F550 Make any sense?

[TheArborist]

I've been driving a 1969 F650 Dump/Chip truck for years. It's a beast - strong.
I'm considering a new 4x4 diesel F550 Dump (Largest Ford with 4x4). Anyone have experience with the 550 as a tree truck? Is it strong enough? For example - carrying 7000lbs in the bed and towing a 7000lb chipper day in and out. Thanks for your feedback.

 

[Tree Slayer]

We own a 99 550 ,power stroke, 4+4, 5 sp with an arbortech chip body on it. have had it since new if I ever replace it I doubt it will be with another. only has 37000 on it. lots of clutch issues. I would look at the Chevy 5500 4+4 with duramax allison combo, more like a real truck.

 

[ASD]

We own a 99 550 ,power stroke, 4+4, 5 sp with an arbortech chip body on it. have had it since new if I ever replace it I doubt it will be with another. only has 37000 on it. lots of clutch issues. I would look at the Chevy 5500 4+4 with duramax allison combo, more like a real truck.

+1

 

[af7850]

F550 is awesome. I've run three of them in my previous business, and I can't wait to step up to one again. Tons of torque, and I've never had any issues with them.

What year are you looking at?

 

[Bill G]

I belive when you go to the 650/750 you will like the larger frame. If you look at the price difference I believe you will find the 10" frame is actually cheaper. Price them and report back. Also you said the 550 is the largest in 4x4. Please check again as the fire departments order 2 ton 4x4 trucks all the time.

Bill

 

[TheArborist]

f550

Thanks for the responses guys.
af7850 - Not settled on a year, though probably 2000-2008.
Bill G - Interesting about the 4x4, makes sense. Ford guy said that to me and I just didn't question it. I May need to look again.
My overall intention is to try to stay agile. There is a reason that tree trucks are generally in the 650/700 class - size/strength. Currently I pull my Morbark 13 with my F250 Diesel 4x4. We love it, we can take it off road anywhere - smaller, more agile than any conventional tree truck. We use my F650 chip truck within its limitations (mostly on road).
I would like a hybrid of my 250 and 650 that can go off road and catch chips, hence my questions about your experiences with F550 4x4 chip trucks.

 

[Tree Slayer]

I belive when you go to the 650/750 you will like the larger frame. If you look at the price difference I believe you will find the 10" frame is actually cheaper. Price them and report back. Also you said the 550 is the largest in 4x4. Please check again as the fire departments order 2 ton 4x4 trucks all the time.

Bill

550 is the largest unless you have truck converted by Marmon- harrington. just checked when we bought a new F 750. Which is right about the same price as a new 550. cost to convert the 750 is about 20K. the 750 we bought replaced a 95 F700 4+4 that I have owned since new.

 

[treeslayer666]

gmc 5500 4x4

GMC 5500 4x4
20000lb gvw
300 hp duramax diesel
Best truck I have owned

 

[2dogs]

The contractor I work for has an F550 4x4 that we use to drag a Brush Bandit 200+. It has a flatbed dump body with a gooseneck hitch. I think it is a 2005 and it has an automatic. The injectors have been a real problem, lots of $ spent on them. As far as handling the weight of a fully loaded bed it ha been great. It has also pulled 22,000 pounds of wrecked cars (and trailer) we were hired to get out of a watershed with the yarder. That was on my 14,000 GVW gooseneck trailer! I think the truck will work fine as long as you don't load it to the maximum GCWR every day. You need to calculate the weights of the truck, the body and its load of chips, and all the tools you carry and then add the weight of the chipper and see what you come up with.

BTW I think International still offers factory 4 wheel drive in its mid size line.

 

[mckeetree]

GMC 5500 4x4
20000lb gvw
300 hp duramax diesel
Best truck I have owned

Now I like that.

 

[Tree Slayer]

GMC 5500 4x4
20000lb gvw
300 hp duramax diesel
Best truck I have owned

Very nice