SuperDuty tow rig: 5.4 or 6.8?
- Thread starter WrenchMonkey
- Start date
DrMoab
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- The Utah Backwater
second that one. I would never ever ever own a ford...They don't give any help to the off-road people and support all the Eco- Terrorists. Give your money to some one who cares about your hobby and stay away from those NazisRedcbr007 said:oh man, thats a tough one...how about ditch a ford and get a Dodge
I have an 04 1500 Hemi and tow the jeep all day long with no issues. Also get 15mpg when not towing...not to bad
-Red
Downside to the diesel is the price of fuel is rising weekly around here (PA) and the entire east coast. But I think its like that everywhere right now. We actually need a diesel for what we are towing but after driving one for the past 10 years I cant ever see myself going back to a gas motor.
xman
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Pinon Hills, Ca
I have Ford 2001 SuperCrew with 5.4 I tow my XJ at least six times a year and it tows great (not as good a my brother Power Stroke). I just towed from SoCal to the Fall Fling in Moab and averaged 10mpg. I have plenty of power when towing, I’m usually passing vehicle. My bother has a Ford Power Stroke that tows awesome but cost 5k more than my SuperCrew. If I need to tow a heaver load I’ll buy the Ford Power Stoke.
--Xman--
--Xman--
Economos
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Coastal NC
Duramax + Allison = the shiat. :greensmok
- Location
- Desert Beach So Cal
Unless you tow heavy loads more than once a month, or tow mountain roads fast (interstate highways) then the 5.4 will be more than enough.
The mileage from my F150 SuperCrew, 4x4 & 5.4, is ~14 mpg around town, with 3.55's and 285/75's. The lack of low overall gear ratio makes it sluggish for drag light starts but it pulls hills fine. I test drove it for a tank with the overdrive off, to test the mileage with a better final gear ratio, and the mileage stayed the same. Even with the poor tire and gear combination it does not run out of power towing my fathers 21 foot flatbed trailer (with 8000 pounds of tractor, trailer, and impliments), but the mileage drops to ~11 mpg with the load and wind drag.
The F250 SD helps the 5.4, as it opens up the 4.10 and 4.30 ratio options that are not available with the F150. The gearing helps the 5.4 SD tow loads without killing the mileage (something I would have considered to upsize, if I had known how the engines deliver power and mileage). I have heard the 3-valve 5.4 heads help the mileage, and still like to rev.
The mileage trade off with towing gears is the difference with the 6.8, as my father has a 29 foot motorhome with the V10 and 4.10's, and it gets 10 mpg unloaded and 7 mpg towing the same trailer load as my F150. Both modular engines like to rev, but the rpm hurts the 6.8 mileage more than the 5.4. The 6.8 never runs out of power (if you foot the throttle) but the mileage is no better than my fathers old C900 with the 538 when you are in a hurry.
Just to toss out other data points my father's 7.3L Surburban (454, 4.10) never gets better than 11 mpg, and delivers ~9 mpg towing the same loaded trailer noted above. The new 6.0L vortec's at work deliver about 16 mpg unloaded (better than the Ford 5.4) and the 5.3's deliver nearly 20 mpg unloaded. Good mileage is where the Ford engines fail to match the Chevy's, although they close the mileage gap as you load the engines with trailers and weight (some of our 5.3L service body trucks are getting only 10 mpg with the excess weight they carry).
The mileage from my F150 SuperCrew, 4x4 & 5.4, is ~14 mpg around town, with 3.55's and 285/75's. The lack of low overall gear ratio makes it sluggish for drag light starts but it pulls hills fine. I test drove it for a tank with the overdrive off, to test the mileage with a better final gear ratio, and the mileage stayed the same. Even with the poor tire and gear combination it does not run out of power towing my fathers 21 foot flatbed trailer (with 8000 pounds of tractor, trailer, and impliments), but the mileage drops to ~11 mpg with the load and wind drag.
