I need a truck that can carry 5 passengers; 4x4 in sand & mud; atleast a 6.5' bed; pull my small boat and hopefully gets double digit fuel mileage..

I'm torn between:

F250SD CC w/ 5.4 (Pros: Better gas mileage than V10 Con: Less power to pull through Sand/Mud)

F250 CC W/ PSD (Pros: Better gas mileage than V10, plenty of power Cons: $$$ Maintenance, heavy as heck)

F150 CC (Pros: Good gas mileage Con: Can't live w/ 5.5' bed)

Has anyone been there & done that?? Last truck I bought (Toyota Taco) I skimped on options and now wish I had gone a different route..

Thanks,

Russ

 

Russ,

I have been researching for months and can provide what I have learned, but this is only my opinions and thoughts, there will be others..

I researched gas first and was definitley leaning toward gas, there is a gas station everywhere and I've always had gas engines, so after warranty I can do some work on them and not have to worry about finding diesel fuel. When researching the gas it only took about 5 days to exclude the V-8, the mileage is just not that much better than the V-10 and I've always been use to having plenty of power. There are plenty of threads on MPGs for V-8 adn V-10, but my thoughts were for the 3-5 mpgs I would rather have the additional power. I never heard a V-10 owner complaining about not having enough power. I think the V-10 is a solid choice.

Now with that said I continued to do the research and looked into the PSD. I am eligible for the A-plan, so the PSD would not cost me the $5,000 additional, it would still be thousands additional, but not $5000. The factors I weighed that swayed me to the PSD were:
1. 5yr/100,000 mile warranty on the engine.
2. Better mpgs but this didn't weigh much because it is a truck and I just don't expect to get great mpgs
3. Longitivity, I plan on keeping the truck 8-10 years.
4. Resale should I decide I needed to sale the truck.
I don't pull anything right now so I didn't need the additional horsepower or torque, but I just wanted the diesel after driving it.

My suggestion is if you can drive both, the V10 and diesel and then sit on it for a few weeks to think about both, I almost ordered the V10 but glad I waited and thought it through and changed my mind.

I also could not deal with a smaller bed so the F-150 was never a consideration. The V10 is a strong proven motor, it may not get the best mpgs but talk to the V10 guys, there's just something about owning and driving a V10. The PSD has a lot of strenghts also and in my case that is what I chose. You can email me if you have more questions as I have thought this through for about 7 months before I actually placed my order...erich

 

You've brought up some really valid points.. I'd love to get the Diesel, but except for the slight increase in MPG & increased warranty, I can not completely justify it..

For MPG, I could get by w/ the 4.6 or 5.4 as each is bigger than what I now own. I'm a little concerned about getting stuck in the soft stuff, loaded down w/ the heavier truck & not having the power to pull through it. I may be wrong, but I haven't seen a 250 CC 4X4 w/ 5.4 on any lot in San Diego.

Thanks for the food for thought.. Gives me a great reason to drive both

Russ

 

I would recomend the crew cab with the v-10. My regular cab has plenty of get up and go eith the 5.4, but with 5 guys and the additional weight of the crew cab I would say definatley get the v-10! Also you will do better than single digits on the open road wit either motor. From my experience they both get about the same mpg. A guy I work with has the 10 in his Excursion and he gets 11-13 mpg, that is the same as I get with my 5.4 reg cab!

 

I've been leaning the same way (V10) but a voice in the back of my head says that if I go that big, just get the Diesel..

Thanks,

Russ

 

I did the pro's and con's like deacjrt did and went with the diesel. I can now tow, pull, drag whatever I want. I've always bought just enough of a truck to get by with my towing/hauling requirments and wished I had went with a little more. know I have a truck that will meet my needs and I have no regrets.


2004 PSD XLT 4X4 SC

 

FordRuss,

I too am struggling with similar issues.

FWIW there is reliable word that a 6.5' bed will be made available on the F-150 Screw soon. If you can wait you may want to. Also there's rumor that a 3v v-10 is coming for the SD maybe next year and will get better but not much better mileage.

 

I have an F250 V10 AT Crew Cab SB (actually 6.75') 4x4 w/4.30 gears.

I use it for my daily work commute (30 miles 1 way, semi-heavy traffic, hilly in sections). Durning this commute I get between 10.5 & 12.5 mpg.

If I did it all over again, I would get the same setup I have now.

 

I traded a 2001 F150 5.4 CC for the 2003 F250 CC PSD. But I tow a good size boat and a 4wd Farm Tractor with implements. I also commute 25 miles one way to work, and this is my daily driver. The mileage was a big issue for me, as was the towing ability, but I put about 20,000 miles/yr on my vehicles and the longer warranty and expected life of the diesel were the final deal maker.

 

i dont know where you got the 5 foot bed on the 150. i had an 01 150 s/c the bed is 6'10" 5.4l trition v8. just bought an 04 6.0l r/c now if i where you i would'nt worry about the 250 diesil bieng to heavy and not getting you in and out of whatever you want.. as for mileage i get almost the same in new truck 1000 miles as the 150. i put 70000 on it and i can tell you right now i love my new truck much better. one other thing if you do decide to get the 150 make damn sure it does'nt have a vibration at about 35-45 mph. alot of them did dont know about newer ones.

 

what size tires are you running?

 

Go for the PSD. I wake up every morning and enjoy every minute I spend in my truck. I haven't looked back yet.

 

Curently running 265/75/16 BFG All-Terrains.....

When they are spent, I'm going to 295/75/16 BFG All-Terrains.

 

I have a 03 250 5.4L SD CC with the 6.75" bed. I plow with it. I have it loaded with bark mulch, loam, trees, sand, kids, groceries and some other things that I wonder how they got there. It has plenty of power for me. I get 13 MPG no matter what I do. I can fit 4 adults and 2 car seats. I wouldn't do the PSD. I cannot rationalize the cost/savings. As some one already said. There is always a gas station around the next corner. Diesel?

 

I would buy a c/c with a v-10 4.10 gears that would last a long time. I will not go with 3.73 gears again the only plus about the 3.73 is better mileage. We are getting 16 mpg with our 04 F250 4x4 super duty 6spd 3.73. Great truck but I do not like the higher gears. I think you be happy with a V-10 c/c It should last longer than a super crew.

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88 F250 300 six 5spd 4x2 pickup

99 F250 5.4 auto rack dump 4x2 4.10

00 F350 7.3 power stoke 4x4 6 spd rack body 4.10

04 F250 5.4 6spd 4x4 reg cab pickup 3.73