Ford F450 Review: Pros, Cons, Upgrades and Mods

Ford F450 Review:

We’ve been extremely satisfied with our 2019 Ford F450. For towing 20,000 pounds on a full-time basis, having unlimited power, the low 4.30 gear ratio, a larger 48-gallon fuel tank, a long bed and bigger brakes make RVing a bit easier. But there are some drawbacks. The ride is a bit rigid and getting around town, grocery shopping, parking, etc. can be more challenging. This isn’t much of a problem while traveling, but those that would like to drive an F450 daily may grow tired of the size over time.

This is our 4th Ford truck over the past 5 years. Combined, we have driven 212,000 miles and have only changed the batteries, wipers, brakes and a fuel pump fuse. Our first F150 we drove to 175,000 miles. Ford has been a good truck to us so we have no reason to change. Our next truck will likely be a F250 with the 6.7L diesel engine. That was our favorite truck, but only suitable for towing travel trailers and smaller 5th wheels due to the low 2,000 pound payload capacity.

Truck Upgrades

B&W Companion 5th Wheel Hitch

The first decision we had to make was which 5th wheel hitch to use. Because we’re new to fifth wheels and Toy Ginger’s GVWR of 20,000 pounds, we elected to go with the B&W Companion hitch with the OEM puck system. This is what JD from Big Truck Big RV recommended and etrailer.com also thought it was the best option for us.

Pros & Cons: Now that we’ve been using the hitch for 5,000 miles, I love the sturdiness and simplicity of the hitch. There is ZERO play and connecting/disconnecting is a breeze. What are the drawbacks? If you’re not full-time RVing, you may not be willing to have a permanent fixture in the bed of your truck. If that is the case, you can look into the B&W Companion hitch that connects to the turnover ball or use a gooseneck hitch. Whichever hitch you decide to buy, be sure to check the weight ratings.

We have an affiliate link with etrailer.com. When it comes to big purchases for the truck and RV, we wanted to provide a resource that not only supports the KYD community but provides additional support and education.

WeatherTech no-drill mud flaps

Depending on your state, mud flap on dual wheel drive trucks are required, but regardless mudflaps are a good idea and the F450 looked naked without them. I wanted a streamlined factory look and the WeatherTech no-drill mud flap was the best option.

These mud flaps fit perfect using the existing holes and no drilling. Be sure to add your truck to the etrailer website and find the right pair.

BAKFlip MX4 Hard Tonneau Cover

The BAKFlip tonneau cover is one of my favorite upgrades. I was very eager to get it installed on the new truck. Not until we got a 5th wheel did we know about the drawback not being able to see the hitch (from over my shoulder) when backing up.

This makes the BAKFlip MX4 my favorite bed cover for a travel trailer, but probably wouldn’t get it again if I had a 5th wheel. Which says a lot because I really love these bed covers. The fact is, the 5th wheel cam just isn’t adiquite and more times than not is overexposed due to the angle of the sun. I’ll be doing some reserch on the best bed cover for 5th wheel towing and post to our etrailer.com page.

Airlift QuickShot Compressor System for Air Springs

As I mentioned in the video, the Ford F450 only squats a little even with a heavy load, but I wanted the truck and trailer to be perfectly level. I also wanted on-board air to make adding air to our 12 110 PSI tires easy.

I was very happy with the install that Max-Bilt did in Eau Claire, WI. The location of the air switch in the upper glove box is perfect. The only thing I’m not pleased with is the Schrader valve appose to a quick disconnect with my previous ViAir system. If you don’t have the need for on-board air, consider the ViAir pump which is small and highly effective for tires over 65 psi.

TST Tire Pressure Monitor System

The Ford F450 doesn’t come with a built-in TPMS system. We use the TST TPMS system from TST provided by TechnoRV. This system allows us to add all six tires on the RV and the truck and the tire pressure for each tire are displayed on a colar screen on our dash. As we drive, each tire rotates through on the screen. If there is a problem or the tire pressure falls below or exceeds the parameters I set, an alarm will sound.

This is by far the best TPMS system we’ve used and we’ve used them all. The cheap ones simply are not reliable and others are not easy to use. If you buy a TPMS system from TechnoRV, you’ll receive instructional videos on how to set up and install. They will also provide support should you have any issues.