I'm shopping for a Ford truck. Been looking at SuperCrews, and at Reg Cab Flareside 150's. Both have pluses for me (wife likes the SuperCrew, I think the 5.4L Flare is neat). We haul light loads and also have a 4 door car in good shape.

The SuperDuty line came to mind as it also has a lot of pluses (truck-for-money-spent ratio is high - the SCrew is big bucks for what you get, really).

I've got two questions, really. What is the experienced mileage for the 5.4L auto or the V10? Is the 5.4 enough for light haulers in this truck?

I really like the SD product but had automatically nixed it for me as I perceived it as a real workhorse. Now I'm thinking it may be a great alternative...but I've no experience to pull on in re a real truck in this class. Had a 90 F150, just (sadly) wrecked, so I know a 150 will do for my needs - but why not aim higher (smile)

Thanks...

------------------
F150 shopping

 

My truck (see sig) actually invoiced out lower than the F150 SuperCrew!! That's really amazing especially when you park these beasts side by side and realize how much MORE truck I really have. This is my daily driver, salesman thought I was a NUT for getting a diesel to haul grocerys & kids!! My fuel milage is 18-22mpg and I'm actually hoping that will increase as the engine breaks in!! If you've got kids, take them with you for a test drive in both the SuperCrew and the CrewCab. My kids love my new truck and better yet, my 6 year old can't kick the back of my seat anymore. (too far away) I've heard the fuel milage for the gas engines in the SD are in the sewer though. Good luck on finding one you like. I had to order mine, but then I saved a ton of money by doing that.

------------------
2000 F250 Crew Cab 4x2 6 speed Diesel XLT Super Duty, Woodland Green
Power Mirrors, 3.73 LS, Captains Chairs, ARE tonneau top, mud flaps
Trailer tow Pkg, Class IV hitch, sliding rear window, running boards
rear privacy glass, 265/75/16 AS OWL tires, am/fm/cassette/cd
Clarion APA 5240 amp, Memphis speakers:Components front, 5x7 rear, 10"sub
SuperChip, Stepshields, Ventshields on windows, rubber bed mat
rugged liner bedliner on tailgate

 

2by, Just traded my 150 in for a superduty a couple of weeks ago. We had purchased a travel trailer and the 150 just didn't pull well. When you compare costs, you are getting much more for your money w/the superduty. The Ford website allows you to build and price either truck, I found this helpful. Haven't got any mileage numbers on my V10 yet, but by browsing the Ford-Diesel site, people are posting 12-15 mpg on v10's,which is about the same you're gonna get w/the 5.4L. It's a no brainer in my opinion. Good luck

 

2byford, I'm also looking at the Super-Duty fords right now. In my opinion they look super cool. The only problem is that there are not very many to choose from. I hope the selection improves after the big "tax day". Right now I'm torn, I want a F250 supercab with a manual tranny but I can't decide between the 5.4 and the diesel. I want the diesel because of the awesome power and the cool sound but I don't really need it. I only tow a few fourwheeers on a trailer so I'm sure the 5.4 would work just fine. My only justification for the diesel would be the mileage. I would be driving 400 miles a week as this would be the new family car, and I'm afraid of the mpg the 5.4 would get. I've seen people post at high as 15.5 mpg on the gasser but most seem to get less. If it could get closer to 17mpg I feel the gas would be okay. Like I said I can't decide, gas or diesel. I have to decide soon as I'm driving my wife nuts. Back to the original question, sorry about rambling on, I would definitely go with the super-duty. A LOT MORE truck for about the same money. That may explain why there are alot of f150's on the lots buy no super-duties.

 

First, if you get the right options, the 5.4L is NOT UNDERPOWERED FOR THE TRUCK.

Y2K F250 SC 4x2 5.4L 5sp 4.10LS is what I have. For lighter hauling, and day to day running the truck has more than enough to keep up and pass traffic.
My overall average is 15.5mpg. Goes down to 14.2 if tooling around town alot, and 16.5 when on the open highway.. (maybe even a 17, but I've not taken a long highway trip yet).

So, the 5.4L works great in the above configuration..

However, if you getting
CrewCab + auto + 4x4, it seems that the 5.4L mileage drops down to the 11 to 14 range.. Which is only about 1 or 2 more than the V10..So in this configuration, a V10 would probably make sense.

An F150 would have fit my towing needs, but I like the interior size and exterior looks of the F250 better.

'If less is more, just imagine how much MORE would be..'

 

The V-10 and the PSD are really close to each other Power-wise. I have the V-10 because my wife complained about the PSD being "stinky". The V-10 was a $300 upgrade over the 5.4l V-8. I could not justify the $4600 upgrade for the PSD.
The mileage advantage the PSD has over the V-10 would not cover the additional engine cost until nearly 100k miles.
I didn't plan to keep the truck that long.
The body-style choices are the same for the 150 and the SuperDuties - Reg Cab, Super Cab, Crew Cab. The SuperDuties come in Long Bed, Short Bed and NO bed.
All are available with 4x2 or 4x4.
No V-6 is available in a SuperDuty.
The F-250 does not have dual rear wheels.
The F-350 has Single or Dual rear wheels.
The F-450 and up has ONLY DRW and NO bed.
Good luck with your choice.

