Strength of a mouse? - Diesel Forum

Wherezat · 01-12-2003, 05:14 PM

Well I guess I've always thought it kinda funny to see an F 250 with a 5.4 in them, I've never driven one. But now that I need another truck and have been shopping for quite some time I'm considering an F 250 with a 5.4... just an extended cab with short bed. I guess my question is does this engine really do these trucks justice? I mean I'd really love to get a diesel but don't want to part with the money right now and haven't really seen many v-10's that I thought were worth the asking price... around here that is. The only thing I would really be hauling is a 2-horse bumper pull trailer and a 77 jeep cj5 and both of those would be rare hauls. I've driven older (97-98) 250's with the 5.4 and they were fine. Just wanting some real world experience advice here I guess. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Manx · 01-13-2003, 08:14 AM

Mine does just fine
I don't haul much thou
Pushing snow it does every bit as well as the others
The 4:10 helps allot
Me and my brother in-law have raced trucks
His v-10 with 3.73 is only a truck and a half in front
from a dead stop to about 80 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]
I'd say test drive a couple and see what you can live with

6spd · 01-14-2003, 12:03 PM

Bought my 5.4L F250 for towing and off (or very bad) roading. Drove the 6.0L diesel, but couldn't justify the price difference, especially with the $2000 rebate on the gas engines.

My personal opinion is that the 5.4L gets a bad wrap because the 4-spd auto blunts the performance. The 6-spd is much better, both for performance and mileage. Have logged 14.7MPG overall for first 1500 miles. I keep detailed maint records, including each fuel fillup.

Currently own a 3500 lb. Trailmanor which I used to tow with an F150, 4.6L V8 5spd. It was marginal due to transmission weakness. Look forward to towing with the new rig when the weather breaks here in March.

Bill.

obonaventure · 01-14-2003, 01:31 PM

This has been a troublesome point for me. I currently own a 1995 GMC Suburban, 1/2 ton, 5.7l. I have no idea what HP or what rear gears. The Sub has a max tow rating of 7500# and I tow a 5500# travel trailer on average of two times a month (about 500 miles per month) from May to September.

My next vehicle will be a Superduty (F250 or a F350). My concerns are how can the SuperDuty have a higher tow rating with a smaller engine? I would think I would do better with a 6.8l V10, but you don't see them on the lots at all around here.

And when if you factor in the gear ratio I'm even more confused about what to do. With these vehicles I'm not too concerned with gas mileage, but I would like to see a somewhat respectable number for unloaded highway miles and at the same time have the power to pull.

robsd · 01-14-2003, 03:00 PM

Speaking for the Suburban I think they tow very well. My wife drives 99 2wd with the 5.7. The thing flat screams! My SD is a 4x4 LB CC v10 3.73 so of course it weighs a ton (or more) than the Suburban. But if ever lined them up it would be no contest.

On our weekend trips to east Texas when pulling the usual load on a trailer (5x12 with some ATV's) her truck actually does quite well. I'm pretty sure her gears are somewhere in the 3.50 range. Her rpm's are lower than mine at like speeds. I've never checked the final OD ratios between the two.

With my light towing a 5.4 would be fine.

Rob

iski3d · 01-16-2003, 07:58 PM

I have a 5.4 with a 5 speed and it works fine. i do some heavy off roading occasionally and a lot of towing and plowing and its good.

fredvon4 · 01-17-2003, 09:45 AM

This is an area where Ford actually does itself wrong by conservativly rating their engines. The V8 gas motors in the larger trucks are more than adequate. Understand though, you will NOT win any 0 to 60 races with a load hooked up! But down the road and over the mountains it will go. We use the E-350 van here for people hauling, and the V8 auto screams down the highway with 10 200pounders inside. Many times a year I travel to WDC, Seattle, San Diego, and Atlanta. Most of the Rental car shuttles are some sort of Ford E-350/450 with a step up bus/passenger body (very heavy) with a full load and standing room only... the driver can manage to weave in and out of traffic, merge onto a freeway and haul it all to a stop with Jeff Gordon like skill... very impressive for a lowly V8

Oh and don't forget.... the after market has MANY power adding gadgets for these motors [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif[/img]

I still think the V10 is the way to go cuz you never can have too much torque!