truck carry capacities

[maple flats]

I am shopping for a new to me truck for hauling sap. Test drove 2 today, both 05 Fords. An F250 4x4 diesel ext. cab. Tag says 10,000# MGVW, rear ax 6100 max, anyone know the unladen weight on rear? Also F350 4x4, diesel, ext.cab. Tag says 11700 MGVW, and 7000# max on rear ax. Anyone know unladen weight on this one? I'm trying to calculate how much sap tank I can carry. I think after 1 year either one would have a gooseneck equipment trailer with 10,000# approx load capacity for a bigger tank. I could then also haul my 8000# excavator as needed. The 250 would pull that well. Both have a 6.0 liter Turbo diesel. Not sure rear ratios. The F250 was used to haul a 13,000# 5th wheel camper, not sure about the F350.

[shelbycharger400]

i could only find a metric weight doin a quick search

2.2 lbs equal 1 kilogram

http://www.internetautoguide.com/13-12-2002-28-626/2002-ford-f-350-specifications.html

Weights: gross vehicle weight rating (kg) 4,491, curb weight (kg) 2,442, gross trailer weight braked (kg) 4,536 and max legal load (kg) 2,049

/2002-ford-f-350-super-duty-long-bed-extended-cab-pickup-specifications.html

curb weight... is weight empty without your "stuff"      2,442kg  equals  5372 lbs

[Dale Hatfield]

That sounds light my 95 dodge  is about 7500  one tone dually 2 wheel drive

[Ironwood]

I am a FORD guy, one word RUN!!!! I would NEVER EVER buy a 6.0. Period. Forget about those trucks. Find an older southern truck with a 7.3 OR get a 2005 or newer V10. The newer V-10 has a thicker head (no popie plugs) and three valves. GOOD engine, just thirsty.

Ironwood

[maple flats]

If Fords are not good, in diesel, what about the Dodges with cummins diesels? If yes, what years are better in trucks up to 6 or max 8 yrs old? I drive school bus and our garage is at the central maintenance garage for a several district BOCES. I will ask a few questions on this topic.
Thanks, Dave

[Ironwood]

I know some years of Dodge have dry plug issues and main injector pump issues ($3000). The Cummins is a great engine, not sure I would want the rest of what comes with it.

 Some Chevy Dura Max go thru head gaskets at 170-200K, I have friends (three brothers) who the Dura's went thru the head gasket within a few months of each other. They were their "company" trucks. Dura Max Allison s a good combo, but again I would not want the rest of the package. They did not pull with these trucks.

 Newer Diesels are choked by emissions issues (urea crap), so are inefficent.

 Get on "Truckpaper" and find and older 99-2003 7.3 Ford down south or out west,


Ironwood

[Dale Hatfield]

Im a die hard Cummins man and wife for that matter. We have a 95 12 valve my play truck, former main mover.
 A 98 24 valve  and a 07 24 valve.
The 95 has an auto tranny major money pit.
the 98 and the 7 are standards
The 95 has a head gasket at 200k
the 98 a lift pump and injection pump at about 200k miles
The 07 was a salvage motor rebuild.( it went for a swim)
I would stay away from any dodge /ford auto tranny
stay away from the 6.0 ford they have issues that can be over come in the aftermarket  if you so choose but factor fixes  will fail time and time again

[maple flats]

This morning I went into work ( I drive school bus Too). I asked the supervisor of maintenance (at our bus garage is the central maintanance facility for our 16 district BOCES) The supervisor also said stay away from the 6.0 Ford. I asked why and he called in the 6.0L specialist (many of their contract buses have 6.0's) He said they are famous for injector issues. Injectors cost about $4500 in parts before any labor. NO 6.0) I asked about Dodges. They said the Cummings is very good BUT the tranny's are a problem. What about Chevy's, they said Duramax has several issues. Is there anything left?
I might need to shave my beard to look Amish and buy a team. Hauling 800-1000 gal of sap will take quite a team, especially on the 3/4 mile long hill I need to decend at (guessing) maybe 15-20% grade. Do horse drawn wagons have air brakes?

