Any F-550 owners or towers out there ?

[jcmseven]

Paul,

I appreciate the observation. I meant this to be a cumulative number, comprising the many years Ford has made these type trucks, not an isolated number based on only one or two years. Accounting for the many years the dual wheel heavy duty Ford truck has been in existance, and the total number of units sold, combined with the high percentage of these trucks which are still operational, I think it would be safe to assume their are well over a million of these type trucks on the road--albeit perhaps with different nomenclature.

John M

 

[Diamondpilot]

You can have a locker installed on any truck for under $500 at a local tranny shop. I am sure Ford and Dodge will soon follow. Just look at the trailer brake controller Ford came out with. The others are starting to put them in trucks.

 

[ducati996]

2008 Ford Super Duty Completes America's Toughest Road Test


SAN ANTONIO, May 18, 2007 The new 2008 F-Series Super Duty will go down in history after completing Bold Endures: Americaç—´ Toughest Road Test, the longest non-stop test ever recorded, after logging the final mile of a 150,000-mile adventure earlier this month. The historic journey, part of a massive marketing launch, adds to the 10 million miles of testing that brought about Americaç—´ most capable truck.
A trained team of drivers led the effort in the 2008 Ford Super Duty F-450 the first-ever Class 4 pickup across 49 states, including Alaska and the District of Columbia, and seven Canadian provinces while always towing a massive trailer. This innovative truck can tow up to 24,500 pounds, 8,000 pounds more than the nearest competitor.
Ford tests F-Series trucks to the extremes so customers can take on the toughest jobs every day, says Ben Poore, Ford truck group marketing manager. å…¸he Bold Endures road test highlights how the new Super Duty Ford F-450 pickup raised this bar so customers can work and play harder.

The team drove cross-country averaging 1,145 miles a day in all types of terrains and conditions, including temperatures ranging between minus 18 ï½° F and more than 100 ï½° F. The team recorded many impressive feats, including:

• Continually towed a 40-foot triple-axle trailer loaded with up to 18,000 pounds for 150,000 miles
• Towed at least 12,000 pounds at all times
• Towed an 18,000-pound trailer a weight no other heavy-duty truck is rated to tow 100,579 miles (88 days)
• Drove in elevations from 100 feet below sea level to 9,000 feet above sea level
• Drove an average of 1,145 miles per day, including at least 1,000 miles in a 24-hour period 84 times and an amazing 1,537 miles in one 24-hour period

Built Ford Tough Across America
The Bold Endures road test began in Phoenix in December 2006 and traveled across the country 24-hours a day, seven days a week only stopping f or routine maintenance. Ford will continue touring the truck around the country and is working with the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich. to secure the truckç—´ place in history next to other road warriors such as the motorhome Charles Kuralt drove across the country to help tell fascinating American stories.

摘verywhere we went across North America, people gave us thumbs up and told us their Ford truck tales, says Bob Hunt of Michigan, one of the Bold Endures team members who drove the truck across the country. 的 think we致e proven with the Bold Endures test that the Ford Super Duty is more than ready for any challenge.

The Bold Endures effort is one of three unique, real-world consumer tests Ford conducted after the new Super Duty痴 10-million-mile testing regimen was completed. Ford selected 典eam Tough, a group of 12 truck customers, to test the new 2008 F-Series Super Duty because they hold down some of the toughest jobs around the country. Ford also partnered with a BP Alaskan oil crew in the 哲orth Slope Tough test to put the truck through extreme Arctic conditions in the middle of winter.

Consumers can learn more about each of these tests and the new truck at www.InsideSuperDuty.com . Ford will soon compile highlights of the Bold Endures trek into a webisode on the site. ....

 

[dieselfuelonly]

I know they are not out yet... but...

The Sterling Bullet -- Nothing Stops The Bullet

I know its pretty much a Dodge, not sure exactly what has been changed.

