Gas truck considerations

[riddle family]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

I hate to bring this back up again, but I need to ask if I can change my original answer to this question based upon new information that I have. Ever since we had this conversation last week, I have been wanting to test this for myself. So I asked my friend if I could pull my trailer with his 2017 F350 6.2L to see for myself. I just got finished putting quite a few miles on the road with their truck and my trailer, including up and down several large grades around here and some highway towing.

With that said, I ask for the right to change my answer. I frankly am very impressed with the way the 6.2L pulls my travel trailer in comparison to my 5.9L Cummins. Sure, the torque of the Cummins is still better overall, but the new generation Ford does extremely well and is very impressive as a package. I would have absolutely no reservations about trading my old 5.9L for a new gas 6.2L SuperDuty as a tow vehicle. In fact, it has sparked my interest in the new Ford platform even more. Coming out of that F350 and back in to my old Ram makes you realize how out of date our old trucks are.

Again, I apologize for bringing this back up, but I just felt the need to update this since I have much more direct feedback.

Hey, we can change our minds at anytime.

Wish I could find someone with one and let me do a test pull. That is basically the only thing holding me back.

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[Mad Cow]

Originally Posted by 15BlueStreak

Yes it did! Mad cow I like your avatar. My father served in Vietnam in 7/1st Aviation Brigade A troop Apache Aero scouts. He worked on the OH-6 helicopters over there. He was stationed in Vinh Long. Are you currently serving or retired?

I am Army retarded.. er.... retired. I was medically retired, with retired pension, back in the 70’s due to injuries. I was Armored Cav. More like sniper bait since the majority of the time I had a radio strapped to my back when not in M-113’s.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by riddle family

Hey, we can change our minds at anytime.

Wish I could find someone with one and let me do a test pull. That is basically the only thing holding me back.

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I would say that the only negative is the fact that it shifts up and down multiple times on any given grade where our manual trans Cummins trucks can be just left in 6th and squeeze the throttle. But, the 6.2L Ford doesn't slow down, struggle, or anything negative. It just shifts and goes about its business.

The rest of the truck is just beautiful.

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

So I asked my friend if I could pull my trailer with his 2017 F350 6.2L to see for myself. I just got finished putting quite a few miles on the road with their truck and my trailer, including up and down several large grades around here and some highway towing.

With that said, I ask for the right to change my answer. I frankly am very impressed with the way the 6.2L pulls my travel trailer in comparison to my 5.9L Cummins. I would have absolutely no reservations about trading my old 5.9L for a new gas 6.2L SuperDuty as a tow vehicle. In fact, it has sparked my interest in the new Ford platform even more. Coming out of that F350 and back in to my old Ram makes you realize how out of date our old trucks are.

Any idea what rear end he had? 3.73's or 4.30's? I haven't been able to tow our trailer with my new '17 F-250 6.2l because winter won't go away. I really like the way the truck drives and performs so far.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by tcnashville

any idea what rear end he had? 3.73's or 4.30's? I haven't been able to tow our trailer with my new '17 f-250 6.2l because winter won't go away. I really like the way the truck drives and performs so far.

4.30

[Jblack]

I purchased a 3500 SRW (4:11 Rear Gears) and actually got it for less that the 2500 on the lot that had the same options. I tow an ~11,550 pound TT and get between 6 and 7 MPG. Not many mountains here in MD, just tall hills. However, I do know when I am going up a steep one, whereas if I had the diesel it would be an easy pull I'm betting. Looking to get an F350 DRW in the future.

[2nOZ]

Originally Posted by TCNashville

Any idea what rear end he had? 3.73's or 4.30's? I haven't been able to tow our trailer with my new '17 F-250 6.2l because winter won't go away. I really like the way the truck drives and performs so far.

The short distance we pulled our FW before winter set in was a relaxing pull. 4 hours round trip. We have the 3.73. It will get a real workout the first of May when we tackle the Tennessee hills.

[riddle family]

Originally Posted by 2nOZ

The short distance we pulled our FW before winter set in was a relaxing pull. 4 hours round trip. We have the 3.73. It will get a real workout the first of May when we tackle the Tennessee hills.

Have to give a report back on this thread when you do.

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[Origjcc]

Originally Posted by riddle family

Have to give a report back on this thread when you do.

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Although not a 17, my 2012 F-250 with a 6.2, and 3.73’s pulls our 28BHBE beautifully.

Have been Texas to California as well as Northern New Mexico and Arizona with allot of hills and high west wind in between.

