Ok Andy, thanks for the tip on the towing in OD. But if anybody wants to trade with some cash on my part, I would look into that... Unfortunately your in CA and we are in SC, to far to stop by and make a deal.....
By the way I put a picture of the beast in this thread, it is in really good shape for nearly a twenty year old truck...

Don

 

This maybe out there a little but if you're wanting to get a little more top end out of your truck and can give up the slightest bit of pulling power then you could put taller tires on it. From the pic it looks like your running the stock size. A 285/75/16 is the equivalent to a 33" tire, fit well with stock wheels and isn't much wider that what you have (read rolling resistance). I was able to fit full size 35s on my 350 with a bit of bumper trimming and offset wheels. The weight and rolling resistance of tires like mine would probably match the gain of the lower RPMs. You won't gain much but it's something to think about.

But like most folks have told you. Your truck was set up for towing and offroading. Gas mileage wasn't a major consideration when they designed your truck. I wish that I had your 4.10s instead of my 3.55s but I use my truck a little differently. Once I retire my truck from daily driving duty I'm planning on swapping 4.56s (MPGs be damned).

One thing you could think about is a v10 powered Super Duty. With gas prices the way they are the gas SDs are going for a lot less than the oil burners and there are deals to be had. Now from owning one of these trucks (a 01 reg cab F350) I will tell you that you will miss your 460. The V10 isn't a bad motor and will more than pull the weight. It will do it at a higher RPM though. A matter of fact I tell everybody interested in these trucks to hold out for one with 4.30s installed. Even with those gears it should get better mileage than a 460.

 

Yes I had thought of that too, right now the tires are 235/85/R16 and the speedo runs about 3% higher than it is actually going. (reads 60 but really 57).
When I have to get new tires then I should think about that as well. Unfortunately there is still a bunch of tread on them....

Don

 

Well just thought I would add my two cents. The trucks with the 460's in them most commonly had 410 gearing. The best way to approach this for fuel economy would be to switch to a 308 gear. Your gas mileage could possibly jump up to 15 mpg. Also the 460 is torqey enough to run this gear and still give you plenty of pulling power. This gear will also give you lower rpms on the interstate. Which means better mpg on trips as well. If I were you I would find me a 3.08 f250 rear end out of a boneyard somewere. They will probably charge you around 100 dollars for it, and its a piece of cake to swap in. Hope this was all helpfull.

 

I wonder how hard it would be to find 3.08 gears for a Sterling much less a reverse rotation 60--I know they made them for the 60 but I'd still think they’d be hard to come by. Remember the OP is pulling 11000lbs (5.5 TONS!). He needs all the torque he can get, especially if he ever attacks any big hills.

 

Yah! big hills really mess up my day, coming into and out of the Nantahala forest in the Smokys in NC the other day was traumatic.... Some places it was 2nd gear at 3000 rpms and the motorcycle guys behind me were not happy!!... Fortunately it is really scenic there so we couldn't complain too much. My wife never asked me to slow down and see the view!!! HA

 

true true. But he can only have one or the other. lol monstrous torque and crappy gas mileage. Or intermediate torque and decent mileage.