What would you keep 4x4 7.3 Box Truck or C4500 2wd Ambulance?

Deshet

Adventurer
The box truck looks similar to the one attached but it is a 2000 7.3 F450 4x4 150,000. This one is setup for towing and is a little more rough. It has 1 side door and no windows but I can stand up in it.
The ambulance is 2008 2wd C4500 with 230,000 miles.
 

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CaptainBuilt

Well-known member
I'm curious too on what your plans are. What's the price difference?

You could have some serious fun with a decent lift and tires with the 4x4.
 

Deshet

Adventurer
The ambulance is a 6.6 Duramax it runs great. I will be picking up the F450 and the 70 series in the next couple of weeks. I should know more about them then.

I tow a lot. The heaviest thing is my 16,000 boat. I only move it out of the water for bad storms.

I mostly Tow 5-10,000 pounds the majority of the time. Small boats or utility trailers

I am not concerned about the weight at all.

The F450 has 19.5 rims most of the tires in that size are built for wear vs off-road traction. The tires on my 2wd F550 limo have the best tread pattern I have seen for a 19.5 tire but they aren’t aggressive at all. The F450 would be used in the sand and forest roads nothing major. I really like the heavy towing stability provided by a dually, I may consider a super single but probably not.

Thanks

Thanks
 
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Deshet

Adventurer
I updated the pictures to show the actual truck. You can see that the tires have more of a highway truck tread.
The F450 is a 7.3 XLT (Power, Windows, Locks, Cruise, with the 6 Speed Man transmission and a shift level for the transfer case versus the vacuum knob system.

The ambulance is like a Cadillac. Air Ride Suspension and air seat with every option even keyless entry for all exterior cabinets.
 

Raul

Adventurer
The F450 is a 7.3 XLT (Power, Windows, Locks, Cruise, with the 6 Speed Man transmission and a shift level for the transfer case versus the vacuum knob system.

The ambulance is like a Cadillac. Air Ride Suspension and air seat with every option even keyless entry for all exterior cabinets.

Tough call. The 4x4 manual transmission combo really got me salivating, but the ambulance box is most likely better build (roll over test) and the pass through is a must for me. Is there a 4x4 version of the C4500 that you can retrofit?
 

Deshet

Adventurer
some of the C4500s came with 4x4 but I can't see my self spending that kind of money. I have found a few parts trucks for a fair price but shipping and rust is usually the issue. Best case my parts costs would be 5-10k and I don't have the skills to complete such a job and could see it being at least a $15,000-$20,000 for something turn-key.

At the end of the day I would not fill comfortable doing much more then service roads anyway based on the size and girth of the C4500. I have two LMTVs if I need to do more then service roads. I plan to get rid of at least one of the LMTVs shortly.

Being 100% honest my Landcruisers are too nice for anything that they capable of doing. I still park in the back of a parking lot as far away from everyone else as possible in a 1999 and will do the same with the BJ74 FRP when it arrives.

I would probably rock crawl a POS jeep but I can't beat on something nice.






.
 
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Bikersmurf

Expedition Leader
How is the box truck to drive?

If it’s anything like the F350 4X4 crew cab extended cab I drove for about an hour, I’d be ditching it in a hurry... an hour was too long... it wouldn’t turn and the ride was horrible,

It sounds like the Ambulance is nice to drive... I’d go with the one that towed and drove better. I’d sure be hoping it was also the one that had s box on the back that’s practically a bombshelter vs the thin noisy one.
 

FDM2012

Adventurer
The thing about 4x4, is that you don't need it. Until you NEED it. With that XF6 and 4 Low in the TC, you can pull a 26,000
boat out of the water.

I am a 7.3 fan boy, so,,,,,,,,,,,

I did most of my NAVY schooling there in Va. Beach. #GoodMemories
 
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cjken

Explorer
The thing about 4x4, is that you don't need it. Until you NEED it. With that XF6 and 4 Low in the TC, you can pull a 26,000
boat out of the water.

I am a 7.3 fan boy, so,,,,,,,,,,,

I did most of my NAVY schooling there in Va. Beach. #GoodMemories

What’s your 7.3 PSD vs 6.6 DMAX opinion??
I love my mini-mod, but the C4500 4x4 with a short ambo box seems like it would be pretty sweet.
 

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