Been wandering around and finally signed up and used the search feature. Very helpful, but would like to run this by you folks...

My 01 Dodge diesel had it at 125K about a year ago. Everything broke at once. Bought an econobox (yuck) and began pulling our little travel trailer (6K GVWR) with the wife's Hemi Durango (32 days in the shop in 21K miles due to typical Dodge quality). Pulls fine, but wheel base is borderline for the job in crosswinds or above 60mph.

Looking at ordering an F250 5.4L crewcab shortbed 4X4 (XLT w off road package not FX4) auto trans with 4.1 gears & LSD. Drive 18-22K miles per year, of which about 4-5K will be towing the trailer and about 5K will be back and forth to the lease loaded with hunting supplies of about 600-1000lbs (deer corn and stuff).

No ATV for me and my young son. So this will be my lease tranportation. The lease has OK dirt roads with some mud so I need decent off road performance. I will leave the truck at stock ride height, but will probably go to 285/70/17s MTs at first tire change and I'll let the V8 sing through a flowmaster after the warranty expires.

I don't want another diesel. MPG isn't a primary concern, but it would be nice to get about 13-14 in normal mixed driving and I understand the V10 isn't going to get me there and the V8 may not either.

From what I have gleaned from the site this looks to be about right combo. However, before I go an blow a chunk of money, does anybody see anything wrong with this? Am I making a big mistake here?

Found a dealer who said I could order at invoice, take off all incentives available at the time we close and get the Ford financing specials. April is Ford truck month so I need to be ordering in late Feb to early March with the reported 6-8 week build time. (If you think I can do better, let me know.)

 

What is so special about April? I'm thinking about ordering a new F350 real soon.

 

Round these parts (Texas) April is known as Truck Month. There's a big advertising campaign and they run specials very similar to what you get at the end of the model year.

It's been that way for years.

Now I can't tell you if the specials are any better than other parts of the US, but it's always been a good bet that April will have some type of special deal that exceeds that available in March and May during the good years.

The market has been so bad for big trucks lately they may just continue whatever they are doing this year, but if you are going to order a truck April is a decent month to aim for because they always have some deal that is being pushed. (At least in Texas.)

 

The 5.4 only gets 1 mpgs to 2 mpgs better at most then the 6.8. U will get better gas mileage loaded though with the v-10 over the 5.4

 

True. While the difference between 20 and 22 mpg is nothing to be concerned about about, down where we are talking it's appreciable.

If the v-10 averages 10-12 and the v-8 averages 11-14, that's over 10% lessfuel mileage letting the 'big dog' eat. For the first 100K, we are talking a savings of over 1,000 gallons or $3-5K @ $3 a gallon. While mileage isn't a primary concern I try not to burn money. $3k is a lot of shotgun shells.

With 4.10 gears, I doubt the truck will ever be loaded past 60% of it's GCWR. The v-8 shouldn't even be straining.

I really think I'm in that area of use where a 1/2 ton would work, but a 3/4 ton holds up much better and is safer. I've tried RV towing a light trailer with a 1/2 ton before. Truck started haveing problems at 75K and there was no emergency manueverability. The no emergency manueverability is right back to where we got towing with the Durango.

 

With 6K your kind of pushing it with a 1/2 ton from any manufacturer. I agree with the other posters these are really heavy trucks, and towing esecially the mileage you are talking that v8 is going to drink every a lot of gas pulling. I think some one like you should really look at the V10, the average unloaded is only 1-2mpg less, most say about 1 mpg, but when you start pulling the v8 really drops in gas mileage, because your not only pulling the trailer, but a heavy truck too. The 5.4 is great motor for dd and occasional towing, even heavy stuff, but it really likes the fuel due to the high rpms needed to pull. If you do any towing in the mountains you are really going to be kicking yourself for buying the v8, I would definatly look at the v10, the gas mileage comparably isn't that bad, espescially towing the kind of miles your planning to tow.

 

as a previous 5.4 owner, i would really have to recommend the v-10. while the 5.4 is a great motor, i personally think it is underpowered for superduty applications. towing a few thousand pounds every now and then is fine. but with a 6k trailer, fuel, people, and supplies (not to mention the obese weight of the truck alone), that 5.4 is going to be negating any fuel savings seen when driving unloaded. good luck with the purchase and let us know what you do.

 

If you are going with the V10, and only towing 6K, look at the 3.73 gears for slightly better mileage. I think for the non-diesel you can get them in limited slip (although in my experience stock LS is worthless).

 

Given your original post about total miles and hauling capacity you require, I stand behind the choice of the 5.4L 3V engines in the newer trucks with the 5R110.