[Ironwood]

I have a 7.3 (my second), GREAT engine. I also have a 2000 V10. Both have their strengths, but the V10 is a great engine in a VERY solid truck. Not everyone needs or should have a diesel. That has become clear to me. I love to go out at 0 degrees and fire up the gasser, and also the easy of finding fuel. I drive the diesel over the road and local when needed (back up family vehicle). If you don't need a diesel avoid it.

 Ironwood

[pineywoods]

fyi the 04 and later dodges have a mercedes benz truck auto tranny, so far rock solid. Before that, they used a chrysler transmission, which the cummins tended to rip apart quite frequently. The early dodge-cummins also had problems with twisted drive shafts and busted rear ends. I drive a 95 model 35 ft motor home with the 12 valve cummins coupled to a 6 speed allison automatic transmission. That's the way to go. Anybody had any experience with the new IH v6 diesel ?

[maple flats]

The way the gov't is heading debt wise and policy wise I see the possibility of a total collapse. If China calls in our debt we'd be history, can you all speak chinese? I hope not but see it as a possibility. I truly love our country but I forsee real bad times ahead if we don't get new leadership across the board at everl level.
 I would never use farm diesel under normal times but if everything collapsed around us you can bet my farm tanks would be filling my truck. I could also, if need be make bio-diesel. I can't make gasoline. Thus I feel a diesel a better choice. I now drive diesels every day and realize their needs. Another factor is that I can store diesel for a few years but today's gas starts going stale in very little time, even if mixed with stabilizer.
Pineywoods, I'll look into that. Might end up a Dodge man. Had one years ago which was a good truck but it was only a half ton, way before I started really working my trucks.

[Ironwood]

Well, that provides some perspective. This is the reason I bought Shinnlingers F-350 CC 4x4 with a 7.3. I have the capacity to load it and drive for 3000 miles unfueled. I have three little ones a wife that I would like to have a BUGOUT plan whether we bug in or need to bugout. The fuel is in reserve here on our property. I also have a 3KW diesel genset to pull water from our well. wood all around to be burned to heat our home.  We could last a LONG time here unaided. I am beginning a food storage plan as that is our weak point. I have stock piled some ammo and traps for game hunting( etc...) I could eat a long time here on the semi domesticated deer. 





 Ironwood

[snowstorm]

dosent seem as if you guys like any of them. out of the 15 diesel engines i own. 2 are 7.3's and 1 6.0. you all love the 7.3 but when they first came out there was injector trouble and turbo. any of them with cooled egr will cause problems. the 7.3 wasnt clean enought so it had to go. the 6.0 is smother not as nosiy 4 valve heads a bed plate all good. trouble areas egr valve and cooler. mine now has 98000 on it with only 1 trip to the ford dealer that i had to pay for.....a fuel pump...at least it was bolted to the frame not in the tank. as far as f250 vs f350 srw the only difference is one extra spring in the rear.

[maple flats]

As far as preparedness goes my wife likely takes the prize. We have about 2-3 years ahead. The variety might not be there with long time use but we would not go hungry. Our thing is that we would end up sharing with many others too, like we did in '98 when we had a bad "Labor Day" storm. The power was out and trees were down all over the community. We buckled down, opened our home and fed about 25 neighbors, 2x a day for almost a week. We had the food and our natural gas stove had pilot lights and did not need electric to run. I got dry ice to hold refrigeration and we had a party.
If and when I buy a diesel truck I will also get a tank to stock road fuel. I'm thinking 500 min and maybe 1000 gal or more. I like to buy my fuel once a year, when the price is the lowest. After that my only fuel bought on the road would be if I needed to refuel on a long trip.
I hope my fear is wrong but I feel a need to be prepared. Gas won't do it. If I end up getting gas I will get a different truck next year and it will be diesel. I also have 1520 watts solar and a 6000 watt diesel generator. Also have plans for building a wood gasifier if the need arises. I could power a 5500 watt gas powered genny I have. I was taught "Be prepared" back in scouts and my wife and I both practice that all the time.

