new truck- friend or foe

[cumminswillie]

I have 4 of the 1st and second generation ctd's. How are the new trucks. Looking for something with the mega cab. 5. 9l or the 6. 7? don;t know what to go with . Also how are the new automatics holding up? Are performance upgrades available for the 6. 7L Just looking for some advice from some of you who have them already.

 

[tmh1955]

I own a '06 with the 5. 9 H. O. engine. Comparison to my previous '01: The newer truck makes lots more H. P. /Torque, gets significantly less MPG (16 vs 19mpg) and is much more comfortable to drive than the '01. The transmission has the Tow Mode with is very good when pulling m y 10k lb 5th wheel. The transmission is definitely tougher than that on the '01.



I have had no problems with my truck in the two years I have owned it (bought used in '07). It has had all of the reflashes required. Hope this helps.

 

[Simplysmn]

Have a 08 with the 6. 7 and just hit 50,000 miles run's like a Champ an pull's like a mule love the built in ehaust brake with the 6 sp auto n shift on fly transmission

 

[jelag]

I own several trucks... the latest is an 08 - 5500 that we run at 19,500 lbs most of the time with the new automatic... this is my first automatic truck in 12 years...

We've had no problems with this truck and it now has 75-80K miles... get better mileage than the F550 we replaced... I'm not sure I'd buy the auto in the lighter trucks but this one has been great...

We thought about a new personal driver for our 5er... but decided with the economy to continue with the 05 3500 dually we have... the 4500 or 5500 is just too stiff when empty to make the ride comfortable... we have changed our 3500 duallys to 19. 5" wheels and rubber.....

All in all, the cost to drive the 3rd gen has been lower than the Fords we owned and the 1st gen trucks before the Fords...

Hope this helps... .

 

[Wiredawg]

We just bought a new 4500 w/ Aisen, 4. 44s and 188" wheel base. It runs and pulls great. It does not have heavy duty spring option on front, which I believe improves the ride empty. Only have 1,500 miles on it and have gotten as high as 14 mpg empty and as low as 8. 0 mpg towing 17K lb 5er and seeing about 12. 8 around town. This rig turns tighter than my 02 3500. The Aisen is sweet. I started out towing in tow/haul mode, but went to normal w/ minor grades. transmission was smooth, would downshift to 5th on grades and upshift when topping. Intersting the exhaust brake never engaged on the down grade side. Again, not too much grade. Truck weighs 10,840 lbs.



Hope this helps, Wiredawg

 

[FFeiller]

i am very pleased with my 5500. i average over 13mpg empty with 0ver 90% city commuter driving. i have 6 sp auto, it's great. drive with exhaust brake on all of the time. have 4. 88 gears, no bed. towing a 14k pull behind trailer maxed out with trackloader plus 1k bucket i get 11mpg commuter driving.

i have extra heavy duty front springs. up side to rough ride no one wants to borrow truck or ride more than once with you.

it handles it's work very smoothly, hardly know trailer is attached.

 

[HBarlow]

We just bought a new 4500 w/ Aisen, 4. 44s and 188" wheel base. It runs and pulls great. It does not have heavy duty spring option on front, which I believe improves the ride empty. Only have 1,500 miles on it and have gotten as high as 14 mpg empty and as low as 8. 0 mpg towing 17K lb 5er and seeing about 12. 8 around town. This rig turns tighter than my 02 3500. The Aisen is sweet. I started out towing in tow/haul mode, but went to normal w/ minor grades. transmission was smooth, would downshift to 5th on grades and upshift when topping. Intersting the exhaust brake never engaged on the down grade side. Again, not too much grade. Truck weighs 10,840 lbs.

Hope this helps, Wiredawg

Hey Wiredawg,

Something doesn't sound right. Your variable geometry turbo exhaust brake should activate everytime you back off the throttle and should stay activated down to about 19 mph in Tow/Haul mode.

Is the small button in the bottom center of the dash pressed? It's a press/release switch to turn on and press/release again to deactivate. A tiny amber light in the center of the switch should be lighted if the eb is activated.

