How about swapping the rear gear to 3.55? Or, a chip to take better advange of the diesel efficiency? 14mpg still seems low for any unloaded PSD, especially the 7.3L.

Still, if you're looking for a brand new truck, a 2007 F-150 will ride like a sporty sedan comapred to a 99 dually.

 

I am thinking about a used super cab. The back seat is bigger than in my sd. A dealer by me just got an 01 5.4 They want 13k with 100k

My SD with 98k is only NADA'd at 18K. Have the 5.4s really held their value that well?

 

Nah, they're full of it. I bought my 2002 5.4L XLT with 29k miles on it for $15k out the door in CA a year ago. Truck is/was in perfect condition. Don't worry, some guy who never uses his truck as a truck will unload it for cheap...

 

Thanks for the advice everyone! My ball joints are being replaced right now and my wife wants to trade for an screw when the mech. gets it done.

Should probably also mention that my father in law just gave me an old dump truck.

 

No, that's actually about right. Anybody that claims to get 22 mpg out of an 8,000lb truck is crazy. I don't care what you say. Most PSD's that I know of get around 12-15 unless they're on the road, in which case they might get 16-18 maybe. Towing, they get around 9-12mpg. Physics, plain and simple. Diesels are not magic.

 

guess I must be crazy then... stock, on my 2000 PSD, I got 19 mpg, then after a 80 HP chip, and 4" downpipe, I got 23 highway, 20-21 city.

 

Nope, you're NOT crazy. I work on class 8 trucks and most of those guys have the diesels and tuners. They ALL get 18-21, Ford, Dodge and Chevy.

 

I know a lot of people that get 18 to 23 on 3/4 tons and a dodge or two that got over 20 on 1 ton drws, but 7.3L displacement, V8 config, and 7600# of FORD truck with 4:10s is not capable, or intended for 20 mpg.

BTW as bad as I do empty I have never done below 12 towing in 2wd. This truck seems to run better with a load.