6.0L Ford 450 for towing...

[WOLF359]

I'm considering purchasing an 05' F450/Auto CC and putting a box on it to tow the buggy and camper.

My only misgiving is the engine.

Ford is changing to a 6.4L twin Diesel in 07, so the 6.0L will only have seen service from 03 to 06...

I'm looking for first hand experiences with the 6.0L Diesel in terms of reliability, maintence etc.

My camper will weigh about 4600-4800 loaded, and the trailer/buggy is no more than 6000 towing.

[mondtster]

6.0 = Junk.

I work for a company that builds fire trucks and we occasionally use those chassis. Nothing but headaches with them.

Also, I went on a service call to one of our larger customers which has a pretty good size fleet of ambulances on those chassis. I asked one of the guys there about their opinion of the newer Fords and he said that there is always a couple of trucks at the Ford dealership for injectors or turbos. Keep in mind that these trucks also aren't seeing the amount of miles put on them that a tow rig will likely see as well...

My dad knows a guy who works at the local Ford dealership here that deals only with over the road trucks, and the Super Dutys. He said that they are having a hard time getting parts for them too because there are so many of them needing parts. Also, if you get one bad injector Ford will only replace the one that is bad which means that you still have 7 others that could go bad. This could translate into a somewhat lengthy stay somewhere if you run into troubles while you are on the road and the dealer can't get parts.

My dad also owns a Super Duty and it seems like there is about a $500 -$1000 monthly bill for fixing problems with the truck on top of paying for the truck itself. The truck only has about 107k miles on it too. His truck is a complete POS.

I'm sure that there will be others that have had a much better experience than our family has. However I can tell you that nobody in our family will ever buy another Ford.

[pmurf1]

A guy I work with bought a '05 CC 4x4 F250 with the 6.0. He only drove it on the weekends, put less than 5k on it. Thing was in the shop almost every week. Finally ate a turbo and he sold it back and bought a Chevy. Completely stock truck, not juiced either. I wouldn't touch a 6.0 truck, I'll stick with the tried and true 7.3. I can't stand the noise from the turbo either, sounds like a delivery box truck as soon as you open up the exhaust. Sounds like they installed the turbo in your glovebox. No replacement for displacement.

[1967K10]

I don't know a lot about them buy the fuel milege sucks,at least compared to a D-Max or a Cummins.

[solidrunner]

My boss had an 03 6.0 in the year and a half he had it, ford replaced injectors, the turbo, head gaskets and some other stupid stuff. He said on his last trip to havasu he blew a boost hose off four times. He's now the proud owner of an 05 cummins 6 speed.

[FYRMAN]

You really don't gain anything by going to a 450. A 350 with airbags will do the same thing as the 450. The only thing different between the two is changes to the suspension, and a different rearend, to handle the increased GVW numbers.

[crashnzuk]

My uncle bought a brand new '03 about 8 mos. ago. It sat on the lot because nobody wanted to pay for the big dollar bed on it. Ford has already replaced the injectors on it to fix a no start problem. When it is cold it will not accellerate unless the ground is perfectly flat or downhill until it has warmed up a bit. I watched him try to back up on a gentle slope, he had his foot on the floor and it wouldn't rev. It only moved when I told him to try low range (it's a 4x4). Those are his only problems so far, but that would be enough to scare me away!
Travis..

[jasonmt]

You really don't gain anything by going to a 450. A 350 with airbags will do the same thing as the 450. The only thing different between the two is changes to the suspension, and a different rearend, to handle the increased GVW numbers.


The jump to a 450 gets you:

Bigger brakes.
Stronger frame (.040" to 0.320" thicker depending on WB).
19.5" tires.
Different springs.
A "super" Dana 60 if you chose a 4x4 model.
Different steering ratios and a tighter turning radius.
The ability to haul a 6000 pound payload which is pushing the limit of a single cab two wheel drive 350 and wouldn't even be possible with a 4x4 Crewcab 350.


I have put about 10K trouble free miles on my 05 F350 CC with the 6.0/Auto combination. I have no intention of towing with it as I already have a 02 F550. This link will give you all of the weight info you need: Link (https://www.fleet.ford.com/truckbbas/non-html/2005/vs_pdf/05fseriessd-exlbb.pdf)

[Killerpee]

I was the 6.0 diesel specialist at a local Ford delaership until about a year ago. The 6.0s are junk as far as I'm concerned. Dealing with Ford to get your truck repaired correctly is even worse. I've always considered myself a Ford guy, but not anymore. Someone is running that company into the ground and I just wish they weren't taking my stocks with them.

[FF3PM]

Unless I am missing something an F450 would be rather overkill for the weights you plan to tow. As I understand it you will be towing double trailers with a total towed weight of about 10,700#. I believe a F250 is capable of this. I did look at the link provided by jasonmt but it does not cover GCVWR only GVWR(no trailer). Now if you were to be towing either the camper or the buggy, not double trailers then a F150 would do the job. Then again maybe I misread the original post.