No comparison to the '04 and previous V8 engines and 4R100 transmissions. The new tranny is great and I have not had a problem towing 7,500lbs. Gas mileage sucks when you tow no matter what, but for a daily driver 80% of the time, I am very happy with my v8.

By the way, I have the same configuration you are talking about in my truck.

 

I appreciate everyone's responses. I will continue to research and think about it before ordering, but right now I'm going to have to go with the v8 & 4.1 gears.

For a little clarificaiton:
Most of the towing occurs three weeks per year with occassional weekend trips and a long trip is 2K round trip with towing. Most are less than 1K round trip towing and the weekend trips are about 100 miles each way so 5,000 miles is a pretty busy camping year. The trailer is 6K gross vehicle weight rating, the unloaded weight is just over 4K. I always talk gross weight in the event I suddenly decide to take it over the normal camping load of about 4,600lbs. (I dream about that two solid week vacation.)

By the time this truck has 80K on it we are planning to be camping in a small v10 class C and pulling my (still a project) Jeep. The truck will be down to daily driving, hunting & fishing from that point until the wheels fall off. Obviously, that's if all goes well.

 

There is such a small difference in fuel mileage between the v8 and v10 so it really comes down to the type of person you are. I always try and get the most powerful drivetrain (gas) the truck is offered with. It is always much better to be happy with excess power than wish your truck had more. Some people don't mind doing the same work with less. The v10 will give you 62 more hp and 92 lb/ft more torque for what, 600.00? The mpg difference will not be enough to get past this fact.

It is your decision, but since you asked, I offer my humble opinion. The v10 is an awesome gas engine.

 

Can't add anything other than welcome back from the dark side.

 

i do something very similar to you and i have a very similar vehicle. except i have 3.73 gears..

i tow a camper thats GVWR is 6500lbs
i tow it from Kalispell, Montana to Westport, Washington at least once a year...thats easily almost 2k miles round trip over atleast 3 mtn passes ... loaded to the hilt 4 guys, gear, loaded camper.... the whole trip gas mileage average... was about 9.5mpg ....worst fill up was about 7 mpg best was almost 11mpg ... so it averages ... and im no light foot ... this is 65-75mph most the whole way ...

i also take a hunting trip once a year towing a smaller camper over into the windy plains of montana still over atleast 1 mtn pass, round trip of atleast 1500 miles ... last year i avg 11mpg worst fill up was 8.5 best was nearly 12.5....

i use my truck as a daily driver, i haul firewood, hay, building materials, with a 16' flatbed trailer .... not once did i think i didnt have enough power...

granted that i dont tow anything over 10k lbs as i have no need and thats were the diesel really shines...

13-14 in normal mixed driving is exactly what i get.

so in my opinion i think you are making a wise choice in your thorough way of thinking about your usage etc... and deffinitely agree with you.

btw i am at 22k miles in a year and a half ....with NO PROBLEMS

 

i have the older 2v with the 4 speed tranny and 4.10 gears. i tow 10,000lbs with out a problem. i have not had it in the mountains but i never thought that i needed more power. if i was to get a new truck i would prob. get the 5.4 again. i get 16 on straight highway and about 11 in the city. very reliable, just regular maint. and new front brakes. the newer trucks have the 5sp tranny and 40hp more. with what you are pulling you should have no problem at all.

 

I think you shouldn't rule out an F-150, 5.4. I had an '04 F-150 crew cab and pulled a 5500 lb 27' tt with it into the mountains (I also haul about 500 lbs worth of crap in the bed). The truck handled great and had plenty of power in the flat country. I traded it in for my SD because the 5.4 did gasp for air pulling up the passes. I also decided a F-250 was in order because of all the weight I was throwing in the back end.

The '04 and up F-150s tow better than any other 1/2 ton truck out there. Hell, mine did better than my buddie's '04 Dodge 2500 did. You would be surprised how well they actually do.

Yes, you will be pushing the comfortable limit when towing your TT, but it can handle it. And when you are hauling that 500-600 lbs around close, you will benefit from much better fuel mileage and ride comfort. My F-150 got 20 mpg highway empty, the SD gets 14-16. Pulling the trailer... the F-150 and SD are identical at 8 mpg (but more smiles with the v-10).

Happy hunting, I think you will be happy with any of these suggestions. These new Fords kick butt.

EDIT: I have found that the F-150 was much more capable off-road. Not tougher, but more capable. My only complaint was rocks tended to hit the a-arms on the independent front suspension. They did take the beating in stride without breakage though. Hands down, the F-150 was able to go more places than my F-250 can.