F450 ?

poohbear

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Posts
1,244
Location
Gilmer,Tx
Im looking at a local trade 2019 Ford F450. What kind of NON- towing fuel mileage am I looking at ? My 2012 3500 dually is not great ,14-15 mpg, so no big deal, just don't want the towing mileage the same as non towing.
Im only looking at the 450 for the turn radius and additional towing safety. My DMax really does great but it's 12 years old but low milage for a 2012. I only lived a mile & a half from my office before retiring in 16
 
I have a 2024 F450 with the high output 6.7L. Around town not towing I get around 15-16. On the highway not towing I get around 19. Towing the 5th wheel still the same 8-9 that I got with my F350 diesel dually. I think the 10 speed transmission helps some versus the 2017 F350 which was a 6 speed. Turning radius is pretty awesome.
 
I have a 21 450 and that is pretty much tha same as what I get, that is driving normally, not trying to save fuel. Towing at about 75mph.
 
2020 F450, I get about 14-16 around town not towing, about 18-20 if I keep 70MPH and under.
Pulling varies a little bit. With my 397TH weighing in about 19K loaded with my stuff, I get 7.5-9mpg depending on weather, and speed. If we have a big 55-60 Mph construction zone, I can get closer to 10mpg, but if I am rolling at 70MPH its usually an average of 8mpg.
 
I just looked at my around town mileage and it is closer to 14. We are in Florida and the around time is a lot of stop and go, and stop again!
 
2020 F-450 w/60k miles, 22k towing my 2021 349M
I get 8.5mph towing at 70mph pretty reliably.
Around town is 14-14.5 if I keep my foot out of it. 15-16 on the freeway unloaded @ 75mph.

I have calibrated my AFE bias to be within 0.5 of calculated mileage, so it's no longer the lie-o-meter. That took some work. Before that calibration I was "getting" 22mpg. :rolleyes:
 
Altho not a F450 , my 2021 F350 4x4 diesel does similar mpg that is posted here. My truck has the 4.10 gear ratio. Loaded or unloaded the mpg is in the area mentioned. I have used the ECO mode on the unloaded truck on the freeway , I do not see any difference in mpg. In ECO mode the trans will shift worse in city traffic. Slight engine RPM flair at times on 2-3 shift or 4-5 shift.
 
I remember back in the 70"s my father had a suburban with a 454 and 4 bolt main. Hos milage never changed towing or not it was 6 mpg. Shifted out of first before 5 miles an hour. Milage was terrible bit I swear he could have towed a house.
 
I remember back in the 70"s my father had a suburban with a 454 and 4 bolt main. Hos milage never changed towing or not it was 6 mpg. Shifted out of first before 5 miles an hour. Milage was terrible bit I swear he could have towed a house.
Just as a comparison - a '74 454 had ~500 ft/lbs torque and 270hp.
A F350/450 6.7L diesel has 1050 ft/lbs and 475hp.
Using the 10 speed trans and 4L transfer case - it *will* tow a house. :)
 
Last edited:
I didnt expect much better/worse than my 2012 Chevy CC LB Max DRW. Really don't NEED another truck & My only reason to even give a ford a look is that turning radius of the 450. The ram 4500 is nearly as sharp as the 450 and they are mucho cheaper especially used but Im just not a ram guy. The new Chevy 4500's don't have the 10 Spd in any Ive found plus they all seem to be work truck interiors, which the Boss will not like.
 
Well, I can’t speak to owning a Ford as I’m a die-hard GM guy after working on cars for 40+ years and working for Ford and GM, but I have been driving LB Duramax trucks now since 2008 and wouldn’t change. My 2022 runs amazing and will pull anything I need through the mountains of the west just as fast as I’d like to go. The new engines are incredible. Two of my neighbors each just bought a 2024 Silverado High Country dually D-Max and Sierra AT4 (like mine except for a standard bed) D-Max and both pull heavy campers and race trailers all over as well. They also both love their new GM trucks. It all depends on what features are important to you…..For me, I would worry about the possibility of a CP4 fuel pump failure on the Fords and that would likely overshadow the love I might have for the reduced turning radius but that’s just me.

As far as MPG....I don't really track that nor care as much. I bought the truck for the power, comfort, and towing capability and don't worry about when I need to add more fuel.
 
All the diesels can pull a house.....
9XXeVXg9-2Z5h0BHItC-(edit).jpg
 

Try RV LIFE Pro Free for 7 Days

  • New Ad-Free experience on this RV LIFE Community.
  • Plan the best RV Safe travel with RV LIFE Trip Wizard.
  • Navigate with our RV Safe GPS mobile app.
  • and much more...
Try RV LIFE Pro Today
Back
Top Bottom