Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
I just got back from a trip driving from Phoenix AZ to the Canadian border north of Spokane WA. It was an F450 with a hydraulic bucket lift.
It drove good and was nice and reliable, but some things I didn't care for.
Mileage, I think it had 4. 88 gears, and it was running 2,800 rpm at 75mph. Also the lift stuff probably weighed around 4,000 but still I could only get 10 mpg on flat roads. (I get 13mpg pulling 6,000 pounds in the Dodge)
Gear ratio, I don't know why it would have such a gear ratio, for one it doesn't accelerate very fast because the engine is never under a load and doesn't get to use the torque, and it's ridiculous for freeway driving. Regular F2/350s would be a lot better though.
Also it has some wierd high frequency vibration when you are going down hill and give it just enough throttle to put a neutral load on the driveline.
One thing I did like is that it seems to shut the engine (fuel) off when you are coasting downhill. The engine still turns because the torque converter remains locked up.
I like my Cummins though, think I'll keep it for a while.
It drove good and was nice and reliable, but some things I didn't care for.
Mileage, I think it had 4. 88 gears, and it was running 2,800 rpm at 75mph. Also the lift stuff probably weighed around 4,000 but still I could only get 10 mpg on flat roads. (I get 13mpg pulling 6,000 pounds in the Dodge)
Gear ratio, I don't know why it would have such a gear ratio, for one it doesn't accelerate very fast because the engine is never under a load and doesn't get to use the torque, and it's ridiculous for freeway driving. Regular F2/350s would be a lot better though.
Also it has some wierd high frequency vibration when you are going down hill and give it just enough throttle to put a neutral load on the driveline.
One thing I did like is that it seems to shut the engine (fuel) off when you are coasting downhill. The engine still turns because the torque converter remains locked up.
I like my Cummins though, think I'll keep it for a while.
