Top Kick vs. F550

[BZ]

I have been looking at both, here is the question: It seems that the Top Kicks (Chevy) mostly come 4X2? Most of the F550's are 4X4. Anybody have expirence with either of these trucks, towing. Here is the question most of time the truck is only used to tow the boat 2,500 miles a year total on the truck. I have a F350 4X4 currently and it seems that I never use the 4X4, the truck sits most of the winter in Chicago....BZ


What would you guys buy???

[hillbilly24]

The Top Kick is a much bigger truck, not in capacity but in physical size. They realy aren't that comparable if you ask me. If you want something that still resembles a pickup defenitly go with the 550, if you want the big boy go with the top kick. I drive an F550 and love it, it is two wheel drive though. Just hit 80k and haven't had any major problems just some little things with the 6.0L PSD. It tows great, I think tow capacity is 17k and it's a real 17k, I've actually had about 35k on it towing on a pintle hitch with no trailer brakes, not the smartes thing in the world to run down the highway with but it did it with no problems. You could tell the weight was there for sure but I don't care what pickup you are driving your gonna feel 35k.

[44MTI]

I'm in the same spot except I was looking at a 4x4 chevy, They seem pretty available this yr. I was also looking a 3500 ford since they have raised their towing capacity so much.
Any info would be great.

[bobonthis]

Wow I am a chevy guy and have no idea what a Top Kick is?

[jordy]

The Top Kick would be the equivilent of the F-650 or a 6500HD if you wanted to get technical.

[yahoo]

I used a f550 to tow my race boat. It was awesome, go look at one, they are stout. It was a 4x4. My crew kept getting it stuck, if had not had 4x4 it probably would never have gotten stuck.

We never used a ramp so I cant speak for that.

They are slow, but will pull anything.

Check out the disk size on the rear, they are huge.

CM

[resurrected]

I had an '01 550 and pulled a 44' car trailer all over. The trailer was about 18000lbs. Put her in cruise control and just sit back and cruise.
How much weight and how far are you going to be haulin'?
The 550 could make a daily driver and the top kick will not. Just my opinion!

[coin]

love my f550, but without a load, I think it runs much too rough. In fact, anythin towing under 10k it feels like a semi, too rough for casual towing-but truely up for the task.

Ford all the way baby-they are stepping to the plate to regain market share and are handling most issues above board...watch out GM....FORD IS STEAMING THROUGH. Buy the way...check out FORD stock now...can only go up (or out) but far too invested in the future to go out. GM's has got some house keeping issues to address-too many legecy expenses coming up. IMO

[ZBODaytona]

I would compare the TopKick to a F650..but the 650 has a real industrial motor in it. I think the ratings are close on the 550 and topkick though. As for me I have a F350 with the TowBoss package, with that you get the same rating as the 450. With my old 350 I towed well over 20,000 with no problems (with nice trailer breaks of course).. The new truck has bigger breaks, lower gears, and a stronger motor. Though with the low gears miliage will be lower, but any of them will pull. I would think that if you were driving this truck a lot any one of the fords would be better. Like already stated above, the topkick is a big truck, so not sure if it would be fun to drive a lot.

As far as 4x4 goes. well the one time you really need it, it has paid for it's self. Well ok maybe by the second or third but you know what I mean. I don't think the option is that much more, and it doesn't seem to affect miliage that much. I wouldn't own one without 4x4.

[Baja240s]

I drive a 550 every day at work. It's got 187,400 miles on it and just went through the 1st transmission yesterday. It's slow but it feels like it will pull anything. Once work is done with it, I've talked to them about picking it up dirt cheap and making it my tow vehicle.