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Random Quote: Well Mr. Carpetbagger, we have something around here called a Missouri boat ride
My 2004 Ford F-150 stinks with gas mileage. I am considering trading but under real world situations, would the new 4.0 V6 Taco get better fuel economy than my V8 F-150? I am towing short distances like 6 to 8 miles one way. The truck is used most ripping down the interstate getting to the beach on weekends (130 miles one way).
Think it is work down sizing to save on fuel economy? Thoughts?
FYI - I already have a beater to get around town and work commute, but the beater will not pull a boat.
Gas mileage wouldnt be that much better in the Yoda. I would probably stick with the V8. A few MPG better is not worth going through the motions of selling/buying a new vehicle IMO.
Don't bother I don't think you'll ever recoup the trade loss. Here's some real world info for you. My 05 Tundra V8 4X4 gets better MPG than my 04 Tacoma ever did.
__________________ God doesn't bother me. His fan clubs do.
A mind is like a parachute, it only works when its open
It was either 06 or 07 that Ford changed the 5.4 to a three valve system. I have an 07 that gets much better mileage that some of the older ones I've driven. Might be least painful to trade yours in on a new one.
A couple mpg is not going to be worth while, and the F-150 should still be the better tow vehicle of the two. I considered the Tacoma, but the V6 does not get much better mileage than the V8 in my Tundra.
What is your F150 getting for highway driving, my Tundra is between 18 and 20 without the boat, more like 9-10 with it.
__________________ 2009 NauticStar 2200 Bay Tournament Edition with 175 hp Suzuki 4-stroke
boatdiver - 10/10/2007 12:56 PMIt was either 06 or 07 that Ford changed the 5.4 to a three valve system. I have an 07 that gets much better mileage that some of the older ones I've driven. Might be least painful to trade yours in on a new one.
OK, probably not much better on gas, if any, but an SUV is easier to park than any pickup.
AND more space to lock stuff up if traveling. If I could use a pickup for work, then that would be a big plus for a pickup. Otherwise, something easier to park and get thru traffic is a plus for me.
__________________ Vic in Osprey FL
2005 Triumph 210 CC
Thing is, I have almost decided to trade anyway. Do the newer V8's really get 18 like they say? If so, I can see how a v6 with 20 wouldn't be that much difference.
Go Diesal if you can swing the extra initial outlay and you run up enough miles every year to make it worthwhile. 2003 F250 with 6.0 diesal, 21-24mpg on the highway unladen, 16-19 mpg towing 5000lbs of boat motor and trailer at 64 mph
SORRY Had 2 diesels -- a regular person can NOT drive enough miles-- there is NO diesel advantage since the fuel is 30 -35 cents higher and oil and filter change is at least twice that of gas engine-- PS your Ford is getting the best fuel mileage I have ever heard of for a 6.0-- Why did Ford bring out a new a new engine if 21 -24 MPH----- Had 6.0 towed 3 times when it shut down-- Ford purchased it back---Present diesel (04) 81K and have averaged 17-18 @ 2000 RPMs-- only once did I get over 20MPG and I drove under 60 mph---- You must drive downhill all the time--
I agree with Eyehooker, I had 6.0 pos Ford that got 14.1 mpg for 83k. I've never heard of anybody getting anywhere close to 20 mpg with one. Not to mention, its a once a month trip to the shop with those worthless engines.
My results with the diesels have been completely different. I own two 6.0 F-250 and both have been great. I recently drove the 2005 from California to Florida and back. Driving to Florida with no trailer, I had no problem getting 20 mpg.
I am going to replace one of my shop trucks, a 2001 F-150 with the 5.4 with the 2005 2WD 6.0 F-250 because the diesel, in spite of weighing a lot more than the 150, gets better mileage. We retire the trucks at about 200,000 miles. With that kind of usage, the diesels are the only answer. Now, what we really need is a decent small diesel in a half ton truck. They are coming. Look at the number of sprinters you see out there and you'll know the market is there.
