This question has probably been asked before, if so sorry.

I am shopping for a new F250. I can't afford a diesel ($8000 Cdn) and I don't need a V10. I will be keeping the truck for 8 - 10 years. I will be towing a 5th wheel with a GVWR of 9000 lbs. max. about 20% of the time, mostly in the May - November months, (I live in Canada). I have read that most SD owners consider the 5.4 L engine as being underpowered for the SD. AT 300 hp @ 365 lbs. of torque, comparing the 6.0 L engine on the new GMC trucks has a 367 hp @ 375 lbs. of torque does this make the GMC a better engine?
This truck will be my daily vehicle for everyday use. I am retired so it won't be used for a daily commute to work. I am slightly concerned about mileage, but also know that in a truck of this size, my mileage will be poor. I presently have a 01 supercrew and have averaged 16.8 mpg over the past 7 years.

So, is it worth my while to buy an F250, or would I be better off with a new 3/4 ton GMC with the bigger engine?

For the record, I have priced the 2 trucks on the OEM web sites and they come out at almost the same price, the GMC is cheaper by $50, no big deal.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

5th wheel = V-10. 'Nuff said.

 

An F250 with the 5.4L is almost underpowered from the get-go. They are BIG trucks. Add to that a 9000Lb anything (fiver or TT) and you will be severly underpowered unless you find a way to drive downhill both directions.

 

You won't be happy with the 5.4L's performance if you pull a 9000# 5th with it. If you've decided on a gas engine the 6.8L V10 is the only way to go with a load that heavy. The 4.10 axle is standard but go for the 4.30s and you won't hold up any traffic while pulling your trailer.

BTW-the new V10s have something like 367HP/455lb-ft torque.

It's only a $600/700 option and is dependale and durable. Blows GM/Dodge's gas engines away for heavy towing and is smooth enough to use as a daily driver while not towing.

 

Hillhound and Zaairman basically say it all. I pulled over 10K (no 5th wheel) and it was as good as my friends 7.3 diesel. I do have 4:30's and with standard 32" tires. Note: If pulling more than that on a regular basis the diesel is the smart choice. Since you are pulling 9K the V10 would work good.

The 5.4 is great for the F150 and what it needs to do. The Super Dutys are heavy trucks and the 5.4 is OK for lighter duty like truck bed loads. Anthing over 6K towing and you will wishing you had more.

 

get the V-10 it is worth the extra couple bucks and it will out run the diesels when you are both empty... i miss mine everyday and would grab another one in a heart beat

 

Id just like to give my .02 cents. I am one that also says the 5.4 is under powered for that type of load. I have one of the new F-250s and empty waight is about 8,000lbs. I have the 6.4l diesel and I am extreamly happy with it going on 6,000 miles in 2.5 months. I will also say my current fuel milage rivaled that of my F-150. My suggestion is to maybe look at a used F-250 with a diesel to make it more aforable. I hope this helps you some. Robbie

 

Ive got a 5.4 in my 99 super duty and with alot of mods its ok by itself but I would hate to have to pull a fith wheel behind it. BTW.....I get 10 MPG no matter how I drive. My dad has the V-10, same truck except his is a long box mine is a short box, and he gets 13-14 consistantly.

 

Thanks to all of you who responded. It looks like the V10 is the only way to go. I have a 2nd question, The engine is offered with 2 axle ratios, namely the 4.10 or the 4.30. A few years ago I had a pickup that had the 4.10 ratio and the best I could get was 15 mpg. That is only 1 mpg less than what I get now with my Screw. Can you tell me what kind of mileage I can expect with either a 4.10 or the 4.30 axle ratios. I will be buying a 4 x 2. I don't have any need for 4WD.

I have searched the web on info on the GMC 6.0 L engine and there isn't a lot out there on it. Good engine in previous years' but the new one with the variable switch to 4 cyl when running emppty is unknown. I was only able to find a few mpg figures but on 4x4 only. 12 mpg seemed to be the norm.

