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!
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The way I see it you have two options keep the $2000 and use it to offset the cost of fuel because nothing you do to the truck is going to net you any increases in mileage. Second option is the eco-boost or a diesel honestly if were me with the amount of weight you pull I would opt for the eco-boost. Just my opinion...

 

First of all, when you are towing a large trailer you are going to use a lot of gas. Nothing you can do about that.

Unless you were already planning on buying a new truck, just deal with what you have. The Ecoboost isn't going to get much better mileage when towing. The diesel will get better mileage, but the fuel is more expensive and you are looking at $45K+ just to buy the truck.

 

Towing = crap MPG period

 

I am getting over 7 mpg hauling bulldozers to GCVW over 30,000 lb.
Hard to beat diesel for the job.

 

It seems like this thread is popping up in several forums and there is no right or wrong answer. Certainly purchasing a different truck or even upgrading will cost more than the small gain that is likely to come in terms of mileage. Moving something with the wind resistance of a barn door though the air takes fule. If towing in this case is an infrequent event, I would not change a thing, as from a cost standpoint, I don't think there will be a pay-off.

If towing is an all the time proposition, I still doubt the saving fuel would be much, but then I think other factors come into play. I like the added heft of the chassis and the increased feeling of control that comes with a heavier tow vehicle.

Finally, if fuel cost is a red herring to justify a new truck or add-ons to the wife, for example, than all bets are off. Just enjoy the new truck of whichever type and just make up something about improved mileage.

Steve

 

With that smaller 5th wheel, you could probably do fine with the EcoBoost. But for sure you would do much better with the 6.7L. My 5th wheel comes in around 10,500 pounds, and I'm getting around 11mpg. That number could change some as I make my first long pull, but I don't think that much.

Second, think future. Are there any thoughts of upgrading to a bigger 5th wheel as well. If so, then you definitely need to think about the diesel.

 

But there is big margin for improvement. Big Sprinters can make over 20 mpg.

 

Absolutely agree, but most often the cost of the improvements will never be realized through the gain in increased mileage.

Steve

 

You'll never get your money back from fuel savings and chances are you won't see any improvement at all.

Pay the bill and be happy.

 

First let me say thanks to everyone who replyed to my post .
I gathered much good information here.
Sorry for posting this in a few different forums here but I'm
new to this and I didn't know if there was a better place to post
this to get the F150,superduty, ecoboost and diesel guys to respond
as I needed everyones input to make an educated decision.
Things I've learned here:
1. Diesel Guys Love Diesels!
2. SuperDuty guys love SuperDuties!
3. Ecoboost Guys love EcoBoosts!
4. We all love our Ford Trucks!
All kidding aside, I have gotten my answers that I need.
A SuperDuty Diesel would be the best platform to tow with.
For my situation an F150 with MAXTOW package and an ecoboost
(or probably even a 5.0) would work just fine but probably not
live as long or be as safe as the SuperDuty.
My current truck will also pull it as it has been doing.
No matter what upgrades I make to my truck I probably won't recoup the
cost in fuel savings.If I bought a new truck I probably won't recoup the
cost in fuel savings.
Even the guys who replied kinda crossly that I should just suck it up and
pay the bill have given me the knowledge that I can continue on doing just what
I have been doing and it will be OK.
I really love my truck but it's kinda rough on gas even when not towing and I was
thinking about upgrading for that reason.
all that being said I will sit down and do a budget and see if I can afford to move
up.( anyone want to buy a really nice 04 F150 SuperCrew?)
If not I will still be out on the highways and byways of America
this summer pulling my 5th wheel to where I want to go!
Thanks again for all the input and advice! (except for the guys on here compalining about
diesel problems and ecoboost problems and telling everyone to buy a Chevy. Isn't there a
Chevy forum out there for that?)

 

Okay Ben,

Now be honest. Did any of this really surprize you? I can give you a reason for everything I ever bought and everything I ever sold. Finally I figured out I didn't need a reason. I just wanted it!

Steve

 

Keep what you have. Take care of it and just buy the gas.

 

It all depends how much you use it. Last week my truck burned about $1500 worth of diesel. Would I have V10, that would add probably $500. Multiply that $500 by number of the weeks in the year than the number of years you will use the truck and the $6000 diesel option looks like small change.

 

Sure is but we just can't get them to leave and go to it.