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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

OT: Anybody have a Ford F450 or F550?

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Mydeere

03-09-2005 17:06:43




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I was wondering if anybody has a Ford F550 or 450 that they use to tow with. I"m considering upgrading to one and was wondering how they like the truck in general. I"m curious how the 4.88 rear is on the highway when towing and what kind of weight they tow with it.




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John in WV

03-10-2005 16:15:04




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 Re: OT: Anybody have a Ford F450 or F550? in reply to Mydeere, 03-09-2005 17:06:43  
I have a 2000 F450, diesel, with 488 ratio,automatic transmission, crew cab.
With this setup, pulling a six ton trailer in the mountains, works fine. Flat interstate running,high rpms and fuel mileage was a problem.
I went to a Gear Vendor overdrive transmission.
Fuel mileage increased, rpms dropped. This helped saved the engine wear and tear.
Ford does not recommend a 4 30 ratio for any kind of pulling in mountain terrain.
At seventy-five mile per hour grossing twenty-six thousand, I'm runnning 2200 rpms on interstate.
The override transmission is expensive, but well worth the money.

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Tim B

03-10-2005 12:50:06




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 Re: OT: Anybody have a Ford F450 or F550? in reply to Mydeere, 03-09-2005 17:06:43  
I agree with yo from ontario, with the tourque the diesel has, I would go with the lowest gear ratio. I have an F-350 crew with 3.73, 6 speed manual (wished I had gone for the 450. I pull a fifth wheel camper at about 11500 pounds, it could be faster up hills, but I think that has more to do with the wind resistance from the fifth-wheel rather than the weight of the trailer vs. pulling power of the truck. Overall, I wish the tranny had a 7th gear, then you could get some seriously good milage when going down the road empty. As it is, at about 2250 rpm at 70 mph, it seems like the truck is just about at the top end of it's sweet spot as far as RPMs are concerned.

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Chances R

03-09-2005 19:01:37




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 Re: OT: Anybody have a Ford F450 or F550? in reply to Mydeere, 03-09-2005 17:06:43  
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I bought my f450 new in 99. It has a 6 speed and I changed the gears to 4-10's. It still is very lowed gear, if I had it my way I would add a overdrive gear in it. I do like my truck alot though.

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DL

03-09-2005 18:43:20




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 Re: OT: Anybody have a Ford F450 or F550? in reply to Mydeere, 03-09-2005 17:06:43  
We've had our 2000 F550 4x4 for nearly 5 years now... wouldn't trade it for anything!!! It is a crew cab w/Lariat package... leather interior, premium sound, power everything... it's nicer than the Crown Vicky we sold to buy the truck! Among other things, we tow a 37' fifth wheel travel trailer... at 75mph you'll never know it's back there... keep checking the mirrors! trailer loaded weighs in at about 14K. Pulling the trailer at 75 mph, I get between 11 & 13 mpg... our previous truck, an F350 w/460 gasser, got about 6 - 7 mpg pulling the same trailer. Empty, we average about 11 mpg... have done as well as 15 mpg... again, significantly better than the ol' 460 gas rig! Considering the price of these heavier trucks is only slightly more than the F350's, I don't understand why more folks aren't driving 'em!!! HTH
Regards, DL

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DL

03-09-2005 18:47:49




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 Re: OT: Anybody have a Ford F450 or F550? in reply to DL, 03-09-2005 18:43:20  
Sorry, I forgot... our truck has a 4 speed w/overdrive auto trans and 488 diffs... does fine on the hiway... I drive everywhere @ 75 mph... PSD is revving at about 2700 rpm at that speed. Tach redlines @ about 3400 rpm... the way I drive hasn't seemed to have any negative effects!
Regards, DL



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Mydeere

03-10-2005 04:58:51




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 Re: OT: Anybody have a Ford F450 or F550? in reply to DL, 03-09-2005 18:47:49  
Thanks for the reply Dl. That was exactly the kind of input I was looking for. I was concerned that the 4.88 rears would be to low and would result in a low top end speed on the highway. If you were to do it again would you consider the 4.30 rears?



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DL

03-11-2005 07:13:11




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 Re: OT: Anybody have a Ford F450 or F550? in reply to Mydeere, 03-10-2005 04:58:51  
I think I'd stick w/the 488's... we're in mountain country out here and the extra grunt is warranted!
Regards,
DL



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yo from ontario

03-09-2005 17:42:51




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 Re: OT: Anybody have a Ford F450 or F550? in reply to Mydeere, 03-09-2005 17:06:43  
I have a 97 450 powerstroke 4:88 rear. The truck can pull like you wouldn't believe. I pull silage baggers mostly but on occasion I pull loaded 350 bushel wagons. It can pull it much faster than safety would allow. I have pulled 10 tonnes net up onto the scale at the elevator no problem. There are some drawbacks. The fuel disappears a little faster than I would like. The ride is rough. my truck can handle 4 skids of fertilizer on the deck with ease so it is well sprung. The truck is slow when empty or the engine revs very high. Overall its near perfect for me.

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Mydeere

03-09-2005 18:07:24




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 Re: OT: Anybody have a Ford F450 or F550? in reply to yo from ontario, 03-09-2005 17:42:51  
How is it on the highway? Do you think the 4.88 rear is to low? Would you be better off with the 4.30 rear instead? Thanks for the reply.



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yo from ontario

03-10-2005 09:30:25




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 Re: OT: Anybody have a Ford F450 or F550? in reply to Mydeere, 03-09-2005 18:07:24  
I no longer pull loaded wagons, so with the power the diesel has I would get the lowest ratio I could get. I would probably go 4:10 or even 3;73



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