The Unexpected Rain Storm Test
Journalist Mercedes Streeter recounts her harrowing experience with a $111,000 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty Platinum Plus during a road trip. The trouble began when she lost the key fob to the truck, leaving it ‘bricked’ on the side of the highway with open windows and sunroof. The situation worsened when a rain storm hit.
Losing the Key Fob
Streeter was driving the truck from Illinois to the Port of Baltimore to pick up a 1997 Honda Life. After stopping for dinner, she misplaced the key fob on the cowling in front of the windshield and forgot about it. As she drove away, the fob flew off, and the truck shut down due to the missing key. Stranded on I-70, Streeter faced a series of challenges, including walking along the highway median at midnight and getting a U-Haul stuck nearby.
The Rain Storm
As Streeter rushed to protect the truck’s interior from the impending rain, she used her clothes to absorb the water that entered through the open sunroof. She laid out her clothes on the seats and floor to minimize damage. The rain eventually subsided, and Ford’s roadside assistance arrived with the spare key.
Aftermath and Recovery
Despite the ordeal, the truck’s interior suffered minimal damage. Streeter used towels to dry out the interior, and the truck was eventually driven back home without major issues. The experience taught her a valuable lesson about being kind to oneself when making mistakes.
Streeter’s story highlights the durability of the 2025 Ford F-350 Super Duty Platinum Plus and serves as a cautionary tale about handling unexpected situations on the road.
The total cost of her mistakes was around $700, a reminder that even with modern technology, old-fashioned preparedness and caution are still essential. Streeter’s experience will be followed by a review of the truck and her newly acquired 1997 Honda Life.
