One rig to rule them all

[AbleGuy]

My wife always yells at me when I show her cars/trucks/motorcycles, always followed by telling me I can only drive one at a time

My better half always says something similar about my new gun purchases🤣

“Why do you need another gun? You can only shoot one at a time!”

(I’m no John Wick so she’s kinda right 🫤)

 

[ITTOG]

IMO, actual fuel economy is overrated as long as it’s in the “reasonable” realm. People will buy a $50k vehicle over a $25k one and justify it based on fuel mileage/cost. At a 60 mile per day commute, you’re talking about a difference of $20/week between a vehicle getting 15 mpg and one that gets 20 mpg. That’s $1,000/year, not nothing but probably not wildly significant in the grand scheme of things.

Nailed it!

I think for many, possibly most, it has less to do with the $1,000 and more to do with the ability to pass gas stations and probably a little less, a good feeling because of better fuel economy. Those two are top of the list for me.

 

[ricoisme26]

What motor is in the current F150? Depending on the climate you live in (read: no rust issues), the 10-14 trucks are pretty resilient. I have a 2022 F350 with 61k on it and a 2013 F150 Raptor with 143k on it and I'd be hard pressed to tell you the Raptor is worse for the wear. If it were me, I'd invest some dollars into the current truck and keep using it as the exploration truck. It already has the towing/hauling component built in. Since the work vehicle is a pretty nice, roomy Expedition, I bet you're not hurting for room on trips in it.

Only other way I'd go is a '14-16 steel body Super Duty with the 6.2 gasser. Gives you more truck capability, a bit more cargo room, and since its not a daily, the difference in economy would effect you minimally.

curious why steel body 6.2. a 17-19 aluminum 6.2 is on my short list. I just under coated the F150 (5.0 w/168k) this weekend and it isn't pretty underneath. Rockers and cab corners were done once already and that's not a job that will be done again. Bed floor was rebuilt once as well and is holding up but the wheel wells are starting to show rust/rot now.

 

[ricoisme26]

I think for many, possibly most, it has less to do with the $1,000 and more to do with the ability to pass gas stations and probably a little less, a good feeling because of better fuel economy. Those two are top of the list for me.

Truck has a 36 gallon fuel tank, I've done over 600 miles on a tank and passed many gas stations on road trips. I think they hit the nail on the head, perceived savings at the pump doesn't equate to actual savings once you buy the car and pay for increased insurance etc. It is the feeling of "saving" by getting better gas mileage in the moment. When I drive my truck to work I'm not thinking how I enjoy driving the truck, instead I'm thinking about the fuel I'm burning instead of running my pontiac. I'm a fill the tank full every time I'm at the pump kind of guy, also calc my mpg for that tank every time. This probably doesn't help my thinking but is good to notice things like low tires pressure, dirt air filter, brakes dragging but not causing heat issues. I've found things like that from noticing dips in mpg.

It's a frame of mind I need to work on.

Sake of transparency, my 5.0 F150 is level/lifted with 6100s sitting on 34s and has 4.56 gears. Took it on a road trip before getting the expedition and returned 16.5mpg calc'd PA to OBX and back. Does about 14 locally unloaded with shorter drives and all our hills.

 

[Trektor73]

curious why steel body 6.2. a 17-19 aluminum 6.2 is on my short list. I just under coated the F150 (5.0 w/168k) this weekend and it isn't pretty underneath. Rockers and cab corners were done once already and that's not a job that will be done again. Bed floor was rebuilt once as well and is holding up but the wheel wells are starting to show rust/rot now.

mainly cost and maybe a bit of simplicity, but it sounds like the benefits of the 17-19 aluminum trucks would outweigh that for you. Still has the 6-speed, I think the interior is more comfortable, i just wonder how the aluminum will hold up over time with fatigue and off-road use. An example of this: I watch the tow mirrors on my '22 F350 jiggle over bumps in the road or off-road. Any of the steel trucks I've driven seemed more sturdy in that sense alone, but that is probably something I'd overlook if I was in an area where trucks rust. The aluminum trucks would be worth the price of admission to me in that sense.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

mainly cost and maybe a bit of simplicity, but it sounds like the benefits of the 17-19 aluminum trucks would outweigh that for you. Still has the 6-speed, I think the interior is more comfortable, i just wonder how the aluminum will hold up over time with fatigue and off-road use. An example of this: I watch the tow mirrors on my '22 F350 jiggle over bumps in the road or off-road. Any of the steel trucks I've driven seemed more sturdy in that sense alone, but that is probably something I'd overlook if I was in an area where trucks rust. The aluminum trucks would be worth the price of admission to me in that sense.