The F250 SD helps the 5.4, as it opens up the 4.10 and 4.30 ratio options that are not available with the F150. The gearing helps the 5.4 SD tow loads without killing the mileage (something I would have considered to upsize, if I had known how the engines deliver power and mileage). I have heard the 3-valve 5.4 heads help the mileage, and still like to rev.
The mileage trade off with towing gears is the difference with the 6.8, as my father has a 29 foot motorhome with the V10 and 4.10's, and it gets 10 mpg unloaded and 7 mpg towing the same trailer load as my F150. Both modular engines like to rev, but the rpm hurts the 6.8 mileage more than the 5.4. The 6.8 never runs out of power (if you foot the throttle) but the mileage is no better than my fathers old C900 with the 538 when you are in a hurry.
Just to toss out other data points my father's 7.3L Surburban (454, 4.10) never gets better than 11 mpg, and delivers ~9 mpg towing the same loaded trailer noted above. The new 6.0L vortec's at work deliver about 16 mpg unloaded (better than the Ford 5.4) and the 5.3's deliver nearly 20 mpg unloaded. Good mileage is where the Ford engines fail to match the Chevy's, although they close the mileage gap as you load the engines with trailers and weight (some of our 5.3L service body trucks are getting only 10 mpg with the excess weight they carry).
- Location
- East of Cincinnati
Man, all KINDS of good info, many thanks to one and all!
I really didn't expect it to come down to gas mileage. I don't really mind pouring money into the tank, I don't get all uptight like a lot of people do every time gas goes up a dime. Hell, my F150 only gets 10-12 mpg out of the 5.8. I'm used to that.
But I was thinking I'd get at least that much out of the V10, and 15-18 out of the 5.4. "Single-digits" are just not acceptable to me. Not at 1200 miles a month and $2 a gallon.
As for brand, I guess I'm not really diehard Ford loyal, that's why I put the "other" in the poll. The Dodge's are beautiful, but I've heard too many horror stories, I just don't trust 'em. The new 03-04 Chevy's are butt-ugly. The 01-02 style is okay, but I can't find anything but 1500's. I almost bought a 2000 Chevy dually with the 454, missed it by an hour or two. I kinda settled on a SuperDuty by default...
Lemme say again, I'd friggin LOVE a PowerStroke. But I wouldn't use all that power. And six or seven grand for a wicked exhaust gurgle is just dumb. The stuff I could do to the Cherokee for seven large...
So I'll keep an eye open for a diesel, in case some phenomenal deal comes along.
But from what I read here, the 5.4 will do me just fine...
Thanks again all!
Robert
I really didn't expect it to come down to gas mileage. I don't really mind pouring money into the tank, I don't get all uptight like a lot of people do every time gas goes up a dime. Hell, my F150 only gets 10-12 mpg out of the 5.8. I'm used to that.
But I was thinking I'd get at least that much out of the V10, and 15-18 out of the 5.4. "Single-digits" are just not acceptable to me. Not at 1200 miles a month and $2 a gallon.
As for brand, I guess I'm not really diehard Ford loyal, that's why I put the "other" in the poll. The Dodge's are beautiful, but I've heard too many horror stories, I just don't trust 'em. The new 03-04 Chevy's are butt-ugly. The 01-02 style is okay, but I can't find anything but 1500's. I almost bought a 2000 Chevy dually with the 454, missed it by an hour or two. I kinda settled on a SuperDuty by default...
Lemme say again, I'd friggin LOVE a PowerStroke. But I wouldn't use all that power. And six or seven grand for a wicked exhaust gurgle is just dumb. The stuff I could do to the Cherokee for seven large...
So I'll keep an eye open for a diesel, in case some phenomenal deal comes along.
But from what I read here, the 5.4 will do me just fine...
Thanks again all!