 

[Rara Avis]

>>>SAN ANTONIO, May 18, 2007 The new 2008 F-Series Super Duty will go down in history after completing Bold Endures: America痴 Toughest Road Test, the longest non-stop test ever recorded, after logging the final mile of a 150,000-mile adventure earlier this month.<<<

When any company does this with a 10 year old truck, then maybe I'd be interested...

They can borrow my 1987 F350 Dump, if they want...

 

[ducati996]

Builder,

I still agree with you about the 4500/5500 for our poster. I will still say though the 6.4L is a great engine. Yes, I have plenty of experience with the Duramax and Allison, so yes, I have used the gearing feature. It is fine, but I cannot say any better than the Tow/Haul and brake tap gearing feature except on upshifting. Since these trannies prefer to upshift based on load I do not see this as an advantage. Probably my best personal experience with the combination mentioned is my friend's new 2500 GMC with the drivetrain mentioned. His truck gets one less mpg than I empty (even when I have driven his--I could get no improvement) and the same when towing, though I pull out with around 2,000 more weight when pulling. It is slower--yes, we have raced them--and does not have a fully-integrated TBC. It weighes full of fuel exactly 952 pounds less than my 250, so the super heavy duty Allison did not make up that much weight. I assume the additional weight is frame and assorted suspension components. I do like his rear axle and fully locking setup, but must admit have had no problems with mine. The shift quality of the Torqueshift is superior to me--crisp but not clunky. That said, neither of us have had any problems with our machines. I will not go into fit and finish issues--but there is a difference. But, this is a lighter duty truck. In our poster's arena the GM offering I think is the better choice. I would say though that Ford's powertrain stacks up solidly v. the General and my experience is right now they are making a really nice truck. To compare 550 models prior to the redesign thusly might not have full bearing on the current situation, Ford has made immense strides here and has a nice product. Any purchase should be therefore made on frame characteristics and componentry unique to that vehicle. As for the turbo, the Ford is also a single housing-dual impeller setup. It is not a true dual turbo, which is a misnomer. I see no longevity or service issues related to that.

John M

I realize I will not convince the masses, nor do I want too but you contradict yourself above -
First objective for all was to answer the questions related to the F550 series for the O.P. We have a mixed bag of answers specific to the models the O.P wasnt inquiring about -and at this point he probably doesnt care.
But you are comparing models that are not comparable or equal to the original O.P inquiry. The 4500 would be a fair comparison, just based on GWVR alone to the F550. The 550 series isnt rated as high as 26k lbs, and that class brings on more heavy duty components and is a significant difference. Hence I find it strangely silent when I mention the F650 as the only fair comparison to the 5500. Comes in all flavors including Cummings, Allison trannys, and is priced competitively with the 5500 based on similar options. Keep in mind the O.P was looking at a F550 4x4, 2005 model with snow pkg, dump and 19k GWVR (comes with DRW) - so that needs to be in mind when doing comparisons - So just based on GWVR the 4500 comes up short (17k lbs), albeit not a lot but short is short. How it turns into having the 4500 being a significantly more vehicle to the F550 I will never understand -
Hope this helps identify the confusion in this thread

 

[atgreene]

I'm not sure how GM gets to the 26k weight rating, mine is 19500 according to the sticker on the door, 26000 for trailering.

This has turned into a Ford vs. GM debate, there's no doubt in my mind though, having driven both, the GM 45/5500 is way ahead of the Ford. Just hearing about how Ford intends to do major service on their chassis (LIFT THE CAB OFF THE FRAME! ) really disapoints me. Seems like they could come up with a better system.

Furthermore, one of the major selling pnts in the GM was the visibility. 26' to see the pavement over the hood in the Ford, 13' in the GM. I do a lot of tight manuvering and plowing on small drives and roads, this was a highlight for me. The 550's I drove felt like I was inside the truck rather than up enough to see anything. I'm sure it's something Ford guys get used to, but I liked the GM visibility.

The Ford does ride smoother, something my back would have appreciated over the GM.