[Ironwood]

Flats,

 Good for you guys. I hope your kindness has paid dividends. Likely if you are in a rural area people appriciated it. I am "semi suburban" and would not likely do that except for some close family friends that live nearby.

 I come from a small town and miss some level of that inter-dependency. When someone had an issue many people would show up to help out.

Ironwood

[maple flats]

We are in a town of 12,000 and our house is in a residential section. We are on a 1/4 acre corner lot and people we knew as well as people we barely knew came. It was a unifying experience. We went to every house on the block and invited everyone. That is how we are.
We are however in a plan to build a new home at the property where my sugarhouse is. That is 15 acres and has only 3 neighbors within a 1/4 mile radius. Our other property is also rural, about 7/10 mile from the sugarhouse property, where our blueberries are (we have 4.5 acres u-pick) and are planting some raspberries next spring on some of the vacant land in that 13 acre parcel. The point is, people should always try to be neighborly.
Back to the trucks. I am going to look at a 2001 F 250 tomorrow 7.3 diesel, 4x4 with Fisher plow with 147,000 miles. If I don't like that I'll just keep looking. As my back-up plan, I will buy a 7 ton gooseneck equipment trailer, put a ball in my Silverado 1500 gas truck and get the biggest tank I can haul behind that. Then next year I will look for a 250-350 to replace it and will get the biggest tank whichever one I get can handle. My original plan was truck then trailer but they are reversable. The trailer has the added advantage of being able to haul my excavator once I get a heavier truck. It takes far TOO long to drive it from the sugarhouse/sawmill site to the blueberries at 1.1 KPH. I did that once, took 43 minutes with my wife following in the car with her flashers on. Being a farm I can drive it on the road from one place to the other.

[Bobus2003]

I have had a many 7.3l Powerstrokes (many IDI 7.3l and 6.9l), and a couple 6l's. In all honesty the 7.3l is hard to beat.. it was in production long enough to have most of its issues resolved (CPS is the biggest continuing issue) As for the 6.Oh, I had a '06 F350 that was a pile of crap, it spent more time at Ford than i was driving it the first year I owned it, but when it did run that truck was a beast.. used it to haul my Dozer, Skidder, and Excavator, Plus random other stuff. I have a '06 F450 6.0l and it has been a great truck, hardly any issues.

The Cummins is a beast pretty much no matter what Year you get.. The late '98-'02 24v Models have a problematic VP44 Injection pump that tend to go bad for no real reason.
The '03-up Common rail tend to have some issues with burning up the #6 piston

The Duramax is another good engine, they are just known for Warping heads (Aluminum Head, Cast iron Block) '02-'04 LB7 has injector issues, The new Duramax (Urea injection Equipped) have a poorly located Urea tank and they are known too freeze.

No matter what Truck I get they are backed by a manual Tranny.. I like to be in control

[maple flats]

I made that jump. I found a 2001 F250 4x4 with an ext cab., Fisher minute mount plow and a 7.3L diesel. I drove, and dealt. Will pick it up Tuesday after work. Has 148,000 miles and ran good. I did have them fix an exhaust issue, hanger and missing tail pipe. Everything else looks good. No body rust. At this point I think I'll use it for 1 syrup season and then buy a 7 ton gooseneck equipment trailer to haul my tractors and excavator. Then at sap time I'll get the biggest tank I can handle with that truck. After another season I'll look for a newer truck in a 1 ton and get a bigger tank for the trailer. I should be able to haul some hefty sap loads then. Might get it in 2 loads a day rather than 3 or 4 that I might get in year 2 with a smaller tank.

[Ironwood]

Good for you. I dont think you will be disappointed. If you want to haul heavy, look for 16" Goodyear G series tires (full steel case like tractor trailers) they DONT sway. Michelin also has a 16" steel cased tire although I dont know the model.

