2000 F450 7.3L w/less than 200k miles

[LarryH50]

Hello,

This is my first experience asking questions here - I've learned a lot from "lurking."

I'm looking at a 2000 F450 Crew Cab to pull my 5th wheel. This truck came from the factory as cab and chassis. It does not have a bed. I'm not fussy about using a flat steel bed, or a pick-up bed, but I think I've heard that a standard pick-up bed won't fit without modifications. Anyone have any info to suggest what I might look into for a bed? Any estimated cost?

Also, this truck is a 6 speed manual. Did Ford use a ZF in these trucks? Where might I find a good spec sheet for the 2000 F450?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Thank you,
Larry H50

[BIGBILL105 45]

Trans would be a ZF6.

[Dietoremain]

ZF6 is a great trans you will love it, and yes a normal bed wont fit, in 08 they came out with a f450 with a bed, i bet that one could be made to fit easier but im sure the frame will need modified in some way.. either way it'd be neat to see a bed on one.

[LarryH50]

Thanks for the answers. Sounds like the ZF is a good trans. Back in 97 I had a new 97 F350 Crew cab Dually, 7.3 with Auto trans. Even though I added dual coolers, I always worried about the trans when towing my heavy 5th wheel.

I'll probably just go with a steel flat bed that has storage boxes attached. Less $$$$.

[kitchene]

I'm actually looking for a bed for my 550 now. I'm going to get a dually bed and then a junkyard bed and extend the dually bed to fit lengthwise if I need to. Other than that the mounts and this should be easy.

Don't expect much more than 10 or 11 mpg towing with that pig. It's got 4.88 gears that are your biggest hurdle with that truck. I'm going to regear mine when I can, and then i'm going to put the axle over the front spings to drop it down a bit. Thats another bummer, all the air you get under the truck killing aerodynamics.