expensive will do the sunroof as well, so debating the two ‍ Will likely pass on the windshield for now, can grab that if I feel it’s needed. Same for a ceramic coating or PPF.

I do need to decide on mods as well, like which intercooler I will get, etc.