Father Fred review of three brands please

[chtucker]

As the only fellow I know who has owned a Ford/Dodge (aka Sterling)/Chevy 450/4500/550/5500 class truck... I am requesting a complete review of the products.

Turning radius, ride, fuel economy, construction, easy of up fit, cab durability, parts pricing, axle capacities, Father Fred's guestimate of durability of components, ease of repair/diagnosis, dealer care, option availability, gearing, driveability, brake controller integration, plow mount capability/strength, load carrying ability, yada yada yada.

I have my own opinions of a Ford F550 4x4 60"CA vs My 84" CA GMC 5500... but I would like to hear yours. ATGreene needs a new truck in a few years;)

[Big Dog D]

I don't have any experience with Dodge, and only ancient history experience with GM but one thing I will comment on (since you mentioned it specifically) that Fred may not have experience with on the Fords is the turning Radius of the newer ones. It tightened up considerably when they went to the coil spring style suspension. I much prefer to sand with my 06 550 than the 03 for the fact that it will turn on a dime compared to the 03. They are both set-up exactly the same including wheelbase etc....

[atgreene]

Howard, I personally would prefer you buy another 5500! Dodge is ok, but I'd be laughed outta town if I plowed with one. Besides, the 5500 sits higher with better visibility for viewing the buffalo and antelope in Wyoming! :wink:popcorn2

[chtucker]

Rest assured I won't be buying a Ford diesel... maybe a V10... but not a diesel.

I have a few months to go till winter:wink But I my position is offcially being transfered back to the Leadville area on June 15th... so I will be back in business next season:D

I am am thinking good thoughts about the Bobcat contest, but I had better have plan B & C ready to go. I have nothing so I need to have something by September 1st...

[Pickering Snow]

Howard

To be honest its kinda early to give a complete on the Dodge/Sterling since its only been a month and half but overall like i have said in other posts its kinda a no brainer on the Sterling CC for cost Vs what you get i have pulled some larger trucks now with the Sterling that would of killed my 450 or even a 550 for that matter truth is has a wrecker it will never get out pulled do to engine power only because of overloading, the 6.7 is a powerhouse with 0 lag and with a few tweaks now runs over 76mph:wink.

I have never been impressed with my 5500 Chev i have had the crap beaten out of me one mile afer another it gets the job done but is two light underpowered has a carrier with doubles and chews steer tires for breakfast.

My 06 F650 which is a Proloader chassis turns on a dime and with its cummins 24v and Ally is the companys workhorse for hauling max payloads , my next carrier to replace the 5500 chev will be a F650 with a 6.7 cummins which will finally be the real test of this brute of a engine for pulling doubles and open frieght.

Fords under a class 6 will never grace my stable again diesel or gas i have driven a 05 or newer so i know what Big D is saying but its turning with coils its the total package that keeps me away from ever buying another,,, with the class 6 Fords i can get the engines repaired at Cummins and the trannys at Ally it makes me non dependant on the piss poor dealer service i got for my 9 superduty loyaltiy to Ford since 99.

Pull a 550 Ford up to a Sterling or Dodge 5500 and look at the frames Nuff said, many who went to Erie that look at that stuff "Johnny D" could see without to much effort that Dodge was doing there homework when reentering the class 4 and 5 market .

Couple of numbers to sweeten the deal my CC came in at 38,550 loaded minus power lock and windows which was a misQ on the dealers part so i got 1500 off which took the 5500 sterling down to 37,150 with 4x4 and 6.7 and 6speed auto a F550 cc with same options and a engine that is so questionable at this point you couldnt give me one is running 46,560 for same CC . Havent priced another 5500 chev CC chassis cause i have no intrest in going there again either however i belive the chev is near the sterling in cc pricing however the Dmax vs the Cummins is not even a contest. The sterlings 6 speed auto also has a 185,000 mile warr .

