Half-ton vs One-ton MPG (F-150 vs Superduty MPG)

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by aerohead

With modern engines and the 10-speed transmission, a 2023 F-350 could be made to exceed orbywan's performance, depending on mods.

Talking to a Bolivian who was on vacations in Florianópolis around 4 years and a half ago, he told me the 10-speed transmission can really do wonders regarding fuel-efficiency

[aerohead]

yeah, according to Ricardo Engineering, a 12-speed renders the same mpg benefit of a CVT, and is not torque-limited, so these GM/Ford 10-speeds are sneaking up on the theoretical optimum for engine transient operation thermal efficiency.

[redpoint5]

My guess is most vehicles will be hybrid in a decade, and most will eliminate the gearbox by using planetary gears and motors.

[Hersbird]

Well when not towing or hauling anything the F150 will do much better than a 350. Now put a giant full height slide in camper in the bed and the economy is going to be dictated by the horsepower required to overcome that aerodynamic penality. I bet both gas motors make enough horsepower to do it and probably have equal thermal efficiency so they will get similar mpg. Compare the f150 diesel to a f350 diesel and again the thermal efficiency and power required will be similar so they will get similar mpg when working. When not working the f150 is just more efficient by a good margin. It's carefully tuned and sculpted to get the best possible mpg as it is epa rated. The f350 they don't really care as it doesn't get rated or effect CAFE average.

So you have to ask yourself how many miles will be working and how many not working. If it's mostly working get the f350 and you really won't be spending much more on gas, if 80% of the time you drive it back and forth to work without anything in it get the f150. Save gas and plus it's 5 times more comfortable.

[Piotrsko]

Owning one 250 I need to add: lots of stop and go get the 150 because the 350 weighs more * and mass is expensive to accelerate. Stop and go to work, I used to get 19, freeway I got 25.

Scaled @ 7886 lbs for mine. 5,000 of that on the front tires. However: crew cab

[aerohead]

MOTORTREND Magazine has had an arrangement with a company called Emission Analytics ( EM ), to conduct EPA-esque REAL MPG testing.
And though heavy duty trucks are not required to publish fuel economy ratings, on many MOTORTREND long-term tests, they'll have EM go ahead and conduct their REAL MPG tests on both 2500 and 3500 series pickups.
The current F-350 TD gets an actual 18-mpg HWY, 'naked.'
So does the RAM 3500 TD.
I believe the all-aluminum F-150, EcoBoost, 4WD, short-bed 'averages' about 19-mpg, 'naked.'

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

My guess is most vehicles will be hybrid in a decade

It's been at least 5 years since I placed a similar bet...

most will eliminate the gearbox by using planetary gears and motors.

Now that some hybrids actually feature automatic transmissions with a small amount of gears, such as a 2-speed one fitted to some GWM Haval SUVs, I'd take a total elimination of the gearbox on hybrids with a grain of salt. Not to mention medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks with dual-range differentials...

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

It's been at least 5 years since I placed a similar bet...

Now that some hybrids actually feature automatic transmissions with a small amount of gears, such as a 2-speed one fitted to some GWM Haval SUVs, I'd take a total elimination of the gearbox on hybrids with a grain of salt. Not to mention medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks with dual-range differentials...

When I first experienced SSD as a replacement for hard drives, I predicted it would dominate the market in 2 years. I was off by more than a decade. What's funnier are those on EV forums convinced you won't be able to give your ICE vehicle away in the second half of next year due to the utter domination of EVs.

I don't make predictions because I'm great at making them, but for the fun exercise of stating something and seeing how close it comes.

Not sure how well Toyota's planetary gearbox and motors scales, but I imagine it would scale well in heavier duty applications. The thing about all of it is that it can be programmed to protect itself. A good design protects itself from the idiot operating it.

[redpoint5]

Hauled this up to the Santiam Pass for camping and got 21 MPG overall.

Truck is a 2017 Chevy Colorado 4x4.

Each quad is 500+ pounds. Trailer is probably 350lbs. Who knows the weight of all the camping gear that's stuffed under the quads and in the wheel wells. My guess is somewhere around 1-ton of stuff being hauled.



Truck pulled super smooth and had plenty of power.

[Hersbird]

That's a cool truck!

I got a new truck too. I was looking and looking and really wanted a new 2024 Colorado but they are in high demand and pushing 50k for the ZR2 now. Was thinking about a Mavrick but it too is impossible to find a deal on a used one and they don't have a good tow rating. Was close to getting a loaded up Santa Cruz for almost $40k but then found a really loaded 2020 Ram (originally $64k and packing another $10k in aftermarket) with a new dealer installed motor for $31k. It has a 3" lift and 34" tires so it sucks the gas. I still have the Sonata Hybrid and have about given up on an ev at this point. I traded in the teardrop for a 20' Jayco too so I needed at least 5000 pounds of tow rating.

Oh, and I'm getting married in August. Tired of just doing what I want, when I want all the time LOL.

Life is good!


I have since put air bags on the back and a WDH on the hitch to get rid of thar sag when towing. It gets about 11.5 at 65 MPG towing so not terrible but not as good as the teardrop obviously.