New old guy

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 20, 2006 | 08:22 AM

Purplesage

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 10

Likes: 0

New old guy

I found this site while trying to learn about chipping my 2004 F150. I am very old school and haven't worked on cars much since electronics took over. My disappointment in my trucks performance pulling a trailer is what started my interest. I was disappointed in the trucks performance in three ways: first the motor worked awefully hard (4000 rpm or more) going up even small hills; second it didn't shift as quickly as I thought it should when the hill ended and third the fuel consumption was terrible. I selected a trailer that was well below the advertised towing capacity so I think it should have been different. My son tells me I need to chip it (and more) but I don't want to make any mistakes since I love the truck in every other way. Thanks in advance - Jon

Dec 20, 2006 | 10:13 AM

Fomoko1

Moderator

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 97,491

Likes: 1,998

From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Welcome, glad to have you on board. I`m old skool too, electronics are not my thing so it`s great to have FTE for advice and help. I hope the chip helps but doesn`t affect your warranty if it still applies.

Dec 20, 2006 | 10:34 AM

empirestacktesting

New User

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

I run both a 2005 F350 SD diesel and a 1997 F250 HD 460.
Both are crew cabs, and I generally like them both.
The 250 has ~250K miles and was replaced with the 350 specifically for towing our 8K lb trailer. W/out the trailer the 250 gets ~12 mpg, BUT onlt ~5 with the trailer. The only way to generate HP is for the big 460 to increase its rpm from 2500 to 4000, and let watch the gas guage drop.

Dec 20, 2006 | 10:41 AM

Fomoko1

Moderator

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 97,491

Likes: 1,998

From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Welcome empirestacktesting, glad to have you on board.

Dec 20, 2006 | 11:13 AM

Purplesage

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 10

Likes: 0

new old guy

I have been reading a lot since posting and for the moment think I will start with the exhaust and see how much that helps. I will probably still ended up chipping it but I know better flow will help so it just makes sense to me to go with something I understand. I will keep reading though and watching any input from you all. Thanks again

Dec 20, 2006 | 08:20 PM

bigredtruckmi

Lead Driver

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 7,782

Likes: 221

From: Huntington Indiana

One question. Have you taken your trailer to a scale to see what it really weighs. Our 30' trailer was listed at 6500 # but after the wife got done loading everything she really needed it weighed in at a whopping 9900#(she likes heavy dishes etc). This is why we went to the diesel.

Dec 20, 2006 | 08:43 PM

Purplesage

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 10

Likes: 0

Trailer weight

I actually went down that road. I didn't take the trailer to a scale but I tried towing without any water in any of the tanks and basically no personal effects on board. Still the same experience.

It is possible the truck is doing fine and I am just not experienced enough (lived in Alaska where we boated not trailer camped) but I just don't like the motor having to work that hard for extended periods. A number of people tried to get me to buy a diesel but I had a bad experience with one many years ago and was trying to avoid a repeat performance (maybe not one of my better decisions).

Thanks for the reply though - Jon