 I am getting ready to order 19.5" Rickson steel bud rims for my F-350 DRW. I am swimming in 19.5 tires and want to run them on this truck as it is always moving/hauling. The 19.5 lasts and lasts. I keep coming up with them from commercial "pull offs", I brought home 11 tires in the last two weeks, three brand new matched (traded use of my forklift for an afternoon, tire guys lift broke down unloading a semi), 4 matched Michelins 80% tread ($30 each), and 4 Michelins 50% tread. I didnt pay more than $50 each installed. Some guys even convert a 3/4 ton to 19.5 Ricksons, my buddy did so in North Central Pa. and loves it.

 Ironwood

[Bobus2003]

Good for you. I dont think you will be disappointed. If you want to haul heavy, look for 16" Goodyear G series tires (full steel case like tractor trailers) they DONT sway. Michelin also has a 16" steel cased tire although I dont know the model.

 I am getting ready to order 19.5" Rickson steel bud rims for my F-350 DRW. I am swimming in 19.5 tires and want to run them on this truck as it is always moving/hauling. The 19.5 lasts and lasts. I keep coming up with them from commercial "pull offs", I brought home 11 tires in the last two weeks, three brand new matched (traded use of my forklift for an afternoon, tire guys lift broke down unloading a semi), 4 matched Michelins 80% tread ($30 each), and 4 Michelins 50% tread. I didnt pay more than $50 each installed. Some guys even convert a 3/4 ton to 19.5 Ricksons, my buddy did so in North Central Pa. and loves it.

 Ironwood

Have seen this conversion done many times.. Really don't understand it.. I have 19.5's on my F450 and hate them. The ride quality sucks, Looking at converting it back to Ford 8 on 170mm Bolt pattern in a 17 or 18" rim

[Ironwood]

Your just not loading it heavy enough . I have had them on two other 550's and like them. If yours is a 4x4 I will trade you my axles and rims for yours I already swapped out the rear springs and mounts to the F-450 version.


Ironwood

[maple flats]

I'm not even sure which tires this has. My understanding on truck carry capacities has more to do with the brakes than the springs. If all sort of "improvements" are done axle, spring or tire wise, how do you legally handle the GVW tag on the door? Years ago I had an overweight ticket and it cost me dearly. That was on a dump truck but back in the late 60's it cost me over $3000 then. Got tickets for everything one could think of and several I had never thought of. Translated the total fine would likely be 4-8 times that now. I think I'll stay within the door tagged GVW limit.

[Ironwood]

More about handling at full loaded GVW than anything else, and for me switching to 19.5's is about longer term durability of the tire. The 19.5's just outlast any other tire.

Ironwood

[maple flats]

OK but I may not really be a candidate for that. I usually only put between 6-7000 miles a year. Lasting longer is seldom an issue, handling the weight well could be. Will be more so as I upgrade to a 350 in the future. This 250 at 8800 # GVW is on the lighter side for 3/4 ton trucks I think. I test drove 250's that had 10,000# GVW. Unfortunately they all had a 6L diesel that several mechanics said to avoid because of injector problems.

[pineywoods]

More about handling at full loaded GVW than anything else, and for me switching to 19.5's is about longer term durability of the tire. The 19.5's just outlast any other tire.

Ironwood

Well just maybe.  My experience with the 19.5 tires hasn't been so good. Don't run them under-inflated, even 5 psi, and don't overload them. If you do, they will blow out the sidewalls. The sidewalls on most of them have steel cords. If those cords flex very much---boom. I run them on a 35 ft motor home, I carry 2 spares...

[bill m]

Where did you find an F-250 with a 10000 lb. gvw? I have never heard of one.

[Ironwood]

Boy that is interesting, ran my old F-550 100,000 miles not one issue. Ran 12-13K empty, and ,well loaded..........heavy. Ran Hankok, Michelin, Bridgestone, retreads on back sometimes, NEVER and issue. What brand do you run? I LOVE 19.5's


 Interesting. Ironwood

[pineywoods]

Boy that is interesting, ran my old F-550 100,000 miles not one issue. Ran 12-13K empty, and ,well loaded..........heavy. Ran Hankok, Michelin, Bridgestone, retreads on back sometimes, NEVER and issue. What brand do you run? I LOVE 19.5's


 Interesting. Ironwood

The rv came with a full set of kelly tires. 30,000miles later, only 1 of the 6 still usable, and I keep it as a spare. Hankok, michelin, remington, so far no problem with bridgestone. Maybe I'm doing something wrong ?

