pickup trucks??

Anonymous-0 · Nov 5, 2009

Hey folks,
???'s in general and TX specific.
We are looking to buy a pickup in TX (Dallas area and a little east). General question is :
Want a 4x4, 4dr (at least extended cab), tow package, low miles, 20+/- a couple highway mpg, std trans (could flex), and 1/2 ton (3/4 worse case).
I like Ford (w/ inline 6), she don't know what she likes except dodge looks cool :roll:

She saw some king ranch addition fords that she liked but I don't care what it says. My buddy has a new ford w/ cab & 1/2 (? suicide half back doors?) that is acceptable to us.
Hardest job will be a 2 ton horse trailer w/ surge brakes @ 50 mph on good roads.
2006 or newer but would look at something older if a real prize. Diesel was a preference, but gas is prolly the most cost effective because 12k miles a year will be high mileage for it.

What should I look at and about what would I expect to pay in the Dallas area (have a to the door delivery quote from Clifton, TX).
Real partial to Ford cause they didn't sell out and I can't remember anything other than a Ford truck in the family.

Any ideas? Like to pick up something <$15 but not holding my breath.

Thanks for any advice

Dave

Anonymous-0 · Nov 5, 2009

Ford hasn't sold an inline six in new trucks since the '97 F-150's came out. GM hasn't had one since they switched over to the 4.3 in the '80s, and Dodge switched to a V-6 [except for the Cummins diesel] by around 1990.

But good luck with your search.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 5, 2009

That's why I asked. Don't see many fullsize pickups over here.

Dave

Anonymous-0 · Nov 5, 2009

Just how long have you been living "across the pond"??

CWL · Nov 5, 2009

If you go diesel and one of the big three it will have to be 3/4 ton or larger. It's also getting hard to find a manual transmission in the newer trucks unless you go with the heavy duty diesels. Even then the slush-o-matics seem to be most common.

Uncle Ernie · Nov 5, 2009

The 1997-2003 F-150's are great trucks. Get the 5.4 V-8.

Bill in IL · Nov 5, 2009

Don't think its possible to find any full sized 4x4 pickup that gets 20 mpg. Maybe 18 if you get high rear end ratios.

Standard trannys are hard to come by but still made in the fords and dodges. They are not nearly as common as overseas where they understand utility over convience.

Good luck otherwise.

Raysflhs · Nov 5, 2009

And good luck getting something reasonably priced. Used truck prices are up 20-25% over last year according to KBB and Edmund's.

Wesley Stephens · Nov 5, 2009

do you have a place in Texas or are you importing it to Germany?

Anonymous-0 · Nov 5, 2009

(quoted from post at 11:12:15 11/05/09) do you have a place in Texas or are you importing it to Germany?

Bringing it here.

Buzzman:
Been here 20 years.

Dave

TimMiller · Nov 5, 2009

I'd stay away from the 6.0L fords. They had issues. If you go and replace the head gaskets and rods they aren't bad. The 7.3L is hard to beat. The new 6.4L is great if you bypass the stupid emissions crap. Then you will gain about 5-8MPG. They get about 8-12 MPG with the emissions. Then there is the hard to beat cummins power of a dodge.

Polkwing · Nov 5, 2009

A little OT but, read in morning newspaper that signbificant numbers of new PUs, both Ford and Dodge, got no more and sometimes less MPG than older model PUs traded in as "clunkers"?

Last summer picked up an 6 cyl auto trans, 03 Ford Ranger with about 30 K miles on it. Expected, and sales told me, I could expect 25 mpg. At 50 mph freeway and elsewhere 20 mpg is best I can get.

'95 Ford 150, straight 8 cyl,5 spd manual,we we traded in consistently got 17 mpg no matter what speed. So much for later models, improved power units etc. Maybe someone can explain what I don't understand.

Thanks,
Polkwing

Leland2 · Nov 5, 2009

Get the v-8 most guys that have them smoke my 4.3 -v6 on milage , 6 cyl's are a joke when it comes to milage .

Polkwing · Nov 5, 2009

lELAND....
why do 6 cyls get equal or poorer mileage than a V8 ( made mistake earlier..my 8cyl was a V-8)

Seems to me fewer horses you have to feed the lower the feed bill should be?

Polkwing

Anonymous-0 · Nov 5, 2009

(quoted from post at 14:25:34 11/05/09) lELAND....
why do 6 cyls get equal or poorer mileage than a V8 ( made mistake earlier..my 8cyl was a V-8)

Seems to me fewer horses you have to feed the lower the feed bill should be?

