2008 Ford F-450 *PICKUP*

[KCJackson]

Bigger shot of the Chevy

 

[rbattelle]

Woe to the Ford mechanic who has to wrench under that hood. Yikes!!!!



http://www.leftlanenews.com/wp-content/plugins/iimage-gallery.php?idpost=4129&idg=1&idi=29

Holy cow! They might as well just weld the hood shut!



The headlights on those Fords just look awful to me. I can only hope either they look 10000 times better in person or the style will "grow" on me.



Ryan

 

[staarma]

As biased people, we can say what we want but in my opinion Dodge should be worried. I think the truck market is about to get shaken up. I'm not quite sure of the price on these new offerings from the other camps but DC's lower price and the mighty Cummins have their work cut out.

 

[Yo Hoot]

The bumper on the Chevy, and the whole truck in general is ridiculous looking.



The Ford... Awesome specs... awsome looking truck. Way more than anything I would ever need. I hope Ford does it better this time around.



I agree under the hood (Ford) is the pits. Love my Dodge even more after seeing that.



And last but not least... . what is the cost of ownership? What kind of mileage?



If it's expensive to the point of barely being able to afford and the mileage sucks ... well . . I guess it's out of my league. Remember, it's the F450 everybody is all googy eyes about. GM or Dodge doesn't make a pickup truck in that class with the light pickup body. Ford has the specific HD line that GM and Dodge don't really address. Ford has the specific body and frame where GM and Dodge us lot's of 1/2 ton carryovers.



Will the hotshots be able to make the payments and put fuel in it? If it's reliable they at least will have the most capable truck on the market. Come to think of it, when have they not? It's still a Ford. They circled the problem :-laf



Seriously... I'd like to drive one... but not service or pay for it.

 

[rbattelle]

The bumper on the Chevy, and the whole truck in general is ridiculous looking.



The Ford... Awesome specs... awsome looking truck. Way more than anything I would ever need. I hope Ford does it better this time around.



I agree under the hood (Ford) is the pits. Love my Dodge even more after seeing that.



And last but not least... . what is the cost of ownership? What kind of mileage?



If it's expensive to the point of barely being able to afford and the mileage sucks ... well . . I guess it's out of my league. Remember, it's the F450 everybody is all googy eyes about. GM or Dodge doesn't make a pickup truck in that class with the light pickup body. Ford has the specific HD line that GM and Dodge don't really address. Ford has the specific body and frame where GM and Dodge us lot's of 1/2 ton carryovers.



Will the hotshots be able to make the payments and put fuel in it? If it's reliable they at least will have the most capable truck on the market. Come to think of it, when have they not? It's still a Ford. They circled the problem :-laf



Seriously... I'd like to drive one... but not service or pay for it.

Good post. I think you make the key point: Ford is addressing the HD crowd in a way Dodge and Chevy aren't. A lot of people are going to want a 450 "just because it's a 450".



Ryan

 

[Yo Hoot]

Ford always had the 450. You could get them with huge spicer rears. They are more like a med duty than an HD pickup. This isn't a new model range, just more capable than before.

 

[rbattelle]

Ford always had the 450. You could get them with huge spicer rears. They are more like a med duty than an HD pickup. This isn't a new model range, just more capable than before.

I know, but I thought this was the first time it's offered with a normal cab and bed. Isn't it?



Ryan

 

[KCJackson]

I know, but I thought this was the first time it's offered with a normal cab and bed. Isn't it?

Yup, that's the difference here. The F450 chassis cab had a 60" cab-to-axle, but the standard 8-foot pickup bed requires a 56. This was addressed for this model. The F450 chassis cab is also available with 5. 38 axles, the pickup will stop at 4. 88.

 

[SHobbs]

Dodge may be a little lite on the towing/hauling side but, we're stylish at least. Wonder if they sell trucks on looks alone, lol.

 

[KCJackson]

Let's compare!

Ford and GM released their press kits for their new HD trucks today, and Dodge had theirs out September 1. Now that we know what will happen for January 2007, here's a clean comparison. GM refers to both Chevy and GMC.