F-150's went aluminum 10 years ago, they seem to be doing ok.

My '16 with 155k seems to be doing great. Aftermarket tow mirrors don't really seem to bounce much.

Bodywork is more expensive but then like you say they don't really rust either though.

 

[vintageracer]

Instead of one rig to do it all have one job that you walk to, sell all the other crap in your life that you like but do not need and have everything else delivered. Rent everything else and your vehicle problem is solved!

 

[ITTOG]

Truck has a 36 gallon fuel tank, I've done over 600 miles on a tank and passed many gas stations on road trips. I think they hit the nail on the head, perceived savings at the pump doesn't equate to actual savings once you buy the car and pay for increased insurance etc. It is the feeling of "saving" by getting better gas mileage in the moment. When I drive my truck to work I'm not thinking how I enjoy driving the truck, instead I'm thinking about the fuel I'm burning instead of running my pontiac. I'm a fill the tank full every time I'm at the pump kind of guy, also calc my mpg for that tank every time. This probably doesn't help my thinking but is good to notice things like low tires pressure, dirt air filter, brakes dragging but not causing heat issues. I've found things like that from noticing dips in mpg.

It's a frame of mind I need to work on.

Sake of transparency, my 5.0 F150 is level/lifted with 6100s sitting on 34s and has 4.56 gears. Took it on a road trip before getting the expedition and returned 16.5mpg calc'd PA to OBX and back. Does about 14 locally unloaded with shorter drives and all our hills.

We are talking about two different things. You are talking about unloaded and I was talking about loaded. I agree with you when my truck is unloaded. Unloaded with factory tires I have hit 700 miles on one tank in the summer.

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[85_Ranger4x4]

We are talking about two different things. You are talking about unloaded and I was talking about loaded. I agree with you when my truck is unloaded. Unloaded with factory tires I have hit 700 miles on one tank in the summer.

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Its hard to say, many don't understand what that heavy diesel does for your GVWR either.

And then here comes all the modern diesel drama. Its a good thing they get mildly better mileage than a gas truck, it helps offset things when you get derated to 5mph in the sticks because of an emissions issue.

*new half tons are going to particulate filters and I don't know what kind of crap is come along with that and if it will trickle up in the bigger gas trucks.

 

[ricoisme26]

We are talking about two different things. You are talking about unloaded and I was talking about loaded. I agree with you when my truck is unloaded. Unloaded with factory tires I have hit 700 miles on one tank in the summer.

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I guess loaded vs unloaded are subjective. I the trip i mentioned this year was a full bed (under cap) coolers, beach chairs, suite cases, fishing gear, extra cases of water, and four adults in the front of the truck. To me that's unloaded because most of my truck use is towing an ~4000lb fishing boat on similar distance trips or towing the same boat or other trailers locally.

So other than towing a camper or having a slide in camper, I think my road trip is "loaded" for overlanding purposes. (-10 cool points for factory bumpers and now accessory lighting).

 

[eugene]

Instead of one rig to do it all have one job that you walk to, sell all the other crap in your life that you like but do not need and have everything else delivered. Rent everything else and your vehicle problem is solved!

That is basically what I said and did. I'm close enough to walk to work, though I tried it and too many luxury cars tried to kill me.
But not just the fuel savings, I was commuting 30 minutes each way, so five hours a week saved.
I order most of our stuff from amazon, figure if I'm going to pay for that prime membership I may as well use it. TP, paper towels, etc i just order rather then make a trip to the store.