An important point here, noted by ffadragon below, is that he's looking at the 2V 5.4L, (260hp), not the newer 3V version (300hp). Having had both, I can attest that the 3V is a much stronger engine all around.

Having said that, I'll echo what ffadragon says about mpg. Forget about it.

If you're looking to save money, do the math soley based on selling your existing truck and the acquisition cost of the "new" truck.

TX

 

Also, since you're wife is "in the family way", unless the truck is a Crew Cab you probably don't want it. Super Cabs are great, but they really become a serious PITA when you're trying to wrestle a baby seat into the back of one.

 

Great point! My buddy has a supercab F250, and his wife hated getting the two little kids seats in and out. To this day, he wishes he had gotten the crew cab.

 

That's what put me into a crew cab... I thought a supercab would be enough until I actually tried it. Needless to say, I only kept that truck for a year, it was a serious PITA with the kids!

 

That was the sole purpose of me getting my Crew cab. It is a peice of cake to get my 2 year old daughter in and out of her car seat. Even easier than most cars. We have an Impala and the truck is still easier.

I wish I had the 3v but in 2005 I just coundn't afford a brand new truck, so I got a high milage (60,000) 2004 for about half the price of a new one. It would be nice to have that extra 30-40 horse power. But if I had to do it all again I would get a 3v V10.
Good luck with your decision, but if you can manage to keep the cummins, money wise, do it.

 

cummins vs 5.4. of course it feels underpowered. i love mine and i tow 10,000lb 5th wheel. i don't break any speed records but it gets the job done just fine. gas mileage sucks about 10-11 city and 15-16 highway. sucks even worse towing about 9 maybe 10.

 

I am perfectly happy with my 5.4. Quite honestly, if the diesel is stock with no tuner, etc, it ain't that much faster when empty. I have been there done that. My 5.4 Vs. 99Psd superduty, Vs. 2000 cummins Dodge, my truck is faster empty. With a load, the Cummins is the faster one, the PSD still feels like a pig to me.

 

Mods should make this a sticky seeing that it seems like this question gets asked once a week or more.

And everytime the same responses:
"I have a 5.4 and it suites my needs...."
"I pull a 10,000 lb trailer no problem...."

Then the V10 guys chime in:
"Get a V10 the 5.4 isn't enough engine for such a big truck...."
"My V10 gets {insert inflated mpg estimate here} <INSERT here estimate mpg inflated>and it's faster so why go V8...."

Then the deisel guys add:
"The V10's don't last past 100K miles when the deisel is just about broken in...."
"I wouldn't put andthing smaller than a PSD in a Super Duty...."

...and on and on it goes....

I mean this all in good fun so no one get their undies in a bunch here.

But to the OP the best suggestion is to go test drive a 5.4 SD and draw your own conclusions. I have a 5.4 and it's fine with me. I have a freind with a V10 and he loves his truck and wouldn't change a thing. It's a matter of preferance AND what you are willing to spend.

 

Maybe we should just answer SSDD ?

 

15-16 on the highway isn't bad when you compare that to my 98 Ford Explorer with the 4.0 SOHC that couldn't tow more than 5500!

 

Can I ask how much do you anticipate towing? While I do not have a 5.4 powered vehicle I have towed 8K with my 98 Explorer 5.0 AWD and my current 06 Expl 4X4 with the 4.6 and put on more than 20K miles on both of them towing and daily driving. I did not climb any mountains with either combo but took 300+ mile trips over varying terrain (od off). I believe the worst treatment they got was the local stop and go city traffic with the temps over 90F and the a/c on (with passengers onboard) and pulling up and down the boat ramps. So with more torque (5.4) and comparable weighing vehicle I can't see there being much a problem. My 98 had a 3:73 (4 spd trans) and the 06 has 3.55 (6 sp trans).

 

I had a '03 F350 w/5.4L and 4 speed. I didn't like towing the 5th wheel with it. Any little grade and the truck was screaming. Back in '04 when I was looking, I couldn't swing a diesel, the '03 had 8K on, and it was in great shape. I never noticed it was only a 3 speed w/ O/D. I'm sure that doesn't help the power or mileage. I got 17 MPG twice, all highway, and flat. Around town, lucky to get 12-13. Got an '06 6.0L in December, I can't wait to tow the camper with this beast. Course now fuel is a lot more than gas! Go figure!

 

DUDE all silly sh$t a side my 03 runs great and will blow the tires off any time ,the gas mileages goes with my right foot, foot dont care about the pump,all most pepols see is my big red tail gate(or me standing at the gas pumps)..

 

Well, if we're talking pure speed, I've never been beaten by a 5.4L. A guy in an F150 SuperCrew (weighs quite a bit less than a 250!) with at least an exhaust (all I could see) tried to take me from a light. I pulled away like he wasn't trying. Funny thing is he tried it again at the next light. Same scene, take two.

Buy a PSD in the same year, spend about $1500 in mods (more if you want to get fancy ), and you'll be as fast as your Dodge (or faster, more likely). The term "Underpowered" won't even enter your mind...

To put it in perspective, my DP is on its way back from being re-burned, and frankly, I hate my truck right now. Without the tuner, it *is* a pig. I'm really hoping it gets here tomorrow. Can't take another day of this...

EDIT: Like Jeb said -- all in fun... Not trying to start a rumpus.

 

The problem is, the OP is trying to reduce his costs, not get a faster truck.

What we don't know (and have asked) is whether he wants to dump the Cummins because of a large truck payment (replacing it with a cheaper used 5.4L that is in good shape) or whether he thinks the operatings costs of the 5.4L will be less than the Cummins.