[Ironwood]

I cannot imagine anything you are doing wrong. Aliginment good? Tracking? Was the unit bought new? Perhaps it has a frame/tracking issue? 35' is BIG, you must be running them near capacity at all times? That is ALOT of RV to be sure. 

 Your down south, perhaps more HOT, HOT pavement affecting wear? You got me, but I have never heard of issues of 19.5" tires wearing overly quick. I ran Kelley Steers one time, later made them into retreads. I had a Detroit Locker put in my 550 and so it did tear up rears, but sometimes it felt like you "ran over a dog" when cornering, but that is to be expected with a locking diff. Have you tried any of the RV forums to pose the question/ issue? Perhaps it is inherent to the RV, ie height (slightly top heavy), squirm etc...

 Ironwood

[Bobus2003]

Your just not loading it heavy enough . I have had them on two other 550's and like them. If yours is a 4x4 I will trade you my axles and rims for yours I already swapped out the rear springs and mounts to the F-450 version.


Ironwood

She's a 4x4, and i think thats where most my ride issues comes in.. went and test drove a '07 F550 2wd and it had a much better ride

Where did you find an F-250 with a 10000 lb. gvw? I have never heard of one.

My old '99 F250 Super Duty had a GVW of 9900lbs, When i bought my '06 F350 I bought it with the 11,500lbs GVW package

[jesse]

06 f250 ext. cab short bed 9800 g.v.w

[maple flats]

Where did you find an F-250 with a 10000 lb. gvw? I have never heard of one.

One dealer I looked at locally had a F350 and an F250, both 2005's with 6L diesels. The tag on the door of the 250 said 10,000 GVW and max rear of 6100#. The 350 door tag read 11,700 GVW and 7000# rear. I just assumed this was some sort of std range. I did see, in various brands, but mostly Fords 250's from the low of 8800 that I bought up to the 10,000. Some were in between those extremes. Is the 10,000 unusual for a 250?

[Ironwood]

I would say it is unusual. As you stated it is likely the brakes. Erring to a 10" or bigger. I do know that at least the 7.3 engine is much heavier than the gasser, by how much I dont know. That alone would need a bump in GVW to keep the same cargo carrying capacity.

 On the plus side, I hear rumblings of anything over 10K GVW will need BI-ANNUAL inspection at some point in the near future. Yet another hassle. So, if your under 10K you will be exempted at least for some time in Pa. I dunno if that is driven by Fed's or not. 

Ironwood   

[bill m]

Everything 10000 lbs. and over need a dot number and inspection.

[Ironwood]

I should qualify, exempted from a Bi-Annual, but you still need a regular annual inspection.

Ironwood

[Dave Shepard]

The Bosch VP44 is a good pump, it is the lift pump that is on the left side of the block that kills them. The LP dies, and the VP44 does not receive enough fuel to cool itself, as 70% of the fuel pumped by the LP is for cooling. A rebuilt VP44 with core is about $1200, and takes an hour and a half to replace.

[Bobus2003]

I would say it is unusual. As you stated it is likely the brakes. Erring to a 10" or bigger. I do know that at least the 7.3 engine is much heavier than the gasser, by how much I dont know. That alone would need a bump in GVW to keep the same cargo carrying capacity.

 On the plus side, I hear rumblings of anything over 10K GVW will need BI-ANNUAL inspection at some point in the near future. Yet another hassle. So, if your under 10K you will be exempted at least for some time in Pa. I dunno if that is driven by Fed's or not. 

