Hello,
this is my first post... I am a newby to the site so please excuse me if this has already been discussed but I am looking for a gen 3, 03 or 04 model quad cab 4x4 and wondered if anyone has any insight on which hp/tranny combo I should be looking for to get the best fuel economy. (with or without aftermarket chips)

I've been driving a 97 ext cab 4x4 w/automatic and 4;10 gears for the last 9 years, 220000 miles, and am still running strong at 19-20 mpg empty but I need the 4 door quad body now.

any info would be great!

thanks!
catch yall downstream..

 

As strange as it may seem, the automatics have consistently better mileage in the 3rd gens. I believe the best mileage gear from the manufacturer was a 3:73 but there is a 3:42 available as an aftermarket part. In stock trim the best I ever achieved was 18.5 but with a Smarty 19.98 has been the best. Some have had better luck and there are so many variables that mileage is truly subjective.

 

Thanks, Which factory HP 5.9 are you running and does it matter with the smarty?

 

I've got the 04.5 so it's the 325/610 motor. It does matter with the Smarty but really only as far as the maximum HP it will produce. As I understand it, the early 04's will also do a fuzz better on mileage than the 04.5's because of the third injection event and the lack of a catalytic converter.

 

I've got the earlier 04.......305hp........I've gotten as much as 23.7 hand calculated at 1800 RPM (65MPH).

 

That's what I'm talking about, the early 04 is the way to go. You can easily bump the HP to match the 04.5.

 

mine avgs just over 20 running 70-80 down the highway

 

I had an 03 5 speed and an 03 48re. The 5 speed was a qc/lb with 3.73's and took some serious work to get it below 20 mpg. It was consistently in the 22-24+ range, several times 24.5 to nearly 25mpgs, doing a good amount of babying. Now, the 48re truck I had took some serious babying just to get it to 20 or so, but it had a 4.10 rear end and 35" tires.

The 5 speed put out 526 rear wheel horsepower on a stock fuel system, just had a TST R49, PPE, Silver Bullet 66 and a South Bend Con FE clutch. Cheap. It got totaled, and I miss that truck!

The 48re I never got on a dyno before I sold it. It had a built trans, and I put all of my mods on it except the turbo, and I'm willing to bet it would have been as quick or quicker than my 5 speed, at least from a roll.

The only reason I sold the auto is I need the space of a Megacab as I have a family now. I'd buy a Ford CC, but don't feel like investing the time and money into a swap.

 

My 03 6 speed 4x4 gets over twenty mpg hand calculated, you cant trust the over head, And I dont baby it and never run the speed limit. I also run my quad xzilleraider on 65hp most of the time. Im not sure what my gears are but its running 2100 rpm at 70mph.

 

I have the early 04 305hp with the edge ez box and on setting 2 I have no problems consistantly getting 23 - 24 mpg hand calculated. The truck most definetly does better kepping it under 2000 rpm when highway driving.

 

Wow,
Thats exactly what I was looking for!! Sounds like the 5 or 6 speed manuals are the way to go and the 305 over the 325 hp factory set-ups.

Is anyone getting 20 + with the 325 hp (factory) motor? Can it be done?

Thanks for the help!

 

It can be done with the 325hp 04.5+ trucks relatively easily, but it probably isn't as widespread as it is with the other lower rated motors. A standard trans seems to give the advantage in mpg's.

BTW Standard Output engines are 250hp, the 305hp motors are the High Output. Doesn't take much for the 250's to catch the others.

 

i get 18.5 runnin 75-80 and weigh 9,000. runnin a bully dog power pup 06 3500 6 speed

 

I get about 22-25 MPG mixed driving on a regular basis. Mileage is a little lower right now with the temps dropping, but I'm still above the 22 mpg mark.

It can be done. Love your truck, it might love you back.

garrett

 

Come on man...don`t get the guys hopes up....you have a 2WD he asked about a 4x4

I get 14 around town , and 18+ @ 65-70 on the highway with all my mods. and I`m O.K. with that