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bobbywalter
TRS Technical Staff
TRS Event Staff
V8 Engine Swap
TRS Technical Advisor
TRS 20th Anniversary
Ugly Truck of Month
TRS Event Participant
TRS 25th Anniversary
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2007
- Messages
- 25,332
- City
- woodhaven mi
- Vehicle Year
- 1988
- Engine
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Total Lift
- sawzall?
- Tire Size
- 33-44
- My credo
- it is easier to fix and understand than "her"
6 months ago, I had no idea I would have the two most powerful gasoline towing powertrains ford has ever created to this point, in my driveway.
Using these things Combined with getting to briefly beat on a well used 19 ranger, I have to say I am a bit surprised about the feelings and actuals of these vehicles ....
The 150 is a bit high end, but the 250 and the ranger are closer to true work rigs .. not strippers ..but midline.
the ranger had over 80k on it and a heavy tune since mid 30k if I understand my coworker correctly .
It's had several flashes and some front end stuff from deer hits...but other then tires and oil changes has no other costs. Not even brakes yet.... and I say it is a great rig....but the seats are not for me ...and not enough time to say whether or not it's dog approved . It makes my personal ranger look like a broken down radio flyer wagon. The ride is stout, but I love the brakes and handling ... The fuel economy is lower then I would expect....but it hauls ass better then a HO Ranger... So easy to forgive. Overall ... It is too small in stock form for my needs.
The Powerboost 150 is my wife's rig. (what's mine is hers ...and what's hers is hers) just about 20k on it....nearly 10 of that towing heavy. I can't say enough good about it. It's a total surprise all around. I wrung it out across Ike and Vail and the high desert.....it's insane to acknowledge it is a 3.5 liter 1/2 ton. It has upgraded interior and it heavily agrees with my crippled ass.
And adding more crazy... so far....of all of our family trucksters....returns the best overall economy in summer...Thats certified crazy. It is definitely dog approved.
The 250...is a Godzilla powered STX .... Crew with 8 foot bed. I literally live out of this in my work life. So there are heavy demands for such a vehicle. It's at 10k miles so finally enough for solid impressions.
And this one is a let down Compared to the 2500 it replaced. Thpugh when looking at price, It earns some quarter.
The 150 flat embarrasses it stock for stock. And a 2014 6.0 flex fuel 250K mile worn out gm 2500 bests it in all but 0 to 60 and towing over 10 k.
In stock form there is much to be desired if one actually uses a truck to work out of. Work defined as utilizing at least 3 k of payload.
The STX package hurts the load capacity. But even the higher 250 spring package is still weak compared to the previous 2500 gm product. This I suspect is amplified by tire type and ride height.
Expectations were high based on the heavier service bodies I have used and owners reports for tow rigs.
and coming from a 6 foot bed I was really ready for some more room.
It has that space preference in spades. Totally dog approved Iike the 150.
The engine is a brute. But my cruise weight destroys fuel economy others report when not towing ......
and for my application this truck was unusable stock. Like ...I was shitcanning it unusable.
fortunately this was easily addressed with some spring work.
While the oem tires remain terrible, and the seats qualify as criminal assault to humanity... the spring upgrade totally changed the trucks capacity to do my bidding. Very satisfied with it's handling now....towing 14k is a breeze with this gorilla...err Godzilla.. compared to the cost of a seat...it is cheap.
Like I been saying .. if your riding with Godzilla...your wallet is Tokyo.
if you are using this truck to it's limit and tow regular...expect 8mpg maybe a bit less.
No trailer, with MY PERSONAL cruise weight of about 10.5 k.... squeeks 10mpg. Most report unladen mpg about 14...which if normal is excellent. I have not seen any of that.
this same load in the gm was good for 12 to 17 hiway.
The 150 with 3k runs 16-17 mpg
That ranger pulling a 4500 pound trailer averages 11 coming and going across 80 from Utah ...at ...Lets say at least legal speeds..IS REALLY GOOD.....but 18 is normal unladen. Which seems low.
