Dual alternators & block heater

You did not mention what engine you are getting but installing a block
heater is not a big deal. The hardest part is getting acces to the
freeze plug it replaces as in some setups it can be a bit difficult. I
do question need for dual altenators though. I have been plowing snow
for over 20 years and plows use electrically driven hydraulic system
that can be really hard on electric system (for harder than RV'ing)
and never needed more than one alt. (even with extra warning light and
such running. Modern alt with capacities of 120 to 140 amps are
pretty much norm these days and that is a good bit of power. I do
regommend dual batteries if you do not have them (PS comes with them)
as it helps a lot in stabilizing voltage.


On Sun, 16 Jul 2006 05:57:09 GMT, "My Names Nobody" <nobody.DeleteThis@msn.com>
wrote:

>If you want them order them from the factory.
>
>
>"Dusty" <Sk8ter.DeleteThis@innerREMOVETHISlodge.com> wrote in message
>news:12bjjuqmneu1499@corp.supernews.com...
>> G'day all;
>>
>> After exhaustively evaluating dozens of proposals and offers, I recently
>> signed a purchase agreement on an '06 F350 (hasn't been picked up, yet).
>> And then, upon reflection, I realized that two of the options I'd wanted
>> weren't listed: dual alternators and the block heater. Somehow I thought
>> that they were included in the camper and trailer towing package if they
>> weren't individually annotated.
>>
>> Consequently I'd like to know if anyone reading here has ever added either
>> of those options as an aftermarket item? Is that even possible (I was
>> told they were factory only)? Any problems? Any other considerations?
>>
>>
>> TIA,
>> Dusty
>> San Jose, Ca.
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
 >> Stay informed about: Dual alternators & block heater 

SnoMan wrote:
> You did not mention what engine you are getting but installing a block
> heater is not a big deal. The hardest part is getting acces to the
> freeze plug it replaces as in some setups it can be a bit difficult. I
> do question need for dual altenators though. I have been plowing snow
> for over 20 years and plows use electrically driven hydraulic system
> that can be really hard on electric system (for harder than RV'ing)
> and never needed more than one alt. (even with extra warning light and
> such running. Modern alt with capacities of 120 to 140 amps are
> pretty much norm these days and that is a good bit of power. I do
> regommend dual batteries if you do not have them (PS comes with them)
> as it helps a lot in stabilizing voltage.


You would have to look at the dual alternator setup and see but
usually on most serp belt engines modifying the accessory setup means
spending a lot of money plus pulling the engine. If you have already
taken delivery you are likely screwed.

That's why I never buy new vehicles....dealers can be counted on to F
orders up and you get it 95% right. Then every day you own it it gnaws
on you.
 >> Stay informed about: Dual alternators & block heater 

On 16 Jul 2006 15:04:40 -0700, "Bret Ludwig" <bretldwig.RemoveThis@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>
>SnoMan wrote:
>> You did not mention what engine you are getting but installing a block
>> heater is not a big deal. The hardest part is getting acces to the
>> freeze plug it replaces as in some setups it can be a bit difficult. I
>> do question need for dual altenators though. I have been plowing snow
>> for over 20 years and plows use electrically driven hydraulic system
>> that can be really hard on electric system (for harder than RV'ing)
>> and never needed more than one alt. (even with extra warning light and
>> such running. Modern alt with capacities of 120 to 140 amps are
>> pretty much norm these days and that is a good bit of power. I do
>> regommend dual batteries if you do not have them (PS comes with them)
>> as it helps a lot in stabilizing voltage.
>
>
> You would have to look at the dual alternator setup and see but
>usually on most serp belt engines modifying the accessory setup means
>spending a lot of money plus pulling the engine. If you have already
>taken delivery you are likely screwed.
>
> That's why I never buy new vehicles....dealers can be counted on to F
>orders up and you get it 95% right. Then every day you own it it gnaws
>on you.


