I love my 99 PSD 6 spd. But towing a 53' race trailer has been a little rough on the backside. I've put alot into the F350... TP tuner...Riff Raff air filter... MBRP 4" ...LUK solid flywheel and HD clutch ..etc. I tried ride rite air bags but have had 2 sets go bad. I'm looking at a 08 F550 6.4L/auto 4x4 that has Lincoln air ride seats...DVD..custom hauler bed (25K for the bed alone)..LED running lights eveywhere. K&N intercooler? ad says... 85K on the clock. I'm not sure if I should go to the 550 after hearing the 6.4L nightmares. Or if I should just try to beef up the rear springs by throwing 450 or 550 stacks under...or if they will even fit....
Thanks for all input.
Ron

Here's the truck I have a deposit on right now and the guy is holding
2008 F550 4x4 Quad Cab Custom

Heres the truck and trailer I have....

 

I'd keep looking. The 08 DPF 6.4L is the worst of the worst. I owned an 08 F450 6.4l and it about bankrupted me. In my market even the Ford dealers hate to take them in on trade. They have a well deserved bad rep. If you want to buy it put a few thousand aside for when it breaks.

 

Your truck is tougher.

 

And why do you claim that?

Sent from my Telegraph using IB AutoGroup

 

I think overall the 550 is a better truck. It is stronger, has better brakes, and awesome transmission and a much nicer interior. I don't own a 6.4 but know dozens of people that do and all but one has been care free. The only issue was the radiator. These guys are in construction and landscaping and all have loads on constantly. Most are tuned and deleted but even the stock one seem to be good to go.

 

Nothing wrong with a 6.4 if it's been taken care of, as with any high pressure fuel system water sucks, must pay close attention to the water separator and using a conditioner. If you are thinking of a 6.4 check out the maintenance records if at all possible, do some reading on the 6.4 forum.
They are haulers, like to run loaded and tuned run even better. But if the truck was tuned it it may have been abused, they can easily make close to 600 HP tuned, so beware.

 

The 08 was owned orig by an older veteran who bought it to pull his 5th wheel travel trailer. The guy that now owns it had a K&N turbo cooler(?) installed and had a diesel performance shop flash it. He was going to use it for a transportation business but ended up buying a big rig. Doesn't look abused at all. I'm just gun shy a bit by what I read on this board and a few others. It has less than 85,000 miles on it...my 99 has 230,000 almost all pulling. 3 sets of leaf springs...2 transmissions...1 rear end and 2 clutches....and a PILE of brake parts. And thats WITH a Pacbrake....LOL. The F350 is in need of springs again and if I keep it I'm gonna try the super spring SSA22 kit. The Firestone bags just don't last to my 25,000 miles a year towing over terrible highways.

Thanks for the input....keep it coming.

 

Current truck's engine is far less complex and he did not complain about the present power level. Less emission equipment.

ZF6 transmission should outlast several auto tranny rebuilds.

Leaf spring front suspension is more durable than the coil spring front suspension of prospective truck.

I need to go to lunch now with the peeps. Later!

 

Dump the 350 and get the 550. That is a lot of trailer for a 1 ton.

 

Also considering this truck.Lot more $$$$...for a basic ride.
http://www.truckpaper.com/listingsde...x?OHID=5029433

 

He mentioned the tuner and exhaust so it certainly sounds like he would like more power.

A manual transmission also means clutch replacements which are not cheap. Manual trans vehicles are also harder on driveline parts.

His current truck is a 4x2 so it is already coils. Hate to break it to you but the leaf sprung trucks are rated less than the coil sprung trucks. Besides, coil springs ride a lot nicer.

 

Keep in mind too that you read of "a lot" of problems here, because this is where people come to figure it out. The total people here with 6.4 is a very small percentage of trucks that were sold. There is good and bad with all trucks. Hell your debating about not getting rid of your 7.3 but I couldn't get rid of mine fast enough. Total money pit and what a pile of junk that truck was. Everyone is going to have different opinions. Just don't get a 6.0

 

I have seen 1999-02 Superduty 4WD gas engine ZF6 trucks with 400K on original powertrain and clutch.

Have not seen an auto tranny go that long. I was thinking of the death wobbles on front 4WD coil spring 2005-14 trucks.

He can take his 2WD and put the Dana 110S or whatever in the rear and get away cheaper than the replacement truck he mentions.

The 6.4L Diesel like the 6.7L Diesel has a lot of wiring and accessories to remove before you can see the engine for general repair versus the 7.3L engine.

If he needs more power he can put forged rods and then go to town on increasing the power output he needs for less than the prospective trade. Resell value of a 6.nothing and 6.4L diesel is another thing to think about.

If his frame is solid he can deal with the devil he knows better than the unknown demon that is waiting for him. IMHO, which is worth what it costs.

The one guy is short selling the two owner truck which MAY say something about his confidence in the truck.

The other truck is new with the 6.7L which is the one I would buy if I had to replace the current truck. I suppose you are wanting to depreciate the new truck for tax purposes which is a reason in itself.

 

I've also seen manuals grenade a hell of a lot sooner than that.

How are you going to mount the chassis cab axle under the pickup? What are you going to do about the 10 lug wheels versus the 8 lug on the truck? That axle swap isn't cheap.


Sure, you can work on the truck until the cows come home swapping parts into the one he has now but it will never pencil out and he will be stuck with a truck that is cobbled together. This doesn't even begin to address interior, etc.

 

Personally coming from a 7.3 Excursion, get the F550 with the 6.4. The 7.3's are dated technology. The 550 will have a much better transmission, bigger brakes and less headaches with pulling a huge trailer. The 6.4 is not a bad engine It just has its little bugs like the 7.3, 6.0 etc..