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2002 Ford Super Duty F-250 - READ ONLY

99 messages,  Last post on Jul 17, 2002 at 8:50 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford F-250 Super Duty, Truck

Messages Page 9 of 10

#80 of 99 rkdchief, wpalkowski's post #79 by jdtopper

Mar 21, 2002 (10:55 am)

is an accurate picture of SD mileage from what I've seen and heard. I took a 27' motorhome on a vacation trip a couple of years ago. It was powered by a V10 on an F350 chassis. On the open interstate, it got 10-11 mpg at the speed limit, which I thought was pretty good considering that I was driving around in a house... In the mountains, or on slow roads, it dropped to around 7-8 mpg, sometimes less.
 
That experience, and spending some time my son-in-law's 1995 and 1999 Cummins-powered Ram 2500s, made the difference when it came time for me to buy another truck. I chose the '00 F350 CC LWB 4x4 PSD. My overall mileage with this truck is 16-17 mpg, long-trip about 19 mpg at 65 mph on cruise control with a hard tonneau cover. I have never seen less than 14 mpg under the worst of conditions: towing 10,000# through the Utah mountains (and that was on the little twisty roads, way up in the hills, the freeway performance was more like 15-16 while towing.)
 
My 5 day/wk commute is 26 miles one-way, half of it on a freeway, and 37 stop lights/signs along the way (Southern Cal, it's so damn crowded here, and the freeway on the home-bound commute is more like a parking lot than a road...)
 
I drive about 25,000 miles a year, half work and half play. The price of fuel this morning was $1.55 for the cheap gas and $1.39 for #2 diesel. Based on these prices, 11 mpg overall average on a V10 and 16.5 mpg for my PSD, I save more than $1,400 a year in fuel costs. I've got 41,000 miles on the truck now. By the time I hit 75,000 miles, the diesel will have paid for itself. By the time it gets to 300,000 miles, well, you get the picture. I plan to keep this thing until the wheels fall off.
 
And there's absolutely no comparison between the performance capabilities of the two engines at altitude. The PSD will blow the doors off the V10, hands down.

#81 of 99 by rkdchief

Mar 22, 2002 (7:51 am)

A PSD is out of the questions as we already have 2 other diesels and are looking for a gas burner for the colder months. We do pull a 25" 5th wheel and this will be our "family car". So we are striving more for the gas mileage in everyday situations. Not so much for the pull. (as we know that wont be good> Thanks for your input.

#82 of 99 rkdchief by wpalkowski

Mar 22, 2002 (10:33 am)

Watch out for an F250 and a 25' fiver ( I never saw a 25" fiver. ). You can easily exceed the "legal" capacity of the F250. Your payload gets eaten up pretty quick by passengers, gear, fuel. doesn' leave much for the 5ver and its hitch. The F250 can pull it and probably stop it, but if you ever have an accident while towing your insurance company may leave you dangling in the breeze for being overloaded.
 
Max payload F250, CC, LWB, 4x2 is 3055 lbs., with 4x4 it's 2645 lbs.
 
 F350, CC, LWB, SRW, 4x2 is 4140 lbs, 4x4 is 3760 lbs. Gives you an extra 1100 lbs to play with. Even better, an F350 Dooley will give 5000 lbs 4x2, 4480 lbs as a 4x4, plus you get extra stability for towing.
 
These payloads all assume you have base 5.4L, XL model. (I think they use weight of 6 spd tranny, not auto.) Not sure what A/C and other options weigh. V10 weighs ~200 lbs more, PSD weighs almost 600 lbs more than V8 gasser.

#83 of 99 6 speed manual v.s. automatic trans by vinny8

Apr 16, 2002 (1:18 pm)

I'm buying a Ford 350 XLT..Regular cab...V10 engine. I'm trading in a 1998 Dodge 1500 SST..very sharp truck...but Ford is the way to go if I ever decide to trailer my horse somewhere...
Talk to me about the 6 speed manual. Before I got into trucks I used to drive 4 on the floor sports cars..and I still miss the "control"..what's the general opinion out there about manual v.s. auto trans? I'm 5'4 so I'm assuming that the clutch throw won't be a problem..any other truckies out there with manuals with the monster V10/350 XLT? All opinions appreciated.thanks
Vinny8

#84 of 99 vinny by mullins87

Apr 16, 2002 (1:36 pm)

I have the PSD with the 6-speed. I, like yourself, like the control a manual gives me. I have heard a lot of bad things about the auto trannies behind the diesels, but not much about the auto behind the V-10. I would think the auto would be just fine. But do the maintenance on it. One of the most neglected parts on a vehicle tends to be the tranny.
 
