Experience/Opinions on a 2008 F450 for Towing

[rowekmr]

I tried a search and only came up with a thread illustrating the turning radius and a payload debate.

I am looking online at a 08 F450 that has 139k with an utility bed on it and no information on the history (auction). The cab paint (doesn't match utility bed) and interior options look like a loaded Lariat so I assume it isn't a cab chassis model. I was going to check it out in person and see how it runs and pull any codes.

My purpose was to either put a pick up bed (is it different size than F350) or flat bed and gooseneck or 5th wheel and do short radius part time hauling. I was looking into hotshot and car hauling (possibly both with flat bed trailer)

First let me say I know the 6.4L has a checkered history and only used for 2 years in Ford pick ups. I briefly drove a F450 single cab chassis stake bed that me and heavy diesel tech bought. When we got it the company mechanic said the engine was totaled puking coolant and oil mixing. We got it for cheap and he replaced the front engine cover (hard to find one back then) and replaced either the oil cooler or EGR cooler and we sold it. I did drive it for about 4 hours and it did drink gas (16 mpg empty IIRC) but I like the specs of the heavier duty brakes, tires, and rear end for hauling.

The issues I recall for that engine are top end issues with rockers, cracked pistons, leaking radiators, emission issues from extended idling. I know the heavy diesel tech would replace the rockers on many he serviced. He would also use a different piston in them (IH?), the aftermarket has a brace and all medal radiator to address the leaking radiators.

I'm not interested in a used 6.7L at this time so no need to talk about its attributes. I towed RV trailers with a new one part time for 1 year about 10k miles so I know how great they are but that one was on a commercial lease and I'm looking to build a tow vehicle cheap with cash.

Now they have been out a long time I was wondering if there were any other big issues or aftermarket solutions. I'm not dead set on getting it just seriously considering but wanted to hear from the experts here where I tend to get all my truck info.

The pro for me is hopefully I would get it cheap. The engine when it is running right is purported to be pretty strong stock and a beast if tuned. Give me a cheaper entry point into a heavy hauler that for now I would only used 2-3 days a week. If something went terribly south just sell it for small loss or part it out vs the 40-75K I see for newer to new trucks.

Is the frame the same as a F350? Wondered so when shopping for beds.

Was only the 4.88 rear gear available or did they also come with 4.30's?

I see a good number of 6.4L's for sale over 150-175k with engine issues (at auction) is it poor maintenance, driver abuse, extended idling or just its design. I thought I heard that the 6.4L's used in MDT faired better without the Ford installed emissions but never saw hard proof of that.

[Grit_dog]

If you re-read your post, you kind of answered your own question.
Fantastic chassis, not fantastic engine.
If you can get it for cheap enough that installing/painting a truck bed, a new engine and whatever other little stuff you see would t put you over it’s retail value by much then my answer would be a solid maybe. And if the engine holds up you win.
AND if you could delete it if necessary. (Same for any brand pre def truck)
Question is how much are you hauling?
IMO there are better choices in that age range. Namely either other brand.
And if you need the chassis of a truck that big, go Dodge/Sterling.
Older truck, heavy hauling, getting a manual trans would be preferable too.

That said, there are plenty of older Cummins and Dmax on their second engine too. I attribute it to maintenance and people not knowing what they’re doing with tuners and Diesel engines in general.

[carringb]

An F450 with 4.88 gears would be a cab-chassis model. The 4.30 gears came on the pickup chassis.

Either way, I'd stay away from the 6.4L unless you hate yourself. The MDT versions weren't really any better. Sure, some of the emissions components were more robust, but the engine-killer problems were inherent to the engine design. I'd only buy one if the chassis were cheap enough to justify a Cummins swap.

The high fuel consumption is also inherent to the 6.4L. You could expect V10 like fuel economy overall, slightly better on the highway, worse in town. On that note, if you're only using it occasionally, why not just get a V10?

[Bedlam]

The 6.4 had a limited run so parts and expertise will always be harder to find. For a while, Ford did not use 19.5" wheels on the F450 pickup. This is only an advantage if you go places where you need to air down tires for flotation or you drive the truck unloaded often. The 450 pickup uses a 350 frame and pickup tuned engine but has the chassis cab axles. As far as I know only the higher ratio axles were used at 4.30