Robert
- Location
- East of Cincinnati
MUDTRUK said:
BlackSport96 said:
I_1BADXJ_I said:
Danno said:
XJHOX said:
copperhead said:
Ludakris said:
xman said:
I_1BADXJ_I said:
Well, after everyone's great advice on the gas engines, I really hate to just chuck it all out the window, but that "phenomenal deal" did in fact come along...
2000 F250 4x4 XLT, extended cab long bed. Black with grey cloth, pretty well loaded. 70k on the 7.3 PowerStroke.
Got it for twenty grand.
And gawdamm but I do love it!
Thanks again!
Robert
Last edited:
jaymo
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- montgomery Il.
Dont get the V10. I traided my 02 250 for a liberty. It had the 5.4 and had plenty of power. and I think the new ones have more power than mine did.
Oh yea and I traided when the gas sky rocketed and at the same time I got hurt and could not work.
Oh yea and I traided when the gas sky rocketed and at the same time I got hurt and could not work.
woody431
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Virden, IL
Guess Im a little late, I was going to say get a Power Wagon! Titan's aren't too bad either though.
edmaude
NAXJA Member #1368
- Location
- West Milford, NJ
I have had good luck towing with one of my companies work trucks. It is a F250 with the 5.4 and six speed. It runs great and the manual trans helps get things rolling
just dont get the 6.0 diesel, i work at a ford dealership down here in florida and all out diesel fuel tech gets in are 6.0's with blown head gaskets, the problem is that it wasnt just a couple of them that has this problem, all 6.0's have trouble keeping headgaskets, especially if you ad a power programer or chip, which will void warrenty any. just my 2 cents
NOVAggie
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Fairfax, VA
Redcbr007 said:
Should also mention the Nissan Titan (2004 model): 5.6 V8 305 hp adn 379 Tq.
This will most likely be my next truck.
- Location
- East of Cincinnati
Cwt32286 said:
Thanks, but like I said, I got the 7.3...
In October...
Robert
Jeepkid88
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Moline, Il
Its great truck, will tow 7000lbs. well, awsome power. But the front brakes are too small and warp badly, make sure you have good trailer brakes before you tow anything heavy.:lecture:NOVAggie said:
dyna
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- central coast Ca
Thats a tough call that you need to do by some test drives IMO. I have never owned a Ford diesel so I cant say other than friends exp with them Ive seen, I am on my 3rd Cummins/Dodge currently and I can say fuel economy is what keeps one here, other than that its a mixed bag. The initial cost is high, repairs are high, maint is higher than a gasser. Knowing what I know now I would reconsider a diesel over gas. A 2wd Cummins is good for 20mpg empty and about 14/16 loaded under 6k (jeep tow). PS seem to get 14/16 all the time somewhat. I personally like the Cummins better than a Int built diesel. Fords truck is probably built better?? again personal preferance.
We have a newer F150 with the 5.4/auto/short bed. We put slightly bigger tires on it a while back and it really screwed it up as far as shifting and power. we only went about 2" taller. I drive it up a 6% grade and it must be locked out of OD or it hunts constantly. still its pretty doggy. Funny ,it hauls ass but no power up hills. I have to question one for heavy towing but maybe the 05`s are much better. When it was new it got about 18 on the highway, now its 15/16 or so. I personally despise the ride and the way it handles. way to touchy steering. Go window shopping and check em all out. just dont buy a Dodge gasser. To much fuel use.
We have a newer F150 with the 5.4/auto/short bed. We put slightly bigger tires on it a while back and it really screwed it up as far as shifting and power. we only went about 2" taller. I drive it up a 6% grade and it must be locked out of OD or it hunts constantly. still its pretty doggy. Funny ,it hauls ass but no power up hills. I have to question one for heavy towing but maybe the 05`s are much better. When it was new it got about 18 on the highway, now its 15/16 or so. I personally despise the ride and the way it handles. way to touchy steering. Go window shopping and check em all out. just dont buy a Dodge gasser. To much fuel use.
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