Polkwing

6 horses don't work as hard pulling the wagon as 2 so won't get as hungry????

Keep em comin.

Dave

Pat-CT · Nov 5, 2009

I would recomend ither a super duty 7.3 powerstroke or a second gen cummins

The 7.3 is a pretty stout engine

The 6.0 has a tendency to float heads under big loads, when this happends (dont quote me) it costs 4-7k to fix, the reason being you have to completly remove the cab from the chassis, and then you should install Arp head studs, which cost a $400+

The 7.3 is a pretty stout engine once again, no real complaints about it, should probobly get a programmer for mpg

The cummins- 12v is my favorite becuase its very easy to get power out of them by just turning a screw, but the later cummins have blue tech on them which also decreases mpg stupid admisons. Cant beat a cummins for simplicity and scence you are buying one from texas, you dont have to worry about rust to much

Hope this helps, -Pat

Pat-CT · Nov 5, 2009

sorry
I mean emissions

rustyfarmall · Nov 5, 2009

The size of the engine makes very little difference. It is the size, weight, and shape of the truck that effects fuel mileage. In any given truck, a small 6 cylinder will have to produce the same horsepower as a larger V8 in order to push that truck down the road, and that horsepower is produced by burning fuel, so basically, in order to produce the necessary horsepower, that small engine will burn just as much fuel as the biggest engine available. The only time that small engine will burn less fuel is when it is just setting still, at an idle, which really isn't very efficient because then the fuel is being wasted.

WA-Hal · Nov 5, 2009

You might think back about your 95 Ford engine--I bet it was a straight 6, or maybe a V6 or probably a V8. I don't think any straight 8's have been produced in this country since about 1954.

Some of the later fuel injected half-ton pickups can get pretty good mileage, but I doubt that many would get much over 20 in normal use. They are just pushing too much weight to do much better. I think that 20 is pretty amazing for a gas engined pickup.

My pickup gets about half that mileage, but it is a 3/4 ton 4x4 with a carbureted 460. It has enough power to do everything I have ever asked it to and will cruise at 75 down the freeway with my large camper. And still get about 10mpg. Running empty, I have seen a little over 11. I don't worry about it too much, since I only use the old pickup when I need to haul something, and that only involves about 1000 miles a year. I would like to have a nice, new pickup, but I cannot justify spending that much money on a vehicle I NEED to use so little.

Pat-CT · Nov 5, 2009

Rusty, im no master of engines but i have a question

If a v8 makes well say 400fts of torque
and a v6 makes 300 fts of torque

Wouldnt the v8 work less to get the same vehicle up to a certin speed in a certin distance say 1500ft

Wouldnt you use less throttle with the v8 then the v6?

honest question..

Wouldnt a v8 require less throttle to maintain speed going up hill pulling a trailer then a v6 making it more efficent?

Old Roy · Nov 5, 2009

I believe you're right in a way but when you take those six horses to the feed trough don't they all eat the same ?? Rather than feeding just the two ?
{ Not being smart, just pondering the question.}

I understand that Germany is going towards the diesel engines rather than gas.

If you and your wife could agree on a Dodge with the Cummings diesel I believe Germany now has a big bite of our Chrysler corp so parts may be easier for you to get.

JDemaris · Nov 5, 2009

It would be nice if it always worked that way, but it does not. Yes, a small engine has to work harder to keep up with a big one. But, when cruising, at low load, a small engine can use less gas if set up properly and running within its peak torque curve. Very easy to verify. Just check the EPA highway figures with same vehicles, same gearing, and different size engines. Also, when there is more power available, it often gets used.

By your reasoning, a 1/2 ton pickup with a 454 big block, when cruising on a flat highway at 65 MPH, could get the same fuel mileage as the same 1/2 ton truck with a smaller engine that was just adequate to maintain that speed. Rarely works that way- althought I've been hearing such claims for over 50 years.
I had such a truck (with a 454), and it got a best of 13 MPG on highway cruises, but 11 was more the usual. Stuck in a 283 and got 17 MPG with it.

Put an engine in a vehicle that's so underpowered that it's laboring all the time or revving way out of its torque-curve, and it's a different story.
I had a 21 foot Dodge Champion motorhome that got a best of 6 MPG with a 318 V-8. Stuck in a 383 and got 9 MPG.
One of the reasons why the older Dodge 5.9 Cummins diesels got better fuel mileage than the 6.2 GMs and Ford-IH 6.9s/7.3s at the time was because it was the smallest engine and could behave like a bigger engine, when necessary - due to a lot of turbo boost and a long stroke.

