I am going to order a 01 F350, 4x4, Crew Cab, Auto, Camper Pkg etc... and I'm not sure if I should get the 5.4 or PSD. I won't be towing anything that I don't think the 5.4 can't handle however I'm concerned about the mileage. I want the limited slip so I'd have to get 4.10 gears with the 5.4. Does anyone know what sort of mileage I'd get with this set up. Or with the PSD; I'd get 3.73 gears with the PSD.
If the only reason you would consider the PSD is for the fuel mileage the 5.4 would probably suit you just fine, unless you prefer the diesel for aesthetics!
I assume you won't need the towing/hauling power or you would have considered the V10 or the PSD.
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2000 Ford Excursion XLT 2WD, Chestnut/Parchment, V10, 3.73ls, autolamps/DRL's, Rear air deflector, Banks Powerpack with Transcommand, Edelbrock I.A.S's, 1 steel rear lift blocks, Tekonsha Sentinal. Towing a '00 Holiday Rambler 31 SKS, 10K gvwr
Foghorn
the combo you listed is very heavy as a base unit. I wont quote GWR's there are other experts onboard. I think you wouold be very unhappy with this heavy rig and a 5.4. You must ask youself why do I need a F350 and not need power Look at the majority of the trucks on the road and I think you would not find alot equiped with the 5.4. Go with the V10 at least, you will recoup the diff on resell or trade....
[This message has been edited by muckraker (edited 01-29-2001).]
I think that's a lot of truck for a 5.4(?) Your mileage will probably suffer due to the fact that you will always be "stepping" on your motor to get any where. I have similar (super cab instead of crew cab) and am glad for the V10. 5.4 would probably hurt in resale on that truck. If you 4-wheel it at all you DEFINITELY want more than the 5.4
The powerstroke would be fun too...just not my bag
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Y2k F350,V10,4x4,Lariat,SC,Auto,Tow pkg,camper pkg,K&N, off road,3.73,Rancho 9000, Air Ride,Long bed,Michelin LTX M/S,Lance Camper
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Y2k F350, white with harvest gold trim,V10,4x4,Lariat,SC,Auto,Tow pkg,camper pkg,ESOF, so-called limited slip, off road,3.73,Rancho 9000 w/ in cab control, Ride Rite Air Bags,Long bed,Rickson 19.5" wheels, Michelin XDE-MS,Lance Camper, BugDeflector2, Stull Grill, KN., Flowmaster 50
I currently own a 2001 4x4 SC with the 5.4 and 4.10LS. I use it for a work vehicle and for plowing snow. So far I have no complaints about this 'small' motor. There is no way I could justify the 7.3 and the V10 wasn't much better IMHO by my seat of the pants impressions. Its a big truck, not a sports car, once you get by that fact you'll be fine. My mileage numbers have been hovering around 12 with the hubs locked in nearly all the time. Plowing gets me around 7-8 mpg, but it sure is fun.
Out of curiosity, why do you need the one ton truck if you're not going to tow anything?
Good question! In the nut shell, I want the F350 for the payload. And since I'm going to spend that much money I might as well spend an extra $600 for the 350. I had my wife drive both the 250 and 350 and she said she didn't see much difference in the way they rode. She's now even encouraging me to get the PSD - I HAVE A GREAT WIFE!
I'd like to caution you to think about your driving "style" as well as "where" you'll be driving. Then, go to the other forums and check out some of the statements regarding mileage. As a comparison, my V10 w/4.30 gears gets 10/14 driving aggressively and at speeds in excess of 75mph (ummm, ok- 80+mph).
First of all, If you're getting an F-350, I'd either get the V-10 or the PSD. If you're worried about gas mileage and you plan to keep the truck a long time, get the PSD. If you're not and you won't be towing or hauling a lot, get the V-10. In my opinion, and my opinion only, the 5.4L isn't enough engine for that truck.
Second, don't waste your money on the limited slip rear end. After 3 months, it's no better than the regular open differential. If you really want the extra traction, get an open diff and then put some type of locker in it. With my limited slip, I had my two drivers side tires in a little bit of mud the other day, and the passenger side tires on a dry street. The tire in the mud was the only one spinning and that's all I was doing . . . spinning. I was pretty embaressed when all the cars in front of me at the red light took off when it turned green and I was sitting there spinning my tires. The folks behind me weren't too thrilled with it either, which is also another reason to upgrade your tires (the Steeltex A/S tires are no good off of concrete).
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2000 Lariat F-250 4x4, SD, SC, SWB, V-10, 3.73LS, Auto
__________________ Gig 'Em!! Official Member of the NRA, Texas A&M Association of Former Students, Bass Angler Sportsman Society, and the Associated Bilge Rats of the Other Forum
I am getting 11.5mpg city - winter driving 4x4, long warmups in the morning
Highway I get 14 running 70. I expect this may get up to 15.
Granted the 5.4 seems like a lawnmower engine next to the PSD, but I don't have any problems with it. When I first got it I was a little disappointed with it(I had been driving a rented PSD for 2 months at work) but once reality of the payments settles in, I am fine with it. If I were to do any towing regurlarly, I would get the psd. The 5.4 moves the truck fine. I can beat cars off the line if I jump on it, and that is enough for me.
Final thought.... The PSD is cool, but the $4000 in your pocket is cooler. (could be used to buy another toy!)
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Ordered 9/11, Dealer lot 11/9, my driveway 11/10 250 CC XLT Shorty, 5.4l, 5 SP, 4x4 & Off Road Pkg., Captains Chairs, 4.10 LS, Power TT Mirrors, Keyless, Sliding Rear w/Privacy Glass, Roof Lights and Highland Green(I guess I will deal with the parchment interior since they won't let me get the medium graphite (Communists!)).
