IH 4700 lo pro V. Ford F550 question

[ScottAR]

As I've probably stated or overstated I've been shopping for a Ford F550 with little promise for quite awhile. (I'm really cheap er... frugal.) I have come across several ads recently for International 4700 lo pro's or LPX's. The IH trucks in question were 7.3 IH with allison autos. The GVWR are not stated but I believe them to be very close to a F550. Either truck would be used for towing equipment on a up to 24,500 lb. gooseneck trailer and hauling loads on it's flat bed for short distances (less than 100 miles round trip at most). The truck would be for work only, it would leave or return loaded.

So, The question. Am I missing something drastic or would a lo pro IH be a good alternative? The IH has bigger brakes than the Ford as
per my inspection of pads at work. I worry about the engine power.

Is the 7.3 enough motor? I really like the same engine in my F350. Is the Allison going to turn it into a slug on the highway? So many questions... Please comment away.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Where are you looking for the 550? I have a lot here only 20 miles from my house that all he sells is 450 and above sized trucks. He has plenty with either no bed, flat beds, and utility beds. The last time I drove by on Monday he must of had 25 or so and 95% were white. Anyway ask around and check the equipment dealers, not the Ford lots.

Don't know a thing about the IH trucks but would guess they are as tough as they come.

Chris

 

[deereguy]

I have seen a number of IH lo-pro cab/cassis available lately, they look to be either retired ambulances or ex chem lawn trucks. I would think these could be close to being very tired and worn out but if they checkout well, there isn't much to them, they may have been run alot but not hard. The 7.3L seems to be one of IH's better built, durable engines.

Good Luck!

 

[Builder]

As I've probably stated or overstated I've been shopping for a Ford F550 with little promise for quite awhile. (I'm really cheap er... frugal.) I have come across several ads recently for International 4700 lo pro's or LPX's. The IH trucks in question were 7.3 IH with allison autos. The GVWR are not stated but I believe them to be very close to a F550. Either truck would be used for towing equipment on a up to 24,500 lb. gooseneck trailer and hauling loads on it's flat bed for short distances (less than 100 miles round trip at most). The truck would be for work only, it would leave or return loaded.

So, The question. Am I missing something drastic or would a lo pro IH be a good alternative? The IH has bigger brakes than the Ford as
per my inspection of pads at work. I worry about the engine power.

Is the 7.3 enough motor? I really like the same engine in my F350. Is the Allison going to turn it into a slug on the highway? So many questions... Please comment away.

You are looking at 2 different trucks. The F-550 is a light-medium duty truck with a beefed-up chassis.

The IH 4700 LoPro is a true medium duty truck. The Lo-Pro wheels/tires are still rated for more load capacity than an F-550. The frame is much stronger and the spring packs & rear axle is probably heavier. The brakes are bigger which proves it is made to stop bigger loads.

The 4700 has a lower HP engine so it will probably run 300-500K miles without overhaul. The F-550 would have a harder time running that long b/c the engine has been turned up to higher HP levels that means higher wear levels, too.

IH puts a lower HP 7.3 but still decent TQ (usually 230/600 range) to get the job done for more miles between overhauls. It will get the job done but be slower. The Allison trans is a big upgrade over the Ford trans. It is a true medium duty trans that could be found in a 33,000 GVWR truck. It's going to have bigger clutch area, more lock-up gears, bigger pump and more oil capacity for more cooling than a F-550 trans.

The 4700 is a stouter unit, but the 550 will be better for you if your used to the speed & manueverability of a pickup.

Bottom line is the IH is a true MD in terms of frame, brakes, wheels, tires, drivetrain. The 550 is a light-medium duty with some MD upgrades.

 

[ScottAR]

Thanks for all the quick replies!

Diamondpilot, F550s for sale are not that common in my area. 7.3's with six speeds are like hen's teeth. I mostly watch ads on truck trader, truck paper, midwest truck and the ever present ebay.

Deereguy, I believe the trucks I saw are ex chem lawn trucks. They had around 100k which is what my F350 had when I got it.

Builder, I was hoping you'd chime in. I guess my real question is how much slower getting to speed will the 4700 be compared to a F550. I don't need a dragster but I don't want to be a road hazard either. Manueverability isn't too much of a concern as either rig is gonna be somewhat unwieldly with a 30ft+ long trailer attached.

I guess I'll just have to go drive the darn things

 

[Diamondpilot]

Good luck on your search. I can turn you on to a few big dealers in this area. One is in Kentucky, and has 150 truck at any one time. The other two I visited had 25-50 trucks. I really looked into the F-550 thing a few years ago when a guy named MrJimmy or something like that bought a F-550 cab and chassis and then put a F-350 bed on it and made a great tow rig. I do not see him on the site anymore but I will look for the thread and try to post it.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Here it is. His name was MrJimi but has not been on for about a year.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/112552-putting-pick-up-bed-my.html

Chris

 

[Builder]

Builder, I was hoping you'd chime in. I guess my real question is how much slower getting to speed will the 4700 be compared to a F550. I don't need a dragster but I don't want to be a road hazard either. Manueverability isn't too much of a concern as either rig is gonna be somewhat unwieldly with a 30ft+ long trailer attached.

I guess I'll just have to go drive the darn things

Yep, that's right, just go drive them. I guarantee the 550 will feel faster and i'm sure you'll like it better, but the 4700 LoPro is "more truck" where it really counts. Lots of components will be bigger & last longer.

If it's only for moderate to occasional use, the 550 will be fine. I would think the 4700 LoPro would be much cheaper in price and give you less repair bills over the long haul.

 

[ScottAR]

Diamond, I liked Mr. Jimi's project as well... Alas, he has departed the earth for hopefully
something better. The couple F550's I test drove ran out about the same as my f350.
55mph is around 2k rpm.

The lower price/bigger truck is what attracted me to the lo pro's. If it will pull the load at
highway speeds, I very well may go that way. I know a local trailer builder that could make bed and trailer to match. Baby big truck...

 

[Builder]

. The couple F550's I test drove ran out about the same as my f350.
55mph is around 2k rpm.

That's strange. Most F-550's have 4.88's which should run considerably higher RPM at 55 than a F-350 with 3.73 or 4.10's.