I have an f350 dually, powerstroke super cab. Darn near a semi. I only tow a trailer four or five times a year, so I need something a little more economical, but when I do tow it is either 7500 lbs worth of gravel in a dump bed (12 miles) or 6 or 7k of tractor on a bumper pull. Can an f150 handle this? And if so, what does the mpg look like?

 

What kind of mileage do you get with the PSD? I doubt that any F-150 gasser will get better than even an F350 diesel. A buddy of mine gets 18mpg city with his D/A combo and up to 22 highway. You'll never touch that with an F-150 w/ 5.4L and 3.55 or 3.73 rear gear you'd need to tow that much. Seriously, keep your big rig. Economically, it doesn't make sense.

7500pounds is within the tow ratings for most F-150's, but it won't be quick.

 

I downgraded back in 01 from a f-250 SD PSD to my current 98 f-150, and I regret it every day. My PSD got so much better fuel economy it's not even funny, especially after I chipped it (Superchips 80 HP "tow program"). I got 21-23 mpg with it whether loaded or unloaded. Even under the best conditions, I dont get more than 15 mpg with my 150, and I've gotten as low as 4 mpg when towing...(and I tell you what, that really sucked getting 100 miles per tank, with some gas stations being 200 miles apart... Had to carry an extra 6 five gallon jugs) and I am really straining it more on the occasions that I do tow. You've already paid the premium for a PSD, so if I were you, I would never consider downsizing. Yes, the 150 felt like a sportscar as far as handling, and parking lot manners go, but it is slower and weaker on acceleration and passing power.

 

Yah, don't do it. The go peddle is sooo worth it!! But it you still want to down size I can deliver and pick up

 

What are you towing to get that low of gas mileage? I have a 4.6 with 3.55LS rear end, 4x4, ext cab, and i've carried in my bed an 8 foot camper and towed a 19 foot boat. granted its not 7500 lbs, but my mileage was nowhere near as poor as that either, and i had some wicked bad hills to climb. Even at my worst, my mileage has been 290 miles to a tank...


Anyways, for the original poster, I don't think I would downgrade either, unless you are doing it for more reasons than just feeling like way too much truck for the few times you tow. like akheloce said, if its for a bunch of other reasons like handling, sheer size, worrys about fixing diesel in the future, etc. then i wouldn't do it either.

My .02

Tanner

 

Ya, a 150 can do it, if it's spec'd right.

If you wanted to keep the diesel, down grade to a single rear wheel. Doing that would probably make the most sense.

 

My powerstroke only gets 12mpg loaded or not. . . 10 on the highway. My average oil chang runs around $40 and lets not even talk about class E tires.

Granted I am torn. Anyone had trouble with a 5.4? Don't know much about them.

 

I was towing a 3 horse slant bumper pull weighing about 6800 lbs... 4.6, 3.55, 4x4. It was the wind resistance, not the weight. In the plains states, and provinces, I got about 4 mpg, it picked up to 6-8 once I got into the rockies, and the headwinds died down.

And for the OP... That is WAY too low mileage, I think something is wrong there. Even when stock, I got 17-19 mpg with my 250. Even a dually CC shouldn't be that much worse.

 

IMO, if that's all you are towing (#7500 dump bed trailer/#7000 tractor on a hauler) and you don't ever plan on getting a large 5th wheel trailer, and your PS is only giving you 12 mpg at best, then I'd consider a 2004 or above F150... They do have a #8200 GVWR optioned F150 that would probably fit your needs a lot better.. The 'standard' GVWR for the new F150's are only #7200 I think?

Get a decent Class 4 hitch that can handle at least 750/7500 of 'hitch it and tow' trailer weight (the same hitch will be rated for more if you use a Weight Distribution hitch setup BTW... )

The 5.4 is a good engine. The new F150's have the 3v version, so it's power numbers are higher, but at higher rpms too.... So, you want to get 3.73 gears or 4.10's would be better. (the HD F150's should come with 4.10's)

What year F350 Dually do you have? 12 mpg sounds pretty low... Is it running like it should? My dad has a 2005 Dodge (ugh.. but that Cummins is a nice diesel...) 3500 dually and he gets 12 mpg towing a very heavy high profile 5th wheel RV (I can stand up in the bedroom, and I'm 6'3" tall!)

Anyway, good luck with the decision!

Mitch

 

creighta I traded in my V-10 powered F-250 2 years ago for a 2001 F-150 5.4 tow package etc. the old V-10 got the same mileage and had a lot more power, I regret it everyday expecially as I lost room in the cab even though both had the supercab .

I'd get a chip for the diesel and a cai as well as a decent flowing exhaust you should be able to get better fuel mileage and pull even better.

if I could go back in time I'd have kept my Superduty

 

My truck is a 99 auto w/ 4.10s. Used to get 14 till ULS came out a few months ago. Still runs like a new one, but low mpg and not enough jump to spin tires on wet pavement.

Neighbor had a v10 and hated it. Only got 8mpg and was real sluggish. As for the cummins (i refuse to refer to dodge as a truck) My sister had an 05 that got 23mpg, but was in the shop at least once a month for some problem or another.

 

How many miles do you drive a year? How many of them are towing?

Personally, I would just find a good deal on a used F250 PSD and call it a day if I was towing that much weight. That way you're "downgrading" but not that much... 7500lbs of gravel in a dump bed is a trailer with a GVWR of over 10,000lbs, or did you mean 7500lbs for the trailer and gravel?

 

I put 10k a year or more on this truck as a daily.
That dump trailer is small. I can only haul 3t and the trailer is about 1500 or so. Did I mention that I only live 12mi from the quarry?

My real question is about the fuel economy. IF I downsize I am definitely going 150. I loved my 93 flareside, but needed the xcab for the fam.

By the way, JORLEE's truck makes me want to say screw the towing!! Sweet ride!

 

I traded my 95 PS, this last christmas for a 06 screw with the 5.4. I am very happy I tow a car trailer and an 18' aluminum boat and it does both just fine. Granted the power is not the same and the mileage is less while towing, but every day comuting mileage seems about the same as far as I can tell. You are not towing very often and your not going far so what is the big deal. I needed a crew cab for the family and to stick with the simalar package to the 150 in a deisel was 20K more. Thats a lot of fuel.

 

Gotcha. In that case, you should be fine...