Now the overall winner in my fleet is still hands down my 4300 IH most dont belive me however the Dt466 with the RDS in that and two speed rear produces the best mileage of all my trucks and is a total caddie to drive. The Sterling is running a steady 14.7 highway at 65mph juice her up to high 70s and no way to get the Rpm down she sucks back the diesel like a drunken sailor on shore leave.

At this point theres no sense in even bringing up my sore spot the F450 the truck has been a lemon from the get go because i will run on the edge i have payed for the truck 10 times over but its came with alot of heart ache and down time, two engines and the second on the way out the truck is two light for anything other than cars and small trucks put a superduty or like vech on the back and she will finger steer to the point she also chews steer tires. That truck because its a wrecker will get the cummins swap to keep in in the fleet however my other supers are either sold or will be except for my 01 F250 7.3 which i will keep soley because of the powertrain.

No offense to Peter who owns a 08 Super look under the hood and my stomach goes to a sick feeling the truck has at least 6 coolers ready and willing to take what ever comes threw its unprotected grill aq total nightmare to work on.

So for future if for some reason i stay in snow my next pusher truck snow only would be a 5500 Sterling or dodge with at 38k and a 8k allowance for a stake bed i could build one hell of a snow only truck class 5 for less money than a Ford F350 with a diesel or gasser and get the 6.7 and 6 speed auto so hands down the Sterling wins at this point for bang for the buck its built like a brick poop house and my bet is within the next three years Sterling/ Dodge will be back on the top of the heap has the best seller.

[PSDF350]

Fred when you say cc you are talking cab and chassis right? If so your prices for ford are way off. http://www.commercialtrucktrader.com/find/dealers/Hillsboro-Ford--Sales-Department,-(800)-664-7504/851310 this is who I bought my 04 from. Also Fred have you looked into a peterbuilt? They are making class 5 and up now. For the life of me I couldn't find the wrecker I saw online but I will. I have also seen a few around here.:drool Well found it http://www.truckpaper.com/listings/detail.aspx?OHID=1652517&guid=0F2FBA1CCE6540E688D4F1ED55911EE1

[Pickering Snow]

I confused you Dave a F350 class three loaded would exceed the cost of a sterling,Cab and Chassis with a Stake bed of choice. The Ford CC's still are higher than the Sterling when you look at true chassis pools, trust me i have had the misfortune of getting to much time on the CC end of things and when all things are disclosed the Ford is far more than the Sterling. Iam sure if your popping truck traders for Ford CCs right now some may be priced close only because the pools are willing to chop the roots off the wheels from sitting in there lots so long.

I think i told this story when buying the Sterling there were 19 08 F550 Supers built and ready to go at Jerrdans main wrecker plant in Green Castle Pa they just arnt moving, at Least for a Wrecker it has to be something that can on paper work a honest 10 yrs with most all wrecker bodys now SS or Aluim the bodywill out live the chassis with the current configs of the 6.4 and old stock 6.0's that are left.

Trust me and iam sure its why Howard asked this question we logg close to a thoasands of miles a year on all of our trucks and finding the right combo is hard to do, i wont candy coat the Sterling no diff than testing the XLS if it turns out to be a bummer you will all know about it at this point hands down for the ops it has on it clearly its the winner in the 4 and 5 market.

FYI average wait time now for a 4x4 Dodge or Sterling is three months to build.

[chtucker]

Ford's max front axle is 7k with a "fat boy" Dana 60
GMC's max front axles is 8k with a "super 70" Dana 70

What does the Sterling have, and do you think it makes that much of a difference?

Oh and whose Ball joints are going to last the longest? ;)

[Big Dog D]

Another high wear item on the 550's is the brake discs. They will be toast before the pads are worn out. We have only been getting 18k out of factory discs we are hoping the aftermarkets will fair better.

[chtucker]

I blew up my rear calipers before my front pads where shot..

[BWhite]

The brakes on the Dodge/Sterling look mighty beefy .

[Pickering Snow]

The brakes on the Dodge/Sterling look mighty beefy .

