This is my dilemma:

I am researching trucks to replace what I'm in now - '03 silverado Z71 5.3L w/112k miles.

If I could get what I want it would be an F350 CC LB SRW PSD 4x4. That said, the offerings that look like they will "fit" are 6.4L's. I REALLY like that generation body/interior style (especially the King Ranch package). Ford just hit it right I think. However, they DID NOT hit it right with the 6.4L PSD. That really pushes me back. I don't know that I could maintain my sanity with an engine that gets such low mileage. This will be my daily driver.

So that brings me to my question. If I need to jump in to another truck as a "stepping stone" to get out of what I am in now and in to a relieable truck what are the thoughts of getting a 5.4L?

I need at least a full size 6' bed and would highly prefer a crew cab. That would put me in an F250. It looks like all the 1/2 tons (Chevys and Fords anyway) have the micro bed with a crew cab. Those are toys - grocery getters - not useable trucks.

What kind of mileage could I expect from an F250 with a 5.4L? What gears? I think the only other gas-burner is a V10, correct? If so, I am in no way going for a V10. How about towing capability? How quick does the pull-ability go down the tube?

I am thinking if I just get a truck as a stepping stone to hold me over until I can get what I really want I need something that is #1 - relieable and #2 low-cost (relatively - 10mpg and 1 trip a month to the repair shop isn't low-cost, in other words) that also #3 is a big enough truck that I can get by with. Figure I drive 25,000 miles a year.

The one unanswered, and unanswerable (at least at this point in time) question is how long will it be until I can get in to what I want if it doesn't work out right now? It is too soon to make any real judgements of the reliablility of the 6.7L. If the mileage is in the mid-20's as has been reported it might be the right engine. Then again, if it goes 60,000 miles and blows thats not acceptable. Lots of unknowns here.

 

The 5.4L F250s will get you from 13-16 mpg highway depending on how you drive. The 6.8L V10 F250s will get you from 12-15 mpg highway depending on how you drive. I have a good friend that has an '05 Crewcab shortbed 2wd 5.4L 3.73 truck. He gets approx 1 mpg more than I do in pretty much all situations, and my truck is an '05 Crewcab longbed 6.8L with a 4.10. I see 12.5 pretty much all the time around here doing "truck type" work (moving trailers around the yard,. On the highway empty it'll get 14-15 depending on fuel quality and how fast I drive. My friend pulls an enclosed 32' car trailer with his 5.4L truck-it does the job well,but would be MUCH better with more rear gear.
I pull pretty much anything I want to tie to the back of my truck, and it does so with no complaints. Here's a video of me pulling 14K lbs of gooseneck and excavator up to speed and merging on the highway:
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Johnny's post is right on. I have a 06 f250 with a 5.4 and 3.73's sc lb. I can get 15-16 mpg best case with a my truck and have been pulling around a excavator and trailer that is 10.5K without any problems. With the excavator I get about 9-10 mpg. I live in a town with some pretty steep grades. A lot like San Francisco. My truck has 102k on it but I bought the truck to go to at least 150-200K. I think if I had my choice, I would have 4.10's in the rear, but it does what I ask of it. I average about 12mpg. I was in you position a couple of months ago and I am REALLY glad I bought what I did. I hope this helps!

 

Another thing to consider is the possibilities of a intake, tune, exhaust.
Am I correct on this? Spending money on these items will let her breath better, shift better and more efficiently burn fuel?

KC8QVO: What are your thoughts on the 5.3 chevy? And the truck overall? I'm curious?
What is pushing you towards ford?

Thanks

 

In theory, yes the mods will make the truck more efficient. The catch, at least how I see it, is if you change the ability of the engine to "breathe" you need to re-tune the combination to tweak it again. The programming of the engine stock was designed with what it comes with in mind. When you change it the programming should change with it to maximize potential.

The 5.3L overall has been a good engine. I replaced the water pump around 50-70,000 miles, did a couple of coil replacements too. Thats about all I can think of other than oil changes and other regulars. There is a coolant leak right now (getting it fixed in the AM hopefully, at least diagnosed - gotta do another oil change too).

The truck overall has been a "good" truck. I have a 3" body lift on it and changed to 285x75R16 tires (over the stock 265x70R16's) and it has 3.73 gears. The truck stock would probably be OK on workability but the tire change was enough to dunk it. Daily driving it is OK, but anything outside of that is asking too much of it - even empty it doesn't hold 4th well.

The whole front end has to be gone over again - tie rods, steering shaft, etc. An alignment won't bring it back to going straight. There is something goofy with the drivetrain too - I notice a bit of a vibration every day and I put over 2000lbs in it a couple months ago and it was grinding with any throttle. Both front hubs have been replaced now. Brakes need replaced all the way around (pads, disks).

I could dump the money in to it to repair it, but it is only worth about $7000 anyway. If I put in $3000 in work whats the point? I would rather take my $7000, if I can get that for it, and put it towards a reliable truck with a lot of warrenty left that I don't have to worry about every day Why dump money in this one when I know it isn't going to last for ever?

 

I hear ya. That's pretty much why I went out and found my 06 KR 350 5.4L.
I did manage to hang onto my 97F150 for a plow truck though.

Do you use your truck for those 25000 yearly miles or could you get away with a commuter for some of it. Example....I scored a 98 SVT contour for 500 bucks. I've had it over a year now and get around 24 to 27 mpg w/ it. Helps keep the mileage off my trucks so the last longer as well !
I'm sure you've thought of this but I only saw mention of the civic part of your post.

Keep us posted on what you do !
I gotta keep the action going over here in the modular section :-)
I see you posted in the PSD as well.