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Gas Mileage- F350/F450/F550
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Also, if anyone could give me loaded vs. unloaded that would be awesome, lets say loaded with a 24' enclosed.
I know this is really broad and I apologize, I am just trying to get a ball park
I know this is really broad and I apologize, I am just trying to get a ball park
It depends on the rear end ratio, how fast your going, and how loaded/unloaded you are. If the 350 has a decent gear ratio, your not going to fast, and your unloaded, than you could expect some reasonable mileage out of it, but every truck is different. In the 450 and the 550 I wouldn't expect much mileage at all, most of them have 4.30 rear ends I would figure, not to mention the weight of them is against you as well. Honestly though, if your worried about fuel mileage in vehicles that big than I wouldn't look at them. If your buying one, fuel mileage is the last thing you take into consideration.
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I disagree on the fuel mileage thing, I want as good of mileage as possible and am willing to be a little slower if I get more fuel mileage. The 01 F350 I had must have had real high gears as I got 10-14mpg but the 07 F550 I think has 4.88's and I don't want to figure out what it's getting but it's turning ridiculous rpm on the highway. I am looking at changing the gearing to what my 350 had, they are towing the same stuff and I was satisfied with the 350's performance.
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A F-450/550 with a 7.3 is only going to get at most 10-12mpg you will get 12 with a 6spd manual with the 4R100 automatic the enging revs higher.
If your looking at a 6.0 F-450/550 the tallest gear you can get is 4:30 I wouldn't go any taller than that.
A F-450 with 7.3 has the modified Dana 80 the tallest gear is 4:30 the F-550 has the S135 a expensive rear axle regearing it wouldn't make it worth the fuel savings most F-550s have 4:88 gears.
If your looking at a 6.0 F-450/550 the tallest gear you can get is 4:30 I wouldn't go any taller than that.
A F-450 with 7.3 has the modified Dana 80 the tallest gear is 4:30 the F-550 has the S135 a expensive rear axle regearing it wouldn't make it worth the fuel savings most F-550s have 4:88 gears.
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I have an 01 F-550 with the 7.3 and the entire Banks package. It is our dedicated RV Hauler. Empty I get 18-20 and pulling our camper I average 12-13. Camper is a 37 foot 5th wheel that weighs in the neighborhood of 17,000 lbs. With the gearing I find the sweetspot is 55-62 so thats where I keep her. Truck has 115,000 miles on it and you will find a picture below. Definitely a beast going down the road.
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we have 450's with the 4.88 gearing. they're pulling enclosed 24' trailers most of the time. Early season the beds are loaded with mulch. Trailers Gross weight is 10,000 lb. Usually three or four mowers inside them. That said, they average 6 mpgs.
Rented a 550 a few times. Sucked down the diesel. So probably no more than 6mpg.
I own an F250 with a 7.3l. Highway I might get 18mpg, but typical city/local driving I would be around 14mpg. I think my truck 3.73 gearing.
A few years back the gearing on the 250/350 was 3.73 or 4.10. I think the 450/550 is maybe a 4.10 and more so the 4.30 and the 4.88.
Rented a 550 a few times. Sucked down the diesel. So probably no more than 6mpg.
I own an F250 with a 7.3l. Highway I might get 18mpg, but typical city/local driving I would be around 14mpg. I think my truck 3.73 gearing.
A few years back the gearing on the 250/350 was 3.73 or 4.10. I think the 450/550 is maybe a 4.10 and more so the 4.30 and the 4.88.
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Hard to beleive your getting 18 mpg gallon I think realistically 14 mpg.I have an 01 F-550 with the 7.3 and the entire Banks package. It is our dedicated RV Hauler. Empty I get 18-20 and pulling our camper I average 12-13. Camper is a 37 foot 5th wheel that weighs in the neighborhood of 17,000 lbs. With the gearing I find the sweetspot is 55-62 so thats where I keep her. Truck has 115,000 miles on it and you will find a picture below. Definitely a beast going down the road.
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Here's my deal, I want something more like the 3.73's. I think the 350 had them and I got 13-14 on long trips and 10-12 around town and towing. Why can't the 550 have higher gearing?
550 requires lower gearing to better handle it's maximum payload should you decide to run it loaded to the max. I'd be content with the 4.3 gears, it's a good blend of around town pulling performance, and low speed highway cruising. Anything over 65mph, mileage will be below or around 10mpg depending on weight, aero drag of trailer, etc. Most trucks with the 4.88gears top out at around 75-80mph, at which it's not mpg, it's gpm.
If you want highway mileage, you can always look into getting a larger diameter tire when the time comes to replace the stock set. A 3" taller tire can give you less performance around town, but lower rpm on the highway. Mileage won't be much more noticeable unless you're easy on the throttle and keep speeds down. The extra height can work against you some, as it will create more drag when air passes under the truck and smacks into the trailer.
If you want highway mileage, you can always look into getting a larger diameter tire when the time comes to replace the stock set. A 3" taller tire can give you less performance around town, but lower rpm on the highway. Mileage won't be much more noticeable unless you're easy on the throttle and keep speeds down. The extra height can work against you some, as it will create more drag when air passes under the truck and smacks into the trailer.
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You don't buy that size of a truck to worry about gas mileage. You buy it to haul and pull things. :dizzy:
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Okay with a Ford and the Dana S110 axle used in the F-450-550 trucks are limited to 4:30 and 4:88 gear ratio because of the ABS tone ring.
Your option is go with 245-70R19.5 tires it will make some difference they are 1 inch in bigger diameter over the 225-70R19.5.
Ford did offer a 19.5x 6.75 wheels for the F-450/550 truck just finding a set because the stock wheels are 19.5 x 6 which you can only fit 225 rubber on them.
Your option is go with 245-70R19.5 tires it will make some difference they are 1 inch in bigger diameter over the 225-70R19.5.
Ford did offer a 19.5x 6.75 wheels for the F-450/550 truck just finding a set because the stock wheels are 19.5 x 6 which you can only fit 225 rubber on them.
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its fuel mileage! f450 maybe 10mpg, f550 maybe 8mpg, f350 maybe 15 or 16 mpg. all with out pulling a trailer.
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Thats what I was looking for, thanks!
I can get f450s and f550s and f350s for around the same price (1999-2001 models)
What I am plan on hauling COULD be hauled with a f350, but would wear on it. A f450 would be perfect, and a f550 would give me room to grow. That is why is asked.
How do you not care about fuel mileage? Gas cost money, and money is why we work, right? The difference between a couple of mpg's really adds up over the years.
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Well whenever you are driving from Knoxville to Atlanta and Cincinnati etc etc then a couple of mpgs really starts to add up.
I can see the point, OK. However, I still think it's funny to know what a truck gets in terms of fuel economy. If you NEED it, you BUY it for what it CAN DO - that's what a truck is and why they're not yet rated by the EPA. Still, the lighter the truck, the more fuel efficient it will generally be.
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That's what I'm saying, the less I spend on fuel is more that stays in my pocket. When I switched from the 450(with 4.88's) to the 350(with 3.73's?) my fuel savings paid for the truck payment. The bad part was the 350 was always over loaded so that didn't work so well.
I don't think switching to the 4.30's from 4.88's will make enough difference. Diesel is already $3.00 a gallon which is not a good sign so I'm very interested to get all the mileage I can get.
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You gain mileage red light to red light with the taller gear but lose on the highway. Its a trade off for what best suites you thats why its a option. To sorta answer your question 4.88 in a 04 6.0 f550 around 11mpg pulling 10k lbs and 4k in the bed plus the steel body. 50/50 mix of highway and city plus a lot of idling about a hours worth on a tank.
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