F-450 Comparison

[RoadRider84]

So we have a 2006 6.0 F-350 SRW and upgrading to a new Ford in a few months.

We are leaning to upgrading to a F-450 vs F-350 DRW 2020/21.

So the question is not the pros and cons between today’s F-350 vs F-450.

The question is ride comparison between an old 2006 6.0 F-350 vs a new F-450. Would the ride itself feel about the same or would the F-450 still be a little more harder?

[D2Reid]

I can't speak to a direct comparison, I can only talk about the things I like in my 2019 F450. The ride is pretty stiff, you definitely learn to slow down for speed bumps. And of course it rides better when loaded than when empty. The upsides are greater 5th wheel towing capacity. A much better turning radius. Bigger brakes. The 4:30 rear differential adds more torque, great for starting off and climbing steep grades. I get 9 mpg pulling 20k 5th wheel and 15 empty. I don't drive fast. You'll love the exhaust brake...

[Txfivver]

Replied to you pm roadrider with my thoughts.

[TheLexx]

I've not ridding in a 2006 350 so I can't compare. I will say that the 450 has 19.5" wheels and commercial tires. These wheels have a shallower bead. That means you MUST run tire pressures of at least 70 PSI. To compensate for the shallow bead, the sidewalls of commercial tires are stiffer. Combine that with the higher required tire pressure, and the ride is likely quite a bit stiffer than your 2006 or any truck that uses conventional passenger/truck tires.

A number of folks have changed their 450 wheels from the 19.5" to 20" or 22" wheels/tires. You have to go to a bigger wheel because the brakes on the 450 are massive - fully 50% bigger than those on other Superduties. With a 20" tires and 35x11.5 or 12.5 R20 tires, your ride should get better. You can also throw on different shocks (Fox or King) and suspension bits (Carli Back Country or Pin Top). To do all of that is going to be over $11k. You'll have a really incredibly capable truck that can do fire trails but at a cost.

The F350 will allow you to easily swap out the wheels/tires to just about anything you want. But it turns 6 feet wider and has smaller brakes.

So we have a 2006 6.0 F-350 SRW and upgrading to a new Ford in a few months.

We are leaning to upgrading to a F-450 vs F-350 DRW 2020/21.

So the question is not the pros and cons between today’s F-350 vs F-450.

The question is ride comparison between an old 2006 6.0 F-350 vs a new F-450. Would the ride itself feel about the same or would the F-450 still be a little more harder?