Modding an F-350 up or an F-550 down for TC

Don87401 wrote:
I won't make this long but I carry the same camper on my F450 that I did on my F350 and the differance is a lot. The F350 had up grade shocks, air bags and the F450 was better right out of the box. I did put stable loads on it because I haul a Jeep/trailer combo 90% of the time. I would not rule out a Factory F450 pickup. It may be less expensive and work fine.

You are right on your year of F450 but the new pickup F450 now have the 17" tires the same size as a F350 dually unlike yours having 19.5". There is no comparision between your F450 and a new one. Also depends on what year your F350 was as they keep increasing the capacity on the F350 over the years. The new F350 SRW trucks now have more GVWR than the F350 dually did a few years back. Now you can go to a Cab Chassis and it is more like your truck. In 2011 the F450 became nothing more than another F350 dually unless you are towing then it has a higher GCWR than the F350. The new F350 has a higher GVWR than a new F450. From the Ford towing guide for the 2013 the ratings for a slide in camper is 5019# for a F350 CC 4X4, the same F450 is 4969# not much difference but still less than the F350. The GVWR for both trucks is 14000# now. When you bought your truck the GVWR for the F350 was 13000# and your F450 is 14,500#,

For anybody that has not driven a F450/550 cab chassis and turning radius I would suggest that you go drive one to experience how tight they turn. On these truck they have the wide front axle and allows the wheel cut to be much greater than on a F350/F450 pickup. I was amazed at how sharp my F550 could turn compared to my other F350s that I had previously. If you don't like the ride go to a Kelderman air suspension like I did on mine and the ride is greatly improved.