GMC/Chevy 5500 or Ford 550

[mflandscape]

Truck is going to be used for heavy work, but also looking to use it for maintenance. If i got the Ford i would put a 10 ft grain on it, but probably not on the GMC in fear that it would just make the truck that much bigger. I do want a user friendly truck, but i'd say mechanics, durability, and mpg would be more important to me. Both trucks would be diesel and either 2006's or 2007's.

whats the mpg on both?
Which one is more user-friendly?
Mechanics?
Durability?
Power?
Payload?

Thanks for the input.

[tnmtn]

i have worked my Chevy 4500 very hard. the more weight in it or behind it the better it seems to be. i can legally carry 3.5 tons and stay under the 17500gvw. i'm sure the same can be said for the ford. i would try instead to think in terms of what would be the best gear ratio and look for a truck that fits your needs. for my needs the duramax/allison is hard to beat. as well as the 5:13 gear ratio.
good luck

[Gravel Rat]

Before you look at GM make sure you have a dealer that can work on a 4500-5500 truck. Most GM dealers can't work on them.

As for a choice between a 5500 or 550 it is up to you, I prefer Ford some guys like Ksss prefer Chev.

Keep in mind the 4500-5500 model trucks are not made anymore.

[tnmtn]

Any Chevy dealer that works on 3500 series trucks can work on the 4500's. it's funny cause the 5500 is the same truck but must go to a medium duty dealer.

[mflandscape]

Thanks for the input. I also need the truck to be pretty tough and have the capacity to be overloaded. The guys around here all have 550's, so it makes sense to get it, but when you look at specs and compare consumer reports the ford trucks get eaten up. Always have been a Ford guy and the trucks always hold up, but im willing to try something new

[TXNSLighting]

06 and 07 powerstrokes are quite awesome. Definitely better than the previous years. Fords can handle anything you can dish at them, they are very well built trucks. I cant say anything about the 5500's cuz ive never experienced one, but im sure theyre good. Its pointless to worry about fuel economy with these sizes of trucks. Try em both out, personally id go with the ford cuz theyre not as big, and just look cooler. Im not a fan of the van cab..

[srl28]

GMC/Chevy will no longer be making the 4500/5500 from all Ive heard. Injectors are near impossible to get now, as with many parts for that series truck. I have a chevy 4500, awesome truck, would buy another in a heartbeat but the talk Ive heard lately, (what i said above) is kinda making me shop around some

[Gravel Rat]

The GM dealer around here will barely work on a dually pickup. They are pretty much useless. The Ford dealer will work on pretty much any Ford truck they will work on a F-750 if they have to.

GM really needs to make the current 3500HD they have with 19.5 wheels and a 16-17,000lb gvw then they will have a good selling truck instead of the 12,000lb gvw and 17 inch wheels.

[slplow]

I would go for the gmc but my first choice would be a dodge 5500 . You can't beet the inline 6 .

[02DURAMAX]

Thanks for the input. I also need the truck to be pretty tough and have the capacity to be overloaded. The guys around here all have 550's, so it makes sense to get it, but when you look at specs and compare consumer reports the ford trucks get eaten up. Always have been a Ford guy and the trucks always hold up, but im willing to try something new

I would go GM..But thats me and about overload My 4500 has 26K almost daily! And a GVW w/trailer of 36K! and pulls it Great!

[Gravel Rat]

You still have to consider GM stopped building the 4500-5500 trucks what is going to happen with the parts etc.

Maybe in the USA it is different but here a regular GM dealer can't sell you a 4500 or 5500 truck same with working on it. It has to be bought and serviced at a "commercial truck" dealer. If I bought one would mean a 6 hour drive plus you have time waiting and maybe a hotel room.

No parts in stock everything has to be ordered through the commercial dealer and sent to you.

The nice thing about owning a Ford most parts from a F-250-350 fit 450-550 trucks except for driveline parts but many parts interchange. The 4500-5500 Chevy trucks different animal from P/U even engine parts are probably different.

The 4500-5500 trucks maybe a tougher truck but owning one will be no different than owning a commercial truck like a International etc.

Not many contractors here use 4500-5500 trucks. There is only one company that does they have 2 of them and everytime the trucks needs service etc its gone all day. Driver is being paid for a days work sitting.

[02DURAMAX]

You still have to consider GM stopped building the 4500-5500 trucks what is going to happen with the parts etc.

Maybe in the USA it is different but here a regular GM dealer can't sell you a 4500 or 5500 truck same with working on it. It has to be bought and serviced at a "commercial truck" dealer. If I bought one would mean a 6 hour drive plus you have time waiting and maybe a hotel room.

No parts in stock everything has to be ordered through the commercial dealer and sent to you.

The nice thing about owning a Ford most parts from a F-250-350 fit 450-550 trucks except for driveline parts but many parts interchange. The 4500-5500 Chevy trucks different animal from P/U even engine parts are probably different.

The 4500-5500 trucks maybe a tougher truck but owning one will be no different than owning a commercial truck like a International etc.

Not many contractors here use 4500-5500 trucks. There is only one company that does they have 2 of them and everytime the trucks needs service etc its gone all day. Driver is being paid for a days work sitting.

The engine is the same.

Down here I can get the parts at my regular deal.