v 10 gas mileage expectations/1999 F550 am I crazy ?

[Towtruckmike]

Hi there, first time post in this forum.Funny, gas topics in a diesel forum but here it goes!I am looking at a used 1999 F550 v10 cab and chassis to put a 19'steel flatbed car carrier body on.It has 93K miles,new trans,XLT to boot! runs great and has a attractive price.Is 10 MPG @ 9800lbs empty and 8.5-10 possible these days on 87 gas? Have had 2 f450's in the past 90 and 92 models w/5 speeds.They got 9 MPG low on power though.Please let me know your thoughts and experiences.Dirtfarmer I think, in your avitar you have a f450 do you like it? I expect to put about 35-40K a year on this truck.Thanks in advance for any help.Mike

[Solo2puller]

No real life experience to offer, just numbers. My V10 does 12 mpg easily, but it's used quite a bit differently than your situation.

I can't say for sure what mpg you'll get, but I'd guess 10 or less. The 99's had less power than the later motors, so you may end up flogging it a bit - depends on your driving style and how much of a hurry you're in. Don't let it idle unless you have to - that will help.

If your buy-in is cheap enough, you can put a lot of gas in it before it hurts you financially. At 37.5K per year and 9mpg avg, you'll burn through about 4200 gallons of fuel, and spend $9500 at $2.29/gallon.

This may be a good case for a PSD, but it really depends on how much more you've got to pay for it, how much better it would do on fuel, and how long you want to keep it. If you could get 11 mpg with a PSD you'd consume about 3400 gallons of diesel fuel, at $2.59/gal that'll cost you about $8800, at $2.69/gal your fuel bill will be about $9200. If you can get 12 mpg out of the PSD those numbers change to $8100/$8400.

Insert current prices for both fuels where you live to get a more 'local' comparison, but remember that fuel prices for both types can be very volatile. I also have no idea if that mpg number is close for either motor. If you were getting 9 mpg with a 90 and 92, they probably had a carbed or early injected 460. The V10's tend to do a little better than the 460's on fuel, but I'd plan on what you were getting before to be safe. Somebody else will have to help you with the PSD mpg numbers, but I'd say 11 is easily doable, and 12 probably is too.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[Towtruckmike]

Thanks for you input, the prior f450's were efi motors.They gave me good service (169 and 200K) miles and sold them to friends that are still friends.The reason behind getting gas is because in ca. psd trucks are CRAZY in price.I had a 97 psd, nice truck weak trans.The used ones are beat to s^&t and the good ones cost as much as new.The fact that the newer 6.0 is suspect is no new news.I work for a large ford dealership and don't want to give them a check (but I'll take there's)A friend of mine has a new 05 f350 w/ 21K miles. 22 days of downtime at $400/ day he lost alot more than the 2-3MPG difference he gained.My new medium F650's have 5.9 cummins and I LOVE that motor.If dodge indeed comes out w/ a 19000GVW light truck ford will loose a lot of market share.Not trying to start a fight,most of the PSD and Cummins & Duramax guys on these boards play with trucks, I work mine, It's my bussiness.Just looking for replies to make an informed purchase on a hopefully sound,dependable, reasonably priced truck.Anyone else w/ experience in these chassis I would like to heare from,Thanks,Mike.

[rblundg]

I drive an F550 at work It has the v10 & is geared quite low. Either 4.30 or 4.56. At 75 on the freeway in drive the motor is really screeming I think around 4,000 rpm but is not to bad in overdrive.
I get 5-7 mpg around town & have never gotten above 9 on the freeway. Usually 7-8mpg on the freeway. It has a fiber glass utility body on it (kinda like a small camper) with bins on the outside. Also a generator & air compressor. I just had the trans. rebuilt at 80,000 mile & now has 85,000 on it. I really like the truck for what I do except trans. but I drive it hard. So some of that may be my fault.

My 97 Power stroke with over size 5th wheel loaded with 4 horses & lots of eq. usually will get between 9-12 mpg depending how hard I push it & 16-20 on freeway depending again on how hard or fast I want to drive. It has more power towing than the F550 loaded with less.
But with diesel fuel where its at its a toss up. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]