The 5.4 in my experence is a great motor though.
Will a 6.0 work for me?
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From: Coal Country, ND
Will a 6.0 work for me?
Here's my dilema,
I need a new(er), larger truck. I currently have an 04 Toyota Tacoma, and have out grown it and need a bigger truck.
My choices are between a, 05-08 F150 SuperCrew, or a 05-06ish 250-350 with the 6.0.
I currently have a pop-up style camper, and I know that the Srew would pull that without any problems. But, I'm pretty sure that within 5 years me and the wife will buy a larger (possibly 5th wheel) camper. I know that the 150 would pull it but I know that at that point I'd be wishing that I'd have bought a diesel due to the better pulling power and fuel economy.
So my choice is easy you say "get the 6.0", well my problem with a diesel is that I'm afraid that I'd kill it with my 4 daily 3 mile jaunts to and from work. I see people that treat their diesel trucks like a taxi every day. I just don't want to drive a $30k truck to an early grave.
"Get a cheap bomber to drive to work", this would work but I couldn't stand to make $500+ a month payments to have a vehicle sit in the garage most of the time.
So do I go 6.0 SDuty or 5.4 SCrew?
I need a new(er), larger truck. I currently have an 04 Toyota Tacoma, and have out grown it and need a bigger truck.
My choices are between a, 05-08 F150 SuperCrew, or a 05-06ish 250-350 with the 6.0.
I currently have a pop-up style camper, and I know that the Srew would pull that without any problems. But, I'm pretty sure that within 5 years me and the wife will buy a larger (possibly 5th wheel) camper. I know that the 150 would pull it but I know that at that point I'd be wishing that I'd have bought a diesel due to the better pulling power and fuel economy.
So my choice is easy you say "get the 6.0", well my problem with a diesel is that I'm afraid that I'd kill it with my 4 daily 3 mile jaunts to and from work. I see people that treat their diesel trucks like a taxi every day. I just don't want to drive a $30k truck to an early grave.
"Get a cheap bomber to drive to work", this would work but I couldn't stand to make $500+ a month payments to have a vehicle sit in the garage most of the time.
So do I go 6.0 SDuty or 5.4 SCrew?
Last edited by unrulee; Sep 30, 2007 at 11:25 AM.
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From: Nothern Indiana
Well since you post that question in a 6.0 forum I think you know what the answer will be. 3 miles to work thats gotta be sweet but as long as you get it up to operating temps now and then you shouldn't have any more problems than the 5.4
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From: Coal Country, ND
firesoutmatt, I know that I'll be getting some biased replies. So I posted a similar post in the 04-08 150 folder. I know opinions are like, well you know, but I figure I can weigh the results from both posts myself.
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Unrulee the superduty 6.0 might be the way to go because you are thinking of a 5th wheel .I had a 94 f150 s cab 4x4 5.8 winsor with edelbrock heads smog headers and catback exhaust. had aflip pack shell and carpet kit .Baught a 21 ft bumper pull toybox . Truck was slow in hills and felt squrrley on downgrades .Truck at 6000 lbs trailer at 8400. went with a 04 f 350 cc 4x4 sb that pulls great and stopps better and doesent get pushed around.
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From: Washington
Hey Unrulee,
Why mess with it? If you went with a Supercrew, you'll regret it later. Besides, the Superduty will be "safer" to haul the fifth wheeler down the road. Not to mention, better resale value, longer life in a diesel, less wear and tear on your drivetrain when you're towing.
I saved the best for last, MO POWER!!!!!!!!!
Why mess with it? If you went with a Supercrew, you'll regret it later. Besides, the Superduty will be "safer" to haul the fifth wheeler down the road. Not to mention, better resale value, longer life in a diesel, less wear and tear on your drivetrain when you're towing.
I saved the best for last, MO POWER!!!!!!!!!
More Turbo
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Buy the F-150. You have no need for a 6.0. - The expense of repair and fuel will outweigh the occasional benifit you get pulling your (very) small load.
You are trying to justify this on a possible future purchase- that is bad planning because you seem uncertain about the prospects.
