F-650 Opinions

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by Star4900, Apr 26, 2015.

  1. Star4900

    Star4900 Medium Load Member

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    Anyone here running an F-650? Wanting opinions on how they are, how they handle in winter, fuel mileage lightly loaded.
    Wondering how they would compare to an International Terrastar 4x4 for RV hauling.
     
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  3. truckon

    truckon Swamp Thing

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    What drive train are you looking at?
     
  4. Star4900

    Star4900 Medium Load Member

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    ISB 6.7 Cummins and Allison auto. Not sure what I think about the upcoming 2016's with Ford 6.7/Ford Trans.

    Still seeing too many issues with the 6.7's Powerstrokes in the new pickups to make me comfortable with them.

    I'm thinking I prefer the Terrastar as you can have 4x4 and still retain a low ride height. Just not sure if you really need 4x4 with a medium duty. It sure is nice to have in the one tons.
     
    rabbiporkchop Thanks this.
  5. truckon

    truckon Swamp Thing

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    What about MPG? Isn't that everything in RV hauling? How do the numbers compare to a one ton?
     
  6. Star4900

    Star4900 Medium Load Member

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    I know fuel mileage will be worse. Guys I know with medium duties with 6.7 Cummins are getting anywhere from 9 to 11 MPG but they are pulling wedge trailers. I was averaging 13 to 15 pulling but could get up to 21 empty with the pickup.
    But the pickups were horrible for reliability. Constantly replacing axle and pinion seals, tires and brakes wear fast, oil changes every two weeks and the filters cost more than what I pay for Cat filters, no sleeper berth, and around here auto dealers service rates and parts are more expensive than my big truck dealers.
    So I don't know if the lower service and parts costs and longer lasting components will equalize the expense? Plus a medium is wide enough to have a legal sleeper berth in a crew cab to make the log look good.
     
    truckon Thanks this.
  7. BaseTech

    BaseTech Bobtail Member

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    Mar 15, 2016
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    You do NOT want a Terrastar!!!! I purchased one for my company a little over a year ago brand new with an 18' supreme box. I told the sales people that I intended to haul a deckover with one of our excavators. Other than a noise resonating from the floor by the transmission the truck hauled my equipment easily for over a year. I became worried about the noise coming from the floor so I took the truck into Regional International here in New York and refused to take it back until they fixed the problem. The found that the driveline angle was incorrect from the factory, fixed it and got rid of the noise. When they gave it back to me there was now a significant loss of power, and it can't even go up the smallest of inclines on the highway without slowing to the point where I have to turn on the flashers. They've had the truck over a month and a half now scratching their heads because they can't figure out what they did to create this problem with my truck. Navistar and the international field rep told me today that "the truck is operating within acceptable range" and when confronted with the fact that their dealer created this problem, not me, they simply state "your keys are here, come and get it". These are the people you are trusting with your hard earned money!!! Real Nice fellas, you broke a perfectly good truck.
     
  8. Star4900

    Star4900 Medium Load Member

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    Well that's unfortunate, and apparently the norm today. I have the same problems with Ford and Western Star.
     
  9. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    The 6.7 Powerstroke/Ford transmission seems to be holding up pretty good on the F550 I'm running. I only run about 300km a day and the truck gets about 6 hours of idle time every day. No emission issues yet so far with 60,000 km on it. I'm only grossing about 16-17k lbs with it. I'm just not a fan of how Ford tries to cram their engines into such a tiny little engine compartment. Might not be as much an issue with a 650 and a real hood.
     
  10. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    According to the dash computer I get about 24-25L per 100 km (about 10 mpg, idle time included) with a gross weight of about 17k lbs. Rough math at the pump works out to be pretty close to the computer readout.
     
  11. mchlshltz

    mchlshltz Bobtail Member

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    I am also interested in hearing if anyone is using either the F650 or F750 for hauling flatbed trailers and if so is it a better choice over the 1 Ton Dually trucks. I am currently running a Dodge 3500 and I am considering moving up into the two ton trucks for the increased power and towing capacity. I do not see a lot of people on the roads using these two ton trucks and it makes me wonder if there is a reason for that, meaning are the two ton trucks overkill for hauling freight.
     
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