Fords s*ck.

That is why I bought a Dodge to pull my train (see gallery).

 

OK - I am not trying to start a fight. I am a proud ford owner of an older IDI. Want to upgrade to a Cummins. That's why I am here.

It is available in the TowBoss Package. GCVW is 26k lbs. 4.30 gears, auto trans only. They ahve upgraded the trans with a tow/haul mode, and the integrated brake controller, which is pretty neat. I think it said something about fifth wheel hauling in the commercial. Max bumper pull is 15k lbs. You guys are welcome to correct me if I am wrong. Main upgrades were in the brakes, and some gearing. They upped the GVW with heavier springs, or else the extra towing capacity is worthless.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/Trucks/s...res/specs/#tow

I think that link should clear things up. Read the part at the top left where is says conventional towing versus fifth wheel towing. I guess people don't use goosenecks anymore? I do...


Ford automatic transmissions are not that great, but neither are Dodge's or chevy's until they went to the allison. If I were buying an automatic, I would only go to Chevy.

There is a lot to be said for the extra GVW. On my trailer, I hit my gvw at around 10k lbs. I have a 94, with a 10k gvw and 20k gcvw. My truck weighs around 7200 empty. I have towed heavier, but end up being overloaded on the axles, which is probably the same problem many of you guys have.

To Sum up, there are advantages and disadvantages of everyone. You guys hav a great engine. We have that new tow package, to keep things legal. Chevy has the allison transmission. I wish there was a good way to put the cummins engine in a truck with fords LEGAL capacity, and chevy's transmission. That'd be great.

 

To me, the built in brake controller is a bit of a novelty......I thought it was a good idea at first but now I'm not so sure......If I were to tow 19,000lbs, I would be using a brake smart.........If I were to tow 19,000 lbs I would take the 6 spd - I would only ever choose an auto for commuting in heavy traffic or drag racing........If I were to tow 19,000 lbs I would want an exhaust brake - just like the one you can get factory equipped on a CTD........And finally, if I were to tow 19,000 lbs I would choose a CTD so that I had a reasonable torque curve to get that kind of weight moving (without needing a 4.30 gear! )........

Ford does make a great truck and I would consider one if they offered a CTD, but they don't.........So, If I were to haul 19,000 lbs, I don't see much of a better choice than a Dodge at the moment.

 

Holy cow, I can hardly imagine those screaming V8's with a 4.30 rear end....

I bet the fuel economy is sweet.

I forget what rearend was in the '99 F450. But it was LOW.

Stand on it in bull low and you could hardly tell the truck was moving, it was like you were just revving the crud out of it in neutral with the truck slightly rolling.

 

The integrated brake controller IS a brakesmart. They're identical, only it uses ford sensors so that there is no add on sensors. It's a great dea, but hate to fnd out how much a new one costs from Ford.

I could not agree more with the auto tranny option, but I'm afraid you and I are a dying breed. I had a hard time finding one when I bought my truck. i suppose you and I would have to go to a 450. i'll jus overload my old truck, like i have been.

can you tell not all m kes work?

Those are low gears, but as mentioned, that is a high revving engine. It is very turbo dependent. I am not such a big fan, I think it's a backwards move, but all the hippies in california are happy. Wait till somebody decides to put a catalyc converter on their hash pipe. I'll vote for that.

THe mileage is not bad, but you guys get better towing mileage. They are around 10 towing heavy, I believe. My IDI is as well. I think most of them get over 20 empty, depending on gears.

Fords have always been geared a little lower than dodges. We have a wider powerband, you have a more impressive one. Even my IDI is governed at 3200 rpm's. I redline at 83 with my 215's and 4.10.

 

The real secret to the 19,000 pound rating is the tailgate heater.

 

I don't get it......

 

It was a joke that was going around here for a bit because of all the running problems the 6.0 PS was having.........We were suggesting F@$D should offer a heated tailgate option so the truck would be more comfortable to push in the cold weather...........

 

now that is funny.

 

 

If the new controller in Ford is a BrakeSmart, why are the new Ford guys all buzzing about how to wire around the controller so they can use a BrakeSmart with their hydraulic systems? It seems their controller does not work with the dish/hydraulic setup. Hmmmm?????

 

I have not heard that at all. The big complaint that I hear is that it is hard to test the controller, as it does not apply much at low speeds. Maybe I am srong about the brakesmart thing. I could not find that anywhere. I did find this:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/specs/200...perduty_1.html



After more research, it appears that it does not work with electric over hydraulic systems, which most disk brake systems are.

http://www.woodalls.com/cforum/index...d/15052887.cfm

sorry for the confusiion.

Mike

 

It is interesting that the Ford intergrated brake controller does get a hydraulic pressure signal from with in the master cylinder, it is clearly NOT a Brakesmart controller but it does appear to function in a similar fashion other than the fact that the Ford controller will not operate electric over hydraulic brakes. It sounds as if somebody already has the cure for this in the form of the additional resistor to mimic the load of the magnets when using the Prodigy or Ford controller with electric over hydraulic systems. Hopefully Ford will address this problem.......if you are going to spec outragous towing capacities and boast about your superior brake controller, said brake controller should be compatible with the heavy trailers you spec'd that the truck can tow.

 

I agree completely. It is a $205 option though, a nice price. It also has four accesory switches there, for winches or lights or anything. I thought that was neat. Nobody else does that either.

I agree that it is most certianly not a brakesmart. I read the part about the resistor thing, but didn't want to repeat it because that sounded like a good way to ruin a warranty. Most trailer brakes are drums though.

You don't have to get it, you can order it without and get a brakesmart still. Dodge does have a great price advantage over Ford, but that quad cab stuff ruins a lot fo business for them.

 

Megacab is coming.