Another TV

[fredandfred]

I have an F250 and will have to look at another vehicle. I have been looking at 1 ton dually trucks. My question is does anyone tow with an F-450 or 550 or are they considered commercial?

 

[Bamaman]

A lot of people tow with F450's. But remember that one F450 only comes in 4x4 version and is a all option glorified F350. The other F450 comes in cab and chassis version and it would need a body of some kind added. You can still get the V-10 in it.

When you get to the F550's, they're essentially a short wheelbase medium size truck. Few owners would ever need the towing capabilities of such a unit. You see them with small bucket bodies and large utility beds with welders and/or fuel tanks for construction equipment service trucks.

In personal use, it's doubtful that most states would consider such trucks commercial vehicles.

 

[Dave and Monica]

I studied the 2015 Ford Towing guide. It appears the both the F350 and F450 DRWs have the same GVWR of 14000 but because the F450 weighs more it has less payload than the F350 DRW. The F450 DRW will tow 26500# max (hitch limit) compared to 23500# max for the F350 DRW. Of note the F450 has a rear end ratio of 4.30 vs 3.73 for the F350 so you should expect considerably lower fuel mileage with the F450. Here's the link to the guide... http://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/Ford_Linc_15RVTTgde_Feb3.pdf

Dave

 

[Bamaman]

The F450's have tires that are 225/70Rx19.5G--a taller and heavier duty tire than the 18" or 20" tires on the F350. This accounts for some of the difference in gear ratios.

 

[Dave and Monica]

The F450's have tires that are 225/70Rx19.5G--a taller and heavier duty tire than the 18" or 20" tires on the F350. This accounts for some of the difference in gear ratios.

That made me curious so I had to look it up. F350 DRW OEM tire is 245/75R17 E at 31.5" diameter...F450 DRW OEM tire 225/70R19.5 G at 32.0" diameter, Definitely a big difference in tire load ratings...3195# @ 80 psi vs 3970# @ 110 psi.

Dave

 

[Bamaman]

Not that much difference in diameter, but the G rated tires are really beefy tires. I would imagine the ride of the F450 is not nearly as good as a F350.

The F450 is pretty much a towing beast that most fiver owners don't really need for the weights they carry.