08 Ford F-450 Dually
 

Any ideas on getting better fuel mileage. If it does not get better it is for sale. Only have 600 miles, getting 6.8-7.5 pulling 38 Fountain. 336 214 6900 Roger

Drive it downhill. :D

yu need to give it 8-10k miles before making a bailout decision...

Then what should I expect?? If it is not going to get 10-11 pulling it is outta here. How can it possibly get 60% better.

Tractor trailers get better than this truck pulling 50,000 pounds.

Roger, how fast are you towing?

With the Dmax, I get 9-10 MPG at 65 MPH pulling around 15k.

At 75, I get 7.5-8.

You mean to tell me that you have 2 very expensive offshore boats and a $65K dually....and you can't afford the gas? WTF are you thinking? The best that you can expect is another 3 miles per gallon with ANY of the other dually's towing a 35 to 38 foot boat. So 10,000 miles a year towing at 7MPG = 1429 gallons at $3.00 a gallon = $4,287. 10MPG = $3,000 annually. You cannot afford $1,287 annually or $107 a month? I do not understand these arguments given the type of total expenditures to pursue this hobby. I sold my new truck with 600 miles on it and lost $12,000 in depreciation.....but it saves me $1,287 a year? WTF?? What I can't figure out is that people say crap like this and yet somehow figure out a way to earn or borrow $500K worth of equipment??

Is it the average consumption ?
How long trips do you make ? A lot of "stop and go" or constant speed ? How fast do you go ? It all makes a difference.

EXACTLY !!:D

To me, it is the extra stop on a 300 mile trip that drives me nuts. I went FL, I almost went F450 but didn't like it.

And, yes, you can install extra tanks.

You can try putting higher gears in it. It will take a little longer to get up to speed but once there, you won't be turning as many rpm's on the highway and get better fuel economy. Just an idea.

What gear ratio??? I'm in a 07 F350 with 4:10 getting about 10 and ony use the truck to tow. Most of my trip is highway and I'm running 75 but up in the RPM around 2,300-2,400.


BTW: I kinda agree with the fuel/cost issue.....it's a expensive toy, is 3 MPH really that big a deal????

Check with somebody that is an HPTUNER authorized shop. The DPF and regen are kiiling the newer trucks for fuel mileage. A little tune and you should get better along with a taller tire to get rid of some gearing.

HHMMM Ford F450 2008 model 4 weeks old, we had one stolen from us at the strip Club friday night. Valet tried to deny taking the keys and parking it, then we pulled the security camera. The valet not only parked it but left the keys out for two others to grab and steal. We know the valet was in on it but here in S. FL, as soon as they know they did somehting wrong they forget English. Bunch of crap, makes you rethink parking a expensive car/truck with some one who works for tips.:violent-smiley-045:

Hate to break it to you ......you will never see more than 8-9 on that rig if it ihas 4.88 rearend.....maybe you could d squeeze 10 if you are pullin on the flat and under 65 mph with a 4.30....Check out this site www.thedieselstop.com of info over there, yes the fuel miliage sucks!

This is why I am keeping my 2001 7.3 Dually.

Bryan

Can you really blame Roger? That mileage stinks. I drove a fully loaded 26' International box moving truck that got better mileage a few weeks ago, and that was at 70 mph on the governor. Even if you can afford it, that's no reason to waste money. Unfortunately, he's stuck with the depreciation unless he keeps this pig.

I guess the lesson learned here is check with others to see what kind of mileage they are getting before buying.

Michael

Listen guys, I probably tow more in a year than you others do in 5 years. I have a 42 foot motorhome that weighs 35,000 pounds, with a 525 cat and it gets 8 miles per gallon pulling a car. I have (2) renegades one with a 425 cat and the other with a 450 Mercedes pulling a 44 and 45 foot parts trailer and they get 6.5-7.50 grossing 42000 pounds. I also have (2) 2002 Ford f-350 duallys that average 10-12 MPG towing around 12000 pounds. YES I am complaining about the milage NOT BECAUSE I CAN NOT AFFORD IT, but because it AINT RIGHT.....

The F450 is nice!! Its expensive though! The fuel mileage is really bad on all of the 07+ diesels due to emissions. The new 6.4 is still up in the air. I have seen two in person and they look sharp. Both were also complaining about fuel mileage. I am sure the factory will have some reflashes soon. I think they already have tuners out for them.

I have heard about computer upgrades. Does anyone out there have one and how much did it help?? Matthew Smith bought an air cleaner kit for his 350 for 400.00, said it helped one MPG. Bullydog has an upgrade for 550.00 but he said only 1-2 MPG. Has anyone tried either??

here is a great forum with good info... http://forums.thedieselstop.com/ubbt...rd=64upgrades1 Scroll down through the pages. I use the SCT from Innovative diesel. www.innovativediesel.com talk with eric the owner or Ted. Straight shooters will go out of their way to make you happy. I have their tunes on 4 of my trucks. Jeff

Thanks, will do

Mr Chevelle... you NEED to cool down.... I few years ago I was pulling 45 weekends a year drag racing, buying a new truck EVERY year... I'm not new at this, I have a 34,000# motorhome pulling a 12,000# car trailer or a 12,000# boat rig, that's about 46,241#'s to be exact.... I've owned 3 7.3 Powerstrokes, 2 Dodge Cummins, one V10 Dodge, 2 Duramax's... yada yada... so if your tell me your getting 12 mpg pulling a 12k trailer, your going about 60-65mph tops, if that..
you already stated you can get 7.5, add 1.0 for the air filter and another 1.5 for a good programmer, than puts you at 10 right there, so what is your beef ?? your castrating a truck with a mere 600 miles?? i'll absolutely guarantee you your powerstrokes didn't get decent mileage until 7-10k in miles... I really don't think there is ANYTHING out there on this planet thats going to get 12mpg grossing over 20,000#'s at todays highway speed limits...

oh, and I do this for a living too...