So take the money you save by not buying the 6.0 and put it the bank.
Of course, if you want a 6.0, you will buy one anyhow. But at least do so with the full knowledge that you are buying one becaue you want one, not because you have any use for one.
I suspect that you and your family would be better served by saving that money instead of giving it to FoMO finance.
-Mike
You are trying to justify this on a possible future purchase- that is bad planning because you seem uncertain about the prospects.
So take the money you save by not buying the 6.0 and put it the bank.
Of course, if you want a 6.0, you will buy one anyhow. But at least do so with the full knowledge that you are buying one becaue you want one, not because you have any use for one.
I suspect that you and your family would be better served by saving that money instead of giving it to FoMO finance.
-Mike
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From: Michigan
I went from a dodge 1500 hemi pulling our 33ft travel trailer getting 7-9 miles per gal to an 04 excursion with the 6.0 getting 12.5 and loving it when i tow. I'm getting better mileage around town with the 6.0 than i did with the hemi. Guys at work with 5th wheels would never go back to a gas engine.
Mike
Mike
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More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2006
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NO doubt- if you are pulling, it is the way to go. But keep in mind that the people who use these trucks hard seem to have the least problems. The motors seem to have issues (when they have them) when people either mod them too far or, never use them hard enough to keep the head temps up and the carbon cleaned out. This is not a perfect rule, but I see almost no turbo issues with trucks that are working and I see regular issues with trucks that idle around a lot and / or pull little / no load.
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From: Coal Country, ND
Originally Posted by IHbase
Buy the F-150. You have no need for a 6.0. - The expense of repair and fuel will outweigh the occasional benifit you get pulling your (very) small load.
You are trying to justify this on a possible future purchase- that is bad planning because you seem uncertain about the prospects. -Mike
You are trying to justify this on a possible future purchase- that is bad planning because you seem uncertain about the prospects. -Mike
Thanks for the input though, it's appretiated.
BTW my very light load at the moment weighs in at a little over 4k lbs, I know that that isn't alot, but for a pop up camper it is. People read "pop up" and imediatly assume light weight.
Last edited by unrulee; Sep 30, 2007 at 05:23 PM.
Lead Driver
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From: Foothills, CA
Well a middle-ground could be a late model SD with the 5.4 and torqshift...? We have the 5.4 in our Expy and it works very hard pulling the horses around, but still it gets the job done, and I think it's a fine motor. I think the short trips are considered hard use on any motor, but if you really want to "step up" and get the 6.0, get one built after Jan '06 or so. That's when the upgraded turbo went in, which was one of the main things folks seemed to complain about with low use 6.0s, that the turbos prematurely failed due to carbon build-up or rust (lot rot). Sometime in Dec. '05 production they started using a turbo with machined in extra clearance, and turbo failures have been few and far between since.
We still will keep the Expy for the short tows and grocery runs, but the wife does occasionally mention maybe an '05 Excursion w/ a 6.0 would be fine by her...
We still will keep the Expy for the short tows and grocery runs, but the wife does occasionally mention maybe an '05 Excursion w/ a 6.0 would be fine by her...
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If your only pulling 4000lbs go with the 6.8L v10 the its the way to go there thousands cheaper maintenance is alot less like oil changes and up keep. also gas is cheaper and i got around 11 to 12 highway before the SC, The F150 probly wouldn't be the best choise, I had one and dont really think its to safe for pulling a fith wheel also, But the ride in an F150 is like a cadillac compared to a F250 or 350, the 5.4 and 6.8L v10 are both nice moter but the v10 is were its at, This is only my opinion though.
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From: Huntington Indiana
The way I did this question years ago. Make a list of things you are doing with the current vehicle. Then make another list of things you would like to do in the next 5 years. (camping, etc.) Then figure out what vehicle you would be comfortable in for the next 5 years doing what the second list and the first list combined has on it.
One thing on diesels. Use a good quality fuel and oil changes do at 5K and you'll be just fine. Just once in awhile drive it on the freeway.
One thing on diesels. Use a good quality fuel and oil changes do at 5K and you'll be just fine. Just once in awhile drive it on the freeway.
