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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402
Location: Valentine, NE | I know there are a lot of different opinions and experiences out there and I want to hear them.
Background-Thinking of trading our 2006 Chevy 4500 with 62k miles on it. Reason for trade is that I like to trade ~5 years to try to keep up with newer models to avoid one day having a wore out truck and not being able to afford an upgrade. We put around 15k a year pulling a 20k lb Hart Trailer.
Choices-
2008 Freightliners, Sports Chassis are in the running. Found several from 32k to 80k miles all in our price range. Problem-no warrenty and expensive repairs. "Local" dealer 150 miles away. GVW (CDL) issue when pulling the ranch trailer over state lines but that would only occur a few times a year.
2013 to 2015 Ford F550. Have found a few with 15-30k miles, set up like we want. Mainly, is the 19.5 tires and air ride and 4.3 gears. Have 4-5 years warrenty left. Price should be ~20k-30k less than Freightliner. Should have no CDL problems.
Thoughts?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402
Location: Valentine, NE | Need to add, we bought Chevy brand new in late 2009. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 259
Location: Topeka Ks | Sounds like the 550 is the better option. I have heard the emissioned Freightliners are under powered. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 350
Location: Penrose, Colorado | we had a 650 ford and have had several 550 fords in the past, we have a 2015 5500 Dodge with 4:88 gears and it pulls better than any of the other's pulling a 4 horse C & C with 17' LQ the down side to it is about 10 mpg running 65 in the foot hills of Colorado. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
| I loved driving my Freightliner, but you are right, service is a pain. Most independant shops don't work on the Mercedes engine, couldn't even get oil filter except at the dealer. And say what they will about being accomodating, my FL dealership was always a pain. |
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Expert
Posts: 3853
 
Location: Vermont | Originally written by Spin Doctor on 2014-12-11 6:33 AM
I know there are a lot of different opinions and experiences out there and I want to hear them.Background-Thinking of trading our 2006 Chevy 4500 with 62k miles on it. Reason for trade is that I like to trade ~5 years to try to keep up with newer models to avoid one day having a wore out truck and not being able to afford an upgrade. We put around 15k a year pulling a 20k lb Hart Trailer. Thoughts? 62K miles is not many miles...at 15K a year you could go two more years and still be under 100K miles...if you waited and actually put a truck payment in an account you didn't touch...you'd be better off when you went to purchase a new truck |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: missouri | Loved our Freightliner! We have had a few Ford Diesels.... never again. Remember, the Class 6-7 trucks will go well over 500K miles if you take care of them. It is also about braking power... Your trailer would require that class in many states...also, the level of comfort and security is far better... worth the money! |
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Veteran
Posts: 188
Location: Ingalls, Ks | Have had both. The Freightliner was a pain. Closest dealer was 90 miles away. Did not want to service the truck at all. It broke down on my daughter on I 70 right in a truck stop (with a repair shop) parking lot. They didn't work on smaller trucks. Ended up driving 150 miles to get it running. Just always had some small problem. Yes I'm picky. The Ford F550 had to go to the shop once. Pulled better, (7.3 vs. cat 3126). Put about 70,000 miles on each. Daughters been in a 13 f350 for year and a half and it has been excellent. Unless you have a good dealer network I'd be cautious of freightliner unless you don't mind goofy little problems all the time! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 690
Location: missouri | I would buy a 7.3 Ford right now! They were great! |
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Location: Central Arkansas | I loved the braking power my FL Sportchassis had. I also loves sitting up high so I could see what was going on in front of the SUV directly in front of me. Because of that, I had plenty of reaction time to avoid those near misses. I loved being able to see everything in the huge mirrors. My Sportchassis, never had a flat tire or left me sitting on the roadside. It did get stuck a few times on wet grass. Lack of 4WD often caused parking issues at weekend shows or trailrides.Maintenance on the FL was expensive. Just a routine 10K mile, well baby check, was $500 at Freightliner. New front steer tires were $1500. Insurance was much higher on a 10 year old Sportchassis, than on a new dually. Best mileage was 10mpg and that dropped to 8 or so with the big Bloomer LQ. I bought it new and sold it with 108k miles on for a return of 62% of purchase price. They do hold their value well if properly maintained. When it was time for me to downsize, I just made sure that the horse trailer had elec/hydraulic brakes. I bought a 2015 Dodge 4WD dually, with the high output diesel to pull with. The power is incredible. The ride is extra quiet. It stops my trailer (with elec/hyd)on a dime and gives 9 cents change! And, it doesn't need 4 parking spots at the mall. |
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Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas | Originally written by Spin Doctor on 2014-12-11 6:33 AM
I know there are a lot of different opinions and experiences out there and I want to hear them.Background-Thinking of trading our 2006 Chevy 4500 with 62k miles on it. Reason for trade is that I like to trade ~5 years to try to keep up with newer models to avoid one day having a wore out truck and not being able to afford an upgrade. We put around 15k a year pulling a 20k lb Hart Trailer.Choices-2008 Freightliners, Sports Chassis are in the running. Found several from 32k to 80k miles all in our price range. Problem-no warrenty and expensive repairs. "Local" dealer 150 miles away. GVW (CDL) issue when pulling the ranch trailer over state lines but that would only occur a few times a year.2013 to 2015 Ford F550. Have found a few with 15-30k miles, set up like we want. Mainly, is the 19.5 tires and air ride and 4.3 gears. Have 4-5 years warrenty left. Price should be ~20k-30k less than Freightliner. Should have no CDL problems. Thoughts? My opinion I would keep what I had before I would trade for a used truck! First big plus that comes to mind is you know what you have and second NO EMMISSION ISSUES and NO DEF to worry about! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 402
Location: Valentine, NE | Thanks for all the opinions! Have decided to ditch the idea of trading due to the all the above listed reasons! The Freightliner deal just isn't as appealing as it was before we dug into it.
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Member
Posts: 9
Location: GA | Make you guys all drool! ;) I have a F550, 2000 model, bought it new, it only has 42,000 miles!!! Could not pry the keys out of my cold, dead hands!! EVERYWHERE we go, somebody tries to buy it. We only use it to pull the horse trailers & hay trailer. NEVER have had one issue with that truck, not one. |
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Another what Truck question--F550 vs Freightliner
