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RE: New tow rig
I do love the red, looks great with the polished aluminum wheels. There are a few differences between the 2008-10 F-450 and the 250/350 SuperDutys that you should be aware of in regards to maintenance. For one, the front suspension and 4wd running gear do not use "sealed bearings lubed for life", instead the 450 is equipped with serviceable "zerk" fitting equipped components. Upper and Lower ball joints, tie rod ends, drive line U-joints, pitman arms, idler arms, etc, probably a dozen all together. Be sure and use the Ford spec'ed grease and have fun. Upper ball joint a bit of a pain because you need to snake the grease gun nozzle up through the u-joint to get at the fitting. Also I would check the coolant for Nitride levels using the 3-way test strips(you can see my post on the subject here on the tow vehicle section). Be sure and drain the fuel water seperator each month, change the fuel filters every other oil change(I buy the filters online, much cheaper than dealer), be sure and get the latest upgraded filters with the o-ring on the lower filter. Use the "short stick" method to verify oil levels on the dipstick(that dang dip stick is a pain to read otherwise). I have had my 450 since mid-2007, ordered it from the factory and it has been by far the best truck I have ever owned. It is designed to tow heavy, carry a heavy load and it does what it is advertised to do. From hauling a 22,000lb fifth wheel across country to hauling over 6,000lbs in the bed, the truck has never faultered. Do the maintenance prescribed in the owners manual and the diesel supplement and this truck will serve you well. PM me if you have any questions or just want to shoot the breeze. Fine looking truck you got there.
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Capt Skup
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09/08/10 06:59am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2011 Ford F450 Purchase
Here is my suggestion, bypass the frontend sales people and walk straight back to the commercial sales people if the dealership has a commercial department. I haven't dealt with the frontend people in years. The commercial people know the product they are selling far more, will know what options you need in a tow vehicle. Another suggestion, try to obtain a "X" Plan pin number from someone connected with Ford, especially if you indeed need or desire to order a truck. It is true if you order a truck, only those incentives current at the time of delivery will be applied to the purchase deal. In my case I actually saved more by going the order route. hardest part was waiting the three months for the truck to be built and delivered, best part was I got the exact truck I wanted and no one "test" drove it before I purchased it.
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Capt Skup
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09/07/10 11:15am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 6.4PSD owners, have you checked your nitrite strength?
Here you go Peeps: http://www.sandyblogs.com/techconnect/2010/05/duramax-diesel-water-pump-cover.html
Pinholes caused by cavitation in Duramax's?
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Capt Skup
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09/03/10 01:00pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Car sales not good as last year, but trucks still selling
What would indicate that I was "down" on Chrysler? Large purchases by rental car fleets is probably helping the bottom line of all car manufacturers, and right now before Chrysler is able to bring new product to the market place, those sales are lifeblood for them.
Way back in high school I was driving a CJ5 and a Honda Elsinore, racing cars on the streat was far too boring compared to cruising on the beach.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-01/gm-s-total-u-s-vehicle-sales-fell-24-9-last-month-more-than-estimated.html
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Capt Skup
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09/03/10 06:42am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 6.4PSD owners, have you checked your nitrite strength?
BTW, Napa carries the test strips. Be sure and check the date stamp on the plastic jar they come in, verify the expiration date is a long ways off, so they will last a long time. Since I posted this for the benefit of Powerstroke owners not sure why other brand owners felt the need to chime in, however no matter what brand of engine you have, keeping the anti-freeze healthy is not a bad idea for anyone. Cooling system issues can be quite expensive, just ask those that have had issues with General Motors coolant.
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Capt Skup
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09/03/10 06:01am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Car sales not good as last year, but trucks still selling
Thank goodness for the rental car fleets, eh Survey?;)
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Capt Skup
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09/03/10 05:53am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 6.4PSD owners, have you checked your nitrite strength?
b
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Capt Skup
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09/02/10 05:12am |
Tow Vehicles
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6.4PSD owners, have you checked your nitrite strength?
If you haven't and have 800 hours/20,000 miles on the truck, I suggest you purchase a test kit(3-Way Antifreeze Test Strip Kit, Rotunda #328-00001) and verify the nitrite strength is 800ppm or greater. If the test indicates the level is between 300-800ppm add 32oz of Motorcraft VC-8 Supplemental Coolant Additive. If the nitrite strength is below 300ppm, an extensive coolant flushing procedure is required. Reason I bring this up, company I work for has dozens, and I mean dozens of 6.4PSD SuperDutys(From 250 to 550s) in service. I just found out two of the trucks are out of service, due to cavitation of the front engine cover(what the water pump mounts to). When cavitation causes holes in the plate, coolant and engine oil are allowed to mix. These trucks were allowed to idle for hours at a time, without SEIC engaged, and the coolant had not been checked on the PM service. You can buy the test strips from dealers and online(be sure and get the 3-way test strips, not the 2-way strips), the Motorcraft VC-8 can be purchased from either the dealer or online, here is where I buy it:http://www.dieselfiltersonline.com/Vc-8-Motorcraft-Diesel-Cooling-System-Additive-Vc-8.aspx If your engine experiences this cavitation, warranty may not cover the repair cost if the cooling system has not been maintained and tested as per PM schedule.