Last two new truck I got (gas) did not have dual battieries but as
part of the sale I got them to include the parts for dual batteries
and I installed the "factory" setiup myself. It was not hard to do. I
have installed several block heaters over the years too.
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
 >> Stay informed about: Dual alternators & block heater 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: Dual alternators & block heater 

On Sun, 16 Jul 2006 21:58:44 -0700, The OTHER Kevin in San Diego
<skiddz "AT" adelphia "DOT" net> wrote:

>Don't accept the vehicle if it's not what you ordered. When I ordered
>my '02 SuperDuty in May of '01, among my list of must haves was the
>4.30 limited slip gears. The truck arrived Mid July with a 3.73 open
>diff and I refused to take it. The dealer pissed and moaned about it
>and tried to tell me they'd never sell it since it was a special
>order. I told 'em either replace the gears or order me a new truck.
>They ordered a new truck which I finally received in mid September.


Some minor opiontion are easily upfitted at dealer level. (Block
Heater and Dual Alt or dual battery would be quite doable outside the
factory,
-----------------
The SnoMan
www.thesnoman.com
 >> Stay informed about: Dual alternators & block heater 

Absolutltly agree with you - My dad ordered a 2006 Vue, it came in and he
took delivery of it. That night he was showing it to me and I asked him if
he had changed his mind about getting the side curtain air bags and he said
no, it had them. After looking at the sticker, he started getting very
upset because I was right. After not being able to sleep all night, he went
to the dealer the next morning thinking he was going to get screwed and have
to live with it. The salesman said that my dad didn't order it that way,
when my dad swore up and down he did. You know what the salesman did then??
Said "No problem Mr. ____, we want you to be happy with Saturn, so we'll get
you exactly what you want." After my dad picked his jaw off the ground and
could speak, he said "can I get my old car back so I have something to
drive?" and the salesman said "no, just use the one you have until your new
one comes in, then we'll change the paperwork for the new VIN - Just don't
go over 1500 miles on it" He thought they were going to have to call the
ambulance to perform CPR on him....So there is a thing a good dealer every
now and then, but thier kind of like the diamond in the rough....

"The OTHER Kevin in San Diego" <skiddz "AT" adelphia "DOT" net> wrote in
message news:926mb2pvdska8q7sk1ge005scdlunft328@4ax.com...
> On 16 Jul 2006 15:04:40 -0700, "Bret Ludwig" <bretldwig.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>> That's why I never buy new vehicles....dealers can be counted on to F
>>orders up and you get it 95% right. Then every day you own it it gnaws
>>on you.
>
> Don't accept the vehicle if it's not what you ordered. When I ordered
> my '02 SuperDuty in May of '01, among my list of must haves was the
> 4.30 limited slip gears. The truck arrived Mid July with a 3.73 open
> diff and I refused to take it. The dealer pissed and moaned about it
> and tried to tell me they'd never sell it since it was a special
> order. I told 'em either replace the gears or order me a new truck.
> They ordered a new truck which I finally received in mid September.
 >> Stay informed about: Dual alternators & block heater 

On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 13:09:26 -0700, Jp <jp.TakeThisOut@some.where> wrote:

>Dusty & All-
>
>I ordered a F-350 SD w/6L TD last January and included the dual alt
>option as well as the block heater.
>
>Can't speak to adding this equipment after factory build, but wanted to
>share a point re the block heater. I was told when I ordered the truck
>that *all* 6L TD engines came with the block heater installed in the
>block. What you are paying for is simply the plug/wire harness to
>connect to it. Don't know if this is really true. Kind of makes sense
>though because the retail cost of the block heater is only $35.
>
>Can anybody verify this? If true, then you may only need to purchase the
>plug harness.
>
>-Jp

I've got a new '06 F-350 w/6L TD sitting in the driveway with about
160 miles on it. The window sticker said it had a block heater.

I just went out and checked because I've also been reading on the
Ford-Trucks.com forums about how it does not include the power cord.

Mine has the cord installed. The plug is a round dead-ended cord that
drops between the right tow hook and fog light.

If you do have to purchase and install the cord, let me know and I'll
find the link with the details and pictures again.

