I'm new to this forum and I'm hoping I can get some feedback from uses to help me make a decision on a new truck.

I currently have an '00 F150, 4.6L, 4WD and have about 120K on. Nice truck, very few problems. I'm looking to trade up to 3/4 ton this spring, but not sure the best way to go. I'd be looking for a crew cab, 4WD, Here is what I will use it for:

- limited snow plowing - just my own yard in NH for the 1-2 months there before we head south
- In the winter I plan to haul a second vehicle (sedan or corvette) on a trailer to Florida and back for the 2 months we are down there and I wouldn't dare to try it with the F150 with the 4.6L
- Most of the time I will be just driving it around unloaded, so gas/fuel mileage is of some concern when it's not loaded

Any thoughts on whether the 5.4L would be adequate in a crew cab for plowing and hauling?
Should I consider the V10 or Diesel, and if so what type of fuel mileage should I expect when driving it empty.

Thanks for any inputs.

Pete

 

Well having had a '97 F150with the 5.4l , I upgraded to a 2003 F250 cc 4x4 with the 5.4l. That was a great truck. I bought it brand new and it did the trick. How ever, when I really started using the truck for heavier towing, I just hated putting the strain on the motor. Lesson learned....BIG TRUCK=BIGGER MOTOR. Now I have a 2008 F350 CC 4x4 6.4L that hauls anything I throw at it. The milage is ok, as you will find with other 6.4 owenrs. I would probably say to stay away from the v-10. Not good for the highway milage towing, Go with the diesel and you will not regret it. the 6.4 can definitley handle the long run to florida.

 

What mileage are you seeing when driving unloaded?

 

Where the heck's redford when you need him?

Welcome to FTE. The diesel guys will tell you to get a diesel, the V-10 guys will tell you to get a V-10. We have some members here (redford is one) who often tows with his 2007 5.4. He, or one of the others can probably give you the information you're looking for. The new diesels are getting worse fuel economy than they used to because of increased HP & the addition of EPA mandated emissions controls. Depending on your driving habits, the new diesel will probably get around the same mileage as the 5.4 when empty, but the upfront cost is significant. I don't think hauling a car would be too much for the 5.4, but with the diesel you probably wouldn't even notice it was back there.

I'm sure you'll get more replies, but I'd suggest test driving both, or all 3 models before you buy.

 

the 5.4 will do everything that you want with ease. i tow a 5th wheel camper that weights about 10,000lbs, and lots of cars. you will never see the benifet of the diesel. you don't tow very much and the new ones are not getting great gas mileage, and cost $6,000. same goes for the v10 but it only cost $600, not bad for 60hp and close to 100ft/lbs of torque over the 5.4. with the v10 you might get 1-2 mpg's less than a 5.4. i am very happy with my 5.4, very reliable. if you think you might want to get something that is over 10,000lbs then i would get the v10.

 

right now I am getting about 10-12 in the city and 14-16 on the highway. I almost bought a v10 but I am glad I didn't. This is my first diesel.

 

Pete,You have to decide weather the 7000.00 diesel option is justified,it all depends on what you will be doing with the truck,more daily driver or more hauling towing workhorse.I have the V10 in mine and see 10-12 around town and 13.5-15.5 on the highway,from what I have read,the 5.4 in a 250 will not do too much more and apparently the diesel isn't really showing impressive mileage numbers either,its really up to you,will the 5.4 do the job?yes,will the V-10 do it better,yes.I can't speak for the diesel but for the cost of the diesel,you can buy a little over 2000 gallons of gasoline.Hope this helps,I'm sure more people will chime in on this!good luck!

 

Okay...here is the thing you need to keep in mind. Everyone here is right about what they are saying. The diesel is the way to go. The 5.4 will do everything with ease. That is all correct...for the person saying it.

Sure the 5.4 might tow what you want but the v-10 or the 6.4 will tow it easier. You just have to figure what you are looking for. No, I am not advocating any of the three. I have had a v-10 and the 6.0. Each has it's pro's and con's.

Good luck. And figure out what kind of person you are. Power junkie. Take it easy and go with the flow. Or a mix.