[1967K10]

Ford is just kinda behind if you ask me.I'd go with a GM or Dodge 3500.The rear ends in them are heavier than the Furd f350 rear.Does the f450 have a d80 or a d135? I've seen both in f450's

[jasonmt]

Unless I am missing something an F450 would be rather overkill for the weights you plan to tow. As I understand it you will be towing double trailers with a total towed weight of about 10,700#. I believe a F250 is capable of this. I did look at the link provided by jasonmt but it does not cover GCVWR only GVWR(no trailer). Now if you were to be towing either the camper or the buggy, not double trailers then a F150 would do the job. Then again maybe I misread the original post.




You misread the post. Wolf wants this camper on the truck and towing a trailer:

http://homepage.mac.com/wolf359/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-06-14%2019.41.52%20-0700/Image-D9312350DD4611D9.jpg


GCVWR isn't going to be the issue as it is only for warranty purposes but GVWR is going to be an issue with a 350.

[CanuckJeeper]

This is my personal experience with the 6.0L/auto (in a '04 F250):

I purchased one in December 03, and I put about 30,000 miles doing a lot of highway, but also a fair amount of towing. I sold it this winter (around january) to get a F350 ('01).

I did NOT have any major problems with the truck at all. I did have a rear main seal leak and a "water in fuel" light that wouldn't go out (both fixed under warranty) .

My heaviest towing was 20,620# combined, going up I-26 to Tellico via Asheville (and the reknowned Saluda hill). I kept it at 60 mph all the way up and kept passing semi's.

I never babied my F250 but I also was very good on maintenance.

All in all I was very pleased with the experience I had with this truck.

JP

[ramv]

Tim, the '05 F-350s have a 13k GVWR (about 5500 lb payload) which may help out.. Other duallys are usually only 11500lb.

The F-450/550 is interesting, as you would have a longer frame.... Tough dilemma, the new K4500/5500 would handle it but not sure if they would work with a camper.

[PoopHead]

I drive an '04 F-550, about 20,000 miles on it, havent had a single problem yet and I tow daily. My trailer weighs about 3000# and my bobcat is about 9500# without any mud stuck to it. I have the 6 speed trans and like that much better than the auto I had in my F-650. Also, I love the guys who think their F-350 can do the same job since they have the same cab and engine... :rolleyes:

[screendoor40]

Wow! I'm really suprised to see all the negative things about the 6.0.
Ours has 40xxx and it hasn't needed anything. We pulled are 11.000 pound trailer all the way through high way 50 Navada... We avraged 90mph and the temperater didn't even move. If you decied to get one I love my 6 speed.

[Devil Dog]

i have an early build 2003 6.0L... and have never had a problem with it.. only 27k miles on it... i keep the maintenance up... and it has about 10k of towing 7k pounds... im selling it to step up to a 1 ton... for i am getting a slide in camper....

[jrizman]

Wow! I'm really suprised to see all the negative things about the 6.0.
Ours has 40xxx and it hasn't needed anything. We pulled are 11.000 pound trailer all the way through high way 50 Navada... We avraged 90mph and the temperater didn't even move. If you decied to get one I love my 6 speed.

90mph with loaded trailer, thats smart! :rolleyes:
love you east bay fools! thanks for keeping everyone safe on the roads.

[TEX]

Buddy of mine works at the local Ford dealership (he's a Chevy guy though LOL) & says the early 6.0's had TONS of issues. They blew some up IN the service bay. Saw his wife in a pretty new F-Superduty just yesterday though & it was definitely a diesel. He had a 7.3 truck that wasn't that old, so I'm guessing this is a 6.0 & I know he wouldn't buy one if he thought the issues were still there. Will try to find out.

TEX

[WOLF359]

Made my decision. I bought another Cummins.

24v, '04...

http://homepage.mac.com/wolf359/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-06-23%2012.03.54%20-0700/Image-4FD632EDE41911D9.jpg

[screendoor40]

90mph with loaded trailer, thats smart! :rolleyes:
love you east bay fools! thanks for keeping everyone safe on the roads.


On highway 50 Nevadayou see a car maby every 45 minutes. The onther name of that highway is "The lonlyest Road". We were the only ones in danger. :flipoff2:

[mr.sjyj]

Wow, so much negitave about Ford. I have an 05 F250 with a 4.5 inch lift 35inch tires, and Banks 6gun tuner and speed loader with all the guages and a larger trany pan. I tow a 16ft trailer and I have had no problems. I think the truck is great, it rides well, handles good and with all the power you could go 90mph towing, but only fools would go that fast.

[jrizman]

Wow, so much negitave about Ford. I have an 05 F250 with a 4.5 inch lift 35inch tires, and Banks 6gun tuner and speed loader with all the guages and a larger trany pan. I tow a 16ft trailer and I have had no problems. I think the truck is great, it rides well, handles good and with all the power you could go 90mph towing, but only fools would go that fast.

some get the "friday built" truck :( my bro has sunk ~$8k into upgrades on his 01 including rebuilt HD tranny, turbo and too many others to list. he is happy now...
well said, too many fools drive these trucks and thats why you see em hanging off the side of the road. why do you think that CA enacted the truck/trailer speed limit?! i just think too many people havnt see what can happen at those speeds, however, i have and i wouldnt wish it upon anyone.