Ok, some of you may remember that I bought an F250 CC 4x4 auto 3.73 diff(2002). I had hoped to get excellent highway milage but was bitterly dissapointed (10.5 mpg pulling a 2000lb v-nose trailer at 80 mph). After a year and a few months I traded it for an M3 :thumb: and bought a beater truck (94 Mazda B4000). A few things have changed and I am looking at upgrading the truck. I really like the idea of a diesel but only want one that gets good milage at 80mpg. Does a truck like this exist? If I buy again, I'd go 2wd, supercap , shortbed, manual tranny. Should I also consider a 3.5? diff?
F250 Diesel milage - revisited
- Thread starter Lemming
- Start date
dirt bike dave
Sponsoring Member
- May 3, 2000
- 5,348
- 3
FWIW, you will have approx. 31% more areodynamic drag at 80 mph vs. 70 mph. That extra speed just kills your mileage with a larger vehicle. Not sure if there is any good towing rig that will deliver excellent mileage at 80 mph - that is just pushing too much wind.
- Dec 26, 1999
- 19,765
- 1
If it was a 7.3 I can imagine 10.5 WAS good under those conditions! The 7.3 is not a rev happy engine and anything over 2000 RPM will make mileage go south fast. An automatic & 4x4 is about the worst combination for mileage I can imagine unless you add 4.10 gears to the mix. If you want a 7.3 (used at this point I'm sure) that will get good mileage then what Oldguy and I drive is about your best best. Freeing up the air filtration and adding a MILD chip/programmer with 4" exhaust will actually help mileage some. You might be able to find a used Dodge Cummins that will be a bit better mileagewise but I was not impressed with that truck running it over 70mph. It really seemed to just run out of steam and that was in 4 different trucks, the H.O. version seemed to be a bit better. If you are looking at the 6.0 Ford then I'm sure something around 16 even with the 4x4 & automatic is very possible.
What about the new chevy 3500? Was thinking of one of these with a full size camper insert and my enclosed trailer 4000-lbs loaded.
From what I see, the Ford F350 does not have as much bed capacity (weight) as does the chevy by about 1000-lbs -- thus can't put the full size camper insert on the Ford.
From what I see, the Ford F350 does not have as much bed capacity (weight) as does the chevy by about 1000-lbs -- thus can't put the full size camper insert on the Ford.
All stock Dodge. When I hit over 2000 rpms and the turbo kicks in, kiss the milage good bye, at 80 it's about the same as Kiwi, I have yet to average less than 11mpg over the course of a trip, this pulling a horse Trailer, flat nose, and about 6000lbs. I probably average around 14 when I drive, 11 when the wife drives ;) She can talk her self out of tickets :scream:
High Lord Gomer
Poked with Sticks
- Sep 26, 1999
- 11,788
- 35
My 97 F250, Crewcab, 2WD, 7.3, .355 rear, 5 speed manual would get 15 at 80 (or so) unloaded, 13 pulling a 6x12 enclosed trailer. I've never driven over 80 so I can't tell you about 90. ;)
The only problem with the .355 rear was that the truck didn't seem to run decently until at least 80. Fully loaded (275 gallons of water and trailer) it could maintain speed up hills at 80-85 but not at 70-75 without downshifting.
The only problem with the .355 rear was that the truck didn't seem to run decently until at least 80. Fully loaded (275 gallons of water and trailer) it could maintain speed up hills at 80-85 but not at 70-75 without downshifting.
TooBadBrad
Member
- Jan 31, 2003
- 55
- 0
My 03 F250 6.0 4x4 auto gets 16 to 17 empty or light load, 14 around town, 13 to 14 towing a 25ft trailer with 2 bikes in the back. I never tow at more than 65, can't afford the tickets. This is real milage figures, not the onboard computer figures. It goes in for a reprogram which is supposed to help the around town figure. BTW, I've had no problems with this truck, and it runs great!
We have a 03 Ford F350 4x4 auto 6.0 diesel. We use it mostly for farming. Here lately we've been towing about 12,000lbs. on short trips(about 7mi.). Even in the cold weather and idling lots we still average about 11mpg. On the highway not towing get about 16mpg. And that was when it was brand new.
P.S. 411s Crewcab longbed duelly.
P.S. 411s Crewcab longbed duelly.
Tnrider, don't be fooled. The payload capacity is based on the GVWR minus the curb weight of a base model truck unless specifically listed otherwise. The diesel sucks up some of that payload, the a/c, the radio, the power seats, the passengers, etc. also count against payload. If you are really going to load up one of these diesels with even a medium sized camper, about the only way to stay legal is with a dually and even then the heavy campers go over.
Before you make the mistake, weigh the truck to see what the true curb weight is. Same thing with the camper, the base weight does not usually include any options, propane, water, batteries, etc. You can be hurting in a hurry.
Before you make the mistake, weigh the truck to see what the true curb weight is. Same thing with the camper, the base weight does not usually include any options, propane, water, batteries, etc. You can be hurting in a hurry.
Pretty much any truck's mileage is going to suffer at 85mph, especially towing. I've got a '03 Chevy 2500HD 4x4, with the duramax and 6speed. It's got 3.73's and 35" tires (30" were stock) so gearing is pretty tall now, about 3.3. I kept it pegged at 85mph 99% of the time for 4400 miles going to dirtweek and back, with bikes and other stuff in the box, maybe 1000lbs worth, and got 15mpg, but I've gotten 25 before driving at 60-65mph empty.
High Lord Gomer
Poked with Sticks
- Sep 26, 1999
- 11,788
- 35
Yeah, but those are Canadian gallons and Canadian miles, so you have to factor in the appropriate conversion. :o
- Thread starter
- #18
Well after all that I ended up with a gas-fired Exploder. I'll throw a bike hauler on back to get to the club and back (60 miles each way). I should be able to get around 20mph at 80 with that setup (major use). I can also use it to pull my trailer and a test run suggests that I'll get around 11 mpg going 80.
It will also serve as a good vehicle to haul the GF and kids in. Afterall, I would never let a child ride in my M!
It will also serve as a good vehicle to haul the GF and kids in. Afterall, I would never let a child ride in my M!
