I have a 2004 F150 Super crew Lariet with a 5.4 in it. I began pulling a 27' lite 5th wheel with it and the truck pulls it ok. The problem is I'm getting 7.8 MPG when pulling it (mileage isn't good even when not pulling but this is tough!)
As I see it my options are to spend quite a bit of money upgrading the performance of my truck or buy a different one.
It currently has an AEM air intake on it and synthetic fluids in it, but that hasn't helped much.
As far as mods go I was thinking about a turner and tune from 5 star. An exhaust, maybe headers, and an electric fan conversion. probably looking at about $2000 in upgrades. truck has 48000 miles on it and is in great shape.
If I go new I have a couple of options here since my son is a mechanic at a Ford dealer and I get D plan pricing.
First would be a new F150 ecoboost just like mine but with Max trailer tow package.
Secound would be a leftover 2011 F250 6.7 crew cab Lariet they have.
Think the diesel is a little over kill but it's a really sweet truck!
My problem is I don't want to drop a load of money in mine and not get much of an increase, and like wise I don't wan't to spend all that money on something new and not see a nice increase either.
Any real world ideas or advice wouldd be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

 

With a tuner and the correct tunes for what you are towing you may be able to increase that to 10-11 MPG's. But you are pulling something big and non aerodynamic so don't except a miracle.

 

Save your money and trade up. You will never get much better fuel mileage towing with that truck. I know, I had one. I traded up to a 2009 F150. the 6 speed tranny makes a world of difference

 

thanks, I might be able to live with 10 or 11 towing but 5 star said more realistically 9.
I kinda was hoping someone on here had each of the trucks I was considering and could give me some insite how theirs does. Also was hoping some one could tell me what mods are worth doing and what not if I decide to go that route.
Curtw48: I suspect you are correct, that is why I am asking these questions. Thanks for your input. Nice rig you got , how heavy is the trailer? I know that 6 speed helps alot with fuel mileage.

 

There aren't many performance mods really worth doing when you are trying to gain gas mileage other then the tuner. The intake is most likely not helping you in the slightest. Maybe if you did headers, high flow cats, new muffler, and new pipes all the way back with the intake you might see 2 mpg's but that's a big maybe.


If you want to know more about the ecoboost f150 or the 250 I suggest popping into their forums as they would be able to help you a lot sooner then what someone would be able to around here. Have a thread going in each forums and then look over the results and more forward from there.

 

Thanks!
For both the help and the direction!

 

My rig is a 2011 OPen Range RF287RL that weighs 7700# dry, and around 9000 loaded for travel. I took a 2400 mile trip around Texas in September and got between 9 and 12 MPG, depending on terrain and wind.