Greg
 >> Stay informed about: Dual alternators & block heater 

Hi "Jp" & all,

"Jp" <jp.DeleteThis@some.where> wrote in message
news:44bd3a6b$1@nntp0.pdx.net...
....
> I ordered a F-350 SD w/6L TD last January and included the dual
> alt option as well as the block heater.
>
> Can't speak to adding this equipment after factory build, but
> wanted to share a point re the block heater. I was told when I
> ordered the truck that *all* 6L TD engines came with the block
> heater installed in the block. What you are paying for is simply
> the plug/wire harness to connect to it. Don't know if this is
> really true. Kind of makes sense though because the retail cost of
> the block heater is only $35.
>
> Can anybody verify this? If true, then you may only need to
> purchase the plug harness.
Now *that* would be interesting. I'll have to check...providin'
that I can locate & ID that critter amidst all that
plumbing...()!

I just wish that Ford would do like the Japs or Krauts, put the damn
thing together in 2 or at most 3-flavors: lean, nice, and
everything! Wading through a bewildering plethora of options and
their various inter-relations was a royal PITA! You can have "this"
with "that", but not "the other"! Too much emphasis on "King Ranch"
or "Harley-Davidson", and not enough on 'a complete package'. How
about just a truck with the goodies one needs as opposed to the
'image' one thinks they can project with those hinky labels?

Here you get a SD with camper and heavy duty suspension
options...and they can't seem to figure out that that kind of
customer would want those things that would support heavy power
consumption or use in varying climates. If not a dual-alternator
with the camper package as "standard", then when? Most
disappointing this was. But, the fault was MINE! After looking at
so many "almost right" versions, they began to blur into
familiarity...so when I settled on that final one, I neglected to
check if it included dual-alts, block heat, and the adjustable
pedals. Damn it! I'd'a thunk that the "Lariat" package would have
included such things...

Oh well, ya run what ya brung...now I'm just cruisin' around burnin'
oil trying to get enough miles on it so that I can haul that trailer
outta here...()!

Thanks for all your help, guys...


Dusty
San Jose, Ca. (for about another 24 hours...maybe less)


>
> -Jp
 >> Stay informed about: Dual alternators & block heater 

Dusty wrote:
> Hi "Jp" & all,
>
> "Jp" <jp.TakeThisOut@some.where> wrote in message
> news:44bd3a6b$1@nntp0.pdx.net...
> ...
>
>>I ordered a F-350 SD w/6L TD last January and included the dual
>>alt option as well as the block heater.
>>
>>Can't speak to adding this equipment after factory build, but
>>wanted to share a point re the block heater. I was told when I
>>ordered the truck that *all* 6L TD engines came with the block
>>heater installed in the block. What you are paying for is simply
>>the plug/wire harness to connect to it. Don't know if this is
>>really true. Kind of makes sense though because the retail cost of
>>the block heater is only $35.
>>
>>Can anybody verify this? If true, then you may only need to
>>purchase the plug harness.
>
> Now *that* would be interesting. I'll have to check...providin'
> that I can locate & ID that critter amidst all that
> plumbing...()!
>
> I just wish that Ford would do like the Japs or Krauts, put the damn
> thing together in 2 or at most 3-flavors: lean, nice, and
> everything! Wading through a bewildering plethora of options and
> their various inter-relations was a royal PITA! You can have "this"
> with "that", but not "the other"! Too much emphasis on "King Ranch"
> or "Harley-Davidson", and not enough on 'a complete package'. How
> about just a truck with the goodies one needs as opposed to the
> 'image' one thinks they can project with those hinky labels?
>
> Here you get a SD with camper and heavy duty suspension
> options...and they can't seem to figure out that that kind of
> customer would want those things that would support heavy power
> consumption or use in varying climates. If not a dual-alternator
> with the camper package as "standard", then when? Most
> disappointing this was. But, the fault was MINE! After looking at
> so many "almost right" versions, they began to blur into
> familiarity...so when I settled on that final one, I neglected to
> check if it included dual-alts, block heat, and the adjustable
> pedals. Damn it! I'd'a thunk that the "Lariat" package would have
> included such things...
>
> Oh well, ya run what ya brung...now I'm just cruisin' around burnin'
> oil trying to get enough miles on it so that I can haul that trailer
> outta here...()!
>
> Thanks for all your help, guys...
>
>
> Dusty
> San Jose, Ca. (for about another 24 hours...maybe less)
>
The block heater is located at the right-rear of the engine above the
starter and below the exhaust manifold. There is an orange wire
attached. The other end is a black connector on the righthand frame rail
just behind the front bumper. The plug harness plugs into this black
connector, and I'm betting that harness is all you need...

