Any F-550 owners or towers out there ?

[jcmseven]

No flip-flopping here. Growing weary, but no flip-flop.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Workin,

You have a good point. I do know there could be some variability in which of the brands one might see based on demographics and geographic variables. For example, Kubotas, like yours, are pretty popular here as are Massey Ferguson tractors. John Deere tractors, like mine, are fairly popular, but not as much so. The reason: a very strong dealer presense for the former two brands. In my hometown, which is more agricultural and is flatter than here where larger machines rule, John Deere by far outsells the other two. Again, also in part due to dealer presense. Here in WNC, we see more 550's than we do 5500's mainly due to many folks positive experience with Ford and also due to a very strong truck presense from one larger dealer. I believe that GM is becoming more popular in this class truck, but some could be from those differences also.

John M

 

[john_bud]

I did notice the ad below in the truck trader deal that Builder posted.
A brand new F550 with $9178 in discounts/rebates. That brings the price down to $38,000 for it. That's cheaper than a F250 diesel! What's up with that? Makes you want to get your CDL. Almost.

Add to Saved TrucksSanta Cruz, CA2008
FORD F550, 08 F550 4x2, WB 201" - 6.4 Twin Turbo Diesel, 5spd Auto Trans, 4.88 limited Slip Rear Axle, 19000 GVW High Capasity Trl Tow, 33000 GCVW Tow Command System. Price Reflects {$3000} Factory Rebate {$1000} Upfit Rebate {1000} Owner Loyalty Rebate / $4178 16' FlatbedMore Details & Photos Email Seller Visit My Online Showroom (888) 591-5808 $37,978
Date Placed:
06-AUG-07

 

[ducati996]

No flip-flopping here. Growing weary, but no flip-flop.

John M

Sorry if your weary of me - I was kidding about the flip-flopping part, didnt mean it actually

Duc

 

[jcmseven]

Duc,

Not weary of you at all, no problem there, but the thread is wearing me out. Man, where has my stamina gone?? Am I that old???

John M

 

[ducati996]

Duc,

Not weary of you at all, no problem there, but the thread is wearing me out. Man, where has my stamina gone?? Am I that old???

John M

No we beat the horse to death - I now want both a 5500 and F650

 

[Builder]

Well, since we're talking about F-550 4x4 and the competitors for it, the 5500 4x4, which only goes to 19,500 GVWR and is priced similarly to the Ford, then I say they are direct competitors.

Since almost every 5500 4x4 comes off the assembly line at 19,500 lbs, I think it's safe to say GM is building them to exceed the capability of the F-550, no?

Oh and Ducati: Never add the axle ratings to arrive at a GVWR. It doesn't always work that way. Axle ratings frequently add up to more than GVWR. Gotta get up earlier than that to get one by this old boy.

Anyway, line 'em both up in a parking lot and tell me that the 5500 4x4 wouldn't destroy that little F-550 beefed-up Ford pickup. It will.... in so many ways.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Builder, I am not trying to get involved in any debate but I have a couple questions for you.

Do you think the F-550 can not do what it is designed to do?

If the answer is yes, then do you think GM overbuilt the 5500 just to try and steal market share from Ford. I mean, from the way you talk the truck is built strong enough and big enough to compete with the 650/750 line but basically de-rated to have an advantage over the Ford F-550.

What I am getting at is this, the 5500 is more truck the the 550 from what you say (I have never compared the two or even looked close at a 5500 so I can't say one way or the other) but the 550 will still handle its own the basically, all the oversized "improvements" the 5500 has are basically selling points to steal marketshare. Kind of like Toyota trying to over-build a half ton truck to steal market shares from Ford and GM.

 

[Builder]

Builder, I am not trying to get involved in any debate but I have a couple questions for you.

Do you think the F-550 can not do what it is designed to do?

If the answer is yes, then do you think GM overbuilt the 5500 just to try and steal market share from Ford. I mean, from the way you talk the truck is built strong enough and big enough to compete with the 650/750 line but basically de-rated to have an advantage over the Ford F-550.

What I am getting at is this, the 5500 is more truck the the 550 from what you say (I have never compared the two or even looked close at a 5500 so I can't say one way or the other) but the 550 will still handle its own the basically, all the oversized "improvements" the 5500 has are basically selling points to steal marketshare. Kind of like Toyota trying to over-build a half ton truck to steal market shares from Ford and GM.

Not one of my posts said the 5500 is built strong enough and big enough to compete with the 650/750 line.

That was Ducati making that claim.

The only thing I've maintained all along is that the 5500 4x4 99% of the time is factory built by GM at 19,500 GVWR obviously making it a direct competitor to the F-550 4x4 (if it's equipped with the extra payload package, otherwise a F-550 has a GVWR of 17,950 lbs).

I do believe the 5500 is significantly overbuilt compared to the F-550. It has a heavier front & rear axle, heavier frame and a superior drivetrain. It also has better "medium duty" characteristics, like a tilt nose hood and better ergonomics for the professional/commercial driver.

Simply put, it's substantially more truck for similar money.

I think the F-550 is built enough to do its' job. However, it shares so many similarities with its' lighter duty counterparts, like the F-250, that I think realistically, it's more of a beefed-up Duperduty pickup. OTOH, I think the 4500/5500 4x4 is not as similar to the lighter GM 2500 series pickups.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

But that is what I meant, not that you said it. I think GM overbuilt the 5500 to out distance the 550 but in reality it should be able to compete with the F650 if GM changed the ratings on it. I doubt GM has this thing rated to its full capacity.