200k is not enough to retire a diesel, the numbers dont work for me at all, I'm thinking 400k, and a 6.0 would cost 100k to keep running that long
I respectfully disagree. The retirement comes because the resale value on any of trucks that are smaller than 1 ton falls very rapidly as the miles increase. The problem is not limited to trucks. Try to sell a passenger car with 125k on it and you find the market is not good. In reality it is a balance of the tax depreciation rate and the resale value that puts most commercial trucks on the market.
As far as it costing 100k to run it that far, I agree, if that includes the fuel costs. But I'm thinking you've just grabbed a number because you don't like Ford's or 6.0s. You are entitled to your opinion, but I don't think the number is right in the real world.
I find very little resale in any vehicle with 200k on it, maybe others do. As far as Fords or 6.0's, I've had plenty and have had good luck with ps's and 7.3's. But Ford has definately gone way downhill with their later stuff. Hopefully they will get the bugs worked out of the 6.4, but, International and Fords are not on the the best friends list right now, And that is not a good thing.
Unfortunately, we can thank the Tree Huggers for the new diesel engine in all of the "Big Three" new trucks built after Dec 31 2006. The Gubmint got involved and decided that Kalifornia's problem is everybodys problem and mandated that Ford GM and Dodge change their engines to burn ULS Diesel exclusively. I bought an 07 Ford diesel strictly for this reason. It was the last of the 6.0 Power Stroke Diesels. It can safely burn the new ULS "Ultra Low Sulfur" diesel, but can also burn the cheaper regular low sulfur or just regular diesel, which is basically gone from the pumps now. That is why diesel fuel went up, it is new "Special tree hugger brand" diesel that OH, buy the way just happens to cost a bunch more.
The 6.4 engine has a completely new filter system and more complex maintenence schudule that costs the owner more money to maintain than the 6.0. The new filters that were put in is what requires the ULS fuel. This is really what I didn't want. Plus the 6.4 is unproven thus far, and I remember the problems of the original 6.0 engine that replaced the 7.3
It is sad that Ford had finally worked all the bugs out of the 6.0 and was forced to change it for sales in the US. I believe they still sell the 6.0 for export sales only.
And as far as MPG on a diesel engine, the longer you drive it, the better the milage gets. Break in on my engine is at 100,000K and I can expect better and better milage as I get there, and better as I pass that mark.
My truck has less than 5000 miles on it and gets about 15-17 around town. I havent gone on a trip yet so don't know what I get on HWY????
Plus, I can get as big of a boat as I want...........
Quote:
Eyehooker - 10/11/2007 4:53 PM
SORRY Had 2 diesels -- a regular person can NOT drive enough miles-- there is NO diesel advantage since the fuel is 30 -35 cents higher and oil and filter change is at least twice that of gas engine-- PS your Ford is getting the best fuel mileage I have ever heard of for a 6.0-- Why did Ford bring out a new a new engine if 21 -24 MPH----- Had 6.0 towed 3 times when it shut down-- Ford purchased it back---Present diesel (04) 81K and have averaged 17-18 @ 2000 RPMs-- only once did I get over 20MPG and I drove under 60 mph---- You must drive downhill all the time--
__________________ My boat
Clearwater 2400 Baystar
200 HP Yamaha 4 stroke
My day job
I have an '06 Tacoma. Had a Z71 Tahoe before the Tacoma. I love my truck. I gained about 4-5 mpg. The Tacoma is a great truck. Wont ever rattle... great quality all around. One you go Jap, you won't go back. And I never thought I'd say that. Pulls my 22' bayboat with ease. Good luck!
To those who said The Tacoma gets the same mileage as the v8 fords, you must drive like my drag racing friends. Almost 75 percent of the trucks on the road here in Hawaii are Toyotas. Figure that one out. They are reliable and get 17 to 18 mpg compared to the 12 to 14 mpg the 150's and dodges get. Only the people from the mailand who move here own Found on Road Deads and Douche Rams. All the locals own Toyotas and our old 1980 abused Toyota pickup 4x4 is still running to this day after 20+ years of pulling a boat.
Tacoma or F-150??? 
