I'm trying to find F-350 with the 6.2 and 4.30 gears

[niknak]

Originally Posted by 2nOZ

I have a 2017 F250 Lariat with the 6.2 and 4.30 gears pulling a 10,000 lb 2018 28.5 RSTS FW. It pulls it with no problem and pulls it level. I can attach a photo if needed. My payload is 3,100 lbs and I am well below any and all weights.

That's the other camper we like from Jayco, the island would be nice. Thank you for the info, a photo would be nice if you have one, I always like seeing rigs.

It will be hard to give up the Tundra, it's my second one and I love them. I used to be a chevy guy, but my last one, 2000 3/4 ton with the 6.0, let me down a lot, I know it was the first year of that engine.

[RichCarter]

Originally Posted by niknak

Thank you, ya, I know that about the trim level, but the wife and I aren't giving up options. The dual climate control is the big one, and the heater/vented seats. How long of trips have you done? I was going to do this with my Tundra, but with hauling doubles/tandems I figured the biggest truck would handle it better. I have seen people go it, but I would rather be safe and not cause an accident.

I've owned the F150 for three years now. The 24RBS we own now is new this season so we haven't had a chance to put many miles on it. We previously pulled a lighter camper with a smaller truck. I'd guess we've put about 1000 miles on it this season. Most of that was highway driving with the cruise control on at 65MPH. I'm sure the truck would pull it faster than that but I don't like towing at faster speeds. We had one trip over the mountains here in NH and the 10-speed transmission was amazing, shifting to lower gears on the downgrades with no input from me.


If you view youtube videos about towing with a half-ton, most will say that a 7700 lb GVWR camper is too big for a half-ton truck. That's a generalization. The F150 configured for towing has specs close to many 3/4 ton trucks. As an example, the same pickup I own in an F250 is spec'd at a 12,200 lb tow capacity (6.2L V8 3.73) vs 10,700 lbs for my F150. This is the low end of the F250 trucks vs the high end of the F150. Of course, you have to consider the payload capacity differences too. Most of my driving is done without a camper behind me so fuel economy was important. I get about 22MPG on the highway and 19.2 combined. I would guess this is about 5MPG better than an F250.

[kayakterp]

Originally Posted by niknak

And that's a F-250?

yes it's a 2015 F-250 (as per my signature)
3,042 lbs of payload.
I think Ford switched to aluminum in 2015
I understand the need for dual climate control as my wife and I always vary in our temp controls!
Good luck in your search

[kayakterp]

Originally Posted by niknak

It will be hard to give up the Tundra, it's my second one and I love them. I used to be a chevy guy, but my last one, 2000 3/4 ton with the 6.0, let me down a lot, I know it was the first year of that engine.

I started out pulling with a used 2011 Tundra that was made in Canada.
According to local Toyota Truck dealers that was a "special order" as it came with the large heated towing mirrors, 8' bed, double cab (SR5), 4 leaf springs (instead of 3) HD towing package, etc.
I loved that truck, it pulled great and never had any issues, unfortunately a teenager turned in front of me when I doing 50mph and had a head-on collision totaling the truck. She was texting and not paying attention to the traffic lights.

The biggest difference I notice with the 3/4 ton is better braking and probably more stability in general with the extra weight! and of course worse gas milage, esp while NOT towing (16mpg vs 12 mpg)

[2nOZ]

Originally Posted by niknak

That's the other camper we like from Jayco, the island would be nice. Thank you for the info, a photo would be nice if you have one, I always like seeing rigs.

It will be hard to give up the Tundra, it's my second one and I love them. I used to be a chevy guy, but my last one, 2000 3/4 ton with the 6.0, let me down a lot, I know it was the first year of that engine.

Here is the pic.

[niknak]

Originally Posted by 2nOZ

Here is the pic.

That's a nice looking rig, everything looks level.

[niknak]

Originally Posted by kayakterp

I started out pulling with a used 2011 Tundra that was made in Canada.
According to local Toyota Truck dealers that was a "special order" as it came with the large heated towing mirrors, 8' bed, double cab (SR5), 4 leaf springs (instead of 3) HD towing package, etc.
I loved that truck, it pulled great and never had any issues, unfortunately a teenager turned in front of me when I doing 50mph and had a head-on collision totaling the truck. She was texting and not paying attention to the traffic lights.

The biggest difference I notice with the 3/4 ton is better braking and probably more stability in general with the extra weight! and of course worse gas milage, esp while NOT towing (16mpg vs 12 mpg)

Wow, that's sad about the Tundra. You only get 12mpg empty?

[norty1]

I have been reading this thread but hesitant to comment, not wanting to steer it off in another direction. We just bought a used 2017 F350 PSD, see sig, and I was put off when the rear end was 3.55. My buddy bought a 2016 and it also had the 3.55 rear end. My old PSD was 14 years old and it came with a 3.73 rear end. To tell your the truth, I can't tell the difference in towing.

There are some articles I read that indicate the transmission/ rear end combo on the newer models kind of changes the perceptions we used to have about rear end ratios.

https://www.edmunds.com/car-buying/h...of%20a%20wheel.

[Nature Ist]

Originally Posted by norty1

I have been reading this thread but hesitant to comment, not wanting to steer it off in another direction. We just bought a used 2017 F350 PSD, see sig, and I was put off when the rear end was 2.55. My buddy bought a 2016 and it also had the 3.55 rear end. My old PSD was 14 years old and it came with a 3.73 rear end. To tell your the truth, I can't tell the difference in towing.

There are some articles I read that indicate the transmission/ rear end combo on the newer models kind of changes the perceptions we used to have about rear end ratios.