 

[Wiredawg]

Harvey,



Yep, I never turn it off. W/ cruise on and topping slight hills, it doesn't engage. I figure there is not enough grade to rise above 70 mph and the throttle to completely come off. I figure the rolling resistance of the rig isn't accelerating the truck down the hill. This was I-10 between San Antonio and Columbus TX, so only slight hills.



So does yours engage even if you are not exceeding the speed set on the cruise control? I was thinking there might be programming tied between cruie control, speedo and exhaust brake.



We parked the 5er and may not take it out until Oct for trip to Florida, so I won't be getting any more towing experiences until then. Maybe we'll go to Kerrville and try out exhaust brake/cruise on som of the steeper grades out there.



Wiredawg

 

[HBarlow]

I had to stop and think about the question before I could answer.

There is definitely integration between cruise control set speed, "thottle" opening, road speed, and exhaust brake and also, when in Tow/Haul mode, the transmission gear selection is also integrated with the other functions.

The eb will activate on downgrades with cruise control engaged if the forces of gravity and inertia cause truck road speed to exceed a specified speed differential set point. If the ECM calls for zero fueling (closed throttle in a gasser engine) the eb should activate. If in Tow/Haul mode and road speed exceeds cruise set speed by a sufficient margin the ECM/PCM will call for one or more downshifts as well.

 

[Wiredawg]

Harvey,



I honestly haven't turned the e-brake off since I bought it, so does the Aisen itself have good speed reduction or holding strength coming down hills? Like, if there isn't throttle being applied (engine speed down), the transmission is locked, wouldn't the transmission/engine hold the speed w/out the e-brake on slight grades? Just curious. to be honest, I did not have the truck almaost two weeks of the last month building the brush/grill guard, steps and wheel well for the spare... haven't had any time to experiment. Oh, forgot to mention I have the CD service manual. I can't believe how many screens and how much info is in it.



I'll compare notes w/ you as I figure more out and when I am smart enough to ask more questions. Happy to hear any comments or observations from you as well.



Ron

 

[HBarlow]

Ron,

The Aisin torque convertor will remain locked on a downgrade providing a direct coupling between engine and rear axle but as you know, a diesel engine has very little retarding capability w/o an exhaust brake. Unlike a gas engine, the diesel doesn't have a closed butterfly valve in the carburetor or intake so it creates no vacuum when the accelerator is lifted.

With the eb function turned off but the Aisin in Tow/Haul mode the transmission will downshift as directed by the ECM/PCM just like when the eb is activated but will produce little retarding effect.

Do you feel your exhaust brake slowing the truck under normal driving conditions? I guess it would be a very simple matter to run your truck up to highway cruise speed in Tow/Haul mode with the eb activated and back off the go pedal and observe the result then turn off the eb and run it back up to highway speed and back off again and compare the two results. The exhaust brake retarding performance would/will be much milder in normal Drive or sixth gear OD than in Tow/Haul, of course.

It is possible that your eb is disabled somehow even though the "on/off" switch was depressed and the tiny indicator lamp in the button is lighted.

 

[Wiredawg]

Harvey,



The EB works great in everyday driving. Just like in my 02 3500, I use it all the time. I find when I want to coast, but not engage it, I simpley keep a little throttle on until I'm close enough to really start slowing down (i. e. engage the EB). Really save brakes in stop and go driving.



FYI, I never used my cruise control on my '02 3500 when towing. The combination of power improvements, the standard transmission and the cruise control just did not work well together. Just no smooth addition and reduction of throttle. Using cruise control while towing is another big plus for me w/ the 4500. My doggon arthritis makes it tough to keep steady preassure on the throttle pedal on long trips.



I may have more time today to read more of the owners manual and service manual. Always learning.



Ron

 

[BHaden]

I have 4 of the 1st and second generation ctd's. How are the new trucks. Looking for something with the mega cab. 5. 9l or the 6. 7? don;t know what to go with . Also how are the new automatics holding up? Are performance upgrades available for the 6. 7L Just looking for some advice from some of you who have them already.

If you don't need a NEW truck, I just listed my 06 Megacab in the classifieds... ...