Now, now, meanie. Are you just trying to live up to your handle? No one dissed the gas motors. In fact, just the opposite. We all know the diesel is not right for everyone.

You don't need to feel bad. There is no shame in not being able to afford the diesel. That must be the issue since dollars and cents are the only thing you spoke of. For some, money is not the only factor.

BTW, nothing you said should get you banned here. Why not come on back. I dare you.

Bill

 

You've never tried a 3V 5.4L for towing.

Your 1999 V-10 makes 310 HP. My 2007 V-8 makes 300 HP.

 

Guys,
Pete's original question was what engine to get for towing a car trailer + car and some snow plowing.
He's not pulling 25,000 lbs and doesn't need an F450 with an oil burner.
He just wants to get his car down to Florida so he can relax on the beach (I'm assuming that part).
Heck, a 2008 F150 w/5.4L could do that. We should be recommending something to him that he "needs", not something that he doesn't. That's why he came here for advice, otherwise all trucks would have diesel engines.
It's sort of like, "I need to rent a plane to travel 200 miles. I think I'll get a 747 because it has more power and will carry my golf clubs without me noticing that they're there". YES, it will work, but no, it's not needed to do the job.

 

There is a night and day difference between towing with an F-150 and an F-250, even with the same engine and differential gearing.

In addition to the extra weight of the F-250 to help you muscle around the trailer, the lower 1st gear of the 5R110W (3.09 vs. 2.71) helps to get things rolling easier.

 

Thanks everyone for all of the inputs. I really appreciate it. One thing I didn't think to consider was the difference in the tranny in the 250 vs the 150. Does anyone know off hand whether the overdrive gear is higher in the '08 F250 vs the '00 F150. The biggest beef I have with the F150 I have is that the overdrive gear with the rear end I have just doesn't allow me to pull a light closed trailer (6 x 10 with perhaps 2500 pounds) up and down the hills of New England without constantly shifting so I have to disable the OD and the mileage goes to about 8. I wish I knew what the rear end in it is (the truck is in NH and I am in FL so I don't have access to the VIN) I suspect it is pretty high (3.73 or lower ratio), maybe 3.55's.

Initial cost is not the biggest concern I have, but long term running cost, especially fuel and maint. I tend to keep my trucks about 10 years. During bad weather in NE, I use it as a daily driver, but have other toys I drive in good weather...Of course they are not real fuel efficient either...

Again, thant for all the inputs. Sounds like the 5.4 will do the job. I suspect I may want to consider the 4.10 rear end since I plan to get the crew cab. Can I assume the fuel economy unloaded at highway speeds (55 - 65 where I live) will follow the rear end ratio pretty closely?

 

most reports on different differential gears has been same if not better gas mileage with the ford modulars. unless your changing the gear immensily it will not worsen the mpg. 4.10 will leave you with 13-15 unloaded id say.

 

Read the V10 forum and the 6.4 forums too, it'll probably be insightful. Superduty_08 has better mileage than most, and I see from his posts it's gone up between the first and second posts . Post your driving habits in those forums too, and I think you'll see people respond that the diesel needs to be driven, not as a daily driver, but as something you're going to be hauling with in order to make it worthwhile. Where I live diesel has been 15 - 20% higher in price for a long time, summer or winter. The V10 is a $600 option and the diesel is closer to $6800. There are a lot of other things to consider (annual cost to maintain). Really, try the other forums and see what the owners are saying (it *seems* you get a lot of non-owners talking about the other rig in the SD forum).

 

I'm wondering with the guys that have the new 6.4s, have they completely broken in yet...I am not familier with these, just that I'd heard it takes a while before they complete break in and begin getting better milage. I've also heard this about gassers from a guy who owned a Chevy big gasser and said he started getting a little bit better milage. Curious if the milage will go up any with the 6.4. I love my truck and am getting 17 around town and over 20 hwy

 

See my sig, I had a 2v F350 5.4 with 4.10.
I think you would be happy with a 3v 5.4 with more HP, the 5r110 and F250 for pulling. My 2000 worked very well. In fact, I would rather it than my dads F350 dually with deck with a 4000 and 4 speed manual. The 300 hp I had versus 215 the 400 was SUPPOSED to have. The 5.4 is a good motor.