Will deselect 6th gear and usually stays in 4th or 5th, runs 2000-2500 at 68-72mph. Given the torque difference from my 99 7.3 it did take a while to get used to the frequency of shifting on hills as well as higher RPM on climbs. As well as Rpm Surge at a 6% - 8% grade decline in tow mode, just have to keep your decent speed in mind due to truck dropping gears to slow you down.

Like they say will “pass anything other than a gas station”. Avg 7.5-8.5 mpg on longer hauls.

Was leery to chime in given an “older” truck, hopefully still useful info. I know ole “Deputy” is to us, takes great care of our family and then sits there and looks pretty till next adventure.

Here’s last trip, little heavy on the foot was ready to be home.




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[15BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by 2nOZ

The short distance we pulled our FW before winter set in was a relaxing pull. 4 hours round trip. We have the 3.73. It will get a real workout the first of May when we tackle the Tennessee hills.

I towed our 324bhts down to Tennessee last year with our previous truck a 2015 Ram 6.4l and 4.10s. It did pretty good. We were on I75 most of the way. The ram with 4.10s is comparable to the ford and 3.73s due to the tranny gearing in the ram vs. The ford tranny. The ram was in 3rd on most bigger hills and I just locked out 5. It pulled jellico hill in 3rd at 55 no problem. We pulled from nw Ohio to Dandridge Tenn. Truck got 8mpg.

[Iraqvet05]

Originally Posted by Origjcc

Although not a 17, my 2012 F-250 with a 6.2, and 3.73’s pulls our 28BHBE beautifully.
(snip)

Was leery to chime in given an “older” truck, hopefully still useful info. I know ole “Deputy” is to us, takes great care of our family and then sits there and looks pretty till next adventure.

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Thanks for the feedback! From what I have read, the 6.2 really hasn't changed much over the years until a slight bump in torque was achieved in the 2017 model, so your info is relevant.

[goducks]

Originally Posted by 15BlueStreak

I towed our 324bhts down to Tennessee last year with our previous truck a 2015 Ram 6.4l and 4.10s. It did pretty good. We were on I75 most of the way. The ram with 4.10s is comparable to the ford and 3.73s due to the tranny gearing in the ram vs. The ford tranny. The ram was in 3rd on most bigger hills and I just locked out 5. It pulled jellico hill in 3rd at 55 no problem. We pulled from nw Ohio to Dandridge Tenn. Truck got 8mpg.

That doesn't sound like fun at all. And 8 mpg. Ouch.

[Iraqvet05]

Originally Posted by goducks

That doesn't sound like fun at all. And 8 mpg. Ouch.

That's the sacrifice of owning a gas truck and towing any considerable weight. Pay $8k plus up front for a diesel engine or pay at the pump in higher fuel cost for owning a gas truck.

[sobuck1]

Had a F 250 2008 bought new with 5.4 373 gears, was great for our 22FB then we got a 2009 26 BHS G2 Still pulled ok 5.4 is a lead sled but it would pull anything just not fast, 2016 moved up to 2016 28.5 RSTS HT. Say bye bye to 5.4 it did ok on the flats but not the hills, Ordered new 2017 F 250 6.2 with 430 gears, best move ever, don't tow a lot so a diesel was not considered, Neighbor has a 2016 Ram with 6.4 and 373 gears pulling a 29.5 bdhs HT, went through the Smokey Mtns. His tranney was shifting a lot more on the hills then my 6.2 with 430 gearing. In the end it's just a matter of choices

[bdreinv]

Have 06 Ram 3500 dully 6 speed bought new. Tow in the mountains in Arizona all the time.We try and be 10 to 15 miles over speed limit at the base of the hills. Saves a lot of wear and tear on the transmission, pulling 10000 lb. fiver,no problems. Thanks

[15BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by goducks

That doesn't sound like fun at all. And 8 mpg. Ouch.

It wasn't bad at all. These new trucks are pretty quiet and 3rd gear and 55mph on that hill was no sweat. I could have gone faster but was no point in it. I do a lot of short trips with my trucks so diesel is not my go to I just want to put gas in it and go. Like another said it's a wash in the end between fuel costs and buying a diesel. The new Ford has a 48 gallon tank. So now I have more range and less fuel stops. They just cost more each time. Usually about 80 bucks to fill up 36 gallons cause I usually fill at 1/4 tank. I didn't buy a hd truck for mpg. And I am sure not spending 9k more just to get a few more miles per gallon for a truck I put 5k miles a year on. Happy camping! Almost time to dust off the campers!