First road trip and impressions of a 5.4

[SgtRock]

Sounds like you made the right choice indeed. The engine will only get stronger as it breaks in, too. Mine has made a noticable difference after 10k miles.

[KXHauler]

I have a similar truck, except 4x2 instead of 4x4.. Like you, I've noticed that the truck can easily pull hills even in 5th with extra accleration to spare..
Your mpg's are similar to mine as well. I average 15.5 in mixed driving, topping out at 17.8 if I do all highway, empty at mostly 60mph..

I testdrove the same truck except the auto tranny vs 5sp.. I'm not a fan of automatics anyway, and I could really feel the difference.. The truck is much more responsive with the 5sp..

[rdlV10]

Ford will give you seat belt extender's free.I got 2 for my truck.Just ask the dealer.

[Doogen]

I took delivery of my truck on the 12th of April. It is a F-250 4x4 SC SB with the 5.4 , 5sp, 4.10LS. This last weekend I decided to take a road trip to see my parents in Lewiston, ID. I was really excited to see how the truck would do pulling the Snoqualmie Pass and the Lewiston grade. I Left Thursday night and at the bottom of Snoqualmie pass I set the cruise on 75 in 5th gear and eagerly awaited to see what happened on the way up the Pass. The truck made its way up no problem and never fluctuated speed. The last mile is the steepest part of the pass and when I stepped on the gas to see if it had anything left it easily accelerated. It was starting to get dark on the way down the pass and for the first time I experienced what I now call headlight rage. As I was passing cars on the way down I noticed some people would turn their brights on once I got past them, I guess low beams on this truck are just to much for some people. With the big side mirros on this truck they can really light up the cab with their brights so I started turning my side mirrors out and pointed their light right back at em. Maybe I need to get a sign for the back saying those were my low beams. or start flashing people as I pass so they can see I am using low beams.

I noticed 2 small annoyances that I hadn't felt just driving around town. One the driver seatbelt really starts to hurt my collar bone after a while. I need to see if its adjustable or find a way to relieve some of the pressure on the spring. Two I am not use to the steering wheel so I found it to be uncomfortable after a while. The center piece with the air bag and controls on it is just to wide where it touches the steering wheel and where it sits I am use to holding on to the sterring wheel in all my other vehicles. Just something I need to get use to.

On the way home I had to pull the Lewiston hill which is a lot steeper the snoqualmie pass. This hills speed limit is 45mph until you get up it about 1/2 a mile and then changes to 65. I was in 4th going up and easily accelerated to 65 I then shifted to 5th and put the cruise control on. The truck held no problem all the way up but it would not accelerate in 5th gear. This grade is 8 or 9% and has several runnaway truck ramps so I am satisfied that it held in OD, 4th is no problem at all and accerated quickly up it. My uncle has the old version of the 5.4 in his SD and he has to pull it in 4th and he can just barely accerate up and uses third when pulling it with his trailer.

Overall I couldn't be happier and feel I made the right choice in engines and axle ratio for this truck. The 5sp is a joy to drive. So far the best mpg I have seen was 15 doing 65mph and it dropped to 12.5 doing 75 mph in a headwind. This truck it very very snappy I noticed if I wasn't paying attention I could easily creep to 70 or 80 and you can quickly get up speed to pass. This trucks seems to love running between 2000 and 2600 RPM which is 55 to 75 mph in 5th gear [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

[Doogen]

Thanks rdlV10 I did not know that.

[robsd]

You mean a v-8 will pull this truck. NO WAY MAN.

Just kidding. I always get a kick when someone says the v-8 won't pull this truck. It sounds like it fits your driving needs perfectly. Enjoy your new ride.


Rob

[3992824]

I just might get a chance to challenge those 'hills', Doogen. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] We're on our way out there this summer to visit our friends with our V10 Excursion towing a '27ft 6000 lb trailer.

I'm thinkin we'll be alright especially with the Banks Powerpack installed. [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

[outpost22]

I had the same annoying "collarbone cut" with my seat belt and couldn't adjust it out. I finally bought a sissy sheepskin pad to put over the strap and now it's fine. Looks like a real "manly" set-up though [img]images/icons/crazy.gif[/img] yeah, right....