450 update

[bernie]

i have 20,000 miles on this beast and NOT 1 isssuse of any kind had the reflash don in january2009 . i ought the truck in sept 1 2008 i pull a 36 ft. carrilite 5 th wheel gross out around 17000 lbs. this truck is awesome .we left Austin tx on 7-13-2009 .we have pull up through amarillo up to Santa fe up to 7830 ft with no problems over to Moab Utah down some 6% grades the tranney held me at 45 mph for the 3 mile grade .yes i ren gen about every 100 miles .fuel mileage 7.8 hand calc . but i Didnt buy this beast for fuel milage .had a 1 ton dodge before a good truck but was no way in the same class .i love this truck.
bernie


2008 ford build date 4-2007 4.30 dually cc
2004 carrilite 36ft fifth wheel
full time rv

[Dieselgem]

I just got home from just about 10,000 mile trip. From the East Coast to Colorado to Texas, back to Colorado, then to Texas via New Mexico. Then to Wyoming (Cody) and then to Sturgis South Dakota. Pulled the big horns and everything in between. I had a sensor replaced in Colorado and a cracked DPF replaced in Dallas. The sensor threw a code and the DFP sooted up the back of the truck bad and had a power loss. Both things were sudden. Neither were an issue to have corrected. The truck ran strong and once the DPF was replaced my fuel mileage towing average 9.0 till I came over the big horns. Then I blew 20"s out the tailpipe till Buffalo. The truck never blinked. I am still impressed with the pulling ability of this truck. I scaled 29,400+ combined coming out of Pennsylvania when I left in April. I am a believer in this truck and like you really love mine.

[BIGBEN2004]

I like to read good posts on sites like this. All you ever seem to read is how this broke or this thing failed or how much is this gonna cost me on every site. Glad to hear some of the positive times with these trucks. People are having great luck with them but never post about it. Keep us updated. I want to get a chance one day to pull with one to feel how good they are like many have said. I am used to one tons and they do great but you can feel heavy loads pushing the limits of the trucks especially the brakes.

[Oracle]

Wife and I currently own a 28' Airstream and pull with a 2005 F-150 5.4L. We're making plans to go 'full time' in a big fifth wheel. The three we've zeroed in on at this time all come in around 38-41ft & 18,000#. (Carri-Lite by Carriage, Mobile Suites/Elite Suites by DRV, and Escalade by KZ).
Research has led us to the F-450 (King Ranch) or the GMC TopKick (330hp Duramax Diesel) which is GM's Medium Duty equivalent.
GM people are trashing the F-450 as plagued with faults and failures and abominal gas mileage. When talking to them about mileage, they admit the TopKick gets between 8-12 mpg, towing or not.

Wife and I really are Ford people as our current truck is our 3rd Ford and each of the previous two has easily hit the 200k mark without major work.
TO the three who have posted in this thread: Please give me any additional ammunition that will move us toward the F-450.

[chuck_s_jr]

I love my setup. I get 8 to 9+ pulling my fifth wheel max 19k And 12 to 14 unloaded F450 and it is a 4x4. I have look for what mile the GMC c4500 gets but could not find any MPG. How long will GMC be here?????

[guardrail22]

TopKick is a kids cereal isn't it?

[wingnut60]

Oracle--I got an '09 F450 in June, have 7800 miles now. It is a very strong and comfortable tow vehicle. After 2 350s, it is a real improvement for stability and weight pulling. It is a Lariat with every possible option cept the KR interior. Have been to Colorado and one other local trip--it does what it is supposed to do. Fuel mileage on the CO trip was 9.1 overall, but solo driving it struggles to get 13. Anything over 1900 rpms (about 60 mph) will drop the solo mpg a lot. It handles my 17080lb Mobile Suites very well, and doesn't need air bags or anything else to handle the weight.
I believe the other mfgs are making good trucks, also, but I think GM is no longer making the 4500 series trucks. Dodge has a 4500 out now, I believe.
If you are a Ford fan, you won't be disappointed. And you need to go look at the Nav system--mine has Bluetooth, Sirius radio(fee), radar screen, fuel prices and road updates.
For a usuable combination of comfort, power, handling--it is hard to beat. Mileage may be better in GM/Dodge, I don't know.
You have a big change coming--150/Airstream to big truck/trailer--take time to look, listen and read about people who have the 450/bit trailer, then make a decision. don't want to make a mistake, a lot of $$$ at stake.

By the way--several combos of 450s/MS trailers are for sale right now--check out SOITC and 5thwheelforums websites.
Joe

[titaniumfan]

OK, since you asked...

I owned a 30' Airstream Safari bunkhouse model for over a year and pulled it with the F-450 over the Rocky Mountains easily. We outgrew it and needed a 4 seasons 5th wheel, see my pics.

