1997 F450

[JJZ 109]

Just remember, a bucket truck will have way more hours on the engine and hydraulic pump than the odometer mileage will indicate.

Not necessarily. It doesn't run off of a PTO. Operation is actually pretty similar to my JLG tow behind boom lift.
The hydro pump runs off of 2 batteries that are located near the boom. Truck need not be running to operate the boom. There is an isolator so that the truck battery doesn't get drained by the boom, yet the truck alternator recharges the batteries when the truck is being run. The JLG has an onboard charger that I just plug in when I get home with the lift.
At least that's how it was explained to me.

 

[JJZ 109]

Something doesn't sound right about this truck. To my knowledge, Ford did not make a F450 in 1997.

You may be technically right. It is an F Super Duty, but I think many folks call them a 450. I've searched 1997 F450 and found all kinds of references to them, for sale ads, etc.
Whether that is incorrect, I couldn't say for sure. I do know that the truck should handle anything my seamless gutter outfit will throw at it. :laughing:
At any rate, thanks for all of the advice/opinions and information. I sure hope that the thing isn't redlining at 65 mph. I've got a 5 1/2 or 6 hour ride home on the interstates with it.

 

[grsthegreat]

The one thing youll hate is the MPG of those pigs....hehe. I had a great deal on a 2008 f450 diesel that sat on the dealer lot for over a year. hE SAID IT GETS ABOUT 7 mpg. My F350 only get about 15, but thats twice as good milage, and at $4/gal, thats a big difference.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Not necessarily. It doesn't run off of a PTO. . .

Wasn't aware of that. Never seen a truck-mounted electric/hydraulic boom rig. Thought they were all pto driven.

 

[tcartwri]

if it i close to the ? 3400rpm redline at 65mph, then I would guess 5.13 gearing.

my f450 with 4.88 rear turns 2750 at 70 or 72 mph.. i had been thinking the 5.13 was a 550+ thing.. but don't have the code chart in front of me.. etc.


soundguy

They added a second OD sometime in 2003.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Mine gets 13 or so empty.
Normal load of pea gravel and trailer with trencher and backhoe on it it gets around 9mpg around town total weight is around 28-30000 lbs which is legal and safe and reason I have a f450.
Pulling oversize 14 wide down interstate I have gotten as low as 5mpg with a headwind.
I have not ran out of power with this truck but wished for a few more gears on long up hill pulls.

 

[Soundguy]

You may be technically right. It is an F Super Duty, but I think many folks call them a 450. I've searched 1997 F450 and found all kinds of references to them, for sale ads, etc.
Whether that is incorrect, I couldn't say for sure. I do know that the truck should handle anything my seamless gutter outfit will throw at it. :laughing:
At any rate, thanks for all of the advice/opinions and information. I sure hope that the thing isn't redlining at 65 mph. I've got a 5 1/2 or 6 hour ride home on the interstates with it.

our 450 at work uses the electric over hyd setup on its boom, vs a wet kit.

as for the gearing.. if it is 5.1 yeah.. you'll be near red at 65... my 4.88 is 2750 out of 3400 at 70 or so... that's why i run synthetic oil in it since i am running only a few hundred rpm away from redline...

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

The one thing youll hate is the MPG of those pigs....hehe. I had a great deal on a 2008 f450 diesel that sat on the dealer lot for over a year. hE SAID IT GETS ABOUT 7 mpg. My F350 only get about 15, but thats twice as good milage, and at $4/gal, thats a big difference.

what engine does that 08 have in it.. the 7.3 in the previous poster's machine should be a 7.3

my f450 with 7.3psd and 4.88 rear end gets the following mpg.

unloaded, no trailer attached, general hiway driving in the 35-55mph range, with 25% city miles = 13mpg

pulling empty 4300# gn trailer, carriy additional say.. 300# gear, running 70-72 mph, 80% hiway miles 9mpg

pulling fully loaded gn.. probably at 14k total cargo inclusive of trailer, with that load being a big air dam, like a buddy's extended passanger cargo van , doing 75-78 mph, all interstate, with 4 passangers, and just under 3000 rpm... 6mpg

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Wasn't aware of that. Never seen a truck-mounted electric/hydraulic boom rig. Thought they were all pto driven.

our f450 at work uses an electric over hyd boom rig... same deal.. has it's own bats on an isolator, truck alt charges when it's running.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

They added a second OD sometime in 2003.

would that have been the later half of 03 when they pulled the 7.3 and stuck in the 6.0 psd's?

