Any F-550 owners or towers out there ?

[jcmseven]

I agree with Builder that the 4500 and 5500 GM products are excellent machines and are worth a solid look. I had hoped he would not--again--bring up this Duramax being the more proven diesel and the Allison transmission thing. We have discussed this before and though we had arrived at an agreement on that statement.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Oh no, according to my research the 550 Ford has a 6.0L diesel still as the option in the 2008 model, not the new, better, 6.4L. If that is the case Builder has a good point. Sorry, Builder.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Oh no, I should not have said, "better". I should say, "more advanced and more powerful" 6.4L diesel.

John M

 

[JESSE1]

You were right the first time. Every '08 Super Duty from F-250 to F-550 has the 6.4 PowerStroke in it. From what I've read, they will use the 6.0 diesel in the E Series vans, mainly because the 6.4 won't fit under the hood of the vans.

 

[atgreene]

I have an '05 5500 GMC. Awesome truck. I drive an '05 550 Ford fire truck and it is junk in comparison. We've had a lot of issues with the turbo on the Ford (as everyone else has) and the visibility and turning radius, frankly, suck. Having the opportunity to drive both, Ford vs. GMC arguement aside, the GM is a truck.

Compare frames, transmissions, visibility, reliability and power. The only thing left is service, and if Ford is your prefered service or has better service, then go with the Ford. As far as a true truck, the GM is twice the truck. I can put mine in places the 550 can't even turn into, say nothing of ground clearance.

GM really hit it out of the park with the 5500/4500, just mho.

 

[jcmseven]

atgreene,

I think we have collectively decided the 550 is not the better choice for our original poster. I do think, though, the if the heavier-duty Ford trucks are coming with the 6.4L diesel the power question is a wash. The frame I do not know about, but I know Ford has done suspension and steering upgrades to their truck since 2005. When Builder wrote his original response he was comparing his 1999 550 dumper to a newer 4500 or 5500 GM mid duty. I sold my Banks-equipped 7.3L 250 earlier this year and got a new 2008 6.4L. My old 2002 250 was straight line faster due to its heavily modified engine, but comparing it to my new one in ride, pulling efficiency, handling and turning radius, there truly is no comparison. The new truck blows my old one totally out of the water in this area. It also handles and steers much better than any pre 2007 heavy duty pickup from Ford. My point here is that Ford has greatly improved many things on their lighter duty trucks and I assume they have done so on the heavy duty models also. The other question I have is it seems the 4500 and 5500's are really more in competition with the F650 Ford, not the F550. I do not know if this is a numbering issue solely but to some degree we are comparing and apple to an orange. For heavy hauling, etc., I too feel a 4500 or 5500 GM truck would be a better choice as I have never been enthused about the F550 Ford. But, in lighter duty trucks.....well that might be a different story. Just like we would all collectively do with someone buying a tractor or other piece of equipment, I would encourage our original poster to see if a dealership would have a salesperson bring a truck out and let him drive it and check it out--as much as allowed. Many dealerships do this for commericial purchasers because they want repeat business from them. Perhaps he could check into this also.

John M

 

[swines]

Comparing a 4500/5500 to an F550 isn't a straight across comparison. The 4500/5500 are listed as medium duty trucks. You'd really need to compare the F650 with a 4500/5500. Then you get your choice of CAT or Cummins plus the Allison or an Eaton in the F650.

 

[wushaw]

Comparing a 4500/5500 to an F550 isn't a straight across comparison. The 4500/5500 are listed as medium duty trucks. You'd really need to compare the F650 with a 4500/5500. Then you get your choice of CAT or Cummins plus the Allison or an Eaton in the F650.

The F450 is a class 4 truck.
The 4500 is a class 4 truck.
Same with the F550 and 5500 only class 5.

You can't get a Cummins or Cat in any of these class 4 or 5 trucks.
GM only offers the 6.6 Duramax in the 4500/5500 which is the same displacement as any 2500/3500, the 1000 series is the same tranny as 2500/3500, only in the 5500 you can get the 2200 series Allison.

They are in the same class, just built by different companys with a different look and mechanics.

 

[atgreene]

The F450 is a class 4 truck.
The 4500 is a class 4 truck.
Same with the F550 and 5500 only class 5.

You can't get a Cummins or Cat in any of these class 4 or 5 trucks.
GM only offers the 6.6 Duramax in the 4500/5500 which is the same displacement as any 2500/3500, the 1000 series is the same tranny as 2500/3500, only in the 5500 you can get the 2200 series Allison.

They are in the same class, just built by different companys with a different look and mechanics.

GVW and GVCW is similar in the 550 vs. 5500. GM is just a bigger bodied truck. If you don't need that big of a truck, go with the 350/3500, if you plan to work it, go with the heavier truck, the 5500. JMHO, I tend to believe in a little overkill is a good thing. The real test is drive both, compare local service, that's what's going to matter in the end.

 

[Builder]

Comparing a 4500/5500 to an F550 isn't a straight across comparison. The 4500/5500 are listed as medium duty trucks. You'd really need to compare the F650 with a 4500/5500. Then you get your choice of CAT or Cummins plus the Allison or an Eaton in the F650.

That's simply untrue. GMC makes (or did make) a GMC-6500 series which competes directly with the Ford F-650 and GMC makes a GMC-7500 series which competes directly with the Ford F-750.

GMC designed the 4500/5500 after the 450/550 came out to beat the F450/550 in just about every category, and it does.

Besides, if GMC can give you a medium duty truck for the same price as Ford's light duty offering, then you'd have to be crazy to buy the lighter-duty truck, wouldn't you? Unless for some odd reason, you WANT less truck for your money!!!

Like I said from the very beginning, park them side by side and you'll see that for a very similar price, GMC gives you a heavier duty truck with a superior drivetrain and lots of medium duty characteristics. OTOH, Ford gives you a lighter duty truck with an inferior drivetrain and light duty truck characteristics.

Hey, I'm a Ford guy, but I know when to say the other guys have a superior truck. There's no way a F-550 is a better overall package than a GMC5500. No way.