Diesel power:

Dodge/Cummins: 6. 7L 350/650 auto, 350/610 manual

Ford/Powerstroke: 6. 4L 350/650

GM/Duramax: 6. 6L 365/660



Transmission:

Dodge: 68RFE 6-spd auto, DC G56 6-spd manual

Ford: TorqShift 5-spd auto, ZF 6-spd manual

GM: Allison 1000 6-spd auto, no manual mentioned



4x4 Front End:

Dodge: solid axle

Ford: solid axle

GM: independent with torsion bars



Trailer Brake:

Dodge: N/A

Ford: Factory integrated

GM: Factory integrated



Some "little touches" for the new designs:

Ford:

- Power folding and power telescoping trailer mirrors

- F450 with regular 8-foot pickup bed, 14,500 GVWR, up to 33,000 GCWR

- Tailgate Step that drops from tailgate when opened

- fold-out tailgate grab rail

- non-skid tailgate surface

- Rapid Heat System - supplemental engine heater to provide faster warm-up

- new FX4 trim level with extra skid plates and Rancho shocks

GM:

- integrated steel dually fender/box-sides

- 170-degree suicide door on extended cab

- Touch-screen navigation system powered by OnStar, not a DVD

- 150-degree washer fluid heater

- 50% reduction in cab*bed gap

- ice-blue LED dashboard lighting

- crew cab roof rack





Dodge has a competitive diesel powertrain, but lacking the brake controller and a Mega Cab dually with some real GVWR and an 8 foot bed will cost them with RVers. Dodge also needs a much more capable HVAC system. I just hope they don't wait for the next redesign.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Well that settles it... . I'm trading in my truck on one with an integrated brake controller :-laf



Nice feature for sure. I believe they integrate the braking with the ECM, controlling downshifting. That is nice but still not a showstopper.



Dodge does need to get out from behind in the RV sector.

 

[COBRAJET]

The new Ford also has NAVIGATION, BACKUP CAMERA, MP3 plugin and rear DVD systems available for the first time in the Superduty. Truck Trend has a test of the new F450 in this months issue. The front end is a DANA 60 hybrid using DANA 70 parts and the DANA 80 axles according to the magazine. The rear is a DANA 110. Both 4X4 and 4X2 SD's will have an almost 45 degree tire turning angle that provides an "astoundingly small turning diameter for such a large truck". The fully loaded King Ranch they tested should window at 54K according to their sources. They also state the 360/650 ratings are estimates at this time and may move up to match or beat the competition. The intercooler they say is huge... it is mounted at an angle to gain clearance under the hood. The extra width of the heavy duty axles demand factory fender flares at all four corners. Curb weight empty on the full blown 4X4 Kingranch was 8915lbs. The GVW they say is 16,000lbs with a combined of 32,000.

 

[WDixon27]

gee what a revelation, lets stick eye burning blue lights in your face

Some "little touches" for the new designs:



- ice-blue LED dashboard lighting

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - as far as I am concerned, that Ford looks EVERY BIT as good as any 3rd generation Dodge...



But then, I don't suffer from extreme brand predjudice, either... :-laf

 

[MSalvatore]

I think DC better wake up and smell the coffee. I won't give up my Cummins but that is a tempting package. If it had a 6. 7L Cummins I'd be on that like white on rice. It is perfect for those who tow a big trailer.

 

[FATCAT]

GM press kit says the 2007. 5 Duramax (in the new body) will be rated at 365/660, beating Ford and Dodge at 350/650.

For the love of God ... won't DC just put out a Mega-cab 12' box Cab/Chassie with a 13 speed and an ISX ..... AND BE DONE WITH IT ALREADY!!!

 

[rbattelle]

Wow, I like the axles on the F-450! I wonder if they could be retro-fitted to a Dodge...



Ryan

 

[AMink]

Ford will sell a ton of these 450's. With trailers getting bigger, and heavier, especially in the toyhauler segment, this truck fills the gap between a 1 ton and mini Freightliner. More practical, not much bigger than a regular f350. DC is missing the boat. Again. And yes, lots of folks will buy it because it's a 450. Bigger is better. Doesn't matter to me though, as I'll be making payments on my 06 for just a few more years! :{

 

[RColston]

Despite all of this, i'm goin MDT. Tired of all of the promises of performance, towing capacity etc. When I find the right one, i'm stickin a hook in it, and bringin it home.



Rick

 

[2-ND TIME]

F-450 pickup YESSSSSS

Isn't that funny that was the very thing that I thought that I was going to have to put together myself. I was told that it wouldn't work. Can I get that with a puddy TAT please. Considering that MINE has NEVER worked the way all of yours, do, it would be very good to have another diesel that has power again. The 40 dollarshop visits has never fixed the prob yet. I will never buy it outright again and only finance it from now on this way ..... Keep it, if it doesn't work! BYE.