I want my 250 back! I traded my '01 F-250 7.3 Diesel for my present '05 F-150 FX4 and I am now regretting it. I told myself when I traded that I was ready for something that rides better and the 150 definately does that but it sucks when it comes to towing. I have a 16ft tandem axle trailer that I use to tow my John Deere garden tractor, 4 foot yard box and Honda Rubicon ATV to some property I have to maintian the yard. I can't believe the lack of power this thing has for towing. Maybe I am used to the diesel but this isn't going to work. I keep telling myself that I'm not towing alot but everytime I do it really bugs me. Since I am venting let me add the hatred for this transmission setup that Ford is using. Why in the world did they decide to cut the power in half when you try to lock the tranny in any gear besides drive or overdrive. Try pulling a load up a steep grade and then be prepared for the tranny shifting from 2nd to 3rd constantly. Oh yeah, I can't forget about this drive by wire setup!! Ok, I feel a little better...nah, nevermind I still feel crappy!!! Now to give the truck some praise, I do like the looks and the ride/comfort but the above issues need to be addressed.

Thanks for letting me vent!!

 

What motor, gear, tire size? How about the same specs for the 250? Trying to compare a gasser to a diesel will never come close. Diesels flat out tow. A gasser will definately work harder than a diesel to move the same weight.

 

By the way, your diesel was fly by wire throttle also.

 

RSJohns2,

I feel your pain. I recently traded my 03 F350 CC V10 on an 05 Supercrew, 5.4, 3.73. My thinking was that I would gain mileage, manuverability and a better ride. I also don't really tow anything real heavy. Snowmobile trailers and a boat (3500lbs). Well after a month, I am fairly convinced that I will not buy another F150. Don't get me wrong. The F150s are very nice trucks.
The ride is fabulous and the manuverability is so much better than the F350. Mileage is another thing. So far, I'm not getting any better mileage with the F150 than I did with the V10(12-13mpg). The biggest disappointment is towing. If you are thinking that you can't compare an F350 to an F150? Well, that is exactly my point. There is absolutely no comparison in the two trucks when it comes to towing. The F150 is lousy in comparison. I realize some of you will flame me for that comment, but unless you have owned both, you probably don't realize the difference.


Will my next truck be another F150? At this point, I doubt it.

 

I know how you feel. I traded my 03 F250 7.3 for a 04 F150 5.4 SC. I figured that I would save some money and I didn't tow all that often anyways. The F150 is a real nice truck but is no way near capable of comfortably towing any type of load. I know that some will disagree with me but it is nothing like towing with a Super Duty. I think that I am going to solve that today and trade for a 05 Super Duty 6.0. The only kicker in the whole equation is the money. That is where the F150 is really nice. Although I cant believe the lousy mileage that these trucks get. 12-13 mix town and rural driving. That is really discouraging.

 

Once you pull a trailer with a Diesel, your ruined for life! The F150 will do most anything you ask of it. you don't get the comfey feeling you get with the diesel. I herd the term "Wag the Dog" used here. The F250/350 excells in towing. And they are bigger dogs. As far as driving down the highway. If your 250/350 has proper tire pressure, not (Max pressure) the ride is about the same. Fuel milage is also about the same. I have a pair of FX4's in my driveway. 05, F150 and a 04, F250. both drive 10 miles back roads 10 miles highway monday thru Friday. Too bad it's not in the same direction or I could cut my fuel cost in half! the wife and her 150 avg 15Mpg. me and the 250 avg 16mpg.

 

I also have a F250 PSD hence the handle but recently traded my 99' 5.4 F150 for 05' 5.4 F150 and there is a huge difference between the two 150's both in power and towing. The 99 wins hands down....the ride on the new one pleases my grandma..I think I'll give it to her. It certainly has a hard time with my little 19' Ranger boat...Don't even try to pass another vehicle while towing unless you've got plenty of time and open road.

Do the programmers compensate for this?

 

The programmers make a big difference. It will make the truck run how it should have out of the factory. It will get rid of the annoying throttle hesitation and basically improve the driveability but the mileage still sucks.

 

Hmmm. I guess somebody forgot to tell me my truck wouldn't pull my 25' travel trailer very well and I wouldn't be able to pass anything. I just went ahead and did it and it pulls the trailer easily, I can pass whenever I want and my fuel mileage matches what it said on the window sticker. It's also the only regular cab truck I could find that I can carry my groceries and luggage inside the cab without taking up passenger seating. Super Duties are for serious work and not for towing the toys we have been discussing.

 

PSD was your 99 5.4 stock?I have drove a 03screw with stock 5.4 and there was no comparison between it and the new 5.4.The new 5.4 smoked it,I find your statement hard to believe.

 

My 99 was bone stock and was significantly stronger than my current 05' 5.4. After pulling my boat to the lake the other day, I was like 300 hp and 365 lbs of tq my rear end!! Very sluggish and almost got myself killed trying to pass a car that was going 45, my 99 would have blown around the car..

Maybe I have a weak 5.4 in the new truck, but I've read a lot of other post that concur on it's lack of *****.

 

I am not sure what truck you people are driving but my 04 f150 5.4 3.73 LS has no problem pulling my 3000 lb plus boat from San Diego to the river by Yuma which is up over the mountains and through the dessert. I even have to back out of the throttle coming up the grade from the dessert floor to above 4000 ft to get around some of the sharp turns. I am totally happy with this trucks towing. Blows the doors off my previous 01 f150.

 

I think there are alot of programming issues with some of these trucks out of the factory. Before putting the programmer on my 05 FX4 Screw the acceleration was terrible and it was inconsistent. Sometimes it ran ok and other times it made noise but flat wouldn't run. It was to the point that I thought I had an injector problem or a clogged fuel filter (at 3000 miles) but the programmer made it go away. I have 3.73 gears and 35" tires (I didn't run the programmer with stock tires) and I bet it is close to a second quicker 0-60 than it was in stock form. Even with the big tires it pulls a trailer alot better now.

 

Adrnlsh, which programmer? superchip? if so, which setting and octane level? I've really hope I can fix the truck and make it run comperable to my other truck. Mine also has 3.73 gears, but I'm running the stock lariat 18" wheels and Goodyear ATS tires that came on it. I want to remain on regular (87 octane) gas. Other than the power, it's the perfect truck...rides and hadles great.. I didn't realize how loud my PSD was until riding in this thing.

It's also my first Black vehicle, I hear they're hard to keep clean, but it looked too nice to pass up sitting on the showroom floor where I bought it.

 

You need a programmer to really enjoy this truck. I use a Superchips on 87 octaine. There is a slight power increase, but that is not as important as firming the shifts and raising the shift points. Just isn't the same truck.
You might also go for a Catback system. Those two things give you the most bang for your buck on these trucks. I exclude gears as there may be legal problems with that, depending on where you live. Also, gears cost more than a tuner and exhaust.

Chris