Elaborate if you can. I would be interested in your experiences with the FL70.
F-550 Ford 6.4 Diesel
- Thread starter SouthernX
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Elaborate if you can. I would be interested in your experiences with the FL70.
The F-550 has a CGVWR of up to 33,000 lbs. So yes, you can pull a trailer that will require you to have a CDL. Just using the curb weight of the F-550 at 7,135 lbs + up to 24K of trailer behind it puts it at over 31,000 lbs. That curb weight doesn't include fuel and passenger weight. This is beyond what a F-350 is rated for. Maybe the F-350 can do it, but I'm just trying to go by what the numbers in the book says (If I'm reading / interpreting them correclty). I think we all just went 'round this block because of a previous post of mine. And that is what got me looking at the 450s / 550s because they are "rated" for those larger loads. Heck if I knew for sure that I could "safely" pull that weight and be legal (from a commercial / CDL point) then I would opt for a 350. I like to keep my money in my pocket as much as the next guy. But I want to make sure I do this right, so to speak. That is, get the right sized truck for the job. But, if I'm looking at this wrong someone please speak up.
I'm only looking at 2008s so I can take advantage of the great rebates they have on 2008 diesels right now. Thing is you have to take whats on the lot and just finding a 4x4 crew cab 450 / 550 is a challenge, let alone finding one configured close to what you would like. I did price a 450 but the dealer wasn't that interested in dealing. I found another dealer with a 550 and have gotten a decent sale price on it (I think). I offered $5900 under MSRP. Add the $8000 rebate and that's almost 14K off MSRP, plus they take my trade for basically what I owe on it. That $8000 rebate really helps. If anyone thinks I could do a better deal, then enlighten me.
Elaborate and let me know what truck will keep me out of the poor house. I don't like the poor house.
jenkinsph
Super Star Member
While I can't speak about the 6.4 engine I do have several F550 4x4 diesels with 7.3 and 6.0 engines. All have 4.88 rears and XLT packages and so far I have had good service from all of them. As long as the truck and trailer are set up properly you should have no problems pulling a 15,000 lb trailer, I do it frequently.
Steve
Steve
JB4310
Super Member
Elaborate and let me know what truck will keep me out of the poor house. I don't like the poor house.
I'm not sure, but like I said I hate to say it but probably an import
All of our macho, monster HP/TQ domestic machines make great commercials and are great for all around use but not that good going down the highway where efficiency really matters and could be the difference between making money or not.
My 3500 Ram (12,500# GVW, 23,000# GCWR) cab/chassis is rated to pull a 16,000# trailer with a class 5 (f-550 or 5500 class) 6 speed auto tranny (with a 180,000 mile warranty) with tow haul mode. Big rig in-line 6 cylinder with integrated variable geometry turbo (engine brake)
Look into Dodge, it'll get it done, just have a high limit fuel card on you!
I heard parts for the class 5 trucks are off the charts dollar wise!
JB.
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MessickFarmEqu
Super Member
We have 18 F-550's are are switching to GMC's because of reliability problems.
jcmseven
Veteran Member
MFE,
Can you elaborate on the model year's, etc. that are giving you trouble and what components?? In my review of the data from two of our local dealers, the 6.4L diesel itself and the transmission have proven very trouble free. There have been a small number of radiator related issues though. Interestingly, the oft mentioned and oft maligned 6.0L diesel improved with regard to reliability toward the end of its run, but by then the public relations nightmare had begun for Ford. I would be interested to hear what troubles you might have been having to see if those might be something of concern to our OP.
John M
Can you elaborate on the model year's, etc. that are giving you trouble and what components?? In my review of the data from two of our local dealers, the 6.4L diesel itself and the transmission have proven very trouble free. There have been a small number of radiator related issues though. Interestingly, the oft mentioned and oft maligned 6.0L diesel improved with regard to reliability toward the end of its run, but by then the public relations nightmare had begun for Ford. I would be interested to hear what troubles you might have been having to see if those might be something of concern to our OP.
John M
Compact1
Silver Member
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SouthernX,
I have a 2008 F-550 with the 6.4L engine and 4.88 rear end. I only have 5,200 miles on the truck but have not had any issues to date. The truck averages between 7 and 8 mpg. Last week I pulled a 32' trailer (GVW was around 37,000#) for 250 miles on the highway. I checked my mileage when I got home and only got 6 mpg
I went through both fuel tanks on the trip home. Nobody has commented on the difference in the undercarriage between the F-550 and your current F-250. Everything is twice as heavy-duty under my F-550 as my F-250! Looks like a tank under there! I agree with other posters that a 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck will pull heavy loads...but will they stand-up to the regular pulling of such loads? When you crawl around under the F-550 it is obvious the truck was built to work.