Realize that GM is getting out of the medium-duty truck business; all production on the Chevy Kodiak and the GMC Topkick stopped at the Flint, Mich plant as of July 31st. That's right, no more. Use your favorite search engine for more details or look here

Another point is that someday you will need to service your truck, and finding a Ford dealer for any service will be a heck of a lot easier than finding Kodiak service... Not to mention finding Ford and aftermarket parts will be easy for a long time to come ***compared with the Kodiak/TopKick*** -- yes, even when Ford moves on to another non-International diesel engine.

While the F-450 isn't exactly svelte, there's no way the Kodiak will fit in parking garages that the 450 squeeze into. Not to mention that many neighborhoods prohibit trucks over a certain GVWR and the Kodiak uhh, sticks out a lot more than the 450.

My .02. Good luck.

[bernie]

Originally Posted by Oracle

Wife and I currently own a 28' Airstream and pull with a 2005 F-150 5.4L. We're making plans to go 'full time' in a big fifth wheel. The three we've zeroed in on at this time all come in around 38-41ft & 18,000#. (Carri-Lite by Carriage, Mobile Suites/Elite Suites by DRV, and Escalade by KZ).
Research has led us to the F-450 (King Ranch) or the GMC TopKick (330hp Duramax Diesel) which is GM's Medium Duty equivalent.
GM people are trashing the F-450 as plagued with faults and failures and abominal gas mileage. When talking to them about mileage, they admit the TopKick gets between 8-12 mpg, towing or not.

Wife and I really are Ford people as our current truck is our 3rd Ford and each of the previous two has easily hit the 200k mark without major work.
TO the three who have posted in this thread: Please give me any additional ammunition that will move us toward the F-450.

well we have a 2004 carr-lite and we really love the rv cant say ANYTHING bad about the rig .the best thing i can say is if and when i buy another rv i Will buy the same rig we have the 36 xtreme 5 floor plan .we are full timer and we think this plan gives us the most living space. the truck handles it with ease.the fuel mieage is not the best but if i wanted fuel mile
age i would buy a tonka toy

bernie munson
2008 450 -430 gears ford
2004 36 ft carri-lite #about 17500

[Oracle]

I really didn't intend to hi-jack this thread but to everyone who responded, I/we say, 'Thank you'. An added thank you to the websites where there are rigs for sale.
It's really nice to have two of you who currently tow the 5'ers we're considering. We're going up to the RV show in Hershey PA next month to see the fifth-wheels in a kind of side x side environment and hopefully come to a decision on model/floor plan/options. I'm anticipating wife will have one preference and I like another but what's new . We had that situation when we upsized to the current AS and you know who won that disagreement.

[BIGBEN2004]

I own a 02 Chevy 3500 D/A and love it. It is in no way in the same class as the F-450. To even think for a minute to compare the Ford F-450 to a Kodiak 4500 is CRAZY. The Kodiaks were junk and I say WERE JUNK because they no longer make them. Even my local dealers said that GM messed up when they made the 4500 and 5500 on the big cab chassis and not on a pickup style chassis. They were even constructed poorly with allot of inside cab parts falling off and rattling your brains out. I have drove them and was not impressed at all even if used as a construction truck. I like what Dodge has done but they will not be as refined as the Ford is for inside cab comfort. They are designed just like the Fords are with wide front axles for great steering and big heavy duty axles in the rears. If you are in no hurry the new Fords will be out soon with a new engine and if you don't like them then imagine the deals they will have to move the old units off the lots.

[CAMPINGTOM]

Originally Posted by BIGBEN2004

If you are in no hurry the new Fords will be out soon with a new engine and if you don't like them then imagine the deals they will have to move the old units off the lots.

That's what I've been thinking.

[Biljo]

I'm working on 70,000 miles on my 2008 Ford F450 King Ranch. I've not had a single issue since day one. I keep the oils changed every 5000 miles; flushed tranny/power steering/differential at 60,000 miles. I have the original Continental tires and they look great (never rotated them). I transport RVs, all sizes. This truck is the best one I've ever had.
I do have Nitro in my tires. I have a 70 gallon auxillary tank and the 38 gallon main tank. I put a bottle of Cetane Boost in every other fill up. 4 oz in main tank and rest of bottle in the auxillary tank. I really believe in this stuff.

[doublenuthin]

I'm a little guy here, 08 F-350, about 8000 pound, 24 foot box trailer. 7,000 miles, zero problems. 8-9 mpg w/trailer @ 70 -75 mph. 14 mpg w/o. Gets run @ 80-85 mph quite a bit (one of my buddies has a lead foot). Never checked the mileage at those speeds. Up and over midwestern hills without a hickup, or slowing down. Great ride, quiet, what more could you ask for.

[ryansdad]

Originally Posted by chuck_s_jr

I love my setup. I get 8 to 9+ pulling my fifth wheel max 19k And 12 to 14 unloaded F450 and it is a 4x4. I have look for what mile the GMC c4500 gets but could not find any MPG. How long will GMC be here?????

How do you get 8-9+ towing with the 4.88's? My toy hauler's a lot lighter than yours and I get between 6-7. Would kill for your mileage. Any tips? Is your truck all stock? Mine is. Thanks!

Jeff