1997 F450

[CCOUGHRAN1]

Should be an easy one for someone out there. I'm in the process of getting a '97 F450 with 7.3 Powerstroke and Altec AT200 Boom/bucket.
I've been a Ford guy for years so I know that 150 = 1/2 ton, 250 = 3/4 ton, etc. So does a 450 work out to be 1 1/4, 1 1/2 or how does that go? Was just curious as to how it was rated because I know guys will ask once the truck is here.

Something doesn't sound right about this truck. To my knowledge, Ford did not make a F450 in 1997. They made an F-Superduty, and it should have a 10 lug bolt pattern with 16" wheels. Solid front axle, and four wheel disc brakes, with a driveline parking brake. All the other 1997 Fords trucks should have had rear drums.

In 1999 Ford started making the F450/F550.

The 1/2, 3/4, 1 ton and their relation to payload is pretty meaningless. When we buy F550's, we get the upgraded weight rating. I am pretty sure the last ones we upped from 17,500# to 19,000#, they still carry the F550 badge, but their is 3/4 ton difference between the two options.

Used to be, and may still be, that a Ford 3/4 ton had a GVW of 8800#, and a 1 ton SRW was 9900#, there is only a 1/4 ton difference in their name, 3/4 vs 1 ton, but there is better than 1/2 ton difference in their rated capacity ( 1100#)

 

[CCOUGHRAN1]

I found this online a few minutes ago, maybe it will help.

F-150: 1/2 ton (6,100 lb GVWR max)
F-250: 3/4 ton (8,100 lb GVWR max)
F-250 HD: 1992?997 Heavy Duty 3/4 ton (8,800 GVWR max)
F-350: 1 ton (10,000 lb GVWR max)
F-Super Duty: 1 ton plus (15,000 lb GVWR max)

 

[Diamondpilot]

Used to be, and may still be, that a Ford 3/4 ton had a GVW of 8800#, and a 1 ton SRW was 9900#, there is only a 1/4 ton difference in their name, 3/4 vs 1 ton, but there is better than 1/2 ton difference in their rated capacity ( 1100#)

This is not the case for the last 10 years or so. Ford offers tons of different GVWR packages. I have a 2004 F-250 4x4 Diesel with 10,000# GVWR and I also have a 06 F-350 with 11,500# GVWR. They offer well over a dozen GVWR packages for the 250/350 now day.

The F-150 is just as bad. My dad has a new 2011 F-150 with the 3.5L Twin Turbo. Its 4x4 and has a 7,650 GVWR and has a honest payload of 2,000#. They have GVWR's that range from 6,450# to 8,200# now on the 2011's. They have over 15 GVWR packages for the F-150 alone.

As for the 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton thing its a old school way of doing it. No longer means anything.

My 3 trucks are:

2004 F-250 GVWR is 10,000# and it weighs 7,500# with me in it. 2,500# payload.

2006 F-350 GVWR is 11,500# and it weighs 7,600# with me in it. 3,900# payload.

2008 Nissan Titan is 6,522# and it weighs 5,450# with me in it. 1,072# is the payload.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I found this online a few minutes ago, maybe it will help.

F-150: 1/2 ton (6,100 lb GVWR max)
F-250: 3/4 ton (8,100 lb GVWR max)
F-250 HD: 1992?997 Heavy Duty 3/4 ton (8,800 GVWR max)
F-350: 1 ton (10,000 lb GVWR max)
F-Super Duty: 1 ton plus (15,000 lb GVWR max)

I am guessing you are talking 1997. This is by no means the ratings now days.

Just shows you how much trucks have changed when you look at my numbers.

Chris

 

[powerstroke444e]

I have a 97 superduty/f450 same thing it has 15000gvw and pulls great. It has a 10 custom bed and 4.88 or 5.13 I don't remember but @ 65 is close to red line. Been a great truck. Empty mine is around 9-10k which dont help the milage but it dont get used unless its making money.

 

[Soundguy]

I have a 97 superduty/f450 same thing it has 15000gvw and pulls great. It has a 10 custom bed and 4.88 or 5.13 I don't remember but @ 65 is close to red line. Been a great truck. Empty mine is around 9-10k which dont help the milage but it dont get used unless its making money.

if it i close to the ? 3400rpm redline at 65mph, then I would guess 5.13 gearing.

my f450 with 4.88 rear turns 2750 at 70 or 72 mph.. i had been thinking the 5.13 was a 550+ thing.. but don't have the code chart in front of me.. etc.


soundguy

 

[powerstroke444e]

if it i close to the ? 3400rpm redline at 65mph, then I would guess 5.13 gearing.

my f450 with 4.88 rear turns 2750 at 70 or 72 mph.. i had been thinking the 5.13 was a 550+ thing.. but don't have the code chart in front of me.. etc.


soundguy

I will look as I can't remeber but know that it will pull anything I hook to it.

Currently though it needs a little work I got a tank of bad fuel and it messed up the injectors and pump I am about a $1000 in to it and looks like I need all new injectors also, just one more reason to only buy fuel from places that move alot of fuel even if its .50 cents more

 

[Soundguy]

I hear ya. I keep my transfer tank and truck tank treated with diesel kleen, biocide and water dispersant, plus add lube at the truck tank periodically.

good luck.


soundguy

 

[JESSE1]

Our '88 F-SuperDuty had the 5.13 axle ratio with the NA 7.3 diesel. You got a 4.88 with a 460 gas engine.

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . A pretty low mile (about 64k) truck. . .

Just remember, a bucket truck will have way more hours on the engine and hydraulic pump than the odometer mileage will indicate.