Just an update on this truck. It’s been a while since I updated. I just sold it
Ha! I didn’t. It’s been a pretty impressive truck. Overall maintenance not to bad at all. I had to put a new ECM in it about 2 years ago. Exhaust about 18 months ago. Just put a new fuel gauge sender in it a couple months ago. Other than that, some spark plugs (that I let the dealership do for $300) at about 110k.
I’ve put 37k on the truck in just a few weeks under three years. Conclusions at purchase were pretty spot on. Decent performance while towing, gas stations are good friends, and an awesome towing chassis with good interior and reasonably comfortable ride for a truck that’s able to tow 22k GCVW.
The truck excels at being worked. (Surprised, yeah, me neither). It reminds me a lot of a 7.3L diesel with mild mods. With two rigs on the trailer, I’m able to top Thistle and Soldier Summit at about 55-60 mph. One rig on a car hauler, I can pull those at 70-74.
Now, the penalty for this is mpg. Commuting (3 years on this as a commuter now :0 ) I’m about 12 mpg. Two Jeeps to/from Rubicon on a 5900 lb gooseneck, 6.5. Two Jeeps to/from Moab, 6.8 down, 6.5 back. This past weekend with a single car trailer and my 5k Jeep, 8 mpg to/from Moab. My son (
@ebryson ) with a 2011 F150 5.0 got 11 mpg towing similar load on same trip at same speeds (I tow at 70-72). He also has a 35ish gallon tank. I have the STUPID 25-26 gallon tank.
Since he has a trailer, I thought I’d dump my two car deckover and get into a single car hoping for 10 mpg towing. Not happening when you have to rev the 10 cylinders apparently. I couldn’t think of a good way to get a muscle car on the deckover so I sold that. After my recent Moab trip with the single car hauler, I’m contemplating getting a “car hauler” 28’ goose or going back to a 26’ bumper pull. I might as well get slightly poorer fuel mileage and tow an extra rig? I’ll stick to the single car hauler until at least mid summer this year and see what happens.
16ish years ago, my ‘99 F250 opened my eyes to Ford Super duty platforms. I tried the Dodge. It left a bad taste in my wallet. Bought a couple battered Fords and a super nice ‘98 24 valve (a crew version of that truck would be a win in a stick shift) before trying to tow with with the wife’s 3.5 Ecoboost for a while. (Whole other story on that rig—good towing but not my style at all). Settled on the V10 assuming what I’d get into and it has proven reasonably accurate. I hate that I prefer F*rd trucks but it’s undeniable that I do. My other son
@cbryson, just bought a 2018ish GMC 1500 with 5.3. Hopefully that’s a good ride for him?
Verdict on the V10: I’d buy again for the same reasons I bought this one. Cheap maintenance and good capability. Comes with a mpg cost. A 2010-newer diesel pickup is going to spank Betty in the hills and laugh at her whining at the load. However, I don’t have DEF, any associated diesel maintenance or other potentially $15k check engine lights with the V10. I’d imagine a 6.2 V8 (I’m super interested in the 7.3L Ford gasser) would tow very similarly with the extra gear in the transmission?
You can buy gas or spend more for the truck? I chose to buy gas. Reasonably happy with the decision. I have just under 120k on this thing right now and was offered $19k cash, potentially more on trade, for it last time I was at the dealership for an oil change. I paid $3k (?) and my $12k G8 for this truck. Good purchase so far. Not sure if I’d say “forever” truck but it’s pretty close to that as long as I can work it enough to justify the fuel cost vs a V8 F150.
Sometimes while driving it I remember
@BCGPER buying a V10 and everyone harassing him. He ran 35” tires and 4.30 gears on 2V. I run 34” tires and 4.10 gears. When towing, I’d like the 4.30 (maybe even 4.56?). For what I do with the truck, the 4.10 is a good compromise. Wisdom of BC