If the ranger had a 7 foot bed...and one of the available to the rest of the world fuel miser diesels..it would be my first choice.
But the reality....is the 150.
At the end of the day...with available configurations....
Hard to beat.
The new electric one ... I am thinking is going to be a game changer.
Comparing my ranger to that...will be epic futility.
Using these things Combined with getting to briefly beat on a well used 19 ranger, I have to say I am a bit surprised about the feelings and actuals of these vehicles ....
The 150 is a bit high end, but the 250 and the ranger are closer to true work rigs .. not strippers ..but midline.
the ranger had over 80k on it and a heavy tune since mid 30k if I understand my coworker correctly .
It's had several flashes and some front end stuff from deer hits...but other then tires and oil changes has no other costs. Not even brakes yet.... and I say it is a great rig....but the seats are not for me ...and not enough time to say whether or not it's dog approved . It makes my personal ranger look like a broken down radio flyer wagon. The ride is stout, but I love the brakes and handling ... The fuel economy is lower then I would expect....but it hauls ass better then a HO Ranger... So easy to forgive. Overall ... It is too small in stock form for my needs.
The Powerboost 150 is my wife's rig. (what's mine is hers ...and what's hers is hers) just about 20k on it....nearly 10 of that towing heavy. I can't say enough good about it. It's a total surprise all around. I wrung it out across Ike and Vail and the high desert.....it's insane to acknowledge it is a 3.5 liter 1/2 ton. It has upgraded interior and it heavily agrees with my crippled ass.
And adding more crazy... so far....of all of our family trucksters....returns the best overall economy in summer...Thats certified crazy. It is definitely dog approved.
The 250...is a Godzilla powered STX .... Crew with 8 foot bed. I literally live out of this in my work life. So there are heavy demands for such a vehicle. It's at 10k miles so finally enough for solid impressions.
And this one is a let down Compared to the 2500 it replaced. Thpugh when looking at price, It earns some quarter.
The 150 flat embarrasses it stock for stock. And a 2014 6.0 flex fuel 250K mile worn out gm 2500 bests it in all but 0 to 60 and towing over 10 k.
In stock form there is much to be desired if one actually uses a truck to work out of. Work defined as utilizing at least 3 k of payload.
The STX package hurts the load capacity. But even the higher 250 spring package is still weak compared to the previous 2500 gm product. This I suspect is amplified by tire type and ride height.
Expectations were high based on the heavier service bodies I have used and owners reports for tow rigs.
and coming from a 6 foot bed I was really ready for some more room.
It has that space preference in spades. Totally dog approved Iike the 150.
The engine is a brute. But my cruise weight destroys fuel economy others report when not towing ......
and for my application this truck was unusable stock. Like ...I was shitcanning it unusable.
fortunately this was easily addressed with some spring work.
While the oem tires remain terrible, and the seats qualify as criminal assault to humanity... the spring upgrade totally changed the trucks capacity to do my bidding. Very satisfied with it's handling now....towing 14k is a breeze with this gorilla...err Godzilla.. compared to the cost of a seat...it is cheap.
Like I been saying .. if your riding with Godzilla...your wallet is Tokyo.
if you are using this truck to it's limit and tow regular...expect 8mpg maybe a bit less.
No trailer, with MY PERSONAL cruise weight of about 10.5 k.... squeeks 10mpg. Most report unladen mpg about 14...which if normal is excellent. I have not seen any of that.
this same load in the gm was good for 12 to 17 hiway.
The 150 with 3k runs 16-17 mpg
That ranger pulling a 4500 pound trailer averages 11 coming and going across 80 from Utah ...at ...Lets say at least legal speeds..IS REALLY GOOD.....but 18 is normal unladen. Which seems low.
If the ranger had a 7 foot bed...and one of the available to the rest of the world fuel miser diesels..it would be my first choice.
But the reality....is the 150.
At the end of the day...with available configurations....
Hard to beat.
The new electric one ... I am thinking is going to be a game changer.
Comparing my ranger to that...will be epic futility.