Ironwood   

6.0l PSD 960lbs w/fluids
7.3l Weighs around 925lbs Dry weight
V10 Weighs around 500lbs Dry

[Ironwood]

Thanks, Ironwood

[maple flats]

I picked up my F250 yesterday. '01, 4x4 super cab Diesel. This is not my first F250 supercab but it has been several years. The seat sure feels harder than my last one.
The GVW is tagged at 8800#. I'll go get each ax weighed soon for planning purposes. I'm thinking I might be best by far to get a 7 ton gooseneck equipment trailer as soon as I can. That will haul the most by far with this rig. The owners manual says it is good up to 13,300# max trailer if 5th wheel. My guess is that gooseneck will be the same since the load point is exactly the same. In fact I ordered a rail kit designed specifically for my model, with 1 pc frame brackets that bolt to the side of the frame, no drilling and the rails mount to those. This rail system has a companion gooseneck mount to haul them too. Might end up going 1 season with just a p/u tank in the back and then get the trailer, because I have already invested over $20,000 for my maple expansion this year and I will need some cash flow before I proceed further. Man, this hobby costs a lot, syrup aught to be $250/gal or more.

[Polly]

  i got 2 class 6 trucks with 19.5 tires no problem except the replacement cost china brand starts at 260.00 and everything else is 300.00 on up  the new diesel trucks with the new pollution systems acording to a techinal bulletin i just finished reading will run fine for off road use without the factory muffler and fuel additaves or other stuf is not required 

[ScottAR]

Some F250s came with a "payload" package.  This basicly makes it a F350 single tire like mine.   My reg. cab f350 single tire has 9,999 on the door. 

[Ironwood]

I dont know what is going on here but I am finding 19.5" "pull off" tires at my two local commercial shops for dirt cheap. They just keep showing up and I cant pass up the deals. 25-$50. They used my fork truck for 4 hours when their's broke down, got 3 brand new 19.5's for my loaning it to them. They were old stock from someone else's inventory not theirs, they bought the inventory lock-stock-barrel so i got them for just the use of my machine. If it keeps up I'll be in the 19.5" tire business . All tires are only going up and up in cost. I run fresh retreads in the winter on my 550 then switch to summer "pull offs", my 19.5" Rickson steel bud rims for my 350 need to get ordered quick, snow is coming. 

 Ironwood

[JHBC]

There are so many different towing and payload packages now.  I have a new Dodge 3500 non-dual rated at 10,100.  That puts it in the class 3, the same as the F-450 pickups?  Where I work, two of the trucks that get the most use for hauling equipment etc., are a '98 Dodge 3500, and a '97 F-450, both with 5-speeds and 10' decks.  I don't know what the payload or tow ratings are, but it doesn't seem to matter, they do the trick.

Some newer trucks like the F-550 can tow over 26,000 without being overweight.  Pretty nice.

[snowstorm]

for you f550 onwers. fill me in the bad ect.just bought one 04 4x4 6.0 6 sp . so far so good. looked at quite a few most had rust problems .

[sprucebunny]

The bad Transmission ( 6sp. manual) housing broke where it attaches to the frame on my '00 F450. I've been waiting for the guy to weld it for months. Also needs new bearings on the trans output shaft. Less than 60k miles.
Not much holding the trans and motor in the truck considering the available torque. Not any heavier mounting than a F250 or 350.

Love 7.3 PSDs. Also have the naturally aspirated 7.3 in a 1990 truck. Very easy to work on but not as much power.

[Polly]

  8)ironwood please e mail me the address of the tire dealer that has new 245x70rx19.5 new tires for sale ,i just purchased two used ones out of kansas for 350.00  anyone need some that wont pass dot i got a couple that would run on log trailer i will give away thanks ron

[Ironwood]

I need to buy a few more first . He has 6 Roadmasters 190's with block tread 225's and a set of 4 Hercules block tread 225's. I will see what I can do fer ya, shipping might be costly though.
 
