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Random Quote: I see, I see, it all comes back to me now, said the blind man to the deaf fellow, as he pee'd into the wind!
I'm considering moving up to the Chevy 4500. I've seen this truck at trade shows and there are tons on the road, but I'd like to hear from anyone that owns or runs one. I'd be buying new probably.
I tow 16,000 lbs. up and down the east coast every other day or several times a week depending on my schedule. I've been through Dodges, Chevy's and Fords and their one ton models just don't seem to cut it for me.
Right now I have 2 Ford F-350's and I think I want to dump them to move up the Chevy.
I tow on a Gooseneck Hitch and would like to stay that way, but the 4500 is so much higher that I would need a different trailer or serious mods to my trailer.
Who owns one of these? How do you like it.
Would it be possible to avoid the Ford/Chevy/Dodge debate on this one. I've had them all and have my opinions on all of them. Hoping for input on this specific truck.
Thanks in advance, as always.
I tried an advanced search on this forum and can't find a single thread or post on this truck. I wonder why, with all the stuff that's talked about!
We have 6 of them here at the marina. 130,000 miles on one and its been a great truck. Hauls a 30' Hydraulic trailer all day long, every day. Trailer itself weighs almost 4,000 lbs plus you add the weight of any boat on there and its a big weight every day. All of our are air ride, which imo you need on these trucks. We had one with spring suspension and the ride would jarr your teeth out. The duramax is plenty of power for what they are doing, its no racer but itll do the job i suppose. Make sure whatever you do you get one with an exhaust brake. These trucks like to heat up brakes if not.
Personally I don't like the looks of the 4500 with that giant body, opposed to ford that goes all the way up to a f550 in a one ton body!!! Just stating an opinion on looks thats it.
For some reason the 4500s dont seem to be as popular as the f450s. bb
I don't think Chevy could build something that would be as popular, plus here's another reason, my current F-350's can work as personal vehicles when were not on the job, not the 4500. Its simply too big IMO for that. Might be another reason its not as popular.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jdizzle
Personally I don't like the looks of the 4500 with that giant body, opposed to ford that goes all the way up to a f550 in a one ton body!!! Just stating an opinion on looks thats it.
I have ripped through so many $45K trucks in the past 20 years, I honestly could care less what they look like anymore. I can understand if someone puts a lot of emphasis in that, but I don't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Post50
We have 6 of them here at the marina. 130,000 miles on one and its been a great truck. Hauls a 30' Hydraulic trailer all day long, every day. Trailer itself weighs almost 4,000 lbs plus you add the weight of any boat on there and its a big weight every day. All of our are air ride, which imo you need on these trucks. We had one with spring suspension and the ride would jarr your teeth out. The duramax is plenty of power for what they are doing, its no racer but itll do the job i suppose. Make sure whatever you do you get one with an exhaust brake. These trucks like to heat up brakes if not.
Good Luck!
Thanks, I spent 2 days talking to people in Vegas at a trade show about this truck, and it was the air ride and exhaust breaks that dominated the conversation. Apparently, they shouldn't be made without either.
I always feel like I'm taking a knife to a gunfight with these 1 ton fords. They tow better than the other Detroit 2, and they've lasted better than the other Detroit 2, but the lifespan just isn't that long. I'm hoping I can get into something a little smaller than a Semi to do the job I want.
I've investigated the F-450 and F-550, but not impressed.
I always feel like I'm taking a knife to a gunfight with these 1 ton fords. They tow better than the other Detroit 2, and they've lasted better than the other Detroit 2, but the lifespan just isn't that long. I'm hoping I can get into something a little smaller than a Semi to do the job I want.
I'm not particularly knowledgeable about the trucking business but I did drive transit buses and coaches while in college. When I read this thread last night, before there were any responses, I wondered to myself why you don't just buy a used semi tractor? That has to be cheaper in the long run than buying a new 1-ton rig every couple of years.
Towing 16,000 pounds every day is not a job for a pickup truck - even one on steroids.
I'm not particularly knowledgeable about the trucking business but I did drive transit buses and coaches while in college. When I read this thread last night, before there were any responses, I wondered to myself why you don't just buy a used semi tractor? That has to be cheaper in the long run than buying a new 1-ton rig every couple of years.
