1997 F450

[JJZ 109]

Should be an easy one for someone out there. I'm in the process of getting a '97 F450 with 7.3 Powerstroke and Altec AT200 Boom/bucket.
I've been a Ford guy for years so I know that 150 = 1/2 ton, 250 = 3/4 ton, etc. So does a 450 work out to be 1 1/4, 1 1/2 or how does that go? Was just curious as to how it was rated because I know guys will ask once the truck is here.

 

[Rustyiron]

It seems that the whole 1/2 -3/4 etc. thing might have been from old military ratings that were "off road" ratings. I think that it has turned into a really meaningless rating anymore. Take a military 21/2 ton or "deuce and a half, you can easily put that on a 450 but what truck is built heavier?

 

[Soundguy]

Should be an easy one for someone out there. I'm in the process of getting a '97 F450 with 7.3 Powerstroke and Altec AT200 Boom/bucket.
I've been a Ford guy for years so I know that 150 = 1/2 ton, 250 = 3/4 ton, etc. So does a 450 work out to be 1 1/4, 1 1/2 or how does that go? Was just curious as to how it was rated because I know guys will ask once the truck is here.

AFAIK, it's a 1.5ton

PS.. I have a 99 f450.. was cab/chassie and has a custom bed on it for GN/5thwhl hauling... awesome truck.. you should love yours.. I love mine. has 4.88 rear and pulls like a freight train..

soundguy

 

[JJZ 109]

AFAIK, it's a 1.5ton

PS.. I have a 99 f450.. was cab/chassie and has a custom bed on it for GN/5thwhl hauling... awesome truck.. you should love yours.. I love mine. has 4.88 rear and pulls like a freight train..

soundguy

Good to know soundguy. A pretty low mile (about 64k) truck. Anything I can find about the dealer points to a sterling reputation. Can't dig up any dirt on him anywhere.
This one has a big tool storage box behind the cab and then a 9' diamond plate flatbed behind that. Should work great for me.
Pretty much a lifetime parts warranty. It'll only be driven 3 - 4k miles per year anyway. Just from home to my seamless gutter jobs pulling a 7x14 enclosed trailer with all my gear in it.
The 2010 F150 FX4 pulled it just fine, so I'm sure it'll be a breeze for an F Super Duty.

 

[Soundguy]

that truck won't even notice a 14' trailer behind it.. even if it was loaded wirth a car on it and had no wheels..


soudnguy

 

[2458n]

You will love the truck. You will hate the fuel usage. By not putting it down the road for miles each day you will get used to it. Look inside the drivers door jamb and it will list the trucks GVWR. This truck can be ordered with different spring packs.

 

[Soundguy]

ao.. lokup the rear axle code. as long as it is not a 4.88 it won't be so bad on the fuel. maybee it is a 4.10

soundguy

 

[JJZ 109]

I know there are all kinds of threads about these type of rigs and DOT, but I couldn't find one specific to safety equipment.
I've got DOT numbers because the gross combination of the F150 FX4 and my trailer were 14,500 and a business is advertised on both truck and trailer. The DOT numbers were on my last truck. I'll get them on the 450 when it comes home. I've had a Class A CDL forever so the license isn't a concern.
My question is, does DOT require triangles, fire extinguisher, etc. for rigs this small?

 

[Soundguy]

My question is, does DOT require triangles, fire extinguisher, etc. for rigs this small?

Probably I'd say yes, if commercial.. however, even if it didn't require them.. I'd have them.

my f450 is pretty much solely used with my gooseneck to go fetch tractors out of state.. etc.. I have fire extinguisher, triangles, a full tool box that should handle most mechanical and electrical repairs in a parking lot below major surgery. i carry extra lamp elements, CPS sensor, and other small bolt on parts, plus a spare serpentine belt, have 3 diamond plate tool boxes inthe bed.. 2 ont he sides, and one behind the fuel transfer tank benhind the cab in the bed. I keep extra rad fluid, engine oil, brake fluid, trans fluidf and gear oil, and other minor supplies I might need roadside to stop up an emergency leak.. patch putty epoxy, etc.. wire and tapes.. etc.. a spare battery, a winch, more tie straps than I could everuse on the trailer, plus a come-along. a hi lift jack, small air compressor and 15g air-up tank, plus a small rack that holds cribbing timber for tires or jacks, and a cross bar setup that holds 4 5g diesel cans for those emergency out of fuel in the middle of nowhere situations. plus a spare tire, even though she is a dually. an array of led flashlights and worklights as well.. leather and rubber gloves.. etc.. etc. cab has a pillow and blanked, some bottled watter and dry non perishibal snacks in case I need to pull over and nap without hitting a cirty for a snack, or if I have a buddy driver, which I usually do, so we can trade off sleeping and driving... etc.. i also keep a emergency change of clothes in the truck including shoes.. have a couple spare keys hidden around, and xerox copies of identification tucked into a couple different envelopes in the cab.. etc.

I know this likely adds a bit to my hauling weight and slight hit on the fuel economy, but other than major component failure, I'm pretty well covered for emergencies while out of state.

sounds a lil overboard.. but i don't like the feeling of being on the roadside 3-4 states away in the dark, broke downand not at least have a few things i MIGHT need.. etc..

zi remember going thru lousiana after 04/05 hurricane season a couple times. hard to find fuel, some roads closed.. bad traffic jams on the long bridge on 10/12 spare fuel came in handy.

in texas one time had a piece of road debri jump up ( ) and snatch trailer wireing plug out from truck.. had to pull over and gerry-rig some wireing from damaged truck socket to trailer, plus fix stripped wires on trailer. took a bunch of butt connectors, some zip ties and alot of electrical tape and spare wire and a buddy holding a flashlight and getting me tools and such on a roadside in cold weather with rain approaching... but got home cuz' we was prepaired ...

soundguy

 

[Duffster]

I know there are all kinds of threads about these type of rigs and DOT, but I couldn't find one specific to safety equipment.
I've got DOT numbers because the gross combination of the F150 FX4 and my trailer were 14,500 and a business is advertised on both truck and trailer. The DOT numbers were on my last truck. I'll get them on the 450 when it comes home. I've had a Class A CDL forever so the license isn't a concern.
My question is, does DOT require triangles, fire extinguisher, etc. for rigs this small?

