Ford F-450: The 10,000 Mile Review

In July 2023, I ordered a 2024 Ford F-450, slated to replace my 2021 F-350. In January, I got the call that the truck was at the dealership and ready to be picked up.

It's been seven months since delivery day, and I have hit 10,000 miles on the odometer.

The truck is a 2024 Ford F-450 Lariat Ultimate with a 6.7 High Output Powerstroke. I decided on the Ultimate package over bumping up to a Platinum because it got me the 'heads-up display' I wanted and still saved me about $5,000 on the truck's price. I regret that the Lariat doesn't have the option for projector LED headlights; instead, it has reflector LEDs. But that feature alone wasn't worth the $5k bump in price.

Why an F-450 over the F-350? I chose the 450 for a few reasons, but the primary one is the wide-track front end. The wide front end gives the truck excellent maneuverability. In addition, the 19.5-inch commercial truck wheels allow Ford to fit larger brakes.

People's primary complaint about the 450 is that it rides rough. The commercial tires don't provide much forgiveness for bumps. But I can't tell the difference between my 2021 F-350 and the 450 in day-to-day driving.

The high-output 6.7 Powerstroke pairs well with the 10-speed automatic transmission, which gives the truck more options for finding the right gear when pulling uphill. The 4.30 rear-end gearing provides the truck with plenty of grunt when rolling. That low gearing does hurt when it comes time to stop at the diesel pump. The truck gets around 15mpg when driving a mix of city and highway. Towing my 14,000-lb fifth wheel averages 10mpg.

The first truck I ever towed a camper with was a half-ton Chevy Silverado, and I got the whole "white-knuckle" experience towing in the mountains of Southern California. The 5th wheel doesn't come close to the truck's 36,000+ lb towing capacity. So, no white-knuckle towing.

The onboard truck scales are a nice feature for verifying the payload capacity when the trailer is hooked up (I still have about 1700 lbs of headroom). The air-conditioned seats make getting into the truck on super hot days bearable. And the heated steering wheel is nice on those super cold mornings.

It's not all sunshine and roses. Commercial-grade tires limit the number of places that can work on them. On a road trip to Denver, Colorado, I got a nail in a front tire. I ended up going to a truck stop service center because Discount Tire couldn't/wouldn't work on it. Ford also doesn't provide the F-450 with integrated TPMS, and I'm still researching after-market options.

Overall, I'm pleased with the truck. It's performed well and has already taken me on some fun trips.