Now, all that being said, I love my diesel and just for Meanie's information:
- diesel here is same as gas, I pay 4.50 per gallon in canada, it used to be a buck a gallon cheaper
- oil and filter changes are not a big deal, not yet had to change early, I buy good fuel.
- pulling my RV vs the 5.4 I had or a v10 which I have driven but never owned, PRICELESS.
- I have never lost a days(not even an hour) pulling for repair, only ever done regular maintenance.
- I change my oil and fuel filters, if the dealer does I provide the filters from IH.
- I use expensive synthetic oil, cause I like my truck
- my mileage is atleast 2 mpg better in city and probably 5 mpg better empty and probably 2 - 3 better pulling the trailer than my 5.4 without ever pulling the trailer (had a camper).
- I would say at 100k I will have paid for the 6.0 JUST in FUEL costs over my old truck, course going from a XLT to a Lariat will take another 100k, the tranny will take a few more but hey, its my favourite truck for sure.
- buy what you like and can afford, enjoy it.

 

i will put in my 2 cents.

I have had all, F150, old F250 with IDI diesel, 99 Superduty with powerstroke, and now a 06 F250 with v10.

Now, remember, I am NOT counting fuel costs here, nor am I counting payments-

MY overall maintenance cost on my 88 F250 was $3500 in 12 months. This was just repairs and oil changes.

My overall maintenance cost on my 99 F250 was $8000 in 12 months. Again, this was just repairs, oil changes, filters, etc.

I have had my 06 since december, I have $90 in maintenance in 3 months. I changed the oil twice.

Sure, I have sat on the fence for a long time, I loved my diesels and I would love to have another one, but I am now speaking economics. ( I am not talking about what I can afford to do, I am talking about what makes most sence to do, I am just plain sick of hearing about money spending pissing matches, there is too much more to life than seeing who can spend the most money)
My v10 does take more fuel per mile than my diesels. That is simple math. But, the point I like is I can just turn the key and go. I no longer have warm up time, cool off time, etc. Just get in and go. I no longer have $100 oil changes, I no longer have to hunt for a station that sells diesel fuel, I no longer have to make sure I have my block heater plugged in (how much $ is spent in electricity at 750 watts for the heater). I no longer have to buy additives, the list goes on.

Now, I just put in more gas than I used to. I recently had a long trip with a trailer and a maybe 4500 lb load, and averaged 13 mpg for the entire trip. Not bad for a gas hog v10. The diesel that I had would have only got 13. In fact, the guy that bought it is complaining that he is only getting 13 empty. Probly winter blend, but still, he pays a premium for his fuel.

I am just stating facts, not wanting to start a pissing match. If I were given a chance to redo my actions, I probly would have gotton another 7.3, but I would not have bought such a new high-dollar truck. I found several 00-02 diesels around here for around $10k. Much better that what I paid for my v10 truck. For $15,000 savings, I could buy a lot of diesel fuel and filters.

here I sit, on the fence..... still dont know which way to go...... I really miss my diesel, but simple economics say stay with the gas motor.

 

They both have a 0.71 final drive, as I recall.

The Super Duty transmission doesn't have an OD lockout. Instead it has a button marked TOW/HAUL. When in TOW/Haul mode the shift points change on the transmission, both for upshifts and downshifts, assisting you in accelerating and deccelerating when you have a load.

The best way to tow with the Torqshift transmission (with any of the engines) is to place the transmission in T/H mode and just let it do what it wants to do. It takes a little while to get comfortable with this, especially if you've ever towed with a 460 or a 454. It'll seem like a lot of shifting is going on and that the engine is revving kind of high, but it's doing what it is supposed to do and you just need to let it work.

 

If I were in texas I would only need the 5.4. Since I live in hilly vermont even the diesels have issues on the hills never mind my little 5.4...But I make do cause its all I have. I can pull anything on the flat.


Dick

 

Check again, I have only posted my fuel milage once in this thread. You must be confusing me with "08SUPERDUTY". I have owned a 1990 bronco with a 300 I6 (GREAT MOTOR), '97 F150 SC 4X4 5.4L, 2003 F250 CC, 4X4 5.4L, AND 2008 F350 CC 4X4, 6.4L. I have towed cabin cruiser boats, travel trailers with the first 3 trucks. But towing the same with my 6.4l and escpecially my fifth wheel camper, makes it a dream to drive. I am not hear to start a war either about diesels. This is my first, and I love it. I only had to put my 2003 in the shop once for repairs in 36000 miles before trading it in. It was a good truck, but I just needed something to pull 10k pounds through the mountains with little strain.

 

Hi "redford", Thanks for the inputs. I'm curious where you live / what type of terrain you tow through. I'm leaning towards the 5.4 probably with 4.10 rearend. The diesel would be nice, but finding fuel where I live in rural NH and dealing with low temp issues that might arise, I'm thinking I might be better off with gas.

 

My apologies for the misquote.