My V-10 Experience

[Conocoan]

The local Ford dealership ran a sale on Excursions. He had 5 with engines ranging from the 5.4, V-10 and the PSD. The deal was $10,000 of sticker and 5.9% financing. I went with every intention of buying the PSD. Drove it around for half the day. But, it had the dreaded idle knock. I could only hear it when I stood on the passenger side but it was clear as a bell.

So, I decided to drive the V-10. Wow, what a difference! Quite, fast, and really smooth. It also seemed to handle better. Probably because the front end was so much lighter. The first tank of gas averaged 13.9 mpg with 70% highway and about 30% town driving.

I'm not knocking the PSD, in fact I have been planning on buying one to pull my 5er but I just have to say that the V-10 really impressed me. One other point is that the V-10 Excursion that I bought turned out to be a 2000 model so I rangled him down to 1.9% financing. I can buy a lot of gas with the money I saved in financing alone.

I still haven't rulled the V-10 out for my next truck, I just don't have a feel for how they pull. The only thing the X will be pulling is a 4,000 lb boat. But I do know one thing, they are fun to drive!

[Chainsaw6]

I have a cargo trailer with a gvwr of 10,000, I loaded 60 5/8" 4'x12' pieces of sheetrock yesterday and hauled it off to a job. The trailer had most of my tools in it to boot. I figure I was close to the 10000 gvwr for the trailer and this thing had no problem what so ever pulling that load. On the flats you didn't hardly feel a thing and up hills it just ate them up!:O) It was the first time I tried pulling some weight and I am glad for trailer brakes though!

[jkbridges]

I pulled an 11k travel trailer from Atlanta to San Diego and back this past July. Went out on I-20/I-10/I-8 and came back on I-40. Total of 5317 miles averaging 9.0 miles/gal. The V10 was more than enough engine for the camper.

Did I mention that I love my truck... [img]images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]

Jeff

[wjmccusker]

I tow a 5th wheel. It weighs 12,700 dry. Towed it through Massuchusetts dry & empty. I slowed slightly (62mph) on hills because I didn't want to get on it.

The first time I towed loaded performance was much less than expected. This is my first experience in a fifth wheel and have since reviewed what I have in it and cut down the weight. Haven't towed again yet.

Went with the V10 because I only tow a few times a year and my wife liked the handling and noise level better than the PSD.

I plan to add headers, cat back & FIPK before the next tow.

[NoMo]

Welcome to our "club".

Once you get over the inhibitions of twisting the engine to 5000+ RPMs, you'll find that the gassers are very capable engines.

Have fun! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Conocoan]

Thanks for the input guys. It helps a lot.

I have the truck I want nailed down, just trying to narrow down the engine & trans. I plan on ordering an F-350 CC 4x4 SRW Short Bed.

I am currently pulling a 2001 27' HR 5er that weights just under 9,000 lbs loaded. It's heavier than the factory said it would be but I'm not too upset as I had already planned on up grading trucks.

Bottom line is:
1. I plan on keeping the truck a long time.
2. It will average around 14,000 miles per year.
3. It will probably pull the camper about 3,500 miles per year.
4. I'm not worried about the gas engine holding up. 10 years will only equate to 140,000 miles. I have no doubt the engine will be up to that. I resently rode in a 97 F-150 with the 5.4 with 326,000 miles. (Pure Highway though)

There are things I like about both engines. I like how easy it is to make big horse power with the diesel. But I like how smooth and quite the V-10 runs.
Tough choice. What do you guys think? [img]images/icons/crazy.gif[/img]

[Tank]

Personal choice, pure economics will say gasser, everyone is convinced they made the right decision, me to.
See signature. [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Scott