'08-Up General QuestionsGeneral questions related to 2008-Up Super Duty trucks. If it doesn't fit the other categories, post it here. Gas engine discussion that pertains to all models is allowed. Specific gas engine questions should use the Gas Engines forum.
There's been a F450 at a local dealer for a long time, Made 4/07, a loaded Lariat 4x4, the sticker says 57K they will take 45K. This is I think a job 1 truck; been sitting all this time. Sounds like a good deal, but the 4:88 scares me. I will be towing a horse trailer with a max gross of 17K. I definitely want an F450, but don't need 4:88's, I wanted 4:30's, but is this deal too good to pass up? My main concern with 4:88's is that 300 extra rpm the engine spins at at 70mph over that of the 4:30. What kind of difference in fuel mileage will this spell out for me (this matters to me in the long run, as it's to be my last truck)? With a 4:88, would the engine be churning when I'm running down the interstate at 70mph?
Again, this is to be my last new truck, it's got to be right for me.
Thanks everyone,
Debbie T.
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Early '99 F250 4x4 XLT PowerStroke; 6-speed that I love; manual hubs that I love; Extended cab; RanchHand Grill guard, Diamond tread RB, coolant change to Gold. My Pic Proud member of St. Louis Area Powerstrokes!
Debbie, for your part of the country 4.88's are overkill. Out in truly mountainous regions, the 4.88's work well but I gotta tell you the lie-o-meter tells me that at anything over 70 my mileage goes down to about 8 mpg EMPTY! I don't know how much better the 4.30's would be . . . the discount they are going to give you will still buy a LOT of diesel. Keeping my 450 under 60 seems to give me about 11+ mpg so it's something you need to decide for your yourself. BTW, in the mountains, in snow, while in 4WD, and limited to 40-45 mpg the lie-o-meter told me 18 mpg . . .
Do not buy the truck if your normal highway traveling speed is 70mph. This is a 60mph truck. Hell, with diesel here now $4.25, might be better off with a F-350 dually with 3.73s. I get the impression that a 4.30 F-450 will allow you to drive 5mph faster at the same fuel burn rate as a 4.88 F-450. I get right at 13mpg unladened using cruise control set at 60mph, my friend told me he gets the same mileage but at 65mph road speed. It takes fuel to push a 9,000lb barn door down the highway, it takes a lot more at 70+ mph. Like I said, if you like to drive 70+mph, don't buy the 4.88 equipped 450. Look for a 350 with 3.73s, it will still haul that trailer and save you some fuel money when driven solo.
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2008 F-450 Lariat Dark Stone Metallic over Pueblo Gold 4x4(manual shift transfer case, manual hubs), High capacity tow 4:88s, Off Road, Camper packages, Sirius Sat, Upfitter switches, DVD entertainment, tailgate step, traction control, Audiophile 6-disc, PTC Supplemental heat and heated seats(warm buns), rear sensors, traction control, tailgate step. Built May 8, delivered May 24
Reese Signature Series 24k fiver hitch, I installed it myself, best hitch I have found yet
Line-X bedliner, heavy duty floor mats
2003 Sunline F281SR(weekend getaways)
SeaRay 215EC http://community.webshots.com/user/C...host=community
The Ford online dealer inventory shows several F450 Lariat 4x4 with 4.30 gears available in MO. zip codes. You can check out the inventory for diferent zip codes yourself at:
Debbie,
I have a job 1 f450 w/4.88s. The sticker was just under 58k I paid 50k. I'm getting 9.5mpg city/rural empty , havent gone on too many highway trips to give a good calc. but I don't see it being much better.
I love the truck but hate the mpg, but I didn't buy the truck for the mileage.
45k sounds like a heck of a good deal.
Good Luck,
Todd
The rims we have are 6 in. the tire upgrade you want needs a 6.75 rim. You con't use the stock wheels. You have to get wider whells.
I was under the impression the stock rim width was 6.5". I will check mine.
