Any F-550 owners or towers out there ?

monkeymonk · Sep 3, 2007

Contemplating a F550 for towing,dumping. Im in need of something that can get in to TIGHT places,4x4,dump, haul a full load all while towing. (Thats not the size of a mack truck!)

Soo I was hoping someone out there that has some experience towing and hauling with one could shed some sun?

wushaw · Sep 3, 2007

There's lots of Mack trucks shorter and can turn tighter than a longbed crew cab pickup trucks...just not as tall. My previous FL-60 was 22' long only 4" longer than my 03 3500 ext. cab pickup and could turn circles inside that one ton.

Bird · Sep 3, 2007

No personal experience, but about a couple of weeks ago, I found myself parked next to a solid black F550 Lariat crew cab, 4 x 4, (diesel, of course), with a Western Hauler bed. Sure was a beautiful machine.

Builder · Sep 3, 2007

monkeymonk said:
Contemplating a F550 for towing,dumping. Im in need of something that can get in to TIGHT places,4x4,dump, haul a full load all while towing. (Thats not the size of a mack truck!)

Soo I was hoping someone out there that has some experience towing and hauling with one could shed some sun?

I owned this '99 F-450 Superduty 4x4 dump truck for about 6 years. I sold it about 1 year ago.

It was a nice truck, but if I were buying a new, small dump truck, I'd get the GMC 4500/5500 4x4 because it has a more proven diesel engine (Duramax), a MUCH better (Allison) transmission a heavier frame and bigger tires (245 vs. 225). The front axle has a tighter turning radius and I'm almost positive the front axle is rated higher, too. It will fit into any spot a 450/550 will, except a low garage door. The 4500/5500 is about 1 foot taller, so it won't fit under a 8' garage door.

monkeymonk · Sep 3, 2007

Thats about the size of it "141"WB. I looked at the topkick its a lil bit "gerthier" "buldgeier". I think i would prefer a fullsize peter B. If i were gonna go any bigger... OR Builders International 4x4. But their just a bit to big.
the 550 is about as mid sized as the L48, A good complement thell make. They changed the front end in 05 and they have way better turning radius than previous vechiles. It'll have a 4.88 ltd slip,19K gvw,high cap trlr tow,snow prep,4x4.......

Sounds like you parked next to a land yatch Bird.

Builder · Sep 3, 2007

monkeymonk said:
Thats about the size of it "141"WB. I looked at the topkick its a lil bit "gerthier" "buldgeier". I think i would prefer a fullsize peter B. If i were gonna go any bigger... OR Builders International 4x4. But their just a bit to big.
the 550 is about as mid sized as the L48, A good complement thell make. They changed the front end in 05 and they have way better turning radius than previous vechiles. It'll have a 4.88 ltd slip,19K gvw,high cap trlr tow,snow prep,4x4.......

Sounds like you parked next to a land yatch Bird.

Thing about a Peterbilt is that a 4x4 would cost $100,000. You can get the 4500/5500 4x4 for about the same as a 450/550 4x4 and it's about 30% more truck. Did you notice when you sit in the cab, it feels much more like a MD truck, whereas the 450/550 is just a beefed-up F250/350?

The other really cool feature of the 4500/5500 is if the allison trans wasn't enough, they offer a Allison 2300 "rugged duty" deries transmission, which is as heavy duty as the transmission in an F-650/750. You can even get an exhaust brake!!!!

You get sooooo much more truck for the same price. If i didn't need such a heavy truck, I'd buy one of these in a heartbeat. Take it from an old dumptruck & construction guy, these things are a lot more truck than the F550.

Check this bad boy out:

2007 GMC TOPKICK C5500 For Sale at TruckPaper.com

2007 GMC TOPKICK C5500 For Sale at TruckPaper.com

2007 GMC TOPKICK C5500 For Sale at TruckPaper.com

Ductape · Sep 3, 2007

My 2 cents:
I'm with Builder. It may seem like a bigger, more bulbous truck..... but only till you get used to it. I'll never claim an F-550 is a bad truck, its just not a great truck. The GM is beefier, will turn well inside the 550,last longer, and make you an all around better small dump. I'll wager it'll get better fuel mileage too.

Builder · Sep 3, 2007

Ductape said:
My 2 cents:
I'm with Builder. It may seem like a bigger, more bulbous truck..... but only till you get used to it. I'll never claim an F-550 is a bad truck, its just not a great truck. The GM is beefier, will turn well inside the 550,last longer, and make you an all around better small dump. I'll wager it'll get better fuel mileage too.

Just the Allison transmission alone in the 4500/5500 puts it in another league above the 450/550. It has 6 gears, a much lower reverse gear ratio, gradient braking, and this amazing "tap shift" feature. You can actually manually shift the truck from 1-6 or from 6-1 by just taping a button on the gear shift stalk.

The 450/550 uses the same transmission as an F-250. A 5 speed with no tap shift feature and there's no way it's as strong as the allison 1000 or 2000 series. Ford should equip the 450/550 with a tougher transmission.

One thing for sure I've learned over the years....Ford tends to "over rate" their trucks capacities. GM tends to "under rate" their trucks capacities. Why? I don't know, but just park the trucks side by side and compare everything from axles to tires, to frames to drivelines and the 4500/5500 comes out heavier-duty. If you're paying the same money, wouldn't you want the heavier truck if they'll work in the same size places?

ducati996 · Sep 3, 2007

Builder said:
Just the Allison transmission alone in the 4500/5500 puts it in another league above the 450/550. It has 6 gears, a much lower reverse gear ratio, gradient braking, and this amazing "tap shift" feature. You can actually manually shift the truck from 1-6 or from 6-1 by just taping a button on the gear shift stalk.

The 450/550 uses the same transmission as an F-250. A 5 speed with no tap shift feature and there's no way it's as strong as the allison 1000 or 2000 series. Ford should equip the 450/550 with a tougher transmission.

One thing for sure I've learned over the years....Ford tends to "over rate" their trucks capacities. GM tends to "under rate" their trucks capacities. Why? I don't know, but just park the trucks side by side and compare everything from axles to tires, to frames to drivelines and the 4500/5500 comes out heavier-duty. If you're paying the same money, wouldn't you want the heavier truck if they'll work in the same size places?

Come one Builder If all of this is true - why is it that the Ford F 450/550 series are seen as the dominant brand of choice for landscapers and others? Do you think the GMC sells as much as the F450/550 in qty? I dont think so Besides you should be comparing the F650 to these models from GMC. ...anyway I see this as another Ford vs Chevy thread - enjoy !

machmeter62 · Sep 3, 2007

monkeymonk said:
Contemplating a F550 for towing,dumping. Im in need of something that can get in to TIGHT places,4x4,dump, haul a full load all while towing. (Thats not the size of a mack truck!)

Soo I was hoping someone out there that has some experience towing and hauling with one could shed some sun?

I have a '92 Ford diesel extended cab with an 8' bed; the turning radius is poor because of the length of the truck, and the fact that the leaf springs on the front 4x4 axle prevent a tighter turning radius, because the tires would rub them? I think the newer Fords went to coil springs on the front axle to improve the radius of turn, but I 'm not sure; and maybe some others will chime in for the answers? The size and weight capacity will also determine the spring type. Maybe "Builders" Ford dump truck had coil springs on the front, since it was a newer model?