Considering an 08 F-450 with 6.4 - Advice? - Diesel Forum

jonyb · 10-24-2012, 02:52 PM

I've had several trucks, most of which are GM's. I'm considering buying an 08 F-450 - I need to upgrade to a 1-ton dually - so there are a few that I'm considering. I don't know the production date, but do have the VIN of 1 truck, do they still do Oasis reports? This truck has 45,000 miles on it and is clean on the outside. It's 500 miles away so it's hard for me to get all the information without going to get it first.

Any advice? I've read about all the problems, so I know they're out there, but there are also guys that haven't had any problems. I plan to use the truck to pull a 33' travel trailer toy hauler and also have a quad in the bed of the truck. Total weight is about 10K to 11K pounds. I don't try to race or beat on them very hard.... Would probably do a DPF and EGR delete, but don't know a lot about those options right now.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

badbart · 10-24-2012, 03:35 PM

If you're only pulling 10-11K, I'd stay with an F350. I don't like the 6.4 myself(or the 6.0) although many folks get great service out of them. If you are financially able, I'd get the 6.7. I have buddys that are Ford techs and I'm just going by what they tell me. They have literally called the 6.0 and the 6.4 "Junk". They do like the 6.7 though. All of them that have diesels drive 7.3's....go figure.

jonyb · 10-24-2012, 04:04 PM

Financially is the concern. I'm wanting to stay below the $35K mark. I agree on the 7.3 and comments on the 6.0, but I'm wanting something newer and nicer - not that anything out there with a 7.3 is not nice, it's just that most of them have too many miles for my taste.

A guy that works for me has a 6.7 in a 2012 F-350. He and his wife have already logged 80K in that truck in less than 9 months delivering campers and trailers from IN to TX and AZ. No mechanical problems at all. That truck is an upgrade from a 2010 6.4 350 - no problems on it either.

badbart · 10-24-2012, 04:38 PM

You could always find a nice low mileage 6.0 and spend an additional $4-$5K on it and make it bulletproof. My dad had a 2004 6.0 before he died and it had plenty of power....when it wasn't in limp mode. You could probably have less than $25K in one if you wanted to go that route. There are some bargains out there if you're patient. A friend of mine found a 1999 F350 crewcab, dually, 6 speed with only 30K miles in May. He got it for $10K!

senix · 10-24-2012, 08:30 PM

6.4 is a good motor. with a vin you can ask the sa at your local dealer to run it for you to see.

Af350 is a 1 ton. F450 is overkill for you.

F350 either srw or dually will do just fine. either 3.73 or 4.30 gears does not matter.

I tow heavy with mine all the time. I would not want a 7.3 or a 6.0. simply because they don't have the power or the nicer interiors. When you spend alot of time behind the wheel that counts.

I have 74K and 1900 hours on my motor and it has been just fine.

jonyb · 10-25-2012, 09:15 PM

I know the 450 is gonna be overkill. They're priced the same right now as 350's. The main reason for the 450 is because it has 19.5's and they can be found for around my price point. The one I'm looking at only has 45000 miles.

What was the turning point in 08 when they started upgrading the radiators, or fixing the problems? Most people I talk to say the early 08's had the problems, so what is considered early 08?

senix · 10-26-2012, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonyb

I know the 450 is gonna be overkill. They're priced the same right now as 350's. The main reason for the 450 is because it has 19.5's and they can be found for around my price point. The one I'm looking at only has 45000 miles.

What was the turning point in 08 when they started upgrading the radiators, or fixing the problems? Most people I talk to say the early 08's had the problems, so what is considered early 08?

Job 1 and 2.

I have a job 3, born in March 08. I think job 3 started in Jan 08. But they still have some failures..even in the 2011/2012's. Cheap radiators.

There were some redesigns though that helped.

I still have my original.

jonyb · 10-26-2012, 01:01 PM

So it may be safe to say that if I picked up either a job 3, or a truck with lower mileage, and did the DPF/EGR delete, I may be okay on some of the failures? I assume that with most of the searching I've done here.

Rickeoni · 10-26-2012, 02:26 PM

Get the F450.
I carry a slide in camper and pull a trailer, never any problems. Always better to have 2 much truck than 2 little. The 19.5's are so much better than any tire I Have ever used. I had an F250 before I got the trailer, I will never ho back to anything else. Besides the F450 badass quotient is off the scale!

jonyb · 10-26-2012, 09:19 PM

Just sold my current truck today, so the search is on for sure on another truck. I've been using a 2006 Chevy 2500HD duramax LBZ, and it swayed pretty bad with my toy hauler behind and the can am outlander in the bed. That's why I'm wanting to go up to duals.

badbart · 10-27-2012, 07:06 AM

If you get a crewcab, longbed dually all that sway will be gone. I never have sway issues with a fifth wheel, and the travel trailers only get a slight "push" when a semi passes me. Longer is better. I don't need sway controllers on mine.

jonyb · 10-27-2012, 08:56 PM

My last truck was a crew cab longbed, but again, I think the lift is what caused the problem with swaying. I only say that because i had BDS springs, so between that and the tires, that may have caused the problems.

Do the 450's come with 4:88 or 4:10 gearing? If fuel economy unloaded is above 10-12 I don't mind, what can I expect out of this though?

JESSE 1 · 10-28-2012, 11:16 AM

The early F-450 pickups could have had either the 4.88 or 4.30. I had a Job 2 '08 F-450 with the 4.30's and it was a great truck. Fuel mileage is the worst thing about the 6.4. The F-450 comes with the wide track front axle standard and it really reduces the turning radius. Check out my pictures for a comparison between my '08 and new '12 F-450 pickups.

Parshdude · 12-30-2012, 01:09 PM

I currently drive an 08 F-450, and have had it for almost a year now. Bought it used and it has the DPF removed and the SCT Livewire (wish I knew more about that, but the unit was stolen from the truck before I could figure out which program was in) and a cold air intake.

I get 11 to 12 MPG around town, if I am gentle on the throttle. I am getting 10 MPG on the highway at 70mph, confirmed on my 1300 mile each way trip from Florida to Denver with the Road King in the bed.

If milage even appears in your vocabulary when talking about trucks, this may not be the truck for you, but comfort and reliability and towing power is incredible.

I do have the 4.88 rear so I am at 2700rom at 70mph, so if you get one with the lower gear ratio like the 4.30 it would obviously be slightly better on the highway. A guy at work has an 09 with the 4.30 and he claims 14-15 on the highway empty.

In the year I have had this truck that I bought used I have only had one issue, the cruise control quit working. I am told its probably the brake sensor or something like that. I will have it fixed under warrenty later next month when I am on work travel again.

Good luck on your decision.

guardrail22 · 12-30-2012, 08:43 PM

The 6.4 is the best diesel Ford used in the superduty. The 08-10 truck is the best styling.

Find an F450 with the 430 gearing in it, either 08 or 09. Mine has 133000 miles on it, has saved my life once and as long as I have to pull this will be what pulls.