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Capt Skup
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09/01/10 12:53pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Looks like Mike found a truck to test
So those numbers got me wondering. Pickup truck's diesel power output numbers are rated off the flywheel/crank but cab chassis are rated, where? I know the numbers are taken at different places but...
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Capt Skup
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09/01/10 11:15am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Looks like Mike found a truck to test
IB, I thought the numbers were a bit low, too. Could it be a result of a DPF needing to go into regeneration, partially plugged? Wouldn't it be nice if we could initiate a regen say prior to a long hill climb pull or before a dyno run? I am use to seeing lower numbers at tire than numbers taken right off of the crank but it does seem excessive.
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Capt Skup
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09/01/10 09:42am |
Tow Vehicles
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Looks like Mike found a truck to test
In regard to the post from Mike at Pickuptruck.com. He was looking for someone to volunteer their 6.7PSD powered truck to evaluate the before and after results from the power boost Ford is giving to the 2011 6.7 trucks:
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/09/dyno-test-ford-6-7-liter-v-8-diesel-before-factory-power-update.html
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Capt Skup
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09/01/10 07:01am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Cable operated slides
I took a look at the cable setup on an Open Range
trailer at the dealer. I was surprised at how the cables were run, how they necessitated cutouts in the slide seal, and how they were secured to the slide box. Looked like countersunk wood screws were being used to attach the cable end brackets to the box. How long will it take for those screws to work loose opening and closing the slides. The screws were haphazardly sunk on differing angles, none flush with the surface. In my profession I deal with wire rope(cables to some), wire rope stretches, needs periodical adjustments and tends to fray easily if not run through smooth rotating channels. I have had both electric/hydraulic and electric rack and pinion slide drives, I would choose either over the wire rope/cable setup.
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Capt Skup
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08/30/10 10:32am |
Fifth-Wheels
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RE: Will Pay to Test Your 2011 Super Duty 6.7
Since Ford has stated that this "clean sheet" Powerstroke has lots of room for growth, as Ford ups the power numbers each year, do you think they will continue to "reflash" previously purchased trucks year after year? Say the MY2013's 6.7PSD is pumping 450hp/875lbs of torque, all a 2011 owner will have to do is drop by the dealer for a quickie reflash and whala, instant boost. Isn't this what aftermarket programmers have been doing for years? Minus the warranty of course.
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Capt Skup
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08/26/10 05:47am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2011 GMC Sierra 2500HD
Looking at the truck it looks like it is equipped with 4wd. Is it my imagination or are trucks sitting higher and higher each year? The white really looks nice, and how come the GMC trucks always look better than the Chevy trucks? Clean, uncluttered(as you stated)look, real nice. 16mpg for a hd pickup brand new ain't too shabby.
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Capt Skup
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08/26/10 05:41am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: nerf bars or running boards...or neither?
I prefer full length running boards, they provide increased stepping area and also provide protection for the lower sides of the vehicle's body
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Capt Skup
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08/20/10 11:08am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2008 Dorge 6.7 Ram
Will/can a Cummins dealer/service center work on a Cummins powered Dodge truck, and will Dodge cover the warranty repair costs? If so, that sounds like a very good option.
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Capt Skup
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08/20/10 09:46am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: FORD Expedition 2010 with 3.73 and 32 feet travel trailer
Marty, I have never towed anything with an Expedition but... 32 feet of trailer to me seems like a very long square box to be pulling behind a softly sprung SUV, even a full size one. And one with an empty weight of over 7,000lbs, meaning when full of "stuff", water and propane it probably will be very near 9,000lbs. I would be sceered of towing it with less than an Excursion, 2500 Suburban(8.1ltre) or any of the 250/3500 series or bigger pickups. Doesn't the Expedition come with those big soft P-series squishy when loaded tires? That is a big sail wanting to wag the dog.
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Capt Skup
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08/20/10 09:41am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: 2008 Dorge 6.7 Ram
Lemon law or the suggestion that you may seek relief with it may be an idea. Just be sure and check your state's laws in regard to lemon law, I think the length that it can be used is quite short, like under 12 months of ownership. I would not be discouraged, the new turbocharger may in fact solve all your issues. Curious why your dealership is on a restricted list from Chrysler for replacement parts.
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Capt Skup
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08/20/10 07:40am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Ford announces 300hp F150 11300 tow rated V6
I think that the new 3.5 V-6 Ecoboost engine is rated around 400hp/400lbs of torque in the F-150. While I would never tow a trailer over maybe 8,000lbs with any half ton, I bet the new engine will do very well in the 150. What I will be curious about is what will the mileage pan out to be in comparrison to the V-8 offerings such as the new 5.0 and 6.2 engines.
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Capt Skup
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08/19/10 09:56am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Looking Forward to No Worries! Thanks, rv.net (and GM)!!
Hey, the fall is the best time of year to enjoy camping. You should be able to rack up enough miles before the first tow and still have plenty of warm weather to enjoy the truck and trailer. Each and every year the trucks from the manufacturers keep getting better and better, we are lucky to have such great choices. Enjoy!
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Capt Skup
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08/19/10 08:08am |
Tow Vehicles
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