  Ironwood

[mooleycow]

got 96 dodge cummins, 12 valve, no glow plugs.  put a bulldog transmisson and increased the size of the intake and exhaust pipes, no stacks, 2wd.  the injector by bosch p pump will put out enough fuel for an 1800 hp engine. will run, will pull, about 20 to 23 mpg, just looks like any old truck, used to pull 28ft steel horse trailer with 3 horses, no trouble.  This is the type of truck used on the drag strip in creswell North Carolina to outrun mustangs and coorvettes and some euro cars.

[JHBC]

Mooleycow, I like the sounds of that truck.  Nothing like a straight forward 90's Cummins for reliability and long life.  I also have to say I do think the 6.0 Fords may have a bad rap, judging by the thousands being used in forestry and mining, IMO they are in more of the trucks I see, than any other.

Also I thought I may have been wrong about the new F-550, but no, 35000 CGVW, and 26000 trailer weight!  A pickup sized rig to pull a tandem dually gooseneck.

[Bobus2003]

Mooleycow, I like the sounds of that truck.  Nothing like a straight forward 90's Cummins for reliability and long life.  I also have to say I do think the 6.0 Fords may have a bad rap, judging by the thousands being used in forestry and mining, IMO they are in more of the trucks I see, than any other.

Also I thought I may have been wrong about the new F-550, but no, 35000 CGVW, and 26000 trailer weight!  A pickup sized rig to pull a tandem dually gooseneck.

The 6.0l did get a bad rap and almost killed the diesel market for Ford.. for every good 6.0, there are 2 with problems (Or so it seems) I know of many 6.0's that were good trucks and I know many that are crap (I had a crap one). Alot of guys that used to be die hard Ford guys have switched to Chevy or Dodge. The 6.0l is easy to make reliable though.. just takes some $$$

[snowstorm]

Mooleycow, I like the sounds of that truck.  Nothing like a straight forward 90's Cummins for reliability and long life.  I also have to say I do think the 6.0 Fords may have a bad rap, judging by the thousands being used in forestry and mining, IMO they are in more of the trucks I see, than any other.

Also I thought I may have been wrong about the new F-550, but no, 35000 CGVW, and 26000 trailer weight!  A pickup sized rig to pull a tandem dually gooseneck.

The 6.0l did get a bad rap and almost killed the diesel market for Ford.. for every good 6.0, there are 2 with problems (Or so it seems) I know of many 6.0's that were good trucks and I know many that are crap (I had a crap one). Alot of guys that used to be die hard Ford guys have switched to Chevy or Dodge. The 6.0l is easy to make reliable though.. just takes some $$$

    i would assume you are talking about ditiching the egr valve and cooler. i have looked into it most say you need a tuner to turn the check engine lite off. i have 2 7.3's and now 2 6.0's so far so good. i have spent money on bolth. a 6.0 in a f450 or 550 is not as much hp as one in a 250. ford dealer tells me 50hp less so around 275hp.  anyone else noticed oil and fuel filters are cheaper from a ford dealer than napa?

[Bobus2003]

  i would assume you are talking about ditiching the egr valve and cooler. i have looked into it most say you need a tuner to turn the check engine lite off. i have 2 7.3's and now 2 6.0's so far so good. i have spent money on bolth. a 6.0 in a f450 or 550 is not as much hp as one in a 250. ford dealer tells me 50hp less so around 275hp.  anyone else noticed oil and fuel filters are cheaper from a ford dealer than napa?

Yep Ditch the EGR stuff, Put in Headstuds (Reduce to eliminate the risk of Warped heads, Blown Head gaskets), Make sure they have the new style STC Fittings on the high pressure oil lines and I would put in a new Oil Cooler at the time of EGR Deletes. On some models you can get away with the EGR Deletes and not getting any SES or CES lights, but most will need a tuner of some sort to do it. (SCT is top of the line for 6.0l) Yes the Diesels in the F450 & F550 are tuned down.. I know of some guys that are running a F350 FICM and Computers in their F450's and F550's to get the Higher HP rating. Use the Motorcraft filter, The NAPA Filters are known for coming apart and sending debris through the engine, or the Drain Check valve gets blown apart cause they don't seal correctly around the bottom. (my dad just had a $2700 repair bill due to this)