Tempted by the Fruit of another...

[Maverick]

If I were in you're shoes and wanting a new gas powered SD I'd either opt for the V10, or wait a year for that new 6.2 V8. I would never buy a SD with a 5.4, you gain virtually nothing in MPG over a V10 and 90 ft-lbs. less torque at an even higher RPM.

 

[alaskan155]

superduty 5.4 4x4 pros
solid front axle, can still get it in a manual(which ford would do it in the f150s, and plenty of power empty (drive them at work from the 01-08 5.4 crewcabs

 

[Ozwynn]

5.4L in an F250 SD 4x4 = 12 - 16 (my mechanic has an '07 F250 4x4)
V10 in same only 2wd = 9 - 11 ........... (one of my driver's has an 03 F250 crew cab, but its a 2wd)

6.8L V10 in a '99 36' class A motorhome = 9 mpg, period (the old man had one of these before his diesel pusher)
460 in a 95 21' Class C motorhome = 8mpg, period. (Satan's motorhome ...... I have referred to it before)


whats the 5.4L get towing say a 30' Travel trailer?

 

[Maverick]

5.4L in an F250 SD 4x4 = 12 - 16 (my mechanic has an '07 F250 4x4)
V10 in same only 2wd = 9 - 11 ........... (one of my driver's has an 03 F250 crew cab, but its a 2wd)

6.8L V10 in a '99 36' class A motorhome = 9 mpg, period (the old man had one of these before his diesel pusher)
460 in a 95 21' Class C motorhome = 8mpg, period. (Satan's motorhome ...... I have referred to it before)


whats the 5.4L get towing say a 30' Travel trailer?

I have personally acheived 16 MPG in my dads 00 F250 crew cab 4x4 on a trip back from RENO, of which 50% or better is mountainous terrain. It averages around 12 though. Get a big load on either a 5.4 or a 6.8 and youll see single digit fuel mileage, you just have more power with one than the other. I personally favor my 7.3 these days, averaged 15 mpg going to Idaho with 6000lbs in tow rarely pulling it out of O/D.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

By big truck... you mean...

This?

I have not had any problems parking a full size anywhere, except perhaps a 2004 Ford F450 long box, dual wheel, crew cab.
Turning Radius sucked.
But, Then again I take the tractor in the above photo and park it in regular vehicle spots at the local resturants.

Anyways, Depending on your use, and assuming fairly light duty, a 5.4L should do you okay. But If your going to have a camper in the box on a regular basis I would go Diesel, just wait for someone to make an aftermarket rad that doesnt self destruct.

No I mean a long bed, extended cab,f250 that loves to go in either direction fast in small Homer parkinglots compared to a std cab ranger with long bed. lol. and I haven't driven a big rig so I wouldn't know, the f250 is still easy for me but sometimes... well alot of the time people will take up too much room and make it impossible to manuver 2ft back or forward.

Thats why I love my International 7.3L even if its an auto gets normally around 15-17 mpgs even with our 3000lb camper and then the gear we pack in it and the trailer for the 4 wheelers.

 

[metalmacguyver]

If I were in you're shoes and wanting a new gas powered SD I'd either opt for the V10, or wait a year for that new 6.2 V8. I would never buy a SD with a 5.4, you gain virtually nothing in MPG over a V10 and 90 ft-lbs. less torque at an even higher RPM.

I would shy away from buying a truck with a brand new motor in it. I would wait at least one year to see how it does.

 

[PickupMan04 FX4 L2]

The 5.4 3 valve is ok its more suited to the f150.. and does NOT belong in a 250 or bigger..

And the 6.4 does get terrible mileage when in DPF regeneration mode.. other than that its a powerhouse..

 

[Maverick]

I would shy away from buying a truck with a brand new motor in it.

I wouldnt, well unless it was an all new diesel. New diesels seem to have more problems than anything else. Gas motors are normally pretty solid and stick around for quite a while. You dont have to worry about the relationhip between the engine manufacturer and the truck maker going sour (Ford vs. International) and getting an engine with a production run of only 3-4 years. I woudnt touch a 6.4 with a 10 foot pole just because of that reason. Ford is scheduled to have their own in house diesel in trucks for the 2011 model year. Anyhow, IMO anything is better than that outdated, underpowered, fuel sucking 5.4.

 

[jimd1050]

Wow...