Norty,
The gear ratios are very different on diesels because of the difference in the engine RPM's....a diesel runs at much lower RPM's but has much more power. You cannot compare the gas and diesel axle gear ratios: it's like apples and grapes! And as transmissions are improved over time the output of the them prompts axle ratio changes as well

[norty1]

Originally Posted by Nature Ist

Norty,
The gear ratios are very different on diesels because of the difference in the engine RPM's....a diesel runs at much lower RPM's but has much more power. You cannot compare the gas and diesel axle gear ratios: it's like apples and grapes! And as transmissions are improved over time the output of the them prompts axle ratio changes as well

I know, that's why I was hesitant to post this but there are also variations in gassers that may not make great differences in performance.

[niknak]

Originally Posted by norty1

I know, that's why I was hesitant to post this but there are also variations in gassers that may not make great differences in performance.

Maybe so, but a lot of it comes down to wanting to be legal. I don't want to get into an accident and have insurance say they aren't going to cover me or I get put at fault for towing something heavier than my vehicle is designed to do. I know the limiting factor in this situation is the powertrain, but I would be at the burden of proof in that situation.

[norty1]

Originally Posted by niknak

Maybe so, but a lot of it comes down to wanting to be legal. I don't want to get into an accident and have insurance say they aren't going to cover me or I get put at fault for towing something heavier than my vehicle is designed to do. I know the limiting factor in this situation is the powertrain, but I would be at the burden of proof in that situation.

Just look at the sticker on the door. It will specify the Payload for that specific vehicle. I want to be legal also and that is the reason I look at the door sticker on the vehicle. Different options can change the payload but that sticker is what you can rely on. If your tow has been weighed you will know if you are legal and more importantly you can prove it if you have the weigh ticket.

[kblast523]

Originally Posted by Nature Ist

A word of advice to carefully check the F250 series (prior to 2020 models) bed and bedrail height above ground. The HT series pin-box height and the F series match-up leads to nose high towing, especially if you do not have the 16" wheel upgrade on the HT. This also has to be considered when selecting the hitch itself.
You will eventually find the F-250 you are looking for, but it may take some time. Not all listings will specify the axle ratio.

Ford has used the same box and height since 2017. GM surprised everyone in 2019.
You cannot get a 4:30 axle w/o elec lock in the SuperDuty. With the 3:73 and 4WD you don't need it, and the new 7.3 gasser gets better fuel mileage.
Here's your truck https://shop.ford.com/inventory/supe...721&Radius=100

[kblast523]

Originally Posted by kayakterp

yes it's a 2015 F-250 (as per my signature)
3,042 lbs of payload.
I think Ford switched to aluminum in 2015
I understand the need for dual climate control as my wife and I always vary in our temp controls!
Good luck in your search

Ford switched to aluminum in 2015 on the F-150 and in 2017 on the F250-350-450-550...bed and all.

[Nature Ist]

Originally Posted by kblast523

Ford has used the same box and height since 2017. GM surprised everyone in 2019.
You cannot get a 4:30 axle w/o elec lock in the SuperDuty. With the 3:73 and 4WD you don't need it, and the new 7.3 gasser gets better fuel mileage.
Here's your truck https://shop.ford.com/inventory/supe...721&Radius=100

And to complicate things: Ford changed the box height again (lower) for the 2020 model because of all the complaints! The difference is about 2" on the F-250 with the same specs. I have parked my 2019 next to a 2020 and would have been thrilled if the change had been in 2019 instead of 2020!
I ordered my 3.73 with the electric locking rear axle and am really glad I did. It comes in handy on slippery surfaces even with 4 wheel drive. Of course, that applies more to those of us in snow country.

[kblast523]

Originally Posted by Nature Ist

And to complicate things: Ford changed the box height again (lower) for the 2020 model because of all the complaints! The difference is about 2" on the F-250 with the same specs. I have parked my 2019 next to a 2020 and would have been thrilled if the change had been in 2019 instead of 2020!
I ordered my 3.73 with the electric locking rear axle and am really glad I did. It comes in handy on slippery surfaces even with 4 wheel drive. Of course, that applies more to those of us in snow country.

Ford didn't change the box, they lowered everything. Sheet metal (aluminum) is all the same. https://youtu.be/iC0ShwDOj04

[Nature Ist]

Not looking to get into an argument here: the box height above ground was the original context of the discussion on this part of the thread because the subject was about HT fifth wheels - which tend to ride high when bedrail clearance must be maintained.

[TXJACO]

I have a 2017 6.2 gasser with 3.73 gears pulling a 10k 2020 280RSOK with absolutely no problems.

[fraketd]

Get a F250 with the 3.73. I am in colorado and tow a 29.5 BHDS. My 2016 F250 crew cab is a long bed. Set trailer springs in lower shackle. I pull about 1-2" out of level. typically running about 45-50 MPH up to the tunnel. But guess what? Run as fast as anyone else down the hill. Not worth expense for diesel. I have been over every major pass in this state-Many times with this setup. Yeah about 10,500# loaded going out. My opinion FOR MOUNTAIN DRIVING #1 is good tranny. #2 stout enough truck brakes. BTW the JAyco brakes are pretty iffy...they run 3500 10" discs on a so called 4400# axel. I am also running the 15" wheels.

[t18skyguy]

Originally Posted by niknak

Thank you, I do pack pretty heavy when I travel. I even thought about buying one with 3.73 and getting it regeared. What's the payload on your truck? What did you do to deal with the height issue?

Most of the mechanics that we're pro's at regearing are long retired. You can't just hand it to any mechanic. The tolerances for doing it are in the thousands of an inch, and if done wrong it's junk. If you can find a shop that does it every day, that's the one to go too. You might have to travel a good distance to find one.