Oh, I might add that I think the exhaust on the Chevy is stupid. Why not go all the way to the back with it??

Also I forgot to add that we both get about 10-11 MPG

 

My 5500 is an 05 it is a CC 4X4 and the gear ratios on these trucks is 5:19 across the board, no option.

It was a well done comparison. The interior on the GM is lacking. No where near the level of a 2500 or 3500 GM product (cant speak for the FORD). The ride is rough no doubt. The things that it does very well is pull a load. The truck is very stable at max. GVW. Its off road ability is also awesome. That may not be a big deal to some but out here it is. I personally don't mind the step up, guess I am used to it. I had my 5500 remapped and the exhaust redone and I get 15.8 at 60-65 unloaded. I prefer the exhaust to be short. It is out of the way where it is at and there is no reason to extend it to the back of the truck. GM or IH or whoever is going to be builiding these trucks has some improvements to make, although the truck may not be a home run hit, I think they loaded the bases with it. The next generation of these trucks should they fix the shortcomings would finish it out nicely.

 

SO you liike the ford i take it

 

The GM 4500-5500 trucks are very problematic around here you see lots of them on the used market because people are getting rid of them.

The rear axle in the Ford is a S110 series Dana your not going to bend that I don't know what GM uses.

The biggest draw back about a 4500 GM is its a DOT attracter how are you supposed to blend into traffic with a truck like that you can't. DOT is having a roadside inspection your caught right away. I don't know about you but being stopped by the DOT or CVSE in my case is a real pain in the azz.

Myself I'am sticking with a Ford you buy a F-450 or F-550 to haul heavier loads safely and not deal with the commercial truck B.S. . Soon as you get into a medium duty truck the CVSE can go through you one end and out the other.

Maybe the DOT in the USA is a little more easy on smaller trucks they are not here. Once your over the 12,000lb gvw mark your easy picking to be picked on. A brandnew truck the CVSE inspector will find something wrong. They are famous for the burned out dash lights and ripped seats on older trucks. Mud flaps that are too high off the ground. If your pulling a trailer with a gvw over 10,000lbs where is your trailer endorsment/CDL.

All I know is I have gotten away with loads that were boarderline legal because my truck looks like a regular P/U truck when mixed in traffic.

 

I have not heard of any having a lot problems with one. Like everything there might be a few out there. The engine, tranny are all proven components. There really isn't anything else to go wrong except electrical and brakes. I have been happy with mine. I had a few warranty issues but overall it does what I bought it to do. I wouldn't buy a vehicle based on how much attention DOT will give me. If you get stopped in a road side check it matters not what the truck looks like. Weigh stations are the same. If your pulling something you better stop. That stands if your in a 2500 or 5500. These trucks have been around long enough and there are enough around that DOT knows what they are rated for. Without a trailer my 5500 is 19500 and I don't get hassled. I think that DOT magnet thing is not based in reality.

 

no DOT issues here either. without bashing the F450-550 these med duty gm's are work trucks. the duramax/allison combo is much better documented than they were a few years ago. in my mind as close to a bulletproof combo as possible in recent years. the gearing on the 4x4 med duties is something at 5:13. the interior is definitly not up with the silverado 3500 i had but it isn't bad either. very easy to clean aand sweep out. this has been better for me this wet and snowy winter. i do have the air ride driivers seat and would suggest anyone looking at these to get it as well. empty the truck is rougher riding. not really a problem for me as mine is working and almost always has something in the bed to help the ride. what i like best is when i hook up and am towing. it seems the truck grins at that point. towing 12000# the ride smooths out, shifts smoother, and steers much easier than the 3500 did with the same load. another important thing is that it stops much better under load. so far i am loving the 4500 and would love to have a couple more. if the ford guys are happy with theirs then everyone is happy and no reason to argue.
good luck and good fair review,

 

One of the skid dealers I work with recently bought a used 4500 4x4(sharp truck!) It had 30K miles on it..3k miles later he had a tranny failure though and he found out just how EXPENSIVE Allisons are to work on...

 

I love my C4500!! Best work truck!

 

Good luck with the F450. Hopefully it won't treat you like my experience with Fords has treated me. I demoed a 04 F450 and with less then 27 miles on it the frame broke. I was not a happy camper. My main competition bought a pair of 05 F550 at the same time as I bought our 05 5500. All three get plows and salters in the winter, and pull the heavy loads in the rest of the year. Both the F550 are now on their 3rd set on trannys and have had the rear ends replaced at least once. He also said the hitch ripped right out of the frame with a trailer load that a 3/4 ton had hauled to the jobsite that morning. I have yet had to anything major to the Kodiak. Just because we often bid on the same jobs, doesn't mean we're not firends and so we talk. I find it funny how supposedly there are all these used GMC trucks on the market, yet whenever I do a search I find the Ford products outnumber the GMC at least 3 to 1

 

I did not start this thread to start a war. Both trucks have good and bad. Personally, the ford worked out for me and the chevy worked out for my buddy. I bought my ford from a dealer in my small town (2000 people) where I would have to travel 20 miles to get to a chevy dealer that can sell the 4500. My buddies wife works a chevy dealer so he has connections. The dealer and height of the trucks is what made up my mind.

I have 12000 on the ford with no problems.