Lou from Wi. · Nov 5, 2009

Question? Why TEXAS?? I personally wouldn"t buy any thing with out first looking at it. If that holds true for you, then I guess you will be TEXAS BOUND. Havnt bought a NEW truck since 86. F-150 4X4.Came from the factory with a defective intake manifold,Bad Paint job and a tricky little pin switch tha activated the ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. Wasn"t anything wrong . Dealer Mechanic said that could occure at different milages .Sugested we re-set it with a 1/8th drill stock. Now we buy older trucks and re-build em from the frame up so we know what we got. Never a disapointment.Our trucks look great as does our 706. NOT JUNK that is peddled from a shyster dealer that says to you, "HAVE I GOT SUCH A DEAL FOR YOU" . Seen a lot of TOYOTA TUNDRA 4X4 s and from what i heard from some , it"s a great truck. I think they look Sharp personally. Best ya look around and talk with your friends and neighbors,see what they drive, ask questions, INVESTIGATE, Just a suggestion.
LOU

Leland2 · Nov 5, 2009

I guess they work harder since there are a couple of pistons short , my 4.3 is the same exact same as a 5.7 but they loped off the 2 front cyls .

Anonymous-0 · Nov 6, 2009

Lou:
1)Texas because no salt (?), 2) A soldier I work with owns a lot with his dad and is willing to let me have either a dealer certified vehicle at auction cost plus parts/labor as necessary to get it to standard, or give me one at auction price (plus transport) as/is. 3) Quote for shipping is from TX and I can fly for free if I escort horses.

Roy:

I just threw that out there about the horses, but had 2 jeeps back to back a few years ago. Both '91's, a wrangler w/ 2.5l std trans and a cherokee w/ 4.0 auto. The Cherokee got better mileage.

Dave

JDemaris · Nov 6, 2009

"Both '91's, a wrangler w/ 2.5l std trans and a cherokee w/ 4.0 auto. The Cherokee got better mileage."

I assume you realize what a poor comparison that is. Totally different vehicles and probably geared differently.

That Cherokee was also available with the 2.5 liter and got better fuel mileage than the 4 liter version.

My wife's parents buy a new Ford every couple of years (both retired auto engineers). They just traded in their 3 liter V6 four door Escape for a 2.5 liter I4 4 door Escape. Both auto, both 4WD, and both turn the same RPM at 65 MPH. The 3 liter V6 got a best of 24.5 MPG and lifetime average of 17 MPG. The 2.5 liter so far has gotten a best of 31 MPG and an average of 22 MPG. I drove it with five people and a big dog in it, and am quite impressed with it.

Pat-CT · Nov 6, 2009

(quoted from post at 06:36:18 11/06/09) "Both '91's, a wrangler w/ 2.5l std trans and a cherokee w/ 4.0 auto. The Cherokee got better mileage."

I assume you realize what a poor comparison that is. Totally different vehicles and probably geared differently.

That Cherokee was also available with the 2.5 liter and got better fuel mileage than the 4 liter version.

My wife's parents buy a new Ford every couple of years (both retired auto engineers). They just traded in their 3 liter V6 four door Escape for a 2.5 liter I4 4 door Escape. Both auto, both 4WD, and both turn the same RPM at 65 MPH. The 3 liter V6 got a best of 24.5 MPG and lifetime average of 17 MPG. The 2.5 liter so far has gotten a best of 31 MPG and an average of 22 MPG. I drove it with five people and a big dog in it, and am quite impressed with it.

problem with that comparison is the jeep wrangler is terribly un aerodynamic compared to the cherokee

scot in pa · Nov 7, 2009

I gassed up my 4.3L silverado in North Kingsville, Ohio on the way to the roundup this summer, drove it out on Tuesday, then drove it Wednesday, thursday, and finally had to put some in it Friday. I have to check my log, but I know I got over 20 MPG. If I can hold it at 65, with a tailwind, I can get upwards of 21. The best I tested was 23.

07 Silverado classic, 4.3L, 4 speed auto, either 3.43 or 3.73 gears, still has the original tires.

Ford has a small diesel ready for the F-150 but doesn't want to be first to market with a half ton diesel. Gubmint Motors put theirs on indefinite hold, and Dodge canceled their plans for the v6 and v8 Cummins that Cummins designed pretty much just for them.

Chrysler is only 10 or 20% owned by Daimler now.

pickup trucks??

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