F450 - Page 2

Jim & Mary · 08-21-2014, 11:44 PM

Brad

Can't tell you how many people have said the match looks good. At the Woodhouse dealer we were able to park this Bronze and the Ruby Red right next to the Redwood and fifteen Woodhouse employees (they were drooling) all agreed the Bronze was the better match. We then towed the Redwood to the rally and now back to Colorado (staying in Glenwood Springs Resort) boy it is so much sweeter than my SRW F350. Whatever you do don't go look at one!

Jim

travelin' texans · 08-21-2014, 11:49 PM

Brad, I thought maybe after your daughter got her new truck it might have won you over to a new GM (Good Motor). LOL!

rob_fla · 08-22-2014, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

Brad, I thought maybe after your daughter got her new truck it might have won you over to a new GM (Good Motor). LOL!

GM = Good Motor

JerryL · 08-22-2014, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave&Ginny

A CDL is not a state requirement....it's federal. The purpose of the CDL is to eliminate all the different state laws that effected drivers that covered several states and to eliminate the need for multiple licenses (and the games the drivers played with the multiple licenses).

I'm not sure what the weight is that puts the F450 into that class. But this is only when the F450 is maxed out. As for other non-commercial federal licensing requirements......air brake endorsement if you drive anything with air brakes. This will come into serious play if ever involved in an accident. The F450 does NOT come with air brakes so this doesn't apply.

Aren't the CDL's only required if making money with your towing? My DMV said you don't need them for private towing.

Buddy Wallace · 08-22-2014, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brenkco

Jim,
It's not that bad! I get about 16 empty, 10 towing.

Ken

I'm in Louisiana and get 12.5 pulling and 16-18 not. I use Chevron and put the Cetane treatment that ford recommends in every tank. I drive 60 MPH and under though, retired and not in a hurry. I didn't know about the def fluid when I bought it though, but that actually keeps everything clean. The Lariat has everything the King Ranch has minus orange seats. Sunroof included.

lwg · 08-22-2014, 12:44 AM

FWIW, My F-350 SRW only gets 16-17 when not towing and about 9.5-10.5 when towing. The small mileage tradeoff for the pulling power of those gears is minimal in my opinion.

One thing I have wondered though, when pulling at 65-70 MPH I wonder if you start to see a bigger mileage differential?

lwg · 08-22-2014, 12:50 AM

While we're on the subject of Ford's. Why don't they offer a short bed DRW anymore? I saw a new Dodge DRW the other day with a short bed and I love the look! I would be much more inclined to buy a DRW if I didn't have to deal with the length AND width...

Buddy Wallace · 08-22-2014, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwg

While we're on the subject of Ford's. Why don't they offer a short bed DRW anymore? I saw a new Dodge DRW the other day with a short bed and I love the look! I would be much more inclined to buy a DRW if I didn't have to deal with the length AND width...

My F-450 is 25" long, but a longer wheel base pulls better, besides I'm 6'5" and 295 lbs so I need the room. I can set in my back seat as well with no problems.

lwg · 08-22-2014, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddy Wallace

My F-450 is 25" long, but a longer wheel base pulls better, besides I'm 6'5" and 295 lbs so I need the room. I can set in my back seat as well with no problems.

You and I are the same size! Personally, I think the extra 18" or so is minimal when it comes to towing a 5th wheel.

atom ant · 08-22-2014, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rob_fla

GM = Good Motor

Correction - Government Motors

Na - I don't have time for all those recalls, and wife says no bow tie's in this garage after what happened with the handouts. Hertz gave us a Suburban the other day and she refused it.

atom ant · 08-22-2014, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim & Mary

Brad

Looks like that "wide track axle" also requires you to get 4.30 gears in the rear end. Not sure I would like that for highway towing.......5 MPG?

Jim

Jim, the Dealer just confirmed that. The sticker shows 4.30 gears under the options.

**Dave&Ginny** · 08-22-2014, 05:37 AM

The only downfall for me is the 430 gears. I just drive too fast. I'd be afraid of the fuel mileage and wrapping out the gears. After I fully retire I'll slow down but right now when I travel.... I've got places to go and people to see.

lwg · 08-22-2014, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atom ant

Correction - Government Motors

Na - I don't have time for all those recalls, and wife says no bow tie's in this garage after what happened with the handouts. Hertz gave us a Suburban the other day and she refused it.

Not to get off topic or pick on current GM owners ( I'm really not), but I truly have the same issues. This latest recall has me vowing to never own another GM product unfortunately. Their moral compass has strayed too much for my taste.

**Dave&Ginny** · 08-22-2014, 05:51 AM

I agree.... but.......that independent front suspension and Allison transmission is kind of hard to over look. Thankfully the Ford and new Dodge transmissions are holding up well. Before 2011 I thought GM had the only reliable transmission.

Truthfully though....all 3 of the trucks have their merit and they each have their own problems too. When it's all said and done, they are all pretty good trucks.

almcc · 08-22-2014, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim & Mary

Brad

Looks like that "wide track axle" also requires you to get 4.30 gears in the rear end. Not sure I would like that for highway towing.......5 MPG?

Jim

Nope, that 2015 F350 HD option is equivalent to my 2011 F-450 with the 4.3 rear end, it's more like 13.5 MPG (imp), about 11 MPG (US).

atom ant · 08-22-2014, 04:12 PM

Ya I think the option is the same as what you get stock on the F450, less the payload

atom ant · 08-22-2014, 05:53 PM

Any argument one way or the other for limited slip axle on these tow beasts? I understand the concept for off road or foul weather, but seems the extreme weight of these would just tend to wear on a limited slip rear end. Maybe not - I don't necessarily understand how they work.

With the trouble I had before, you might say I'm Pumpkin Shy

**Dave&Ginny** · 08-22-2014, 05:56 PM

I made a mistake on my current truck by not getting the off road package. My last truck had it (FX4) and it had auto 4x4. My current truck, I have to choose either 2 or 4 wheel drive.

almcc · 08-22-2014, 06:06 PM

I've had limited slips on all my Fords partially because we live in snow country. The old 2003 went about 250,000 km. with no problems with probably half that total pulling a 5th wheel.

In terms of 4X4, in the 2011 I wanted a manual (stick on the floor) 4x4 lever but had to settle for the electric knob on the dash because I wanted the center console option. I prefer to minimize the electric gadgets whenever possible!

Buddy Wallace · 08-22-2014, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave&Ginny

I made a mistake on my current truck by not getting the off road package. My last truck had it (FX4) and it had auto 4x4. My current truck, I have to choose either 2 or 4 wheel drive.

I have the F-450 FX4 Lariat, I didn't name it beast, but Hoss. He is literally 25' long. It turns tighter than my wife's Lincoln Mark LT.

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