I'm not sure this is the right board to post....I looked for something general interest, but this is the closest I could find. So, please forgive me if I'm mis-posting here. lol

First, I want to say hi to all of you. After searching the Net I found with great surprise this forum dedicated to the F-150.

I'm currently in the market for a truck....I briefly considered Dodge, but my dad's a Ford guy and Fords have always been good to him, so I'll follow in his footsteps. As a result I've come here for some information as I'm just a couple months away from buying.

I owned a 1990 Ranger 4x4 myself a few years ago, and loved it. That little truck was like a tank in the snow and mud. But now that I'm out of college I want to satisfy my urges for something a little bigger and more powerful---namely an F-150.

My sole concern was with gas mileage. I've been told by two different people, two different stories on F-150s and gas mileage. One guy told me they're horrible, 11 or so miles a gallon. Another told me they're not much worse than a Ranger, about 17 or 18 mpg. Anyone here care to share some insight with this newbie?

I have a few more questions, but I'll hold back for now.

Thanks again guys!

 

Your MPG will vary a lot based on which engine you get 4.6 or 5.4, which tranny, the cab size and whether or not it's a 4x4. I have the worst combination, a 4x4, Lariat Supercrew with the 5.4. In the city I get about 13mpg, and on the highway under 70mph I average 20mpg. If you are concerned about fuel economy this is not the vehicle for you. They are great trucks though!

 

It varies depending on several factors. One engine size, two driving style, three every truck is different, four maintainence, five averag load hauled, etc, etc, .....

For me I have the 5.4L and I average 14.3 mpg BUT I drive hard and ussally have atleast 500 lbs (+) in the bed and/or a 7,200 lb (+) trailer. I have seen 19.(something) on one tank when I went to Iowa and the load was minimal w/ out a trailer too. But there are no hills in Iowa and I was all 100% highway on that tank. The F-150 weighs over 2 tons and with a V8 do not expect to get 20 mpg or anything ridiculous like that. You have to pay to play. If you don't haul anything and your just wanting the status of having a big truck but are concerned about gas mileage I would say stay with a Ranger. Or you will eventually be putting up a thread here complaining about the price of gas.

 

kamikaze2b,

Well, I was considering a 5.4 V8, if for no other reason than I've been told it varies little in mpg over the 4.6. As for tranny, I'm thinking a 4 speed auto with four wheel drive for starters---this would be my first full size. Couple that with a regular cab....I'm single, have little need for passangers, plus it gets me out of driving long trips with friends


lek

 

Well during the work week it'd be basically a commuter with some light hauling. On weekends though I do like to go to Home Depot and get some toys, so the heavier hauling would come in handy then. I wouldn't be hauling 7000 pounds routinely, but I recall hauling load of firewood in my Ranger and it really had to work hard, acceleration was a b!tch too.

Right now, I guess you'd say I'm a hauler wannabe

But, I'm going to be morgaging a home in a year or two so a bigger truck would be handy as a long term investment too.

 

In perfect honesty.....I don't have many expenses, so I could say would be one of the only things I'd need to worry about aside from the basics.

Another thing is I heard the Triton V8 is a superb engine, fine running, low maintence, is this true?

 

Well put it to you this way... I had always drove The "C" brand and from a hard core "C" family until I drove and bought this truck last Sept.! I couldn't be happier and everyone else is starting to re think thier brand of choice now.

 

My 2wd 1998 4.6/auto/3.55 gears gets about 15 town / 17-18 highway, and thats being nice on the throttle. Theyre dam good trucks i highly reccomend them, however it gets discouraging to pay 40 bucks at the pump and that doesnt fill it up from empty....

 

I assume your asking about the '04-'05 models so I'll make this short. Go test drive one, fall in love with it, buy one. Just like the rest of us!

 

I just got back from a 600 mile round trip this weekend and I saw between 17-18.6 mpg at speeds of 65-75 (cruise was set at 70 for much of it) mph all highway. Around town I see 12.5-13 mpg for all city driving and 14-15 for mixed driving. For a 5.4 4x4 I would realistically expect between 12-18 mpg dependng on the conditions. Obviously mpg in the winter is worse, that same 600 mile round trip in february I got 14-15.8 mpg. All these are with little or no weight in the bed (but then again I make up for that in the cab...)

 

I think you guys are lying. I have a 2wd Lariat (5.4 motor) with 3.31 open rear end and I don't pull a trailer. I've had it for over 6 months and almost 12000 miles and I average 12.4 mpg. My best mileage has been about 13.5 on a road trip to Tampa. There was construction speed limits (50-55) in effect most of the way. If anyone here has a 4wd and is getting 18 mpg, you must be on the end of a tow strap or something.
My '94 Ranger 4.0 has averaged 17 mpg over the last 8 years.

 

They are nice trucks, you wont be sorry, except at the pump. haha

What years are you looking at? Would you mind a manual tranny?

For new trucks, you can now get a fivespeed manual V6. I drove one and it was pretty neat. Unfortunatly, ford has killed the V8 fivespeed combo in 04 and it doesn't look like it's coming back. Our 97 with a V8 fivespeed stick is a lot of fun to drive and fool around with.

Oh, and welcome too...

Adrianspeeder

 

Hey there!

Yeah, mid-teens are what I guess I should expect, shifting into 4x4 would guzzle more, but I wouldn't need four wheels too often.

I'm going to have to look closer at transmissions and engine types before I finalize, I'd wanted a 5.4, but for a few extra miles a gallon the 4.6 could be the better option.

Far as the tank, yeah, what's the gallon size like? 25 gallons or so? A guy I work with has an F-150 he told me all he does is never let it get to empty, he fills it whenever it reaches the halfway point, that way it's not so bad....least it doesn't seem so bad, lol

 

I think something is wrong with yours. My ole 351HO averages 12.5, and I drive that with a foot to the floor. How many miles are on it?

Adrianspeeder

 

I'd heard at least one guy I know say that too. 12 mpg.

And I do imagine 4wd would take more gas, but only when it's in use right? If you stick with 2wd, mileage would be better.

What's your Lariat? An extended cab right? 4 doors or 2? I think that'd affect it.