f150, f250 mileage questions

mlincoln

I'm thinking of purchasing a f150 or an f250. Could somebody please tell me about the following:

What am I looking at for mileage for the 6 cylinder in the F150 and for the 8 cylinder in the same truck? How about for the 8 cylinder in the f250?

Has anyone recently purchased one of these and do you have any opinions? I'd love to hear them. Thanks!

vwracer

read the sticker on the side of the F150 that is required by federal law as to the exact gas milage this or any new vehicle gets. The F250 with a V8 will get 1-2 mpg less than the F150 with the same 5.4L V8 because it is heaver. As for an opinion as to which you should buy.....I need to know what you intend to use this truck for before any of us can give a recomendation.

amos250

I have a 97 F-250 light duty 4X4 sc, 4.6, auto and have experienced consistent 18 - 19 mpg on the interstate at about 70 mph. In town driving about 14 - 15 mpg. Very happy with the gas mileage, especially for a 4X4. I would suggest the 4.6 V8 over the 6, I drove a 6 with the auto tranny, thought it was very sluggish and not as smooth as the V8.

brnzbk

I am considering the purchase of a F150 4X4 supercab 5.4L with 3:73 gears and the FX4 package with 17 inch wheels. What kind of gas milage can I expect from the combination? I do some light towing (2500 lbs). Is there a better combination? I'm afraid if I get the 3:55 I'll regret it if I get a larger camper. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

vwracer

BRNBZK

If you are set on the 5.4L check out and compare the price of an F250. The one I bought was only $700 more then a 1/2 ton and would handle any camper you put on it. Although the 3/4 ton will get 1-2 less MPG because it weighs more.

white250

vwracer is right !!. I did the same thing in september, I checked out the F150 5.4, 3.73 and matched option to option from the 150 to the 250, with rebates and low financing, The 250 I bought only costed me a $1000 more. Well worth the price.Everyone asked me why a 250? I just wanted more than I would ever need. The most I tow right now is about 3500 lbs. I bet resale will be better too...

white250

2001 F250 sc 4x4 5.4 3.73 auto at 7000 miles. 12 mpg city & 14 mpg highway.

jcave1

I'd owned an F-150 for nearly nine years. Looking at new rigs I found the same scenario as white250 and vwracer mentioned. Discussion prices were about $2,000 difference between 150 and 250. Mine ended up about $1,200 difference for a lot more vehicle. The big difference was the PSD, $3,700. Excluding the PSD, there really wasn't a choice. Dollar for dollar the 250 has the 150 beat hands down.

bowhuntwi

Mileage is a concern, but isn't the main reason to buy one. Before you decide drive both the F150 & the F250, take them thru parking lots, try parking each and out on the highway. If your not going to be pulling alot, a 250 is overkill, plus do you want to park it outside, not all fits in all garages. Also depends on your configuration, a SC or a CC. I owned a 2K SD Lariat CC 4x4 with a SB and 4.1 LS with the 5.4 for almost 3 yrs, it was a great truck for the open highway, it was a nightmare in small parking lots, boat ramps anywhere small. I pulled a boat (3500lbs) no problem. I had 29000 mi on it when I traded it for an 02 SCrew 4x4 XLT with the FX4 pack, I can get into places where I wouldn't even think of going with the SD. I still have the passenger capacity and it pulls my boat fine. I have yet to use everything on vacation that I can pack into the 5 1/2 foot box, let alone what I had packed into the 6 3/4 of the SD. Price is about the same, ride is not much differance. Both trucks can be seen at http://www.picturetrail.com <bowhuntwi>

jcave1

Isn't it the truth though. Can't imagine a crew cab Super Duty long bed. They do ride well but take acres to turn around. The super cab short bed actually has a decent turning radius but it's still pretty wide. We park out and walk anyway.
It backs in better than it noses in, thank goodness for decent mirrors.