HTH

-Jp
 >> Stay informed about: Dual alternators & block heater 

"Dusty" <Sk8ter.RemoveThis@innerREMOVETHISlodge.com> wrote in message
news:12c73acmel4l906@corp.supernews.com...
> Hi "Jp" & all,
>
> "Jp" <jp.RemoveThis@some.where> wrote in message news:44bd3a6b$1@nntp0.pdx.net...
> ...
>> I ordered a F-350 SD w/6L TD last January and included the dual alt
>> option as well as the block heater.
>>
>> Can't speak to adding this equipment after factory build, but wanted to
>> share a point re the block heater. I was told when I ordered the truck
>> that *all* 6L TD engines came with the block heater installed in the
>> block. What you are paying for is simply the plug/wire harness to connect
>> to it. Don't know if this is really true. Kind of makes sense though
>> because the retail cost of the block heater is only $35.
>>
>> Can anybody verify this? If true, then you may only need to purchase the
>> plug harness.
> Now *that* would be interesting. I'll have to check...providin' that I
> can locate & ID that critter amidst all that plumbing...()!
>
> I just wish that Ford would do like the Japs or Krauts, put the damn thing
> together in 2 or at most 3-flavors: lean, nice, and everything!

You mean like XL, XLT & XLT Lariat?

Wading through a bewildering plethora of options and
> their various inter-relations was a royal PITA! You can have "this" with
> "that", but not "the other"! Too much emphasis on "King Ranch" or
> "Harley-Davidson", and not enough on 'a complete package'. How about just
> a truck with the goodies one needs as opposed to the 'image' one thinks
> they can project with those hinky labels?
>
> Here you get a SD with camper and heavy duty suspension options...and they
> can't seem to figure out that that kind of customer would want those
> things that would support heavy power consumption or use in varying
> climates. If not a dual-alternator with the camper package as "standard",
> then when?

Because the dual-alternator is an almost NEVER required option, that most
owners, camping or otherwise will NEVER need.
I considered it briefly on my loaded 2005 diesel F-450 XLT lariat crew cab
4X4, and decided it wasn't needed. Just shy of 30,000 mostly towing miles
later, I have no regrets. I did order the block heater.

Most
> disappointing this was. But, the fault was MINE! After looking at so
> many "almost right" versions, they began to blur into familiarity...so
> when I settled on that final one, I neglected to check if it included
> dual-alts, block heat, and the adjustable pedals. Damn it! I'd'a thunk
> that the "Lariat" package would have included such things...
>
> Oh well, ya run what ya brung...now I'm just cruisin' around burnin' oil
> trying to get enough miles on it so that I can haul that trailer outta
> here...()!
>
> Thanks for all your help, guys...
>
>
> Dusty
> San Jose, Ca. (for about another 24 hours...maybe less)
>
>
>>
>> -Jp
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Dual alternators & block heater 

"Jp" <jp RemoveThis @some.where> wrote in message news:44c3f287$1@nntp0.pdx.net...
>>>
>>>Can't speak to adding this equipment after factory build, but wanted to
>>>share a point re the block heater. I was told when I ordered the truck
>>>that *all* 6L TD engines came with the block heater installed in the
>>>block. What you are paying for is simply the plug/wire harness to connect
>>>to it. Don't know if this is really true. Kind of makes sense though
>>>because the retail cost of the block heater is only $35.
>>>
>>>Can anybody verify this? If true, then you may only need to purchase the
>>>plug harness.


The heater is there from the factory. All you need is the wiring harness.
Instructions for installation are here:

http://www.forddoctorsdts.com/articles/article-05-20.php

Eisboch
 >> Stay informed about: Dual alternators & block heater