I knew my GVW would regularly be over 30,000 lbs. therefore I bought a truck that would withstand that type of abuse. Go to a dealer with F-250s, F-350s, and F-550 and compare everything about them. You'll see what I mean.
Hope this helps.
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jcmseven
Veteran Member
Jeff,
Your mileage is not very good. This is a little less than I have heard from some with the 6.4L engine in a similar truck. I think this might reflect engine to engine variation and makes me wonder whether you might not have the most-updated tune out there. You also have the steep gears but it frustrates me that someone who uses his truck for business as you do has to do with such a thirsty truck. Mine clearly did a bit better after about 12000 miles, so there might be some hope. One thing I do find interesting is how little your fuel mileage changes. Although it does not have far to fall, dropping just 1-2 mpg average pulling that kind of load is not much. My truck, which is only a 250 but has the same engine, is similar. It only drops 2-3 mpg average pulling my trailer, which up till recently held a pretty heavy tractor. My dad's 150 5.4L drops from nearly 18 mpg to 8 mpg pulling the same trailer empty. I really think Ford would have something if they could get just 3 or so mpg better out of these engines. I will say this is a problem not unique to Ford. My friend's Duramax, post DPF, 2007 model does not do any better, especially when towing. I have heard the Cummins engines do a little better, but we are splitting hairs on that one.
John M
Your mileage is not very good. This is a little less than I have heard from some with the 6.4L engine in a similar truck. I think this might reflect engine to engine variation and makes me wonder whether you might not have the most-updated tune out there. You also have the steep gears but it frustrates me that someone who uses his truck for business as you do has to do with such a thirsty truck. Mine clearly did a bit better after about 12000 miles, so there might be some hope. One thing I do find interesting is how little your fuel mileage changes. Although it does not have far to fall, dropping just 1-2 mpg average pulling that kind of load is not much. My truck, which is only a 250 but has the same engine, is similar. It only drops 2-3 mpg average pulling my trailer, which up till recently held a pretty heavy tractor. My dad's 150 5.4L drops from nearly 18 mpg to 8 mpg pulling the same trailer empty. I really think Ford would have something if they could get just 3 or so mpg better out of these engines. I will say this is a problem not unique to Ford. My friend's Duramax, post DPF, 2007 model does not do any better, especially when towing. I have heard the Cummins engines do a little better, but we are splitting hairs on that one.
John M
JB4310
Super Member
Cummins ain't much better on fuel, My truck is heavy with that 9 ft utility body, avg around 11,500#. I do very little highway almost all in town driving and am barely able to squeeze 10 mpg out of it,
The few times I checked mileage on highway trip the overhead said close to 15 but that was not towing, towing heavy load 20,000+ lb GCW is 12 on highway.
I know that's a monster load that Compact1 is moving but 6 mpg is sad, with all this technology you'd think they could get a little better mpg's out of these things, maybe a real high road gear? I think the gearing is wrong, way to low IMO, he could of towed that load off road up the side of a mountain. Might as well hire a Peterbilt over the road tractor, it would do better on fuel.
Like was mentioned these class 5 domestic trucks are built like tanks, look under an import that pulls the same load and you'll see much lighter components. They're pulling the same loads with 4 cylinders and getting 2-3 times the mpg's, of course they wouldn't hold up off road very long.
And yeah Cummins also had the mysterious rising oil level in crank case issue, mine hasn't done it but I read about it in the truck forums, don't know how that was resolved.
Dodge came out with 4500 and 5500's to try and get some of the market share that Ford has dominated for ever, Dodge didn't even offer a cab chassis in 3500 for many years. they have a sweet package of drive train components, unfortunately the timing was all wrong, the poor economy killed all commercial truck sales.
JB.
The few times I checked mileage on highway trip the overhead said close to 15 but that was not towing, towing heavy load 20,000+ lb GCW is 12 on highway.
I know that's a monster load that Compact1 is moving but 6 mpg is sad, with all this technology you'd think they could get a little better mpg's out of these things, maybe a real high road gear? I think the gearing is wrong, way to low IMO, he could of towed that load off road up the side of a mountain. Might as well hire a Peterbilt over the road tractor, it would do better on fuel.
Like was mentioned these class 5 domestic trucks are built like tanks, look under an import that pulls the same load and you'll see much lighter components. They're pulling the same loads with 4 cylinders and getting 2-3 times the mpg's, of course they wouldn't hold up off road very long.
And yeah Cummins also had the mysterious rising oil level in crank case issue, mine hasn't done it but I read about it in the truck forums, don't know how that was resolved.
Dodge came out with 4500 and 5500's to try and get some of the market share that Ford has dominated for ever, Dodge didn't even offer a cab chassis in 3500 for many years. they have a sweet package of drive train components, unfortunately the timing was all wrong, the poor economy killed all commercial truck sales.
JB.