As far as the clutch goes, I am assuming the clutches will be the same for a V-10 as a PSD. This is a heavy clutch, but nothing overpowering. In your post you said; "I'm 5'4 so I'm assuming that the clutch throw won't be a problem." Is that a typo? I am 5'10" and it isn't for me, I have a 32" inseam. I can't comment on whether or not the clutch might be a problem. I do know the seat will slide at least 4" forward of where I have mine positioned.

#85 of 99 If its control get the stick, by fordtuf

Apr 17, 2002 (7:10 am)

you may get just a touch better mileage too.
 
Don't worry about the auto w/V10, I'm on my second truck now. Not a single tranny problem.
They do need service but they come with the drain plug in the pan. I ALWAYS change the tranny fluid each spring before I start towing my camper a lot. It has never seemed the least bit burnt or used up. I put about 20,000 a year on the trucks.
 
I also love the stick in a sports car, but I will never have one in a tow vehicle or daily driver again.

#86 of 99 2003 ford order info now posted on our favorite website by automite

Apr 19, 2002 (9:00 am)

just a reminder, sunrisefordfleet.com now has posted 2003 ford order info under their download center category. just wanted to say thanks to this dealership for providing this info. its very helpful when considering purchase of 2002 or 2003 year. never able to get this info from local dealer salesman. thanks again sunrise ford.

#87 of 99 Link to 2003 Order guides by wpalkowski

Apr 19, 2002 (9:20 am)

http://www.sunrisefordfleet.com/2003_order_guides.htm

#88 of 99 why fleet orderable options only? by automite

May 13, 2002 (10:33 am)

wpalkowski, thx for that handy order guides conection. looks like no one wants to continue with this 2003 info, so how about this question. why does ford offer daytime running lights, power door locks and windows on xl trim level, and electric transfer case shifter on xl trim, as fleet orderable only? if a customer wants "drl's" why can't he order it? with the power options, i understand ford wants you to move to xlt package, where they are available to all customers. myself, i like the less plush cab of the xl trim level and the lower price, but would like the opportunity to order these options. 2003 order guides are adding the split bench vinyl seat to xl trim level and no longer restricting it to fleet order ststus.

#89 of 99 Automite by wpalkowski

May 14, 2002 (6:26 am)

I'm not affiliated with FordMoCo in any way besides owning their product. I did a lot of research when buying my truck, and so I post info to help out other folks who were just as confused as I was at the outset. I haven't a clue as to why there are certain policies. What I did find out while shopping around is that "most" of sales people at regular Ford dealerships don't know even the basics about SuperDuty Pickups. Half of them don't know anything about special ordering a truck either and spout all sorts of misinformation. If you can talk to a truck manager or someone who handles special orders they may be able to cut through the b.s.
   I bought my truck at a dealership that only handles Ford Trucks. They start with F250s and go all the way up to F-800s, they won't even sell F-150s. By and large they only deal with people who use trucks as a tool to earn a living, so they have to know their product or they don't get any business. You might try to find one like that in your area, and ask to talk to someone in fleet sales.
   You're buying a truck for your "fleet" (even if it's only a fleet of one). Your money is just as good as anyone else's - so it wouldn't hurt to try them to get the truck you want. Other good thing about Truck-only dealerships - they may not have a lot of selection on the lot, but since they only sell trucks, they get very high priority when they special order one. My dealer sells 50+ Superduties per month compared to Joe (Mustang, Winstar, Crown Victoria) Ford Dealer who may only sell 3 or 4 SD pickups in the same period. Guess who gets the better Pickup allocation and faster delivery? Also sometimes Ford offers special incentives/rebates for "commercial" customers that regular dealers don't know about - however, Ford's usually stricter about that - you'd have to show proof of owning a business, etc.

Messages Page 9 of 10

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