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1999 F-250 Light Duty Info (not F-250SD, not F-150) - READ ONLY

47 messages,  Last post on Jul 03, 1999 at 12:19 AM

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#38 of 47 ford_man by ford_man

Mar 01, 1999 (6:24 pm)

I have almost 10,000 miles on my '99 F-250LD w/5.4 V8 and 3.73LS rearend. It is a 4x2 not 4x4. I have averaged consistently 13MPG intown and 15MPG on the highway.


Joel Mc

#39 of 47 jack38 by jack38

Mar 20, 1999 (1:25 am)

I have a 97' 250 LD 4X4 with 5.4 auto. Average approx 12 - 15 in the city and 23 MPG on highway trips. Note: canadian gallon is slightly larger than US gallon. My buddy has a 98 chev 1500 5.7 litre 3.73 rear end can't manage more than 20 MPG.
The 5.4 L is great on gas. Too bad the engine is plaqued with piston slap problems.

#40 of 47 bubba19 by bubba19

Mar 20, 1999 (3:59 pm)

Hey Guys,


This is the reason I'm going with the diesel and not the 5.4L ( PISTON SLAP). My wife said this truck will be in my driveway for a long time.
So I opted for the diesel a 6 year love affair. I drive about 25,000 a year and would like too drive it in instead of in sitting in the shop, whats my story and I set here and wounder who will have the next truck that everyone must have.


Have a good weekend. SP: go ORLANDO MAGIC.

#41 of 47 mjcook by mjcook

Mar 25, 1999 (6:54 pm)

I'd like some feedback from all of you experienced trailer towers in the group.
My wife and I are looking at getting a trailer with a GVWR of 7000 lbs. Gross dry wt. around 5000 lbs. so we'll pack it to around 6000 or so. BTW, she wants a 5th wheel, but I want a travel trailer so I can put on a canopy (extra weight - 200lbs?) and load the bed with toys (bikes, kayaks on top of the canopy, etc - more weight - 300 lbs?).
So, our dilemma: which to buy?
Our choices are as follows:
  - F-150 short bed SuperCab 4x4 with auto 5.4 V8 and 3.73; max GCWR is 12700 lbs and max trailer wt. is 7600 lbs (includes weight of trailer, cargo, passengers, fuel, water, etc.)
    It appears we're pushing the limit here.
  - F-250 Super Duty short bed SuperCab 4x4 with auto V8 and 4.10 or auto V10 and 3.73
    The V8/4.10 has a GCWR of 15000 and 8900 max trailer wt.
    The v10/3.73 has a GCWR of 17000 and 10800 max trailer wt.
    Note that I didn't opt for the V8 and 3.73 (13500 and 7400) since it was close to the F-150


I (we - she'll be driving it too) prefer the F-150 for comfort and ride since it will be my primary vehicle. I put on about 15000 miles/yr and ski 50 plus days a year, hence the need for the 4x4. We plan to occasionally take the trailer to ski areas since it will be winterized (Arctic Fox line). We live in the Pacific Northwest so we drive a lot of mountain passes, especially with a trailer in tow. We expect to take the trailer out about 10-15 times or 30-40 days a year - most of those spring/summer/fall trips.


My question is: will the F-150 be enough to pull this trailer, especially over the mountain passes (up to 5000 ft.) and into the hills and campgrounds?
I realize the F-250 will probably be more than enough. If the F-250 is the way to go, which axle ratio is preferred for the V10 (again, this will be my primary vehicle)?
BTW, I have opted to exclude the diesel due to cost and I feel it is a bit of an overkill for my purpose.


Thanks to all who respond.

#42 of 47 stanford by stanford

Apr 19, 1999 (9:38 pm)

I would go with the F250 SD V10 3.73. I have an F350 CC DRW V10 4.30 4X4 and the extra gearing is overkill even with the heavier truck. Towing 7000# I can start it in 2nd (auto trans) without really bogging, so the 3.73 should be just fine. I've got about 16000 miles on it so far (delivered in Sept.) with no real problems.


Solo I get ~10.2mpg city, ~11.8 hwy. With 7000# that dips to ~10.5 hwy. Folk with the 3.73:1 gears are reporting +2mpg, and the lighter F250 should do even better.

#43 of 47 drumhead by drumhead

Jun 03, 1999 (3:45 am)

I have a 1997 F-250 with 40K miles on it and am having a problem with "pinging" in the engine. I've got a 5.4L V-8. I've taken it in to the dealership and they cannot find anything wrong with it. They have re-programmed the PCM (computer) and nothing has changed. They could find no errors, and the "service engine" light has never come on. They have removed the "plug" to decrease the timing by two degrees, and this made no change either. They stated that they can start replacing parts until they find the problem, but I don't want to have a grand or more into it before they find a solution.


This problem is usually related to a timing problem. I've changed gasolines and have tried different octanes. Nothing seems to matter. I have run through a fuel system cleaner, as sometimes the carbon can cause pinging. Still no changes. I have talked to other dealerships, and they have no suggestions either. Has anyone else had this problem with a 5.4L V-8? If so, could you please let me know how you solved the problem.


Thanks.

#44 of 47 by cliffc

Jun 28, 1999 (9:06 pm)

I have a 1997 F250LD that I will trading soon, how does the ride on the 1999's with air suspension compare with previous models? Also, is there anything that can be done to make it ride better (ie: less bouncy)?

#45 of 47 by tk2

Jun 30, 1999 (4:19 am)

I have a 99 f250ld short box supercab lariat 4x4, so far i like it very much. I haven't had any major problems except some of the stripes started to peel off shortly after I bought it. My gas mileage has ranged from 10 mpg to 18 mpg depending on my driving and towing habits. I think Ford has built a very good truck and I would recommend it to anyone in the market, looking to buy a new truck. I drove both the new chevy and the dodge before I bought my new Ford and I was not impressed.

#46 of 47 tk2 by cliffc

Jul 01, 1999 (1:53 am)

Did you get the air suspension? How does the ride compare with the 99 F150?

#47 of 47 cliffc by tk2

Jul 03, 1999 (12:19 am)

I did not get the airbag suspension. Most of the time it rides pretty good but if you hit a big bump you are going to know about it. The f-150 does have a little better ride.

Messages Page 5 of 5

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