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Mine gets 13 or so empty.
Normal load of pea gravel and trailer with trencher and backhoe on it it gets around 9mpg around town total weight is around 28-30000 lbs which is legal and safe and reason I have a f450.
Pulling oversize 14 wide down interstate I have gotten as low as 5mpg with a headwind.
I have not ran out of power with this truck but wished for a few more gears on long up hill pulls.

almost exactly matches my #'s!


soundguy

 

[tcartwri]

would that have been the later half of 03 when they pulled the 7.3 and stuck in the 6.0 psd's?

soundguy

Unknown. But our 2003 550 with the 7.3, had the five speed. These trannies are designed to pull full weight in both OD's, unlike the earlier four speeds. They also have engine braking that is engaged by tapping the brakes on a decent. The computer is smart enough to know you are on a significant grade, and it also "learns" your driving habits. Very good system.

 

[Soundguy]

Unknown. But our 2003 550 with the 7.3, had the five speed. These trannies are designed to pull full weight in both OD's, unlike the earlier four speeds. They also have engine braking that is engaged by tapping the brakes on a decent. The computer is smart enough to know you are on a significant grade, and it also "learns" your driving habits. Very good system.

I know my 04 f250/6.0psd does the engine braking thing.. but don't think my 450 does it. also 450 just has an o/d cuto off button.. 250 has actual haul/tow mode..

soundguy

 

[tcartwri]

I know my 04 f250/6.0psd does the engine braking thing.. but don't think my 450 does it. also 450 just has an o/d cuto off button.. 250 has actual haul/tow mode..

soundguy

I'm pretty sure the tow/haul mode just enables the engine brake. Might delay the converter lock up a little.

 

[Soundguy]

yep, probably.

soundguy

 

[JJZ 109]

Mine gets 13 or so empty.
Normal load of pea gravel and trailer with trencher and backhoe on it it gets around 9mpg around town total weight is around 28-30000 lbs which is legal and safe and reason I have a f450.
Pulling oversize 14 wide down interstate I have gotten as low as 5mpg with a headwind.
I have not ran out of power with this truck but wished for a few more gears on long up hill pulls.

Got the truck home from PA on a few days ago. According to my figures it got 12 mpg traveling the interstates. Tach was around 27-2800 at 72-74 mph on flat ground.
Will be interested to see what it gets for local driving pulling the 7x14 enclosed trailer full of gutter machine, tools, gutter coil, etc. and a couple of extension ladders on top.
Hopefully the need for the extension ladders will be eliminated on some jobs where I can get in with truck and tow behind JLG as space and ground conditions permit.

 

[Soundguy]

sounds like a 4.88 rear.

at 72mph I'm taching 2750 on my 450

and it has a 4.88 rear.

soundguy

 

[JJZ 109]

sounds like a 4.88 rear.

at 72mph I'm taching 2750 on my 450

and it has a 4.88 rear.

soundguy

I was actually pleasantly surprised by the fuel mileage. Won't be racking up the miles with this truck. Probably 3-4k per year running from home to gutter jobs and material pickups.

 

[Soundguy]

they are no speed demons.. but they pull great with a 4.88 rear.

soundguy

 

[JJZ 109]

Back in the day 25+ years ago I used to drive tractor trailer and dump truck for a blacktop outfit, so I've driven the big diesels. But I never had to maintain them other than checking the oil every morning.
I've got no manuals for this 7.3 so I was wondering what the service intervals are and what I should be using for oil. I'm no diesel mechanic so I'd probably only be doing the basics like oil changes and probably fuel filters when needed.
Any sources for this info?