 

I would say this sums it up right here. I was kind of in the same boat as you. I do plowing in the winter, and I occassionally tow some trailers. Most of the time, however, the truck is unloaded. I owned a 2006 F250 5.4, that I traded in less than a year later. Now I am not knocking the 5.4 in any way, however for me... it just didn't cut it. It felt like a very heavy truck with not enough motor. I now own a 2006 F250 in the 6.0 and let me tell you its a completely different animal. I personally would never run anything but a diesel from this point forward "if that is always feasible". However, with diesel over $4.00 a gallon at some places here, and $100+ fill ups every week, sometimes I get sick thinking about it. I am actually thinking about getting a hybrid for when I don't need the truck!

 

I vote for the 5.4. The v10 is a lot more thirsty than many will admit. more than 1 or 2 mpg.

remember the 5.4 has 300 horses and a good tranny.

remember the 80's a 460 from that era didn't have that kind of power or a good transmission. For majority empty driving, I can't see the need to give away out hard earned money to the middle east. I have a 5.4 with 3:73's and it tows way better than my 1989 and 1990 f350's do. And those 2 are liveable. heck my my '89 is a n/a diesel (160) horses around 370 ft/lb Loaded up it is over 20'000 lbs. It made me a paycheck for 5 years.

When I first bought my 2005 I thought it was a hot rod. Crap it felt fast.

I think a 5.4 with 4:10's would be the best overall choice.

In my part of the woods a v10 is penalized in resale. Nobody wants to feed them. Fuel here is $4.08 a gallon (gasoline) What ever you get though I'm sure you will like it. Good luck and congratulations

 

I've been getting around 17 mpg on the highway. Not bad and darn close to the old 5.3 Chevy motor.

 

Sorry, I was out towing!

My truck is a 2007 5.4L automatic 4x4 Supercab XLT shortbed with 3.73 gears. I regularly tow my 28 foot enclosed car hauler (3500 pounds empty)with either my wife's 2007 Murano (4000 pounds) or one of 2 early 60's full size Pontiacs ((4500+ pounds).

I don't have any problems towing these loads with my 5.4L. I recently discovered that in my case I should remove my bed cover when I tow, aerodynamics create a lot of drag at 60+ MPH, but that's a different story.

If I could do it again, I would get 4.10 gearing instead of 3.73 gearing.

Mileage when not towing? I get 14-16.5 MPG unloaded on the highway, 12-14 mixed and mileage around town......sucks. Towing I get 10 MPG towing an unloaded trailer, 9 or so when it's loaded. Your towing mileage will probably be different, I'm finding aerodynamics play a huge part, more so than weight. If you are in the market for a car hauler, I would seriously consider a V-nose design.

 

This is one of the best replies I've seen to this perennial question. There just isn't one right answer for everyone, and it goes beyond how you'll use the truck. You have to get what makes you happy.

It's like the commercial running right now for, I think, BMW. "When you turn on your car (truck), does it return the favor." Personally, almost a year into owning my first PSD, I still get wood every time I drive it. Well worth the price of admission.

Bill

 

I am happy as hell with my V-10. Sure 80% of the time I don't need the extra power, but when I'm pulling it's priceless. I agree with all. Get what you need and what would make you happy.

 

You diesel guys must have soot in your eyes.

If you are trading up, the diesel will cost you $6800 more than a v10 and the mileage is not much more. Reliability isn't a factor as the V10 has been seen to go 400,000+ miles now. Ford diesels tend to be maintenance nightmares and $$$$$ spenders in the long run. Someone here did a cost analysis awhile back and with the price of gas vs. diesel (here $3.15 and $3.59 respectively)and the initial buy in of the diesel it would take 20+ years of ownership for the diesels price and maintenance cost to meet the v10s so called "bad mileage".

"The milage is ok" LMAO.....

"I would probably say to stay away from the v-10. Not good for the highway milage towing" And you know this how???? Mr. Anemic 5.4L in a 10,000 lb truck. You've never even owned a V10 to try it.

I hate you people and your diesel, diesel, diesel. Just because you can pull something heavy once between recalls doesn't mean its better. Just remember, you paid almost $.50 more per gallon and $6800 more at the beginning for a truck that can do the same thing as a gas engine can handle without a problem, and with a smaller cost.

BTW: Go check your fuel filters again, it's time to spend $30 on filters this month.

Don't worry about banning my MAC ID, I won't be back.