Towing 16,000 pounds every day is not a job for a pickup truck - even one on steroids.
This is the one answer that we thought of for a long time but didn't want to admit was the right answer. We were hoping for other options. Simply because of our lifestyle on the road.
Monday: Tow to jobsite anywhere USA. Unhook trailer for remainder of job.
Go to Hotel (now with semi tractor) shower, clean up, hit a decent restaurant (now with semi tractor)
Tuesday, Wed. same as above.
Wed., Thurs. Fri., tow home or to next job and start all over again.
You can see why we don't want to hump a semi tractor all over the place. But I think you are probably right. I'm simply asking too much from our equipment simply for my personal comfort.
I'm with GF on this one , if your in the trucking buss. then get a TRUCK.
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F350 4x4/ Dodge 2500HD 5.9L Cummins
Leaving the Picture of the Ford cuz I miss it
Pacific 2325 cc
Honda bf225
aluminumalloyboats.com
You might look a the smaller Freightliners, FL50, FL60.
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F350 4x4/ Dodge 2500HD 5.9L Cummins
Leaving the Picture of the Ford cuz I miss it
Pacific 2325 cc
Honda bf225
aluminumalloyboats.com
We also run M2's.Great truck, you can get them trimmed out pretty nice but they are not cheap. Nice Nice truck though. Air locker and ehaust brake really help.
I wouldnt throw out the idea of a 4500. I have done a lot of time in our crew cab model, doesnt bother me one bit to drive it anywhere. Its not much bigger then my one ton dodge.
Location: St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands / Sammamish, WA
Posts: 323
Dang, got to the bottom of the thread and someone beat me to the punch!
If you're going to look at something as big as a Chevy 4500 you should also look at the F650, not the 450/550 and as stated below you get Cummins or Cat diesel choices. Given the latest F-350s can tow something like 24,000 lbs in gooseneck configuration the F-650 should fit the bill nicely.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hrb213
What about an F-650... its available with a Cummins or caterpillar engine and not quite as big as a true semi...
The duramax diesel that comes with a chevy sucks. Get a f450 and put a bully dog on it..... The dodge with the cummins are supposed to be the way to go but I will never buy another dodge/crystler/jeep product. The cummins might not break in the dodge but that wont stop the electical systems from going haywire. Not to mention the failure of other cheap parts on the dodges.
We have a ton of miles on all of these trucks, they run every day. What makes you say that the duramax sucks? Its got plenty of power and is extremely reliable and fairly maintenance free. I'm not quite sure how that sucks?
The dodge/cummins setup is great, dont get me wrong, I drive one personally and absolutely love it. But the duramax is still a good motor.
Keep in mind when looking at all these trucks, Most of what I am talking about is a 2wd 4500 They are offered in 4wd but the F650/750 is NOT offered in 4wd.
They are offered in 4wd but the F650/750 is NOT offered in 4wd.
Ou Contrair MuFrair......or something like that......
Check this link out http://www.aquasunmotorsports.com/bu..._F650_4x4.html
truck looks sweet and I would say it'll drag 16000 pounds wherever you need to take it....we have a few 650's w/ cummins at work and their strong....and not to bad to drive either....
We have a ton of miles on all of these trucks, they run every day. What makes you say that the duramax sucks? Its got plenty of power and is extremely reliable and fairly maintenance free. I'm not quite sure how that sucks?
The dodge/cummins setup is great, dont get me wrong, I drive one personally and absolutely love it. But the duramax is still a good motor.
Keep in mind when looking at all these trucks, Most of what I am talking about is a 2wd 4500 They are offered in 4wd but the F650/750 is NOT offered in 4wd.
I should have phrased that different. The duramax does not quite add up to the powerstroke or cummins.
I should have phrased that different. The duramax does not quite add up to the powerstroke or cummins.
won't even type what I'm thinking about that comment.
Don't see many chevy 4500's around here. Wonder why? Seems like a nice bridge between hd p/u and full semi. I do know that the dmax they use in these trucks is a straight 6, not the V8.
Once you start looking at the business class sized trucks everything opens up. At that point you expect many years of service from a properly spec'ed truck off a custom build sheet.
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Chevy 4500
