I'm looking for a little advice on my f-350

[gorman]

I'm looking to get either a bucket truck or a new f-550 (and trade in the 350 with the later deal). If I get a bucket I need to keep the 350 for the 4x4 and backyard access. Do you guys have any advice on strengthening the suspension on the ford and keeping it around? I looked into getting new leaf springs, and blasting and painting the underside for rust. Any other advice?

 

[tree MDS]

I'm looking to get either a bucket truck or a new f-550 (and trade in the 350 with the later deal). If I get a bucket I need to keep the 350 for the 4x4 and backyard access. Do you guys have any advice on strengthening the suspension on the ford and keeping it around? I looked into getting new leaf springs, and blasting and painting the underside for rust. Any other advice?

I had beefed up "HD" springs put on my old chevy one ton (front and rear). That little truck will haul whatever I can cram in it!

 

[gorman]

did you do anything else to it? I don't even know if I'm able to put a 4.88 rear end in but if I could that would be a huge help. I might be wishing too much on that one. Brakes?

 

[Kismet]

Ever consider a Halflinger?

They go where no truck can go and produce fertilizer. They're sweet to work with too.

 

[epicklein22]

did you do anything else to it? I don't even know if I'm able to put a 4.88 rear end in but if I could that would be a huge help. I might be wishing too much on that one. Brakes?

I'm sure you can get higher gears if you want in the rear end, but your gonna have a grand dropped in the rear axle and you will have to match the front as well.

As for the suspension, take it to a spring shop and have any worn ones replaced and think about adding a leaf or two. We have a local spring shop that is awesome for that kinda work. Our crane needs to go in sometime this year for new springs. My buddy has a 99 f350 that had some hydraulic drill bit in the bed, so they put an extra springs under it. Rides horrible, but nothing will make it squat.

 

[gorman]

I priced out a new 550 with a chip box. Looking at 60 large. I'm willing to invest in this 350 for a few more years

 

[BlackOakTreeServ]

Raised by wolves boy, you can get air bags for that F350 that comes with a small compressor and switch for dash w-gauge...good for big loads.....Im going to do this on my 97 F350, i always seem to put to much chips in and towing chipper gets her heavy...7.3 PSD pulls it nice though...

 

[Mikecutstrees]

I priced out a new 550 with a chip box. Looking at 60 large. I'm willing to invest in this 350 for a few more years

Don't buy new. Tons of great trucks out there with thousands of miles of life left in them. Especially larger trucks. Look around. Thats my advise.

Mike

 

[mattfr12]

Don't buy new. Tons of great trucks out there with thousands of miles of life left in them. Especially larger trucks. Look around. Thats my advise.

Mike

ya i just sold a f-550 for 26k with 19k miles on it 4x4 and the whole nine yards.

 

[mckeetree]

Since this is a question thread I was wondering about my 1997 ford ranger. I was thinking about getting a knuckle boom mounted on the ranger VS buying a late model medium duty with a knuckle boom and dump bed already mounted. Also, would a 1963 ford falcon be suitable to pull a 10 ton tag trailer. I would only be hauling a TD8G Dresser dozer on the tag. My cousin says the falcon should handle it since it does have the 170 engine instead of the 144 but I might have brake issues.

 

[mattfr12]

Since this is a question thread I was wondering about my 1997 ford ranger. I was thinking about getting a knuckle boom mounted on the ranger VS buying a late model medium duty with a knuckle boom and dump bed already mounted. Also, would a 1963 ford falcon be suitable to pull a 10 ton tag trailer. I would only be hauling a TD8G Dresser dozer on the tag. My cousin says the falcon should handle it since it does have the 170 engine instead of the 144 but I might have brake issues.

? really??

 

[gorman]

Don't buy new. Tons of great trucks out there with thousands of miles of life left in them. Especially larger trucks. Look around. Thats my advise.

Mike

I hearya. I already have a intl chip truck but it's not very good in the mud, ice, snow, and getting in tight spots. I love it though. I just always need the small, go around work truck that can haul too.

 

[tree MDS]

I hearya. I already have a intl chip truck but it's not very good in the mud, ice, snow, and getting in tight spots. I love it though. I just always need the small, go around work truck that can haul too.

Gotta have both! having just a big truck would be a nightmare with some of the places we have to get around here!

You said your 350 is 4x4?

 

[4xrpm4x]

What is it that needs to be addressed on the truck for you to keep it? Just be able to haul more weight? More breaking power, taller gears for a little more power?

IMO I would stay away from air bags. Mostly because of matinance issues and reliability, or lack of.

As stated above, I would talk to a spring shop. Tell them what you want to accomplish with the truck.

 

[gorman]

Gotta have both! having just a big truck would be a nightmare with some of the places we have to get around here!

You said your 350 is 4x4?

Yeah, it's 4x4.

 

[tree MDS]

Yeah, it's 4x4.

Yeah, sorry I missed the 4x4 part earlier.

I would think 456 gears would do it, especially with the diesel. My old Chevy totes a 6800 pound 250 around fine with just a 350 gas and a mild cam with 456 gears. 410's suck though, from my experience.

That truck have locking hubs?

 

[gorman]

yeah, you have to get out of the truck and turn them. replacing both axels might be a little too costly for me.

 

[Arbor Vision]

I had a spring shop put a 2" levelling kit and replaced one spring with a heavy duty spring on the the front and on the back had them add a extra leaf spring....on top of Aready having airbags (firestone riderites)...I only keep the min air pressure in the bags (7psi) probaly don't need the bags anymore. Have yet to see my truck squat to where I need to add psi to the bags...truck is a 2000 f250 psd 7.3

 

[Blakesmaster]

I'm looking to get either a bucket truck or a new f-550 (and trade in the 350 with the later deal). If I get a bucket I need to keep the 350 for the 4x4 and backyard access. Do you guys have any advice on strengthening the suspension on the ford and keeping it around? I looked into getting new leaf springs, and blasting and painting the underside for rust. Any other advice?

You won't need to regear with that 7.3 diesel, plenty of engine to pull your chipper and whatever you put in the back. Like the other guys said, talk to a spring shop, my buddy got a quote on beefing up his F250 springs for $1200. Even if doing yours costs double that you're well ahead of the sticker price on that 550. Take that money and buy a bucket. That bucket will make you a #### ton more money, way quicker than that 550. For the record, I didn't put much credit in buckets till I bought my own. In hindsight, running a tree service without one is pretty dumb. It's one thing to run what you brung when starting out, or keep yourself small because you want to, but if you want to compete on a bigger scale ( which it sounds like you do ) , you need a bucket.

 

[tree MDS]

You won't need to regear with that 7.3 diesel, plenty of engine to pull your chipper and whatever you put in the back. Like the other guys said, talk to a spring shop, my buddy got a quote on beefing up his F250 springs for $1200. Even if doing yours costs double that you're well ahead of the sticker price on that 550. Take that money and buy a bucket. That bucket will make you a #### ton more money, way quicker than that 550. For the record, I didn't put much credit in buckets till I bought my own. In hindsight, running a tree service without one is pretty dumb. It's one thing to run what you brung when starting out, or keep yourself small because you want to, but if you want to compete on a bigger scale ( which it sounds like you do ) , you need a bucket.

What's this?? :msp_confused: