Going to upgrade to a F-250...help.

[2021JayFlight28BHS]

Thinking of getting the 6.2.... any problems? Or is the 7.3 coil issues resolved now for 2021?

What is gas mileage on combined avg on each?

What are things you like about the 2017 or newer and things you hate? Do I really need all the extra options? trying to decide on a highly equipped XL or a lower equipped XLT.

What are your opinions.

[TCNashville]

The Ford 6.2L is a proven power plant. If you go with the 6.2 in the F-250, you'll get the 6 speed transmission. You'll get the 10 speed if you get the 7.3.

[ttavasc]

The 6.2L and 6-speed will do fine with the 28BHS. The GVWR on that model is only ~250 more than the loaded weight of our ORV on most trips. I preferred a lower trim/lower optioned truck and found a moderately equipped XLT w/4.30 gears on the lot which seems to be rather rare. It does a great job of handling the ~28ft/8600lb loaded trailer in the mountains. I particularly like the BLIS (Blind Spot Info System) as it works with trailers up to ~33 feet. The Powerscope Trailer mirrors have great coverage and the tailgate step is nice when the trailer isn't hooked up.

As far as mileage goes - I am seeing between 8.5-9 average towing and empty all highway is ~15-15.5 average. Short trips around town aren't that great at ~11. If you make longer trips consider the full crew cab with 8ft bed as that comes standard with the 48gal fuel tank. Otherwise it's 34gal. The 6.2L is a very smooth engine and running the higher rpms is a lot less noise than the 5.7L Hemi I moved up from. Overall it's a very pleasant towing experience.

[Shokyle1]

If it was me I would go with the 7.3.

[2nOZ]

We have the 2017 F250 FX4 Lariat with 4.30 gears. Love the truck! We have pulled our 10,000 lb FW over 3500 miles with it. We average anywhere from 8.5 to 9.5 mpg when towing and 15 mpg when not. There isn’t anything I don’t like about the truck. It does everything I ask it to do. I do enjoy all the features it has. It’s a great towing platform.

[jfk69]

My sister and brother-in-law have a ‘17 F350 CCSB SRW with the 6.2L and 4.3 gears. They pull a 40’ Cedar Creek Hathaway with no issues. Mileage for them is 8-9mpg pulling, around 14 empty. They love the truck. The 6.2 is a proven and very reliable motor.

[Lake Huron]

My company truck is a 2020 F450 with the 7.3/10 speed. The truck tips the scale upward of 12k. It seems to have decent power, the 10 speed is a little different. Seems like there are too many gears there, it skips a few and the same few a majority of the time, and if your right foot says I need power right now, it wont always downshift like you would think it should. Itll stay in that gear with the engine lugged down and after a second or two of lag later then the power will come on.
I've tried all the different driving modes on it and the best MPG I can get is in the upper 8's, and that's not towing anything, but remember my truck weighs over 12k with the body conversion and all my tools and gear on it.
Now, what type of driving do I do with it? Some highway, some city, but a lot of the miles are driving 2 lane state highway country roads. I work 8hrs a day, sometimes 9 and I've worked 35 days since the start of October and the truck has 5000 miles on it already. You do the math. I have not had the spark plug/wire issues like many on here have posted about. I know of a half dozen of these trucks in our local fleet and none have had that issue,... yet. They do use engine oil though. Mine was down 3/4 of a quart at 3500 miles and the other trucks in our fleet are about the same. My truck does not idle much either. Company has GPS on these things and idle time is watched very closely. I'm not much of a Ford fan but I will say my 2020 company truck is pretty nice. It rides pretty well considering what it is and it has a nice tight turning radius. I think the 450's turn tighter than the 350 and 250's.
I cant help you on the 6.2. My previous company truck was a V10 and my personal vehicles are a 6.6 Duramax and a 5.3 Vortec.

[Jay2504]

My BIL has a 2012 379 (6.2l) F250 and has had no problems with it at all. It’s a proven reliable power plant. The only down side is that it needs to rev a little higher than most other gas engines to make power. That bothers some people, others are not concerned about it at all. Maybe a good idea would be to go to some Ford forums, and find out where the engine “wants” to run when towing down the freeway, that will help in deciding which rear axle is right for you. Myself I just bought a 2020 3/4 ton Chevy with the new 400 (6.6l) engine. If the OP is not “brand loyal” he should drive one and compare. Jay

[Shokyle1]

If you are buying it and are more concerned with power when towing there is not another gas engine on the market that can touch the 7.3 if using as mostly as a daily driver and just occasionally towing the 6.2 will do fine.

[curver900]

the sparkplug wire issues are on RV's not on the trucks themselves... the issue is with cooling the new motor and jaycos modifications to add the RV to the chassis...

7.3L is the way to go...

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by curver900

the sparkplug wire issues are on RV's not on the trucks themselves... the issue is with cooling the new motor and jaycos modifications to add the RV to the chassis...

7.3L is the way to go...

Actually this issue has impacted the trucks too as detailed in this September blog post on TFL Truck. Their 2020 F-250 7.3L had the engine misfire issue due to the faulty spark plug wiring harness. There is also a video on the issue at the bottom of the post.

[2021JayFlight28BHS]

Originally Posted by ttavasc

Actually this issue has impacted the trucks too as detailed in this September blog post on TFL Truck. Their 2020 F-250 7.3L had the engine misfire issue due to the faulty spark plug wiring harness. There is also a video on the issue at the bottom of the post.

Thanks! I wonder if 2021 is resolved... prob too early to tell.

I might go f350 and get the 6.2 with 10sp with either a 3.73 or 4.3 locker. Too many decisions. Lol

[Big1]

Originally Posted by 2021JayFlight28BHS

Thanks! I wonder if 2021 is resolved... prob too early to tell.

I might go f350 and get the 6.2 with 10sp with either a 3.73 or 4.3 locker. Too many decisions. Lol

I would see if you get the 4.30 gears I had the 3.73 and though it was okay I did not like it.

[Shokyle1]

I had the 3.73 in my 2016 f250. I towed a 10,000 eagle ht fifthwheel. There are many large hills out here in the west. It did what I ask, but at times it was 40 mph in second gear and 5000 + rpms.

[jfk69]

Originally Posted by 2021JayFlight28BHS

Thanks! I wonder if 2021 is resolved... prob too early to tell.

I might go f350 and get the 6.2 with 10sp with either a 3.73 or 4.3 locker. Too many decisions. Lol

The 6.2 with 10 speed tranny and 4.3 locker rear will be a beast. Yes, you’ll turn some rpm’s on big grades, but if I could have found that combo in my price range I would have been all over it. Solid tow rig. Will it tow like a diesel? No. But from your original post I didn’t think that a diesel checked your personal boxes.

[curver900]

Originally Posted by ttavasc

Actually this issue has impacted the trucks too as detailed in this September blog post on TFL Truck. Their 2020 F-250 7.3L had the engine misfire issue due to the faulty spark plug wiring harness. There is also a video on the issue at the bottom of the post.

well that sux... i had the same issues on a 6.2l 1/2 ton on a GMC.. i guess they all sux.... too bad...my new one doesn't have spark plugs ;o)

[2edgesword]

We have an F-250 6.2L 3.73 pulling our 8.8K lb 28RLS. We're on the east coast with not a lot of very long roads with very steep grades and it does fine. The steepest grade we pulled was the Dame Bridge in Florida (a little over 3% grade). It pulled at 60mph but the engine roared at 5k rpm. Not a very pleasant experience.

[Bookemdanno]

Originally Posted by 2edgesword

We have an F-250 6.2L 3.73 pulling our 8.8K lb 28RLS. We're on the east coast with not a lot of very long roads with very steep grades and it does fine. The steepest grade we pulled was the Dame Bridge in Florida (a little over 3% grade). It pulled at 60mph but the engine roared at 5k rpm. Not a very pleasant experience.

Growing up in South FL, I didn't think we had any grades...lol. But I haven't been on the Dame Bridge since I left, but I remember the old crappy drawbridge! Who puts a drawbridge on a Hwy??

[2021JayFlight28BHS]

Originally Posted by 2edgesword

We have an F-250 6.2L 3.73 pulling our 8.8K lb 28RLS. We're on the east coast with not a lot of very long roads with very steep grades and it does fine. The steepest grade we pulled was the Dame Bridge in Florida (a little over 3% grade). It pulled at 60mph but the engine roared at 5k rpm. Not a very pleasant experience.

Hmmm looked the bridge up as I’ve never been across it. I think my driveway is steeper than that.

All kidding aside, I do plan to travel the mountains of my state with the camper and we do have much steeper grades than that such as the Sandstone mountain on I-64, which is 7%. Plus for what ever reason here in WV you can’t put a campground unless you have to drive up and down a 15% grade, 1.5 lane, winding, with a few hair pin turns road. Lol.

So I’m down to 2 choices a F-250 7.3 10 Sp 4.3 or a F-350 6.2 10 sp 4.3

The 6.2 10 sp is actually really close to matching the specs of my F-150 both in HP and torque...and it has a 3.55 locker. and it does ok on the highway with moderate rolling hills, power wise. So while I realize the power bands/torque on the engine come in at different RPMs, I’m thinking in the 6.2 10sp with a 4.3 it should be pretty good.

Gonna put my order in today. I joined the mustang club of America for $25 to get x-plan pricing.... which will save me $2-4k off MSRP depending on trim and options. Plus you get to stack on any rebates (hoping it’s better than $250 when truck finally gets here.) will try to negotiate even more than that, I love “the dance” of buying a new vehicle....lol.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season!

[MichaelO]

Originally Posted by 2021JayFlight28BHS

Thanks! I wonder if 2021 is resolved... prob too early to tell.

I might go f350 and get the 6.2 with 10sp with either a 3.73 or 4.3 locker. Too many decisions. Lol

If you’re considering the f350 why not go to the f450 instead and get a smaller turning radius?