Thanks for the info, we always got 11-12 pulling the race boat all over the east coast with a 99 F-350. Around 10 at 75-80 MPH. Yesterday from Smith Mtn Lake 143 miles to home and it took 22.3 gallons. I just think that is bad. My question still stands who has added what and what are the results. The estimates I stated are hearsay not facts. One of my employees is getting 16-17 towing a travel trailer with a Dodge. He changed the gears from 410 to 373. My truck has 4:88s and I wonder how much if any 4:30s would help. Thanks again for the info. Roger

well, Rog, i'll assume you have 4wd with the boat rig... with 4.88's and the 450's tires your best mpg is gonna be 65 or BELOW, not what you want to hear i'm sure, with 4.30's the engine will turn about 13.5% less at any given time, so that's maybe a 1 to 1.5 mpg increase at best, and maybe only 5 to 7 mph better tow speed, if your lucky...
while I really haven't heard of any 6.4 engine b1tch issues, I can say I have not heard one 4.88 owner who's happy with the mileage, not one... with 4wd your talking changing out front and rears, and that's a VERY pricey mod right there to gain some mpg, not including filters, and tuners, and exhaust, and, and, and....
quite honestly, towing a 38' boat rig at 75-80 mph is REALLY not safety friendly anyways... my coach has about 440hp w/4.30's and 295-80-22.5 tires and it turns 1750 at 73.5 mph, and I have about another 450 rpm left, this thing WILL run...
in summary, keep it about 65-67 mph towing for 8-10k miles, and then panic... hopefully Father Ford has a fix..

how much you trying to get for it?

Yes, the Diesel Stop is the answer, if it is made or even thought of you will find it here. I have the Edge programer and I got 18.5 at 2000 rpms hwy this weekend, it was empty but that is pretty good for an 03 Excursion with 158,000 miles....and 9000 lbs curb weight. That 7.3 is going to be a collectors item, why they ever ditched that is a mystery, and you know Ford is asking the same thing. The 6.0 was a mess, now they are choked off so bad by emissions it is sick. I don't even have a catalytic egg burner.:D

I will get in on this, i am sick of buying diesel trucks and the sellsman telling me I will get 20 mpg and the best any of my trucks have ever got empty no trailer is around 11.

and the guy that says you cannot get alot of mpg needs to take 42 mti's truck for a spin. I hauled his 42 mti from e-dock to destin fl at a very high rate of speed and averaged over 17 mpg. I would say my average speed was around 80 mph, there was an identical truck hauling another boat that got around half that milage following me. I would stop every other time he would. explain that to me.

let me get this right...

you towed a 42 MTI at 80 mph, and got 17 mpg ?????

what truck was this??

whatever you say dude...

Ford builds nice trucks, Cummins builds nice engines. Combine them with a 550, or 650. I just rode in a 650 6 door truck that the owner claimed he was seeing 13mpg, with a 200 gallon tank...he could drive a hell of a long way. He had a CAT diesel though.

Look into a Superchip.......it worked wonders with a 7.3 Excursion......that also had a higher rear to begin with.

I don't think there are any tuners yet for the new 08 model diesel trucks.

There is a company called gear vendors that makes an aux transmission that can be installed and give you an extra gear in between your factory gears, and one more gear on top. I hear that when engaged, you can expect almost a 400 rpm drop in overdrive.

They help greatly when pulling in the hills.

Cost installed is around 4000.00. will pay for itself in fuel savings in 50k miles. If you are going to keep the truck that long, go for it.

Installer in Louisiana: Billy Thibodeaux RV, Carencro LA

i have one with 4.88 rears and when i tow i get around 8.9-10.2 miles per gallon at 75mph. have about 7000 miles on it

Super chip has one out for 08 Super Duty

I own the 6.0 and its great engine. The only problems came on the 03-04's. The were FORCED to get rid of the 7.3 Powerstroke by the Federal Government who said if it doesnt meet emissions by a certain date then you will no londer make it for road use. It was time for something new. The 7.3 needed more power.

Roger,

I have personally towed over 225,000+ miles hauling boats over the years. A diesel needs at least 5,000 miles to start breaking in. You are supposed to wait like 1,000 miles before you tow with a diesel. You also have a 450, which has a different gear ratio than a 350 has-- this directly affects the mileage.

I was just "looking" at trucks today killing time and the new Fords are beautiful. (GM really hosed the new trucks--they are ugly!!) You have a gorgeous new truck. Give it some time to break in, maybe change the final drive ratio. You could also get a tuner (or chip) and a larger exhaust-- this will give you like 2-3 mpg better!! Best of luck to you.

Gerard

Outcast rafe, I bought the truck for cost and it was around 44K, if interested call me. 336 214 6900 It is a 2 wheel drive. It has a small wing on the roof, I installed, and 5th wheel ball in the bed. Wing and ball was 600 for both.

sorry need a 4wd im looking at a 350 now they want 51k for it

coughcoughbull****cough:signs043: .

WAY out of line, and why do you care.:chill-pill: There is no need to come on here and bash some one because they have different ideas than you do.

Roger, sorry to say but it is not going to get any better. I have the same truck with 16K miles and mileage has only improved about 1 MPG. I am towing a 44 MTI, about 15,000# boat and trailer. Only getting about 6.5 towing, but I do tow faster than most. I think if you keep the speed below 70 it will help alot. I really like the truck it self but the mileage and speed limiter are making me have second thought about it as well.
PS, BYC is talking about my 03' duramax that averaged 17 towing basically the same boat. It has 150k miles and has never gotten worse than 19.5 and I do drive it to fast as well.
Good luck.

:cool-smiley-011: