DODGE- "GET-ER-DONE"











Notice the small area added to front of bed. The 550s wheelbase is 3-4"s longer than 350. This is a serious hauler. and not for the fainthearted. I'm not trying to sell Fords but would like for Dodge to step up to the plate. This truck has about 18k GVW and 19.5 wheels.

 

A guy I worked with just retired, and bought one for himself....32K GCVWR The rear axle is friggin outrageous....looks like it came from a garbage truck...$60k+



AND HIS PAINT IS ALREADY FLAKING OFF!!!!

 

F550 GCWR is up to 33K.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/specs/200...er_duty_1.html

 

I'll be the first one to admit that it's a good looking truck and I almost went the ford route in 99 when I bought mine because I liked the looks. However, a Ram equipped the same way was running 5 to 6 thousand dollars cheaper at the time and I'm so glad I went with the Ram. I would like to see DC come up with a rig like that and from what I've read, the chassis-cab for 07 with the bigger Cummins might be the ticket. The bad part about the 450 and 550 is that it's still going to have the 6.0 and I wonder if it's going to get the same complaints as the GM 4500 and 5500 with the DM/A set-up. I'm also wondering (if I read the info correctly),,, the 450-550 only comes with a 4.88 or 5.38 rear and automatic trans (no mannual trans?)? Wonder what the fuel mileage will be like?

 

I almost bought a another Ford back then too...Glad I changed...

Jim says his truck has 4.56, but I cant verify that...He says the 6.0 is awesome, but he's a blind Ford follower....

BTW...He just spent $184 on fuel, oil and air filters....Just for the filters

 

Dang, that is slick......I give credit where it is due.....A 550 pick up is just cool.

The axle ratio is rediculous but unfortunately for 6.0 owners, not unreasonable for grossing out at that high of a weight. Something has to get that much weight rolling and we sure as heck know it isn't going to be all that non-existent bottom end power the 6.0 has. If equipped with the appropriate tranny with double OD's, it may not be too bad but somehow I doubt it will be.

Man, how cool would a 5500 CTD be?!?!?!

 

They can have all that extra heavy duty stuff on the truck all they wan't.It all looks reel heavy duty and built to tow. It's To bad they don't have a engine to go with it.

 

A Dodge dually with 19.5" tires/wheels can probably do the same as the F550.

MikeyB

 

Did he get kissed behind the ear?
The fuel filter is $46 and includes the upper and lower filters.
Oil filter is $17 for Motorcraft @ Wally World and the air filter is $57.

That's $120...He's really getting screwed.

Btw, the air filter is good for 50k + miles, fuel filters go 15k miles and oil filters go up to 7.5k miles depending on conditions.

Yep, I've got a 6.0L PSD, it's the easiest engine to service that I've ever seen. With the Fomoto oil drain valve I don't even get my hands dirty doing an oil change. The valve allows me to easily pull a sample for the lab too.

The top mounted oil filter housing drains into the pan when you loosen the cap and the filter is snapped in the cap so that it can be lifted out and placed into a plastic bag without spilling a single drip. My old 7.3L PSD had me dreading unscrewing the filter up under the truck, usually oil ran down the filter and arm and it was always hot and made a mess. Whoever designed the 6.0L oil system deserves a Beer.

Hyspeed

 

Man I hope dodge comes out with a chassis cab like that in 07. I'll be looking for one by then, and with a bigger cummins??? I must have one. I WILL have one! And the neighbors think my truck is annoying now...

 

Me thinks more like a 4.88 gear ratio. Trailer Life (Getta Life) did a tow test with one last year. It gets worse mileage than my gasser. Being what it is, I wouldn't mind one for Christmas with a V-10. Still a serious hauler with a reliable engine. Our local utility companies have stayed with Ford but their new F-250 to F-550s are showing up with 5.4s and V-10s in them. Our company has also said no more diesels due to numerous problems with the 6.0 and no problems with the 5.4s in our fleet.

 

Is this the same 6.0 system that pees fuel all over the frame rail (and your arm) when you try to insert the allen key to drain it while lying on your back UNDER the truck?? 120 for filters?? That's about 4 year supply for the Cummins.
And whoever designed the Cummins fuel filter? It take me 2 minutes....2 MINUTES to change it. Who's got that kind of time????? Sheesh......

That 550 be sweet with a 5.9 and a stick in it. Oh yeah air ride too or a good doctor.

 

Buy a 3500 Dodge, put some air bags and 19.5" wheels on it, a 6 speed, and you are set. It would be nice if Dodge would build a truck like that, but the 6.0 is not made for anything like that, and just plain wont hold up to the abuse of hauling every day heavy. The Cummins on the other hand hardly thinks of that kind of load as abuse, but more like daily driving, and can be had in a 3/4 ton truck. Ford does build a nice truck, but under the hood is a nightmare, and the motor cant handle daily driving on a stock truck without blowing head gaskets. No way it will hold up to hauling every day.

Eric

 

Ford had one of their fancy edition 350 haulers at the Tampa RV show. It was drop dead gorgeous. The interior was black leather with seats that felt like my family room recliner. It was truly stunning. None of Dodge's fancy editions can even come close. Too bad. For some reason they don't get it. Everyone hollers for a good crew cab and they come up with a limo that you dare not put on a full bed or else it will take corners like a limo. Doesn't make sense. Great truck but they sure don't know how to put in an interior or seats.

 

The problem that I found with the Dodge is the cab...I'm disabled and I find the Quad really hard to ride in and drive. I have a problem driving my SO's Lebaron for the same reason. In the Ford I can sit more uprite and according to my neighbor my truck rides better than his D3500 dually. I also like the full size four door cab as does everyone that rides in the back seat. I don't care what engine is under the hood, it could be the best one in the world, if I can't drive the truck then it does me no good.

I have to have a diesel and I'm fully aware of the 6.0L teething problems long before I paid cash for the 2003 that I have now. I was a diesel mechanic for a number of years and understand the in's and out's. If you read enough on the various forums for the different trucks on the market, they all have their problems and the un-happy owners bashing the marks. One big thing comes up over and over in all the board when someone is griping about their vehicle is that they have in some way modified it to get more power. Then when something goes wrong they start bashing the truck, what's up with that?

My truck is bone stock, it runs good, drives good and gets decent mileage pulling my 14,500lb fifth wheel. I'm happy with it and it does a good job.

Bottom line is that everyone has the freedom to buy and drive what ever truck they want. Now if you want to buy a truck for me I'll drive it...right down to the Ford dealer and trade it in. In 35 years I've owned several different trucks and it's my opinion that the Fords have always been the most reliable and cost effective for me. And yes, I did have a Dodge, once, along with Jeep, Gmc, and Toyota. Right now I'm on my 4th Ford, I still have the 1981 F-100 that I still drive on occassion and a 2002 F-250PSD. The 1990 F-350DRW crew cab diesel got traded for the 2003 F-350DRW crew cab.

So bash me all you want, it makes me smile when I read all the comments about Dodge not building a decent sized cab and the crappy seats.

And the comment about draining the water from the fuel under the truck, I do mine every 5,000 miles and have yet to even get any fuel on my fingers. Your guy must be a real rookie and he shouldn't be doing it in the first place.

Hyspeed.