Well I finally found several 4500/5500 on a lot today. As I totally suspected the entire design of frame has followed the 3500 chassis cab model. Just heavier. The model that I drove was a 5500 2 dr. 2wd. As I expected this truck is a brick. You feel absolutly every worm in the road. Don't dispare, once you put a bed of anykind on it it should tame the ride a little. THIS IS NOT A DAILY DRIVER, THIS IS NOT A PART TIME RVer dream truck. Unless you are towing a rig of any kind with over 16-18k GVW - do not buy this truck. A new 3500 will do you fine. For you drivers that are going to have over 4500 pin load this is the truck for you. If you are under 4000 do not buy this truck. This truck will beat your RV to pieces. Trust me now not after you have already ruined your 5er. This truck has awsome brakes and springs, if you are towing much greater than what we pions are towing this is a truck for the 30-40k incrowd. Remember one thing, this truck is the size of a 3500- it has heavier frame, etc. but is still the size of a pickup truck. Due to the mear size of a Ford 650 or Chevy 5500 (bigger body, etc) a large load will be handled by a larger truck better. I think a DC 5500 will handle the 30-40k but I think that 30-40k will still man handle you more than it will a Ford 650 size truck. Just my thoughts. If I had a 37-42 foot widebody 5er I might consider one of the brutes. The truck handled the 4.88s well but I would either swap the 225s for 245s (taller) or I would purchase the 4.44s...
umm... its slightly bigger than a 3500. and the fact that you can buy them much longer than a 3500... well that will smooth some of the ride out. the fact that a F650 or kodiak 6500 is yet another step up.. thats apples to oranges... you are right when you say once a bed is put on it will be nicer as well. a perfect truck would be a 5500 4x4 with bags vice springs. then you can haul the big loads with a nice ride. my guess is building a bag system for the 4500/5500 would NOT be hard at all. i would think that 245's and 4.44's would be the best option for most people. my 4.10 and 265/70/19.5's handled 20k just fine. i want to drive one of the sterlings sitting down the road from me, but have not had time yet.
When I mentioned the size I was referring to cab size and look of the rig. The length of this truck today helped none in the ride. Being unloaded it was a brick. I expected that. The 650 and 550s are reasonibly the same size compaired to the 5500 DC.