 

[jcmseven]

Duc,

I do not see your point here. I believe we are both Ford owners and like our trucks. I would say from the perspective that the 550's chief competition is the 5500 GM offering, this is a true statement. Our original poster asked about potential posters who had that truck (550) and what they thought. His answers to this point are that the 5500 GM product is worth a look. The competition for this truck is not a 650, that is a different competition point for both companies. Where I think we have taken a turn here is that I, for one, do not own a 550, but I do own a new 6.4L Ford which is the new powerplant for the Ford 550 also. My insight on this topic is that Builder's responses specifically about the 550 hinged to a great degree on his 1999 model 550. He also questioned whether I had ever used the new Duramax/Allison combination, which I have, but not in a medium duty truck but rather a 2500 series truck. My response was to address this based on my experience in a lighter duty truck. My main concern is that it seems the primary lobbying point made by those recommending the GM product is the powertrain, which to me is not a reason any longer. I also had a concern that our two previous 550 owner, besides yourself, were basing their recommendations based on trucks produced before the 2008 redesign. Having a fair amount of experience with both brands and their drivetrains in the lighter duty trucks myself, I felt it necessary to say that Ford has a top notch product here, and at least in my experience has the currently stronger setup--in a lighter duty truck. As for our poster, I do think the GM 5500 is a worthy and to me more beefy competitor to the 550, but NOT due to its powertrain. I am a Ford guy, but I do like to give some credit to the competition when they have made a good product worth investigating.

John M

 

[ducati996]

I'm not sure how GM gets to the 26k weight rating, mine is 19500 according to the sticker on the door, 26000 for trailering.

depends on the GWVR option - they go up to 26k and thats not trailering

 

[Builder]

Duc,

I do not see your point here. I believe we are both Ford owners and like our trucks. I would say from the perspective that the 550's chief competition is the 5500 GM offering, this is a true statement. Our original poster asked about potential posters who had that truck (550) and what they thought. His answers to this point are that the 5500 GM product is worth a look. The competition for this truck is not a 650, that is a different competition point for both companies. Where I think we have taken a turn here is that I, for one, do not own a 550, but I do own a new 6.4L Ford which is the new powerplant for the Ford 550 also. My insight on this topic is that Builder's responses specifically about the 550 hinged to a great degree on his 1999 model 550. He also questioned whether I had ever used the new Duramax/Allison combination, which I have, but not in a medium duty truck but rather a 2500 series truck. My response was to address this based on my experience in a lighter duty truck. My main concern is that it seems the primary lobbying point made by those recommending the GM product is the powertrain, which to me is not a reason any longer. I also had a concern that our two previous 550 owner, besides yourself, were basing their recommendations based on trucks produced before the 2008 redesign. Having a fair amount of experience with both brands and their drivetrains in the lighter duty trucks myself, I felt it necessary to say that Ford has a top notch product here, and at least in my experience has the currently stronger setup--in a lighter duty truck. As for our poster, I do think the GM 5500 is a worthy and to me more beefy competitor to the 550, but NOT due to its powertrain. I am a Ford guy, but I do like to give some credit to the competition when they have made a good product worth investigating.

John M

OK, so let's summize the way you view it:

1. A 6.4L Ford diesel, literally unproven in the real world in it's first 8 months of availability, is comparable to a very reliable, very proven, very easy to modify and maintain Duramax diesel with 7 years of success behind it.

2. A 5 speed Torqshift (biggest transmission Ford makes) with a smaller input shaft, a smaller tailshaft, a smaller overall body and no tap up/down manual shift feature is comparable to a ALLISON built (same people who make MD HD & military tank/truck transmissions) 6 speed transmission with tap up/down feature and bigger input and tailshafts.

3. A 10.5" Sterling rear with limited slip clutchpacks that wear out and will need replacement at some point is comparable to a 11.5" AAM rear with a true locking feature and no clutch packs to wear out.

I guess we'll have to disagree, because those look like obvious GM advantages to me, but if that's the way you feel, good for you.
I can see even with the odds stacked against you, you stick up for your brand.

I decided a year or 2 ago to stick up for who makes the better product.