On a side note, Ram had some trucks at this event. Maaaannnnn, the tanish/brown Longhorn interior was

 

Last time I seen a Dodge/Ram at an event with Fords this happened.

 

[QUOTE=troverman;16425689]Anyone else notice this question went unanswered? It would be a shame if it stayed at 440 because we have seen plenty of propaganda that says "increased horsepower and torque" in the last few months.

 

Thanks for measuring Josh. It won't be 100% apples to apples as the 450 won't squat nearly as much as my SRW 350 but will give me a starting point. And yes, please answer the HP question. You're not giving out numbers so no policy infraction there...LOL.

 

[QUOTE=rocket_scientist;16426998]Wasn't skipped on purpose. I'll say this, if you do enough internet detective work, one could possibly figure out half of the power rating. In my best Forrest Gump voice, "That's all I have to say about that till Monday."


As to the measuring, I came up with 59-60" to the top of the bed rail and 42-43" to the tailgate. Since the rakes are very positive, I would guess subtract a few inches for where the hitch will sit. Someone has a bed dimensions thread. We were similar in bed height measurements.

I think you will be alright with the 450!

 

Someone else that went to one of the events measured at the wheel well on the bed at 58" (I assume with a tape). I was curious so I went out and did the same measurement on my 99' F250 7.3 CC 4WD and the height was 53.5". That's a pretty big difference.

I like it. 😁

 

My current bed rail height at it's rear most point is 58" and my tailgate height (not taking into account the stripper pole hump) is 39". At that level and with my current trucks squat while loaded, my trailer sits 1/8th inch high in the front. So, I'm thinking I have trouble with the new 450 which will not squat nearly as much and is starting out a few inches higher. This kind of gives me a pit in my stomach. I sure wish I knew the logic in giving the DRW's a 4" block this time around. They are building the 450's WAY to tall for any RV on the market. Seems crazy for a truck designed specifically to tow. So, now, since I can't lower my hitch any more, can't raise my pinbox, and can't lift my RV since it is almost 13'6" already, I'm stuck trying to figure out how to lower my new 75k truck to make it a reasonable height for towing. Ugh...

 

I'm thinking just like you. Their actual size difference to the current trucks ( looks only) justifies the comments you see about not judging them by a picture till you seem them in person. I don't have a program to officially analyze all the different dimensions between the two, but the first thing you think when you walk up to them is "man, that's a big, tough looking truck!"

 

Bigger in height is not better in functionality though. It actually makes no sense for a tow vehicle...

 

You could swap out the 4" spacer block for a 2"... Much less invasive than doing bags on an older truck like my 2015...
Sheesh... Did I just call my baby an older truck???

 

I was thinking that Randy. I'm not sure if it would mess with the drive train geometry or if the previous gen 2" block would fit a 17? I certainly would do that though and it would save me lots of headaches. I just can't fathom the logic here. Raise the truck 1.5" due to the boxed frame AND go to 4" blocks. That's a 3.5" height increase over the current gen 450 and with the stiffer spring packs, I'd be quite nose high with no room for adjustment.

Maybe you could find out from your engineering contacts if the current 2" block would be an acceptable fit for the 2017 450 Josh??

 

I hear you there. I remember when the '99 SuperDuty came out and the local ranchers/farmers had to have the dealer remove the 4" block for a shorter one, so that their brand new truck would work with their gooseneck.

 

Thanks Josh for the information and new views. Eevery bit helps. Although each has his reasons to be concerned about the height be it too tall, not tall enough, appearance or functionality my concerns are these: I quite often load my Polaris UTV on the truck rather than trailer. It is a long way up the ramps now and additional inches will be that much steeper and higher. I can live with that. Loading the camper is another story. I worry that I will run out of travel on the legs of the camper if the bed floor is too high. And I wonder about the higher center or gravity. The farther up in the air the load is carried the more roll in corners. Time will tell if the improvements in suspension are not overshadowed by increase in height. And then too I wonder how much this will effect the manual loading of items in the box be they work, garden or play it is a long way up. The big cooler full of ice and beverages may need the forks on the skid steer, but in spite of these concerns I will be happy knowing this should be one of the best engineered and designed truck ever to come out ever. Thanks Dearborn and Louisville.

 

I'm also a little concerned about the height, but am not yet convinced that a few inches nose-high will matter on a 40 foot trailer. With 30 feet from pin box to axle center, 6" high is only a 1* angle, or a 1.7% rise.

Is 1* rise too much for a fifth wheel?

 

It's esthetics and yes, being 1" high would bother me. There is no such thing as too low as you can easily raise your hitch up to 4" or lower your pinbox another 4". So, again, why make a dedicated tow vehicle that will be so difficult to level a 5th wheel behind?