After comparing, bought an F-550

[GreatWhitehunter]

LoadTrail, or LoadMax? I have one of each......:thumbsup:

Load Max

 

[Builder]

I about fell off my couch when I read you bought another Ford. If I buy another GM I am checking myself into a hospital...

Guess it just shows I'm not as brand loyal as you. Just as I tried to show you and all your fordie suck-ups on the T&T forum all these years.

Hope you enjoy it.
Chris

I've owned it for 7 days, 6 of which it has been in the shop undergoing powerstroke repairs. Hopefully that's it for a while.

It will be my pleasure to compare both trucks for anyone who wants a real, truthfull comparison between my '07 GMC and my '08 Ford and not hyperbole.
I can tell you already the engine's never been touched on the DMAX after 70,000 miles. The Ford Powerstroke has already had 2 major engine repairs in 43,000 miles. Previous owner had to replace Y pipe, gaskets (10.2 hours labor, cab off) and I replaced a #5 injector and injector wire harness.
Transmissions aren't even comparable. However, the Ford has a heavy suspension and enough GCWR for the trailer I want in a small package with 4WD and there's something to be said for that. I guess in that convenience, there's a price to pay.

 

[dodge man]

Hey, how about some pics of the new Ford.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Guess it just shows I'm not as brand loyal as you. Just as I tried to show you and all your fordie suck-ups on the T&T forum all these years.


I've owned it for 7 days, 6 of which it has been in the shop undergoing powerstroke repairs. Hopefully that's it for a while.

It will be my pleasure to compare both trucks for anyone who wants a real, truthfull comparison between my '07 GMC and my '08 Ford and not hyperbole.
I can tell you already the engine's never been touched on the DMAX after 70,000 miles. The Ford Powerstroke has already had 2 major engine repairs in 43,000 miles. Previous owner had to replace Y pipe, gaskets (10.2 hours labor, cab off) and I replaced a #5 injector and injector wire harness.
Transmissions aren't even comparable. However, the Ford has a heavy suspension and enough GCWR for the trailer I want in a small package with 4WD and there's something to be said for that. I guess in that convenience, there's a price to pay.

I guess you get a good one and a bad one. My neighbor you love hearing about with his identical to yours 07 3500 SRW Dmax has had the transfer case worked on again, second time for that. Also had a u-joint go on it since we talked last. His is right at 70K. No engine problems since about 10,000 miles but the tranny, transfer case, interior, wheel bearings, carrier bearing, ect have all been sub par.

I am still in the 04 F-250 PS. Never been in the shop a day with the dreaded 6L and my 06 F-350 has only still be in for the bad dash cluster it had around 3,000 miles. Thats about 180,000 total miles with no issues on either. My Titan has just shy of 50,000 miles now and not in the shop once.

I hope you enjoy the F-550 just like I hope you enjoy your Dmax. You earned the money and bought what you wanted. Thats the way it works.

I am not blindly brand loyal as you think either. I WILL NOT support GM, but you know that. Dodge just does not do anything for me either. To be honest either does the Fords since the body style change in 08. Thats the reason I still have the 04 and 06 and I bough a Nissan in 08. Now that new F-150 with the Eco Boost does stir my interest but I am just not in the market for another 1/2 ton.

Anyway, enjoy the truck.

Chris

 

[Builder]

Hey, how about some pics of the new Ford.

I will. Rain tomorrow, so probably not until week's end or weekend.
It's not a real looker. Just an XL with a black steel flatbed. My kind of truck, but no supertrucker chromed-out type of thing. I like that it came with PW/PDL/P htd TT mirrors, CD player, upfitter switches and integrated brake controller.
Dealer threw in newer Continental tires from a 2010 with only 5K miles on it (they had originally put a new set of junk Chinese tires on it and I walked away) so they swaped them.

 

[Builder]

Here's some pics I have. Sorry I don't have more detailed pics, and out of town till next week. I searched Hi and Lo for the best price and went with Trailers Midwest in Elkhart, IN. Steve is the owner, and it was a perfect transaction. 866-206-7577
It tows like a dream, but I learned real quick coming from a 22' BP to a 30' goose about trailer tracking.....(don't ask) gotta watch the tight turns.
The axles are dexters, and the braking on them is phenomenal. I pulled an 18K load and those brakes would stop that load like NOW.
This is the 3rd LoadMax I've owned, and loved em all.
Good luck!


Frank

Great lookin trailer. Would you mind PM'ing me with contact info on what I would expect to pay? That is almost the exact trailer I want.

What do you pull your trailer with?

 

[ovrszd]

Load max trailers are almost identical to PJ trailers. I bet if one dug deep they'd find there made by the same folks or same plant.

Matt

I thought I had heard that Load Max used Dexter axles?? A friend has a PJ trailer and has had a lot of axle/wheel bearing problems. Chinese axles of some brand that he has to go back thru a PJ dealer to get bearings/seals for.

My trailer needed a set of bearings and seal on one wheel when I bought it used. Has Dexter axles. I took it apart and went to O'Reilly's with the parts and they had them in stock. However they couldn't get me the plastic screw on see-thru outer cover.

 

[jenkinsph]

I thought I had heard that Load Max used Dexter axles?? A friend has a PJ trailer and has had a lot of axle/wheel bearing problems. Chinese axles of some brand that he has to go back thru a PJ dealer to get bearings/seals for.

My trailer needed a set of bearings and seal on one wheel when I bought it used. Has Dexter axles. I took it apart and went to O'Reilly's with the parts and they had them in stock. However they couldn't get me the plastic screw on see-thru outer cover.

Might try a NAPA auto parts store if you have one nearby or Southwest Wheel.

 

[Builder]

Much to my dismay, the 550 weighs a little over 9,000lbs. I was hoping lighter, but not to be. Will easily be 9,500 by the time I add tool boxes and fuel cell. Might scale back to a 22,500 GVWR GN trailer.....

 

[Diamondpilot]

Much to my dismay, the 550 weighs a little over 9,000lbs. I was hoping lighter, but not to be. Will easily be 9,500 by the time I add tool boxes and fuel cell. Might scale back to a 22,500 GVWR GN trailer.....

I had a feeling you were light on your guess but did not want to say anything without seeing pics of the bed. Just for comparison my SRW 06 F-350 short bed extended cab 4x4 diesel is a tad over 7,600#. The dually F-350 with a V10 my buddy has is a long bed 4x4 crew cab and its something like 8,250#

Them flat beds add a lot of weight and the truck itself is heavy to start with. Even in the lower trim levels such as you have.

Chris