I have seen the Toyo's 285 on the stock wheels with no problem. They look pretty good.
Most up to 265 give acceptable rim width's starting at 6.5". I agree putting the 285 on the 6.5" is pushing it a bit. If they are indeed 6" wide, I would have to take a second look.
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F450 Lariat 4X4, red, 4.88's, everything but the moonroof, S & B Intake, Banks exhaust, Amsoil.
I was under the impression the stock rim width was 6.5". I will check mine.
I have seen the Toyo's 285 on the stock wheels with no problem. They look pretty good.
Most up to 265 give acceptable rim width's starting at 6.5". I agree putting the 285 on the 6.5" is pushing it a bit. If they are indeed 6" wide, I would have to take a second look.
First off sorry about my typing!! Yes I too wanted to put larger tires on the stock wheels. They are 6 in and the tires we have stock on the 450 are the largest that rim will support legally. A bonified shop will not install the larger tires on that rim. New wheels would be in order to get the tires we both want!!!
Lots of good info, guys! I now know for sure I don't want the 4:88's, even with the good deal on the job 1 truck. I did do some searches from the link, There's one in Hermann, MO that's just the ticket, except I was going to just get the XLT trim to save some money. Seems like the Lariat is what's stocked mostly.
As for taller tires, I think that would be problematic with the gooseneck trailer.
Thanks for educating me.
Debbie T.
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Early '99 F250 4x4 XLT PowerStroke; 6-speed that I love; manual hubs that I love; Extended cab; RanchHand Grill guard, Diamond tread RB, coolant change to Gold. My Pic Proud member of St. Louis Area Powerstrokes!
What would it cost to replace the 4.88's with 4.30's? At the price you are thinking of for that truck, you surely ought to be able to swing a new gear set I would think, but then again, I have no idea what the ring and pinion for a f-450 would cost. Related to that, is the 4.30 the lowest ratio available for that truck? Is it possible to get 3.70's for that axle? Price? I already have an '02 f-450 with 4.88's in it, so I would be interested in learning this for myself as well.
[edit] oops - just read your post again and saw the 4x4 in there. That would make a difference.
Last edited by jvogel02 : 04-12-2008 at 10:15 PM.
Reason: re-read original post.
4.30's are the lowest ratio available in an F450. Milage is horrible no matter what, until you tune it then your back in the ballpark with the 6.0's
I have been curious on what a gear swap would cost too, but then again if you could use 3.73's why on earth are you going with a 450.
The 4.30's are doggy enough with over 20K on.
3:73's would be ridiculous for this application. I have those on my current truck and so I speak from experience. I did ask my local garage about swapping the ring and pinions, he does not do that work himself but he said it might cost as much as $4000 for parts and labor to have both my axles done. I wouldn't trust just anyone to do that job, either, it takes a lot of skill to get the adjustment just right, preload, etc. If I had to do it, I think I'd just as soon get the whole axle assembly from a wrecked truck with the desired ratios.
Debbie
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Early '99 F250 4x4 XLT PowerStroke; 6-speed that I love; manual hubs that I love; Extended cab; RanchHand Grill guard, Diamond tread RB, coolant change to Gold. My Pic Proud member of St. Louis Area Powerstrokes!
3:73's would be ridiculous for this application. I have those on my current truck and so I speak from experience. I did ask my local garage about swapping the ring and pinions, he does not do that work himself but he said it might cost as much as $4000 for parts and labor to have both my axles done. I wouldn't trust just anyone to do that job, either, it takes a lot of skill to get the adjustment just right, preload, etc. If I had to do it, I think I'd just as soon get the whole axle assembly from a wrecked truck with the desired ratios.
Debbie
I re geared my old 2500HD to 456 at AZ Diff. Spec. for $1500.00. Great work too.
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F450 Lariat 4X4, red, 4.88's, everything but the moonroof, S & B Intake, Banks exhaust, Amsoil.
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