The requirements are the same for a truck over 10k GVWR as your F150 combination that is over 10k GCWR.

 

[CCOUGHRAN1]

Should be an easy one for someone out there. I'm in the process of getting a '97 F450 with 7.3 Powerstroke and Altec AT200 Boom/bucket.
I've been a Ford guy for years so I know that 150 = 1/2 ton, 250 = 3/4 ton, etc. So does a 450 work out to be 1 1/4, 1 1/2 or how does that go? Was just curious as to how it was rated because I know guys will ask once the truck is here.

Something doesn't sound right about this truck. To my knowledge, Ford did not make a F450 in 1997. They made an F-Superduty, and it should have a 10 lug bolt pattern with 16" wheels. Solid front axle, and four wheel disc brakes, with a driveline parking brake. All the other 1997 Fords trucks should have had rear drums.

In 1999 Ford started making the F450/F550.

The 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton and their relation to payload is pretty meaningless. When we buy F550's, we get the upgraded weight rating. I am pretty sure the last ones we upped from 17,500# to 19,000#, they still carry the F550 badge, but their is 3/4 ton difference between the two options.

Used to be, and may still be, that a Ford 3/4 ton had a GVW of 8800#, and a 1 ton SRW was 9900#, there is only a 1/4 ton difference in their name, 3/4 vs 1 ton, but there is better than 1/2 ton difference in their rated capacity ( 1100#)

 

[CCOUGHRAN1]

I found this online a few minutes ago, maybe it will help.

F-150: 1/2 ton (6,100 lb GVWR max)
F-250: 3/4 ton (8,100 lb GVWR max)
F-250 HD: 1992?997 Heavy Duty 3/4 ton (8,800 GVWR max)
F-350: 1 ton (10,000 lb GVWR max)
F-Super Duty: 1 ton plus (15,000 lb GVWR max)

 

[Diamondpilot]

Used to be, and may still be, that a Ford 3/4 ton had a GVW of 8800#, and a 1 ton SRW was 9900#, there is only a 1/4 ton difference in their name, 3/4 vs 1 ton, but there is better than 1/2 ton difference in their rated capacity ( 1100#)

This is not the case for the last 10 years or so. Ford offers tons of different GVWR packages. I have a 2004 F-250 4x4 Diesel with 10,000# GVWR and I also have a 06 F-350 with 11,500# GVWR. They offer well over a dozen GVWR packages for the 250/350 now day.

The F-150 is just as bad. My dad has a new 2011 F-150 with the 3.5L Twin Turbo. Its 4x4 and has a 7,650 GVWR and has a honest payload of 2,000#. They have GVWR's that range from 6,450# to 8,200# now on the 2011's. They have over 15 GVWR packages for the F-150 alone.

As for the 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton thing its a old school way of doing it. No longer means anything.

My 3 trucks are:

2004 F-250 GVWR is 10,000# and it weighs 7,500# with me in it. 2,500# payload.

2006 F-350 GVWR is 11,500# and it weighs 7,600# with me in it. 3,900# payload.

2008 Nissan Titan is 6,522# and it weighs 5,450# with me in it. 1,072# is the payload.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I found this online a few minutes ago, maybe it will help.

F-150: 1/2 ton (6,100 lb GVWR max)
F-250: 3/4 ton (8,100 lb GVWR max)
F-250 HD: 1992?997 Heavy Duty 3/4 ton (8,800 GVWR max)
F-350: 1 ton (10,000 lb GVWR max)
F-Super Duty: 1 ton plus (15,000 lb GVWR max)

I am guessing you are talking 1997. This is by no means the ratings now days.

Just shows you how much trucks have changed when you look at my numbers.

Chris

 

[powerstroke444e]

I have a 97 superduty/f450 same thing it has 15000gvw and pulls great. It has a 10 custom bed and 4.88 or 5.13 I don't remember but @ 65 is close to red line. Been a great truck. Empty mine is around 9-10k which dont help the milage but it dont get used unless its making money.

 

[Soundguy]

I have a 97 superduty/f450 same thing it has 15000gvw and pulls great. It has a 10 custom bed and 4.88 or 5.13 I don't remember but @ 65 is close to red line. Been a great truck. Empty mine is around 9-10k which dont help the milage but it dont get used unless its making money.

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

 

[powerstroke444e]

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

I will look as I can't remeber but know that it will pull anything I hook to it.

Currently though it needs a little work I got a tank of bad fuel and it messed up the injectors and pump I am about a $1000 in to it and looks like I need all new injectors also, just one more reason to only buy fuel from places that move alot of fuel even if its .50 cents more

 

[Soundguy]

I hear ya. I keep my transfer tank and truck tank treated with diesel kleen, biocide and water dispersant, plus add lube at the truck tank periodically.

good luck.


soundguy

 

[JESSE1]

Our '88 F-SuperDuty had the 5.13 axle ratio with the NA 7.3 diesel. You got a 4.88 with a 460 gas engine.

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . A pretty low mile (about 64k) truck. . .

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