Thanks again.

 

The V10 with 4:10's will give a very slight gain in MPG than the 4:30's. Of course, when towing you might see a very slight gain with the 4:30's as the engine won't need to work as hard. It's marginal either way

You could put smaller tires on to get a 4:30 like gearing and vice versa if you want the 4:10 type of gearing

BTW: The Chevy equivalents came with an 8.1L V8 that pumped out 330 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque - still shy of the 6.8L V10's 362 hp and 455 lb-ft of torque

 

V-10 F-350 Dually 4x2 CC SB 4.30 gears gets 12-13 MPG on the highway unloaded with my dad driving it (aka the speed limit).

Test drove a V-10 F-250 Ext cab long bed 4x4 with 3.73s, and it would get 15 on the highway. So, I'd say the 4.10s are good for about 14.

 

Don't discount the 5.4; especially if they're willing to really deal on one. I have a 2004 f250 CC, LWB, 2WD, 5.4 2V, 3.73, auto.

I pull a 26 foot Bayliner most weekends from May to November. On those weekends that I don't pull the boat, the truck carries an 8 foot cabover camper that weighs approx. 2800 lbs. wet.

Lots of trips to Tahoe from my home in Roseville, Ca. The truck will climb 7200 foot Donner Summit (on the way to and from Tahoe) with the boat or camper with no problem at all.

On my last Tahoe trip with the camper, my mpg were 13.24. I have hand tallied the mileage for every gallon and mile for 40,000 miles since the truck was new. Highest frwy mpg: 16.9. Average mpg: 13.5 to 14.5. Lowest while towing: 9.5.

Driven in the powerband, the truck has never lacked power in any situation. For 220,000 miles I drove a 1980 3/4 ton Chevy Suburban with a 454. The 5.4 Ford has more usable power than the carbureted 454. The highest milage I ever got with the Chevy was 12.9. In town it was 8 to 9.

For my uses this has been the perfect truck (especially for the price I paid.) I'd only buy more engine if I bought a bigger camper or a larger boat.

 

I don't think anybody is discounting the 5.4L. Just pointing out that for only a few hundred $$ more the 6.8L offers a significant gain in towing power at only a small cost in mileage figures.

The original poster's main concern was how well the 5.4L would tow a 9000lb trailer-that's probably going to be a combined weight of over 17000lbs. That's alot of weight for any gas engine let alone one that's only 5.4L displacement.

As far as mileage, I don't doubt the 5.4L gets a little better unloaded. But most of the reports I've seen give the V10 the same or slightly better mileage numbers for heavy towing. Our 2004 F150 5.4L 4x4 gets an average of 14/15mpg unloaded, 16/17mpg unloaded highway and dropped close to 10mpg highway only towing 4000lbs of trailer/atvs.

Conversely, my V10 F250 gets between 9 & 10 highway towing twice that much (about 16000lb GCW). Imagine what the 5.4L would get for towing if it had to move 17000lbs of truck and trailer!

FYI-my SD has 3.73s and it gets 11/12mpg mixed driving & bit over 14mpg highway if I keep it around 70mph.

the worst mileage I've ever seen it get was during a winter month when I kept it in 4hi with about 1000lbs of sand bags in the bed-driving slowly for a few days with 1' to 2' of unplowed snow dropped it to like 6.5mpg! But hey, I didn't get hung up and 6.5mpg for a few days is still cheaper than calling a tow truck or calling off work and missing half of a paycheck!

 

i have a 4x4 f-350 with the 4.10 rear end and i get about 10 mpg around town and 15-16 mpg doing 70 mph. get the v-10 if you can find one.

 

I sell Ford pickups and I can say from experience that 95% of customers who buy an F-250/F-350 with the 5.4L are dissapointed with the performance. When a customer comes to me and asks about a gas superduty I strongly recommend the V-10. With the V-10 you will see better mileage under heavy loads and towing your 5th wheel will be less of a chore.

Best of luck with your truck.