Ahh ok , a former GM er 
THANK YOU...
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
That truck had some cajones' too! Rode like a lumber wagon but man would it tow. I had 15K behind it one time and it handled it like a champ. Truth be known that I started off with a 78 F-150 2wd with a 302 and 4 speed. It was painted by the previous owner with a paint brush and marine primer. Then I bought a 78 F-150 4wd stepside that I still have. After that I got a Pontiac Grand am to go to college with, then a 2000 F-150, then the 01 GMC 2500, then a Ford focus to go to more college,then the 08 F-150 now the 11 F-250 which is my first brand new 0 miles vehicle. I've always been a Ford man even in high school when it was a big battle and all my friends were Chevy fans. Ford's struggle thru the past few years without government help just solidified my like of them more as a company. Now only if I could get them to hire me at the testing facility I would be all set and REALLY like em 
I'll dream on.
I'll dream on.
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 318
Likes: 2
From: Hanford, Cali
Get in line, bro, you've got LOTS of company on this one! ;-)
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 859
Likes: 10
From: North Carolina
Just in case anyone is wondering, I'm at 446 miles right now and the gas light has not come on yet. This is with the 87 econ tune and driving from PA to NC with about 1000lbs in the bed. Don't quite know what that translates into for milages numbers, but I'm happy with it.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Just in case anyone is wondering, I'm at 446 miles right now and the gas light has not come on yet. This is with the 87 econ tune and driving from PA to NC with about 1000lbs in the bed. Don't quite know what that translates into for milages numbers, but I'm happy with it.
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 318
Likes: 2
From: Hanford, Cali
If all he has is 1000# in the bed and not towing anything, I would NOT be happy with 12.7mpg, unless he's doing 80+mph or something like that. I would hope that he has about 6 gal. still in the tank, which would give him about 15mpg. Not great, but still better than 12.7mpg
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 859
Likes: 10
From: North Carolina
If all he has is 1000# in the bed and not towing anything, I would NOT be happy with 12.7mpg, unless he's doing 80+mph or something like that. I would hope that he has about 6 gal. still in the tank, which would give him about 15mpg. Not great, but still better than 12.7mpg
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 2
From: Austin, TX USA
I agree.. I tend to go 79 mph a lot of the time and I am happy with 15 mpg.. In the city though my 3.73's suck big time...
I would still like to "try" 4:30's for about 6 months & compare/contrast ..
with the 6speed & 2 gears above 1:1 I think that the lower gears are the ticket on these things -- one note - I got a size or 2 bigger tires - effectively lowering the gears.. so I am probably driving 3.55 or something..
I would still like to "try" 4:30's for about 6 months & compare/contrast ..
with the 6speed & 2 gears above 1:1 I think that the lower gears are the ticket on these things -- one note - I got a size or 2 bigger tires - effectively lowering the gears.. so I am probably driving 3.55 or something..
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 318
Likes: 2
From: Hanford, Cali
Gas light came on around 460 miles, lie-o-meter said 35 miles until empty. Average speed for this tank of gas is between 60 and 70 MPH. I would never expect milage better than this on a truck that is so heavy and with such a big engine. Also, I tend not to lollygag taking on ramps. I see no reason to disappointed with these results, love this truck.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 859
Likes: 10
From: North Carolina
I just figured it out, and if it said you had 35 miles til "roadside rest time", I kinda guessed you used about 33 of the 35 gal., and that gave you a hair under 14 mpg. And being you drive like I do, probably not that bad. I hope I didn't sound like I came down a bit hard in my last post. Some times my "honesty" gets my rear in the ol' sling....
We're good, you didn't do anything bad. I bought a huge truck with a big V8 engine, I have no unrealistic expectations as to what kind of milage it can and should get. I'm sure one could squeeze more out of this particular truck, and I don't drive like a mad man but 0-60 in 2 miles isn't my thing either, plus I tend to use the manual shift mode around town all the time. I would guess that NOT being in 6th gear at 35 MPH like ford wants you to can suck the gas a little bit quicker too. So anyway, there's some real numbers, from a real world trip, with a little bit of hauling, by an average driving kinda guy.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
Likes: 18
From: Gilbert
I agree.. I tend to go 79 mph a lot of the time and I am happy with 15 mpg.. In the city though my 3.73's suck big time...
