We have a E450 here, I believe it is a 2011 model. Still has the 6.0 Powerstroke, but we havent had any problems. The ride is awesome with the 450 chassis, thats what your going to need if your looking for a smoother ride.
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2008 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins -- Boss 9'2" V XT / Snow-Ex 1075
2002 GMC 2500HD Duramax -- Boss 9' Super Duty / Snow-Ex 1075
2000 Dodge Ram 2500 -- Boss 8' Super Duty / Daniels 8' Rear Plow
2005 Chevrolet 2500HD Duramax -- Boss 9'2 V XT / Boss TGS 1100
To the other question about diesel being required i believe it was because of engine fires with carburaters. Fuel injection has eliminated that issue.
To the op i would say any gas engine is going to be cheaper to maintain and will be more reliable than any new diesel. Ryan Brothers ambulance in Madison WI has been running E-450 with v-10s very succesfully...
Dodge uses larger brakes, makes the same power but at a lower rpm, overhaul intervals are 100k longer than gm of Ford, standard exhaust brake. That all I can say for the Dodge, I know very little about the Fords. I do know the Ford diesel has something like 60% more moving parts.
Whats it cost to delete all this stuff? I would like to get a newer one but all the emissions stuff has pushed me away.
About $1,000 in parts/tuner and your warranty on a new $50,000 truck. Sad thing is, diesels were never meant to have all this crappy emissions stuff and they run a million times better without it.
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Originally Posted by NBI Lawn
The 4500/5500 Dodges have def.
Dodge uses larger brakes, makes the same power but at a lower rpm, overhaul intervals are 100k longer than gm of Ford, standard exhaust brake. That all I can say for the Dodge, I know very little about the Fords. I do know the Ford diesel has something like 60% more moving parts.
Correct, and it also uses a 6 speed AISIN Tranny with PTO, completely different front axle than the 2500/3500's, Cummins motor runs at full power even when DEF Fluid is low, tighter turning circle than the Ford, blah blah its all on their websites.
At the end of the day, either will be a great truck. On a commercial scale like an Ambulance, I'd trust the simplicity of the Cummins over Fords new Diesel though.
They seem to be catching on in my area. Boston EMS is using them as well as some other Departments locally. My department runs the bigger International's (4200's I think) and they have held up decent. We used to run the E-450's (7.3 liters) and they sucked. The engines were fine but we would destroy front end parts and transmissions at an alarming rate.
It appears the Terrastar is their to compete in the old GMC/Chevy 4500/5000 and current F450 and F550/Dodge 4500 and 5500 market. I suggest calling some departments that are running them. Your ambo dealer should have a list of recently sold units you could reference.
here locally they run 4x4 ford f-550s mostly diesels but i've been seeing more V10s. they have been running the super dutys since '99. some of the older ones i've seen were E series ford vans converted to 4x4. around here a 2wd ambulance would not make it too far in the winter.
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1991 Ford f-250 Reg Cab/LB 4x4 5.0 Auto 66k painted "Manderian Copper"
2001 BOSS 7'6" str8 blade with custom wings
2002 Ford Excursion Limited V10 4x4 - 122k daily driver
1998 Ford Expedition XLT 5.4 4x4 - mostly stock 87k
1998 Ford Explorer XLT 5.0 4x4 - 147k
I know nothing about ambulances but how about a sprinter ? I've seen more and more poping up with AMR. The only down side I would think is going from a fl60 (I'm guessing a larger box style) to a sprinter would be room but I don't know your dept requirements
Check out the Dodges. NYC-EMS has gone to them, and so far people like them. I work there so I ve driven them, although Im still regularly in a Ford. I think so far they are good. Time will tell, NYC beats up its ambulances...
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