jerry

mullins87

I find myself backing into parking spots all the time. When you pull in, someone always parks in such a manner so as to make it nearly impossible to back out. At least when you back in, you stand a chance getting out. I remember one time it took me almost 10 minutes to get out of a spot after the inconsiderate idiots who parked all around me couldn't keep their "real truck wannabee SUV's" between the lines. I'm like you in parking lots, such as Wal-Mart. Park in the north 40 and get some exercise.

jcave1

Maybe an option would be a good pair of hiking shoes? One thing for certain, you'll learn to backup using your mirrors doing it the way we do.
Did skin the plastic on the rear bumper just a bit. Using the tow mirrors, I didn't see a concrete lamp post base directly behind. Saw the lamp post, not the much larger base. Things happen.

jerry

mullins87

I never thought my time working for a trucking company would come in handy with my pickup!! Sometimes I wonder why the rear window is even there, you sure can't see anything when backing up.

wpalkowski

I always park pretty far away from stores with my CC Long Bed. Since truck is so long, I drive through to the front of a pair of parking spaces, and later pull out nose first. (I can use mirrors to back in, but I'm lazy.) Even though I pull up as far as I can, the truck takes up a quarter of the space behind me. I get ticked off because many times somebody in a sub-compact car will try to squeeze into that small space, and then I can't lower my tail gate when I want to load up.
Had to laugh a couple months back at Home Depot. Busy Saturday morning, lot was fairly full, but I saw a pair of spaces mid way to store and grabbed them. Came out later and saw a crowd gathered round back of my truck. Got a bit nervous, thought my "baby" gotten clobbered. It did, but it gave back much more than it got!!
Turns out some myopic clown tried to cram his full sized Volvo S90(?) behind my truck. He attempted to pull up as far as possible, but was only looking at my rear bumper. What he didn't see was my 2" hitch receiver (with 4" drop)/ball, and managed to put it through his grill, punching a big ugly hole in his radiator and A/C condenser. Bystander told me it was kind of funny because pressurized radiator coolant sprayed out all over, while his A/C discharged making a strange shrieking noise.
To make a long story short, other driver called cops and was promptly told by officer that "a parked truck is never wrong." It was his fault totally.
Had to wash back of truck - the bumper, and gate were sticky from the coolant. Compounded the hitch and receiver to take off scuff marks. Never heard anything else about it.

mullins87

jcave1

A couple of guys around here will not remove their hitch and ball for the reason you mention. I can just see that guy blaming you for his stupidity. Cram into legally parked truck and it's not his fault? Got what he deserved I'd say, well almost.

jerry

jdtopper

I learned early on that backing in was a lot better than heading in. Found a concrete lamp post with my rear bumper last week too, when I had a US flag hanging inside over the passenger side rear window, and didn't catch the post in my mirror. It made a really rude noise when I whacked it, and put a small crease in the bumper. I was bummed.

Acres and acres to turn around. To do a U-turn, I need at least 3 lanes on the other side of the median to avoid having to back up. Most of the time, I just drive on to somewhere that I can go around the block, or drive through a big parking lot in order to get pointed the other direction.

That's about the only thing I miss about the '81 Jeep J-10 Laredo I had. That thing drove more like a car than a truck, but with a 360 c.i.d. gas motor it got crappy mileage compared to the PSD, and as a 1/4 ton short bed I couldn't carry or tow hardly any load at all.

JT

mesazone

Thanks for the laugh WP. Mine came with the back up sensors in the rear bumper. They have saved me a few times. I think I scare people too as they watch me back in closer and closer to the car thinking I'm going to hit it. But the beeping tells me when to stop.

MZ

wpalkowski

Love the reverse sensors, they've even detected kid's toys (scooters, skateboards, bikes, etc.) in the driveway for me. They just drive you nuts when you're jockeying a trailer around - every time you shift into reverse you've gotta push the dang cancel button again, 'cause it sees your trailer as a obstruction. I'm tempted to put a disconnect switch into the line, but with my luck I'll forget to turn it back on once the trailer's unhitched and then back into something.

jdtopper

stock items, or aftermarket? Sounds like I could use 'em. Or maybe a camera...