I would still like to "try" 4:30's for about 6 months & compare/contrast ..
with the 6speed & 2 gears above 1:1 I think that the lower gears are the ticket on these things -- one note - I got a size or 2 bigger tires - effectively lowering the gears.. so I am probably driving 3.55 or something..
I would still like to "try" 4:30's for about 6 months & compare/contrast ..
with the 6speed & 2 gears above 1:1 I think that the lower gears are the ticket on these things -- one note - I got a size or 2 bigger tires - effectively lowering the gears.. so I am probably driving 3.55 or something..
With my 4.30's, I'm getting about 10mpg's right now (mostly city driving), seems to get a little better with every tank (rotten winter blend!). I should take a video at various speeds and time how long it takes to get from say 0-60, 30-50, 40-70, etc. May give others some idea of the difference in the gearing.
I'll put it on the to do list. Gotta go order some air bags now, gonna get a pig of a 5er behind this truck in the spring...
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 2
From: Austin, TX USA
Did you recalibrate for the larger tires? Just curious if your mileage numbers are hand calc'ed or from the lie-o-meter. Even hand calc'ed may be off if the tires are off by much.
With my 4.30's, I'm getting about 10mpg's right now (mostly city driving), seems to get a little better with every tank (rotten winter blend!). I should take a video at various speeds and time how long it takes to get from say 0-60, 30-50, 40-70, etc. May give others some idea of the difference in the gearing.
I'll put it on the to do list. Gotta go order some air bags now, gonna get a pig of a 5er behind this truck in the spring...
With my 4.30's, I'm getting about 10mpg's right now (mostly city driving), seems to get a little better with every tank (rotten winter blend!). I should take a video at various speeds and time how long it takes to get from say 0-60, 30-50, 40-70, etc. May give others some idea of the difference in the gearing.
I'll put it on the to do list. Gotta go order some air bags now, gonna get a pig of a 5er behind this truck in the spring...
I have kept a spreadsheet with mileage, gallons for every tank - then I calculate overall mileage (since truck was new) and per tank mileage. I can really see the difference (on paper) the difference in long highway trips, city, pasture, headwinds, hill country vs flat land, etc...
It appears that my setup tends to knock about 1-2 mpg off the typical truck. I have larger/heavier tires, Pipe bumpers front & back, toolbox with tools/gear in it all the time. I would guess I have increased the weight 800-1000 lbs. & that takes it's toll...
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 5,326
Likes: 18
From: Gilbert
You've definitely been doing your homework.
Forgot you had the ranch hand on there, like you said, coupled with the larger tires and 3.73's, your mileage will suffer somewhat. I'm on the search for another bumper, popped the truck into a snow hidden 2' tall concrete post last weekend makin' a beer run, put a nice ding on the pass. side corner. I should convince the wife I need a ranch hand, perfect anti-deer mechanism.
Too bad switchin' gears isn't cheap and easy, I wouldn't mind the 3.73's at times...
Forgot you had the ranch hand on there, like you said, coupled with the larger tires and 3.73's, your mileage will suffer somewhat. I'm on the search for another bumper, popped the truck into a snow hidden 2' tall concrete post last weekend makin' a beer run, put a nice ding on the pass. side corner. I should convince the wife I need a ranch hand, perfect anti-deer mechanism.
Too bad switchin' gears isn't cheap and easy, I wouldn't mind the 3.73's at times...
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 2
From: Austin, TX USA
Yea I run in deer/hog country all the time. I was scared driving the new truck before I put pipe on it. Usually I weld them up myself - this year I started one - but got busy & wasn't happy with the way it was looking so went & bought a ranch hand..
It's plenty good - but I prefer my own setup...
I still would kindof like to know how the ranch hand would stand up to one of the "Smart" cars!
It's plenty good - but I prefer my own setup...
I still would kindof like to know how the ranch hand would stand up to one of the "Smart" cars!