F450 review in May issue of Trailer Life

hitchup · 04-22-2006, 09:45 AM

Just got through reading the review in TL of the F450. Tow rating with the AccuBuilt bed is 21,300 lbs for a 5th wheel & 17,000 lbs for conventional pull behind. Great article, but since we're looking at the C4500, it didn't help us much. We've come to prefer GM products, but can't seem to find the 5th wheel tow rating anywhere. Have looked on other forums, Escapees & RVnet & no luck there either.

When we bought our 05 C3500, we had an easy time finding the tow rating for it. But for the 06's, even the TL tow guide doesn't go higher than 1-ton. Yet, they list F450/550's.

Anyone able to point me in the right direction? Can't locate a MDT dealer in VA to talk to. Haven't tried car dealer, yet. Our experience last year was the 2005 brochure was printed incorrectly & had to get information off the GM site on the internet. This year no luck finding online. Are there any Chev/GM owners out there that can steer us to correct site?

Funny though: they paired the F450 with a 36' Dutchmen Denali. They represented the Denali as a rig that could be "turned into a cozy full-timer" unit. Think I'll stick with my ES.

hitchup · 04-23-2006, 09:09 AM

Went to Camping World in Manassas yesterday to pick up a few things. Lucky us, we went right by a Chev Truck dealer that had a few of the C4500's in stock. The Navy Blue was a head turner with the Monroe bed. Looked like a Monster truck compared to our 3500. Sat in the front seat. Oh so soft. So we got our questions answered.

Just not sure how many parking places we would take up at WalMart.

Motor31 · 04-23-2006, 09:55 AM

FWIW we take up 2 spaces at wallyworld. We fit between the lines and use 2 spaces end to end. We also park at the far end of the lot to avoid crowded areas. We don't find it tiresome to do a little walking and don't need to park as close to the door as we can.

CampingCaptain · 04-23-2006, 10:09 AM

hitchup,

What kind of numbers did they give you about towing capabilities, etc. for the C4500? Did you get any numbers for the C5500?

MDTdriver · 04-25-2006, 10:41 PM

CampingCaptain: Hope to see you in 2007 in Wi.

We have been very happy with our 4700 International it hit 63,000 miles

Larry & Kathy

Joezilla · 04-25-2006, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hitchup

Went to Camping World in Manassas yesterday to pick up a few things. Lucky us, we went right by a Chev Truck dealer that had a few of the C4500's in stock. The Navy Blue was a head turner with the Monroe bed. Looked like a Monster truck compared to our 3500. Sat in the front seat. Oh so soft. So we got our questions answered.

Just not sure how many parking places we would take up at WalMart.

Hitchup,

What was the sticker price on the C4500?

Joe

hitchup · 04-26-2006, 09:48 AM

No sticker price on any we looked at. He quoted us well under $60k, but I wasn't listening since it was raining & was trying to corral our granddaughter. Yesterday, DH found a 2005 GMC C4500 CrewCb w/trk body that was a tradein at an RV dealer in MD. Ad was in AutoLocator mag. Only had 900 mi, but it was already sold. $52,995 was ad price. Couple had bought C4500 & 5th wheel. Drove it short while & traded for a class A. Somebody got a deal on that one!
Am not sure we aren't leaning towards the Freightliner. Did research on Allison transmissions & FL has larger (3000) one. 4500 is 1000, 3500 is only 300.
Campingcapt informed me new Elite Suites are already running @ 20,000lbs. (ours is 18,500) So when we had posed "what if we pulled a 20-22k" ? to salesman, he said we would be over GCWR because of high weight of C4500. Also, another ? asked was will the 4500 change for 2007. SM said no. But since all 2500/3500's etc will, our 05 will lose even more value. Bummer.
Oh: C4500 was a 5500 with a 4500 label. Costs too much to retool line. Don't know if that's standard or just on the 05 we looked at.

CampingCaptain · 04-26-2006, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDTdriver

Hope to see you in 2007 in Wi. CampingCaptain. Larry & Kathy

We're still planning on our cross-country trip starting late May 2007.

hitchup · 04-27-2006, 10:43 AM

Browsing on Ebay: found a 2004 GMC 4500 Topkick w/truck style body located in Ohio. Buy it now price: $39,900. Am not sure if I can add the link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2004-...QQcmdZViewItem

There are others, but it seems 4500's are only a Cls 5 truck: 16,001 - 19,500.

04-28-2006, 10:43 AM

Quote--
"We have been very happy with our 4700 International it hit 63,000 miles 2 months ago and getting 11 to 13 mpg pulling our 5er total wt. just under 32,000."

11 to 13 mpg pulling---If you believe that , I have another fishing story for you!!!

CampingCaptain · 04-28-2006, 01:20 PM

So, what do you really get while towing?

MDTdriver · 04-28-2006, 10:12 PM

I drive 55 to 58 in every state we go thru.

Larry & Kathy

CampingCaptain · 04-28-2006, 10:22 PM

LOL! Sorry Larry. I didn't even realize that Lee was making a poor attempt at quoting your post. I actually thought he was saying that about his truck.

MDTdriver · 04-29-2006, 06:00 PM

About MY Mileage
(SOHF)
My (MMMV) and (YMMV) AND EVERYONE'S (YMMV ALSO)
It (VWETF)
It (VWEHTC)
(IMHO) (YMMVATT)

Message Board Shorthand(BEG)[size=18]

CampingCaptain · 04-30-2006, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDTdriver

About MY Mileage
(SOHF)
My (MMMV) and (YMMV) AND EVERYONE'S (YMMV ALSO)
It (VWETF)
It (VWEHTC)
(IMHO) (YMMVATT)

Message Board Shorthand(BEG)[size=18]

???????????????????????????

04-30-2006, 12:21 PM

ME thinks that we stepped on mdts tender toes!!

MDTdriver · 05-02-2006, 11:18 PM

Hi CampingCaptaint
I down loaded 5 page from a another site for (Message Board Shorthand) posting.
And I had a bad day so it was for someone who complained about my mileage post. If they can not read it it does not matter.
Have a good week.

Larry & Kathy on the road to Wi.