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350 6.0 CC 04/04 Shorty, handshaker, 4x4
The PSD will also set you back another $4750 over the V-8. The oil changes are more (14qts of oil) and diesel is more than gas here in Texas (Houston). The diesel WILL get a little better fuel mileage.
Here's another fun fact, if you purchase the PSD for $4750(option price over the v-8), that's about 12% of a $40,000 sticker price. If you finance your truck, $40,000 for 60 months at 8% your payment will be about $811 per month with the total interest being about $8663. Just the $4750 over the same period and interest is about $96 of the $811 payment. And the interest on the engine would be about $1028. So the PSD price alone would cost you about $5775 and change over a 5 year loan. I realize you may not pay sticker but the percentage of the cost of the engine would still be about 12% of the overall cost of the vehicle and 12% of your payment and 12% of your loan interest.(please correct my numbers if they're incorrect )
Of course if your rich then you don't care.
The important thing is regardless of the engine your getting the best truck on the market!!
V10 Man, I put the Lock rite on my 90 F-150, front only. I don't like lockers (the ones I can afford) in the back. The lock-rite I bought for around $190. They sold me a used carrier for $10 since I had the LS. Lots of noise when turning with the Lock-rite. But it would lock up solid!
I think most of the posters have got the right idea. If you really don't need a PSD (I don't tow, but like my diesel) you should probably get the V10.
I know a number of "guys" with the V10's in their superduties and they really like the engines.
I also know a guy with a superduty and a guy with an excursion with the 5.4 - they are sorry the didn't get a bigger engine.
The 5.4 seems to be a good power plant in the 150's or expeditions, but a bit light on the bigger rigs. Resale for an F350 with the small V-8 will be lousy.
As I recall, the V10 was a bit less then 1k for the upgrade, well worth it. IMO
Or heck, go for the PSD.
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2000/F250 XLT CC 4X4 6spd
LB 305 Gy's Rancho 9000's and Stabilizer
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'03 F250 (7.3) 4X4 Auto CC, Long Bed XLT. AIC, Camper Shell and Sirrus Radio - Most of the options. Purchased via the courtesy of the DSB
Our F250 SD 4X2 CC SB XLT has the 5.4 V8 and a 4.10 rear.
Before going any further, however, let me say that this is **NOT** an anti-PSD post. In fact, our next truck may well be a PSD. I just think that different requirements often call for different solutions.
Our truck’s GVWR & GCWR are 8,800 lbs & 15,000 lbs (The V10 & 3.73 GCWR is 17,000 lbs), and with a 6,000 lb curb weight, we have 2,800 lbs of payload capacity. Our family, our “stuff” and the 500 lbs. of tongue weight from our 3,250 lb trailer uses up about 1,800 lbs (at the very most) of that capacity, which leaves us with a 1,000 lb reserve, or about 11% of GVWR.
Our typical maximum GCW is about 10,500 lbs, so we have a 4,500 lb cushion there, or about 30%. This gives us some room for ”growth”, and also helps our normally aspirated (i.e. non-turbo) engine deal with the occasional foray into higher terrain.
As some of you may have figured out from this and previous posts, I’m not big on pushing GVWR or GCWR limits. Also, we took our truck and camper up to 9,000 ft in NM this past summer. Ford “recommended” we decrease our GCW weight by 18% (2% per 1,000 ft) down to 12,300 lbs to “maintain performance”. We still had some cushion.
An extreme alternate solution to our requirements is a 350 SD 4X4 CC LB XLT PSD 3.73, which, although having a GVWR of 9,900 lbs, has the same payload capacity (~2,800 lbs) as our 250 due to the weight penalties of the PSD, the 4X4 components, the long bed and extra fuel. Its 20,000 lb GCWR would permit us to tow an additional ~3,900 lbs (20K less 15K less 1100 lb heavier truck); however, this is a capability we don’t need now, and won’t for several years.
The dealer cost difference between our 250 and the 350 above is ~$7.5K. Diesel fuel currently costs $1.699 locally, versus 1.549 for regular unleaded. Our truck averages about 12 MPG overall. If the PSD described above were to average 15 MPG, we’d have to drive the truck 474,183 miles (20 years?) to amortize that additional cost.
Now, I understand that we’d see a lot of that difference back at trade-in time (1/2?). But, the opportunity cost of that price difference, plus higher local taxes, insurance and maintenance would probably make that a wash. (Interesting case study exercise…).
So, does our 250 gasser make sense for, and meet, our current and foreseeable future load, towing, commuting, and geographic (mostly low-altitude east-coast) requirements in a capable, comfortable and cost-effective manner? Would we do it again? You bet!
Will a 350 PSD be better suited for our needs when we retire, the kids are grown and moved on (the supercab should be great “anti-boomerang” feature), we tow a heavier trailer more miles per year and at higher altitude in the mountain states? You bet!
I may even spring for the 4.10 option again.
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crewzer -- Y2K F250 SD 4X2 CC SB XLT 5.4LV8 AT 4.10LS 4W-ABS TTPkg etc. Black/Silver plus 285/75R16D tires, trans cooling fan, TT gauge & Magnefine filter.
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crewzer -- Y2K F250 SD 4X2 CC SB XLT 5.4LV8 AT 4.10LS
Look at the majority of the trucks on the road and I think you would not find alot equiped with the 5.4. Go with the V10 at least, you will recoup the diff on resell or trade....
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