JT

wpalkowski

JT

   They were optional starting in 2K1's. Here's a link to an aftermarket install.

http://www.eurekaboy.com/poron.htm

Wp

mullins87

I like the idea of the camera!!!!!

jdtopper

I've actually given that some thought. They're standard equipment on many large RV's; Why not on my truck?

renonevada

About twenty years ago, my company's civil (drill location) engineer was backing out of his driveway and ran over his 6-year old son. . .only child. . .his namesake. Killed him instantly. Never saw him. Didn't know his son was outside. This guy almost went completely bonkers. He went through a lot of soul-searching and faith experiences to get himself back to normal. From a safety standpoint, get the reverse sensors. A crowded parking lot, such as Walmart, could cause a similar mishap. Main thing is, I never rush. A few extra seconds could mean the difference between life and involuntary manslaughter. (Life meaning no loss of life. . .not the other).

mullins87

I'm sure he never has recovered? I have two boys, one 5 and the other 2. The 5 yr old runs to the further corner in the garage everytime I crank up the truck (1 ton diesel), but the 2 yr old is not the least bit scared of it. I really have to watch out for him. I had a flatbed with a tractor on it one day. As I was turning into the drive, I searched the yard for him, like I always do. He was nowhere to be found. Well as I swung around into the yard to back the trailer into its parking place, I saw a little blonde head bobbing along no more than 20' behind the trailer!!!! I have no idea where he came from, but just goes to show that YOU CAN NEVER BE TOO CAREFUL!!!!!!! Thank God I saw him.

bmaige

What kind of mileage are you owners of the F-350 CC with 5.4 and PSD, 2 and 4 wheel drive with six speed manuals and the 3.xx rear ends getting? How much does adding four wheel drive change it?

Anyone with experience with a CC and how comfortable and roomy the back seats are for passengers on long trips? I am considering two things. Buying either a CC to use as a family car and truck or a standard cab plus a minivan. It is obvious a CC for both would be cheaper, but would it be as comfortable for passengers?

I have a small farm, an old 82 F-150 4x4 with the 300 cubic inch six, and a cow trailer to tow on occasion. The F-150 has a four speed manual with granny low and does pretty well, but it has a lot of miles and age on it now so I'm looking.

What about the 2002 versus the 2003? Any reason to go with one over the other?

Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

mullins87

I have a '99 F-350 SC PSD 6-speed 2wd with 3.73's. Empty I get around 18.5mpg with a mix of city/highway driving. When I had my slide-in, 3,500lbs, I didn't notice much difference, still around 18.5mpg. Towing, I get around 11.25mpg, mainly highway at 70mph.

I can't help you with the CC issue, I do know from the ones I have been in, the back seats are just as comfortable and roomy as the front seats. But, to use as a family car, the CC is a mighty big vehicle that won't go places the minivan will.

wpalkowski

There's more room in back of my CC than in a Lincoln Town Car by my estimates. I'm 6'5" and have front seat fully back, but nobody in back seat has complained about lack of leg room. I have an XLT and seats are very comfortable (for a truck). I suppose padding/bolstering are better in Lariat.
Only complaint I have about rear bench seat is that back is low and you're using your rear windshield as a head rest. Not sure how well that plays out in an accident..
As far as '02 vs. '03, Ford's coming out with 6.0L new PSD around November or so. 10% better mileage, 20% lower emmisions, higher HP and torque. . Expect there'll be a few kinks with new diesel. Not sure I'd want to be a Beta tester for Ford buying a new one. You can buy oldstyle PSD until then.

bmaige

Is Ford going to use a 6.0 liter manufactured by IH or will it be supplied by someone else? I've heard things about the IH, and I had one of the first Ford vans with a diesel in it that holed a piston at around 65,000 miles, so I have a bit of a bad taste in my mouth for them. But I surely don't want to buy a Chevy Duramax right out of the box, either.

From what I have seen about fuel mileage on existing diesels I would have a tough time making one pay the extra cost of it, and although I will be doing some towing of fairly heavy loads it won't be that frequently. Probably a 16' cow trailer loaded with cows. Is the 5.4 liter satisfactory for that with the six speed manual transmission and 3.xx rear end?