Observations - Going from an '01 F350 DRW to a '15 F450

[Boatycall]

Going from a 7.3L to a 6.7L. I was chatting with JimH and he said I should post my impression of old truck vs. new.

I just came back Saturday from 9 days in the north Idaho Rockies, loaded with all the toys, about 350 miles each way. Thought I would post my observations from my first roadtrip with my 'new to me' 2015 F450.

Wow. That's all I gotta say.... wow.

Everything is so much better...Power, suspension, power, ride comfort, power, and stability. I had done pretty much everything you could do to an '01 DRW to haul a TC and trailer, short of pulling the motor and having it professionally built---
*Banks Turbo
*Banks Cold Air Intake
*4" full turbo back exhaust
*Superchips tuner set to 'Race'/110hp for the last 10 or so years--with of course all the standard gauges to make sure I didn't over-do it.
*Roadmaster Sway Bars
*Rancho 9000's
*MosterBox $4k aftermarket Tranny
*F550 rear suspension w/Torklift StableLoads

The new F450 - bone stock except for StableLoads and Bags(needed both - bags alone, 100psi, StableLoads alone - camper alone was fine, but adding trailer tongue weight made it sag).

So, I was running ~26k/27kLbs. We have four hard pulls between me and North Idaho -- used to pull Tiger Mtn @45, now 60 with pedal to spare. Snoqualmie, speed limit all the way from North Bend to the top....just set the cruise control, hit "Tow/Haul" and let it do it's thing. Used to be 45-50 in my old truck max'ing out the pyro near the top. In the new truck, I actually had to slow down to take the final turn at the top. Vantage - 70. 4th of July Pass in Idaho - again, the corners were my limiting factor. Last year, 45mph tops.

My old truck - you were fully aware of the fact you were pushing it hard, turbo noise, exhaust, radiator fan coming on and off like a big jet engine. This thing, nothing. No noise other than Freebird coming out of the stereo. Coming down - Jake brake was absolutely awesome. Coming back down Snoqualmie, set the cruise at 65 and it just kept downshifting till it held it. Went from 6th to 4th, then on the level spots back to 6th.

And - I got better MPG to boot. The Lie-O-Meter is dead on compared to hand calculated. Pulling all those passes loaded I would average 7.5mpg there, 8 back. I was 8.5 there, 9.0 back. It went into Regen twice which killed it, I was a one point at 9.5 before that kicked in. I smell a full DPF delete in my future.

I bought a brand new Firestone airbag kit for it and put it on prior to leaving since the Stableloads didn't quite make it on the stock springs. Have to decide whether I'm going to keep them or ditch the bags for an overload spring pack and StableLoads like my old truck.

[HMS_Beagle]

My 6.7L is better in every way than the 7.3L - except complexity. Quieter, no stink, MUCH more power, better brakes, MUCH better engine braking, better transmission by far. The two trucks ('99 and '15) are as close to the same spec otherwise as can be done from the order book.

A lot of complexity though, if it breaks.

[mellow]

That is what I figured, wasn't sure if a newer 19.5 has come out that would be better suited for beach driving on lower PSI, I was looking at 450's as well but I do a majority of my camping on the beach. Looking at a heavy TC with slides for more room for the kids but might just have to stick with a hardside to keep the weight down.

[jimh406]

In case it isn't obvious, DRWs aren't the best for sand with or without 19.5s. I've driven trucks with 19.5s on the beach without issue, and I've also driven a Class A on the beach and seen many other RVs.

I also know people who have got stuck with 4x4s with wide tires. It all depends on the beach and the driver whether it is doable or not.

[Bedlam]

The 19.5's will not flatten. You can drive on packed sand, but they dig in the soft bottomless stuff.

[mellow]

Will the 19.5's deflate enough to drive on the beach in 4wd?

[CAJW]

Since I'm a Chevy guy, my interest was peaked at Freebird. Saw them do that live in 75', my ears are still ringing! Glad the new rig has worked out so well.

[Buzzcut1]

Congrats.

My 6.7 F350 DRW is going into the shop this weekend to fix a small oil leak at the oil pan gasket at 96k. I am loading the TC back on to my 6.0l F350 SRW with 19.5s, stable loads, and airbags to go work a horse show 80 miles away.

I know I will miss the power and stability.

[Vinsil]

pcoplin wrote:
I noticed quote a bit of difference in going from a 2001 7.3 truck, to a 2005 6.0 truck. The whole truck is more stable and has a better ride. The power is about the same, but the transmission is a LOT better. The engine braking in the rR110 is excellent.

Bulletproof and tune that beast...you won't say that anymore!!!

On my trip to CA this last week...I was pulling 65-68 mph on all the passes. Averaged 10.5 mpg over 1600 miles of hills and hauling azz.

[pcoplin]

I noticed quote a bit of difference in going from a 2001 7.3 truck, to a 2005 6.0 truck. The whole truck is more stable and has a better ride. The power is about the same, but the transmission is a LOT better. The engine braking in the rR110 is excellent.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

That was great reading! Congrats on the new truck! 🙂

Swapping to spring packs from an F450 cab/chassis should put you just right for rear suspension. Unfortunately, the F450 pickups don't get much more rear spring rate than the F350DRW pickups, despite the upgrade to that massive S-series rear axle.

[jimh406]

F450s sure are fun. 🙂

[the_bear_II]

Same feeling I had going from a Chevy 3500 DRW to my Chevy 4500 DRW. Wow it's like dream towing....Congrats on the new setup

[nomadictxn]

I bet you felt like a locomotive! That's a strong set up.

[Vinsil]

Thanks for the comparison. Those 6.7 scorpions are beasts, I too came from an old 7.3 that was not as worked over as yours (still factory charger) and moving on to my current truck....wow is all I can say.

You won't regret a delete and tune!!!!!!!!!