got a few easy questions, 1) how does your truck pull , about what is the real limit? 2) how many miles a gallon do you get?

 

I'll try to answer your questions... but they seem kind of vague.

1) My truck pulls fine... not to mention hauling stuff that is not even recommended for the V8s. But here is a small list of what I've pulled/loaded:
My '99 F150 V6 Manual 5SPD, Supercab, 6' Bed 2wd:
- Towed a 6000 lb boat with ease.
- Hauled 2500 lbs of concrete and other junk
- Towed a Chevy Blazer that had his parking brake set for 20 miles. (He was trying to figure out why his truck smelled like it was burning, like duh!)
- Ripped trees out, bushes, shrubs... etc.

My '07 F150 5 spd stick, 4.2l 2wd, Reg Cab, LWB, 8' bed -
- Hauled 2400 lbs worth of top soil
- Hauled 2000 lbs of sheet rock
- Ripped a small tree out


With a 4x4, if you needed to pull a stuck friend out... throw in low, and drop it in 1st, and you are all set. Remember, you've got 1 extra gear that those automatics don't have, and since 1st in the manual it is such a short gear. You've got the advantage!

 

good.i was worried about hauling my hot rod, what about the mileage

 

Don't worry, if it could handle a 6000 lb 28' Searay boat with no issue, with my '99 with the Supercab, there is no reason you can't pull it. I bet my '07 would do a better job that the '99 because it is a regular cab Long bed.

As far as MPG go, I get around 19 mpg with about 400 lbs of tools in the back. The worst I got was like 15 mpg and that was driving it hard a few times (burning rubber and fooling around). The best I ever saw out of both trucks was my '99 got 23 mpg on the highway, because I went 50 mph the entire way.

 

I get between 15.75 and 16.5 mpg.

 

Thats about what I get, low of 13mpg, summer time with the ac on in 90* + heat, high 16-17 highway. They are not bad trucks. You will have to look for a 97-04 Heritage Ed to get a 4X4 V-6 5 speed. The V-8 is not that much bigger, 4.2 L to a 4.6L I have put about 10 cubic yards of maluch in my bed with no prblems at all.

 

ok..cool ..guys..i love the 5 speed ..and 4x4, i was totally impressed with the v6 power and tq..lots more than my 86 f150 302 v8 motor..even though it has 300,000 miles on it..lol..

 

Actually the V6 has the low end torque compared to the 4.6l V8 down by 100 rpms. However, yes, there is NO replacement for displacement.

Here's the difference:

4.6l V8 -
231 HP @ 4750 RPM
293 ft/lbs @ 3500 RPM

4.2l V6 -
202 HP @ 4800 RPM
252 ft/lbs @ 3400 RPM

There is a difference between 41 ft/lbs and 30 hp. Is it really a kick in the pants difference? Not really... because with about $1000 or less invested in mostly bolt ons, you can acheive more out of the V6, might be more than the stock V8. For example: I added an exhaust, K&N CAI, and reprogrammed the ECU in my Dodge Dakota with the 4.7l V8 with the 5 speed. Supposibly the K&N and Exhaust is supposed to free up 40 hp and 50 ft/lbs (according to accurate dyno results). Did I notice a difference? Not really, yes it is a little noticeable... but nothing really like a shot of NOS or a super charger. So if you want to waste more money on gas and a bigger block, then go do it...

What I'm trying to get at is the fact that the .4 liters and the extra 2 cylinders are just not that noticable. Heck, people have supercharged the V6 and wound up getting more power that even the 5.4l V8 supercharged! Figure that one out...

 

Not to start a flame war but the only real reason to buy a F150 with a V6 is the price of the truck. Some people simply either can't or don't want to spend the money for V8 powered truck.(My o6 XLT sticker'd for low 30s). When it comes to fuel milage. I get 19.5 with about 500 pounds of stuff in the bed with my 5.4L.
Yes you can achieve as much V6 performance as you wallet will allow with after-market mods. I have seen full sized street legal V6 F150's run 12 second quarter mile passes and still be used like a truck at the end of the day.
With that being said a bigger motor won't work as hard as a smaller one. That's why the V6's and the V8's get close to the same fuel economy until you load them down. With a large load the V8 powered truck will get better mileage because it doesn't have to work as hard. Also there is no way intake and exhaust alone will make 40 extra ponies on a stock motor of any kind. Those are good mods and will help your motor to run more efficiently, but like you said, you are not going to feel it much. The 4.2 isn't a bad little motor. It doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get into a new truck, it will haul and tow anything most people will need, and will last a long time if you take care of it. Its not the best choice, but being the most affordable one makes it a winner every time you write that truck payment check.

 

The 4.2 isn't a bad motor. The heaviest thing i have pulled with one was a probe on a trailer from maryland clear back to Ohio it was my friends dads 4.2 5sp 2wd same as my truck only 2wd. It actually pulled quite well. My truck only hauls my 4 wheeler and some landscape stuff around and does great. My truck averages around 17 and have gotten 20 out of it once or twice. I am very pleased for a 4x4. Granted to get that good i don't hot rod around just take it easy..