Thanks for all the opinions Guys - I spoke yesterday with the guy that did my lift on the Ranger. He owns an '06 or '07 with the V10 and loves it. He has a customer who bought an '08 with the 5.4L, carries a slide in camper all summer and says "It sucked at first, but after a Superchip installation, the truck runs sweet and the mileage improved dramatically.

Don't forget, my 4.0L Ranger is only doing 14C/17H - nothing to write home about. BTW, the diesel is OUT - I don't have the additional $7,000! I talked to a guy today in person that has a Supercab '08 with the diesel and likes it but says "even air'd down, the front end sinks at the beach because of the additional weight of the motor." He's proven it as a friend of his has the same truck, same tires and 5.4L - they tried together and the gas truck was fine! Plenty of time... I'm just in the thinking stage. Thanks again for the varied opinions... they all help!

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

The radiators explode? WTF is causing that to happen?

 

[JohnnyO]

Talk me out of it, please!

No problem. Gas will be back to $4 a gallon this year.

 

[canyoncritter]

find a car lot that has a used 2000-2003 super duty with the 7.3 that will trade across the table for the ranger. thats what I would dr sale the ranger and pick up a 2000-2003 7.3 SD for 10-18g's

IF you keep it 100% and 90% of your driving is empty or very light loads I think the 5.4 will be ok. be like a 4cyl ranger.


reg/tag fees are going to be much more than the ranger. My 2000 f250 was over 500 a year (but Im also in cali) and my o1 or 02 forget what year it was(only had it 2 weeks before it got stolen) was 600 and change a year.

speaking of stolen, if you get one. just know they are very fvery easy to steel, and brake in to.

green nazi's will sticker you up, chant slogans at you,and try to convert you in to a prius. <---kinda ironic that smilley is green lol

 

[holyford86]

I've been around 5.4 powered stuff for a bit now, work on quite a few e350 cutaways (wheelchair vans) the 5.4 pushes them around quite well but the same engine in the f250 xl regular cab 4x4 is depressing, it is pretty well gutless. the v10 is quite a bit better in the power department (08 f350 xl regular cab 4x4) it sucks on gas though, around town the mileage gauge on the dash hangs around 9-10 mpg unladen in 2 wheel drive. Have a 2001 e350 with the 6.8 in the shop right now for brakes and tires, has well over 250k on the clock and still runs awesome and the thing has been pounded. me personally I would keep the ranger, I can't justify a fullsize for what I do.

Your truck is beautiful too, very well put together from what I could tell at crossgates last August atleast. Just had to throw that out there...

 

[Danger-Ranger96]

It felt pretty good to me but it was empty, too! One of the guys at work said they were seriously underpowered... I'll have to see what the slide-ins weigh, I guess.

thats exactly why i chose the diesel, Suncor (A Huge Oilsands company up here) runs gasser super duties and let me tell you, my SD weighs in at 9921#, yep i got it checked at a scale, keeping in mind the motor weights are different by i dunno i'd say atleast 700-900# easy. Everyone out at Suncor hates them, they say for what its worth get the diesel cause with any type of load on the truck will make it turtle paced sluggish. It does seem pricey for the diesel, i don't blame you for saying it! up here it's an 8,900 dollar upgrade.

My only gripe with the truck so far is the damn thing kicks into regen mode so much and literally wastes tons of fuel (all for what? an effort to save the environment?) I drove a 5.4L super cab f-250 and compared it with my diesel variant, i looked on the dash in the gasser and it was getting at best 35L/100Km (~7 mpg), my diesel runs anywhere between 22-25L/100Km. (~9-10 mpg) which bearing in mind is still shitty, but i guess i am running 33x12.50 BFG MT KM2s, When i had the continentals on it would sail down the road with very little resistance heh. I miss the days of getting 16 mpg in my bush truck.

Either way i'd say get it you'll love all the power, and who knows maybe in a few years do a DPF delete and chip it and get 31 mpg out of it (haha if you want to void your engine warranty ) After all - Ford Trucks Don't Burn Pixie Dust!

 

[Maverick]

my SD weighs in at 9921#, yep i got it checked at a scale,

How the hell does your SD weigh 9921lbs Mine weighs right @ 7200lbs with a full tank of diesel. I had mine checked on a certified scale, its a requirment when you bring them in from out of state.