Bought a F-450

422 SS · April 30, 2004

I'm officially a F-450 owner as of yesterday.For the first time since 1995 I don't own a Chevy pickup.I bought a F-450 crewcab Lariat 4x4 with a pickup bed conversion.The 2500 HD had plenty of power to pull my trailers but the instability of a single wheel pickup was getting nerve racking and dangerous.I was looking at a GMC dually but the Ford won out because of the huge brakes and beefy suspension.After several instances of tires blowing on the truck or trailer in the last year and nearly crashing the decision was made to buy a safer truck.When towing my trailers weigh a minimum of 12,000 lbs.This truck has a 18,000 lb tow rating and should provide a less dramatic towing experience than the single wheel truck.It's kinda weird not having a Chevy in the garage.

Machine · April 30, 2004

Not bad. I take it that it has the 6.0 Power Stroke? If so, you're going to really like that diesel. Congrats!

Roofer · May 1, 2004

They are good trucks. We have a F550. Be careful of the valve stems and crappy tires. They have no traction in snow or mud and they are spendy with the 19.5" rims. Just found out too that the brakes only last about 30K and those big rotors last about 75K. We need new rotors on ours and they are $250 a piece. They have really good brakes with those big rotors, but you pay for it. I really wish mine was a newer one with the 6.0 and the torqushift. The 7.3 is gutless with that much weight.

frdfandc · May 2, 2004

Yes be carefull with the tires on the 19.5 inch rims. They are a steel sidewalled tire and tire psi MUST be checked and kept up to whats posted on the door jam sticker. I used to work at a Ford dealer, and have seen many of these tires destroyed by people not keeping the proper air psi in the tires. Also had one tire have a sidewall blow out on one, when airing it up to the proper pressure. Luckily it was on the inside sidewall and only hurt my ears for a few mins, no long term damage.

422 SS · May 2, 2004

Thanks for the tips guys.I check tire pressure frequently so keeping them properly inflated is no big deal.

Roofer a Superchips chip would cure the sluggishness of your 7.3.

Roofer · May 3, 2004

Yes be carefull with the tires on the 19.5 inch rims. They are a steel sidewalled tire and tire psi MUST be checked and kept up to whats posted on the door jam sticker. I used to work at a Ford dealer, and have seen many of these tires destroyed by people not keeping the proper air psi in the tires. Also had one tire have a sidewall blow out on one, when airing it up to the proper pressure. Luckily it was on the inside sidewall and only hurt my ears for a few mins, no long term damage.

That's interesting... When we had valve stem blow outs, the Ford garage tried to blame it on us. he said we were supposed to air them down when we weren't carrying heavy loads and air them up to max when hauling. They will try to get out of anything. I don't plan on going back to this particular dealer.