------------------
1999 F-250 XLT Super Duty Crew Cab Long Bed
V-10, Automatic 4R100, 4.30 Limited Slip.
GVW = 6700# Towing Capacity = 13,300#
4 Wheel ABS disks + Reese 15K hitch
Dark Hunter Green. Ford Running Boards.
Grey Rhino-Liner. Captain's Chairs. CD+Tape
Polished Stainless Steel Wheel-well Molding http://members.home.net/jchartier/jnctrk.html

 

I have the F350 SuperDuty in crewcab 4x4 powerstroke diesel so my mileage figures would not be anything to compare to if you are contemplating buying a 4x2. But I did want to comment that if you are looking at a SuperDuty, I think the V8 is underpowered for a truck weighs as much as a SuperDuty does. The V10 seems to have lots of power but the mileage sucks. I have a buddy who does pretty much the same mixed in town and highway driving that I do, his is 4x4, and he only get 9-11 in mixed driving. I get around 14. His highway driving is up around 14 where mine is about 16 to 17. Mine would be better but I can't keep it under 2000 rpm during the daytime. I never looked at the F150 style truck because they simply do not appeal to me.

 

A Friend of mine bought nearly the identical truck to mine with the exception of the 5.4L
(I have the V10). He is getting 12mpg max on the highway and I usually get 14+ on the highway with my V10. He also complains about lack of power. He is very sorry that he did not spend the $300 to get the V10.

------------------
99 F250SD SC, V10, Superchip, 2"Superlift,
35x12.50 BFG MTs

 

mjs - I think the 5.4 may be too little engine for this big truck. It ends up working so much harder that it burns more fuel.
My 2 cents...

 

J-C, just dont over generalize..
In some configurations of the Superduty, the 5.4L (w/4.10LS) is quite snappy, and gets much better mileage that it would with a V10 (w/3.73).. Sure, the V10 would be snappier, but at a cost.

In some configurations, the V10 would have the advantage (both in power and mpg).

I believe the 3.73 is a bit low of a gear for the 5.4L for most cases where you really want to use the SD as a truck. If mjs' buddy had the 3.73 or if he also put 35's on his truck, it would be tough with the 5.4L.

fyi: the 3.73 with the SD's tires, is about the same ratio as the 3.55 in an Expedition (which have smaller tires). But the SD weighs more.

 

Acutually, let me clarify a little. The comparison between my truck and my Buddies truck was when mine was still in stock form(his was too).
I have a V10 with 3.73 gears he has a 5.4 with 4.10s.

I don't mean to ruffle any feathers. The 5.4L is a good engine. I am just passing along a situation which I have encountered.

The point that I (and others) am trying to make is that when you are paying $30K for a truck, $300 for a bigger engine is negligable. Especially considering that there may be no mileage gain.

------------------
99 F250SD SC, V10, Superchip, 2"Superlift,
35x12.50 BFG MTs

 

I am in the same situation. I know that I'm uping to the SD from my 150, but am uncertain of the engine choice,

What all my pricing has been on is a 4X2 SC Lariat with the V-10 & 4.30 gears. How does everyone think this will do for light towing, usually traverling and around town?

------------------
1999 F-150 Lariat SC SWB 4X2. Black/Harvest Gold with Medium Prairie Tan Leather Captains Chairs. 5.4L Triton / 3.55 LS. Every option except CD Changer.

 

Here's my two cents on the subject. I have a 99 F350 4x4 with the 5.4L auto 3.73 gears. After one year I currently have 7,000 miles on this truck because its to darn expansive to keep in gas when you average less then 10mpg other than that I love this truck. If you are going with this size truck get one of the bigger motors. I'd get rid of this one if I wouldn't lose to much on the deal. Just look at the used superdutys out there what do they have in common? the 5.4l. Don't get me wrong this is a nice engine for an F150. Thanks for letting me vent. Good luck in what ever decision you make.
Ray

 

I bought the biggest engine I could in my F150 and didn't look back.
If I bought a SD, I'd do the same thing.

------------------
99 Lariat Normal Cab 2WD 120"WB 5.4 3.55LS, Tow,
Dark Toreador/Gold, Line-X
raoul_oba@hotmail.com
F150's of Virginia
Just cause we're from Virginia don't mean we're(well, you know)

 

Well, I just got my 5.4l and have to say I'm quite happy with it. I test drove both v8 and v10 and couldn't really tell the difference(feel and rpm). After researching a little and reading some of the problems associated with the v10 I went with the v8. Although, I probally would have gone with the v8 anyway. But, I have to say, I don't tow anything, don't haul or carry anything(except two boys and big dog), and only drive a few miles to work each day. However, I have no problem accelerating in traffic, on the freeway or off, and can't detect any lack of power. And I drove with power(LT1 c!@#y) and acceleration for quite a few years. But, guys and gals, remember this is a truck, not performance car. I bought this truck for the truck aspect of it. Not the quarter mile times or the gas mileage.

So, I'm a happy v8er.

my only .02

Joe