Just the rears alone are twice the size of a standard Disc and calip ,,,,however has i go along ill point out a few things the brakes squeak something horr on the sterling after hauling intown a lot,,, the exhust brake is agressive but not like the IH were i can dam near stop that truck just off the Jake.

Waiting for Ceramics to come out for the Sterling that will be the first thing i change out. Another problem with the truck and its not the trucks fauly is the Dewezz Clutch pump causes the belt to stretch trying to get Gates to make a oversized belt right now the belts that come from Dewezz are Dayco they suck so bad its not worth changing the dam thing anymore so between the brakes and the belt noise the radio becomes a important feature on the truck.:wink

[PSDF350]

I confused you Dave a F350 class three loaded would exceed the cost of a sterling,Cab and Chassis with a Stake bed of choice. The Ford CC's still are higher than the Sterling when you look at true chassis pools, trust me i have had the misfortune of getting to much time on the CC end of things and when all things are disclosed the Ford is far more than the Sterling. Iam sure if your popping truck traders for Ford CCs right now some may be priced close only because the pools are willing to chop the roots off the wheels from sitting in there lots so long.

I think i told this story when buying the Sterling there were 19 08 F550 Supers built and ready to go at Jerrdans main wrecker plant in Green Castle Pa they just arnt moving, at Least for a Wrecker it has to be something that can on paper work a honest 10 yrs with most all wrecker bodys now SS or Aluim the bodywill out live the chassis with the current configs of the 6.4 and old stock 6.0's that are left.

Trust me and iam sure its why Howard asked this question we logg close to a thoasands of miles a year on all of our trucks and finding the right combo is hard to do, i wont candy coat the Sterling no diff than testing the XLS if it turns out to be a bummer you will all know about it at this point hands down for the ops it has on it clearly its the winner in the 4 and 5 market.

FYI average wait time now for a 4x4 Dodge or Sterling is three months to build.I believe you Fred. Just the prices looked less. But i'll take your word for it. I just know from experiance that hillsboro ford sells much cheaper than others. I got my truck 8k cheaper there than I could anywhere else

[PSDF350]

Got timed out on edit. Have you looked into pete? They look nice here's another. http://www.carindex.com/docs/dealers/newcardealers/new_hampshire_peterbilt/N3785.html

[chtucker]

Just the rears alone are twice the size of a standard Disc and calip ,,,,however has i go along ill point out a few things the brakes squeak something horr on the sterling after hauling intown a lot,,, the exhust brake is agressive but not like the IH were i can dam near stop that truck just off the Jake.

Waiting for Ceramics to come out for the Sterling that will be the first thing i change out. Another problem with the truck and its not the trucks fauly is the Dewezz Clutch pump causes the belt to stretch trying to get Gates to make a oversized belt right now the belts that come from Dewezz are Dayco they suck so bad its not worth changing the dam thing anymore so between the brakes and the belt noise the radio becomes a important feature on the truck.:wink


How is the Dewezz stuff, I was quoted $1500 for the pump setup..

[Pickering Snow]

How is the Dewezz stuff, I was quoted $1500 for the pump setup..

Howard

Its the only pump that can be run for the Mpl40 to have enough volume to run the twin winches , boom and wheel lift, Muncie hasnt anything that was a bolt up to the 6.7 so Dewezz gets the contract with Jerrdan.

The pump is wicked fast i can step the booms out or winches faster than my Air shift Muncies , again why these companys build great pumps with large volumes them contract dayco to build there belts is beyhond me. The 450 has a Muncie and it too came with a daycrapper belt waited now i have a Gates green stripe on it and havent had to change it yet.

Dave

If you remember last year i tryed to buy a T300 KW or a 330 Pete there again behind the 8 ball getting there chassis chopped down to acept a 120 ca Cougar body. To be honest i have driven both KW and Pete and having the IH for overall comfort and being able to see i like the IH better another advantage with the IH is its Diamond logic module which allows me to diag the truck from the drivers seat when a problem arises something the Paccar set ups didnt have.

BTW again on the Petes they require the axle to be rolled forward something most wrecker builders dont want to do...