The Feb 2014 4WheelOffRoad mag (pg 17) indicates that the 2015 F-450 will come with commercial 19.5 wheels/tires and a beefed up chasis.Brad

I heard that too. Sounds like they're taking it back to they way they were built in 2008-2010 model years. The all had 19.5's, a massive rear-end, excellent turning radius, and decent weight ratings especially for towing. The only complaints I have about mine is that it doesn't get on the overload springs soon enough, and the mileage isn't great.:):)

NRALIFR wrote:I heard that too. Sounds like they're taking it back to they way they were built in 2008-2010 model years. The all had 19.5's, a massive rear-end, excellent turning radius, and decent weight ratings especially for towing. The only complaints I have about mine is that it doesn't get on the overload springs soon enough, and the mileage isn't great.:):)This is how I've read it too. Just look for what the GVW increases to.

It'll probably weigh 600lbs more than the outgoing F-450 so it better have at least 15,000lbs GVWR in my opinion. Ford also claims an F-450 specific engine calibration. I hope this does not mean less power than the rest of the pickups.

Well, one way for sure the engine calibration has to be changed for the F450's is the max speed. 19.5" tires usually have speed ratings in the 70-85 mph range. The OEM Continentals on mine have an "N" speed rating which is supposed to be 87 mph. The ECM limits the trucks top speed to 85. There are probably other parameters that are changed as well to enable the truck to tow and haul at max capacity without melting down.:):)

Well that's great they they are returning the F450 to it's former glory. :) I hope they use the commercial straight-rail frame and S-series rear axle, like they used to. The commercial frame, axle/brakes/tires and springs are good for GVWR's in the 15,000-17,000 lb range and RGAWR's of 11,000-12,000 lbs. Be nice if they use the 60" cab to axle length too, which moves the axle 4 inches further to the rear. Good for hauling very long campers, like the old F350 Super Camper Special, from the 70's.If they use the F450/550 cab/chassis engine tune, it will be less power output, but be able to sustain that power output reliably, under much harder use than the pickup engines can, due to the pickups' overinflated power tunes, for king-of-the-hill marketing purposes. Commercial truck buyers are not so concerned with max horsepower as we are with long term reliability and heavy payload capacity.Now if they'd just give the option of an 8.3 ISC Cummins and a Road Ranger transmission....

2015 F-450 - 19.5 Factory Wheels/Tires | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

JumboJet
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
SoCalDesertRider wrote:
Thier Dodge pickup rating is inflated, due to much less severe service duty expected in pickups, versus commercial use, and of course, the king-of-the-hill needs of the Dodge marketing department.

I recently upgraded from a 2008 RAM 3500 SRW to a 2013 RAM 3500 DRW. Both with 3.73 rear-end gears.

With 3900 miles on the 2013 I hooked my gooseneck trailer up and drove from NW Arkansas to near Baltimore, MD to pickup up a Case 450B Dozer. 21-1/2 hours non-stop there and 23 non-stop hours back. The longest stop was 50 minutes at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Maryland. That was 1,250 miles in 23 hours including stops at a gross weight of just under 25,000 lbs.

The power and torque is phenomenal. We drove through the Shenandoah Valley, mountains of east Tennessee, and then the Ozarks. The truck would run 6th gear on the flats and 5th gear in the hills without ever downshifting.

I came all the way from Alma, AR up I-540 to Fayetteville, AR in 5th gear at 65 mph and never ever down shifted. Try it sometime with any of the diesel pickups.

Inflated? I don't know. But compared to my 2008 the power and torque increase is noticeable.

FYI - 5th and 6th gear in the 68RFE automatic are both overdrive gears.
Specularius
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
Rettrooper wrote:
Have been holding out on seeing what "Ford's" new diesel long term outlook was going to be. Doesn't sound promising or are your problems just an isolated problem? Sorry, if it's a little, "off-topic". Apologies to OP!!!

This is a company truck. Out of four F-550's, some with over 250K miles now, this was the only one and it was a first generation 6.7. The replacement engine is now at 100k miles. The other trucks are one job 2, 2011 and two job 1, 2012's.
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer II
Dec 11, 2013
JumboJet wrote:
SoCalDesertRider wrote:
Now if they'd just give the option of an 8.3 ISC Cummins and a Road Ranger transmission....
Put the 6.7L Cummins (370 HP / 800 ft. lbs. torque) and you would have more than you need.
That one's licensed to Dodge. Ford is never going to put it in their pickups.

I'd much rather have a turned-down 8.3 than a maxed-out 6.7, for commercial duty application.

Cummins doesn't rate the 6.7 anywhere near those numbers, in other commercial applications. Thier Dodge pickup rating is inflated, due to much less severe service duty expected in pickups, versus commercial use, and of course, the king-of-the-hill needs of the Dodge marketing department.
skyhammer
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
The C&C version of these trucks have a different turbo and the SCR and the DPF on the exhaust are reversed compared to the regular trucks. The C&C versions also have 100HP less and 140lbs less torque.
The new version of the Super Duty(not sure about the C&C version), is getting a newly designed turbo and a new exhaust brake that can be operated manually, along with a few other upgrades.
JumboJet
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
SoCalDesertRider wrote:
Now if they'd just give the option of an 8.3 ISC Cummins and a Road Ranger transmission....

Put the 6.7L Cummins (370 HP / 800 ft. lbs. torque) and you would have more than you need.
2BLAZERS
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
Specularius wrote:
Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:
I was just reading that the F 450 and 550 6.7L Scorpion engines have an issue with burning up exhaust valves. The report said the problem is thought to be that the 450 and 550 models do not have a pressure waste dump on their turbochargers like the 250 and 350 trucks do.

Anybody else heard anything about this issue.

Yes. First hand experience. I think it is due to a combination of things. First being there was an issue with some of the valve stems not being hardened correctly when made in the first generation engines. Second is due to the way the EGR gas is introduced back into the engine, pointed directly at number 5 intake valve. Totaled the engine at 102000 miles in a 2011 F550. Ford would not warranty it. $20K+ to replace it.

WOW!! That would suck. Knowing some friends with first hand Powerstroke 6.0 issues steering me and many of my friends to the Dodge/Ram Cummins combo!
Rettrooper
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
Have been holding out on seeing what "Ford's" new diesel long term outlook was going to be. Doesn't sound promising or are your problems just an isolated problem? Sorry, if it's a little, "off-topic". Apologies to OP!!!
bedrocker
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
Long live the good old U.P.S. motor 7.3 :)
gbsb
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
Maybe my old 2003 F450 with a 6.0 isn't so bad after all. I think I might have a good one 125,000 miles and no problems yet knock on wood.
Specularius
Explorer
Dec 11, 2013
Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli wrote:
I was just reading that the F 450 and 550 6.7L Scorpion engines have an issue with burning up exhaust valves. The report said the problem is thought to be that the 450 and 550 models do not have a pressure waste dump on their turbochargers like the 250 and 350 trucks do.

Anybody else heard anything about this issue.

Yes. First hand experience. I think it is due to a combination of things. First being there was an issue with some of the valve stems not being hardened correctly when made in the first generation engines. Second is due to the way the EGR gas is introduced back into the engine, pointed directly at number 5 intake valve. Totaled the engine at 102000 miles in a 2011 F550. Ford would not warranty it. $20K+ to replace it.