Pulling Fifth Wheel with F250 6.2

[Lloydg]

Originally Posted by rather_b_camping

Just got back from a 1,400 mile round trip from Cincinnati to Myrtle Beach pulling a ~11,000 lb.

What kind of RV are you pulling and what is the GVWR and dry weight? My 6.2 does fine with my current 5er, but looking for something a bit bigger and would like to keep my truck if possible.

[rather_b_camping]

Originally Posted by timfromma

One major headache of a gas truck is refueling. Finding stations that are large enough and laid out properly to navigate through with a camper into is a royal PITA. Diesels can fuel up at the same pumps that the big rigs use.

I actually planned out every gas stop using Google maps to make sure I could fit before we left, took some time but well worth it.....relieved a lot of stress trying to find a station on the fly.

[rather_b_camping]

Originally Posted by Lloydg

What kind of RV are you pulling and what is the GVWR and dry weight? My 6.2 does fine with my current 5er, but looking for something a bit bigger and would like to keep my truck if possible.

Wildcat 36bh
Dry weight is 9,450
GVWR is ~11,800

[Lloydg]

Originally Posted by rather_b_camping

I actually planned out every gas stop using Google maps to make sure I could fit before we left, took some time but well worth it.....relieved a lot of stress trying to find a station on the fly.

I do the same thing with google maps and print out a copy of the station that allows my wife to navigate me into the station so I can gas up. I also carry two 5 gallon gas cans that I can fill up and carry to my truck if I really get into a pickle. Never have had to resort to that, but am prepared just in case.

[philobeddoe]

What rear end gear does your truck have? I've kicked around the idea of ordering a F250 w/a gasser in it. I did see you can get a 4.10 rear end with the 6.2. I know that would probably absolutely kill any fuel mileage, but it would give you a little more ummph when you need it.

[Lloydg]

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

What rear end gear does your truck have? I've kicked around the idea of ordering a F250 w/a gasser in it. I did see you can get a 4.10 rear end with the 6.2. I know that would probably absolutely kill any fuel mileage, but it would give you a little more ummph when you need it.

My F250 6.2 has a 3.73 rear end and I pull ~10,000 lbs. Have no complaints.

[rather_b_camping]

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

What rear end gear does your truck have? I've kicked around the idea of ordering a F250 w/a gasser in it. I did see you can get a 4.10 rear end with the 6.2. I know that would probably absolutely kill any fuel mileage, but it would give you a little more ummph when you need it.

3.73

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by rather_b_camping

I actually planned out every gas stop using Google maps to make sure I could fit before we left, took some time but well worth it.....relieved a lot of stress trying to find a station on the fly.

I use the Pilot app, Lists all Pilot / Flying J stations.

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by rather_b_camping

I actually planned out every gas stop using Google maps to make sure I could fit before we left, took some time but well worth it.....relieved a lot of stress trying to find a station on the fly.

I did the same thing when I has a gas truck. However, sometimes when plans would change and I'd be forced to fuel on the fly and I would spend alot of time searching for suitable stations. Now I know an easy fill up is as close as the nearest truck stop.

[itat]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

.... Gassers are fine if held to their capabilities. If I were towing under 10,000 only in the east I'd have one.

Agreed. I think most folks with a gas engine understand this. For me, the decision to go with a diesel would depend on how much weight I'm pulling, where I'm pulling it, and how frequently. Nothing wrong with a gas engine for the right application. You have to be able to justify the premium to buy a diesel, which, when I bought my 2016 gasser, was about CAD$9,000. Diesel fuel is only 10 cents/L cheaper so it would take a lot of miles to payback. But if you need it, you need it. I don't, currently.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by itat

Agreed. I think most folks with a gas engine understand this. For me, the decision to go with a diesel would depend on how much weight I'm pulling, where I'm pulling it, and how frequently. Nothing wrong with a gas engine for the right application. You have to be able to justify the premium to buy a diesel, which, when I bought my 2016 gasser, was about CAD$9,000. Diesel fuel is only 10 cents/L cheaper so it would take a lot of miles to payback. But if you need it, you need it. I don't, currently.

I'm one that needs it! I pull 15,000# all over the US and a gasser will not work. In the US the F350 diesel option is $8440 but when down to bottom line for like trucks it comes to about $5,000. I'm pulling at least 12,000 miles annually and the savings in the MPG will still not pay the difference for a long time. In the last 2 years diesel has cost about 17 cents a gallon more than gas locally. For decades it was always less. Besides the 13.1 quart oil changes and fuel filter changes ~~ gas is less to maintain. BUT when I see a mountain to climb it is not even thought of going up or down.

[bpadamson]

DrLewie,
We are out west and you can see our setup in the sig below. I have not used cruise because I don't want to be in 2nd if I ca avoid it. We get there on occasion; but manually shifting so far has kept us under 5000 rpm -- in the mountains.

One question I have is the sound. my muffler sounds like cats fighting with a cold when I get above about 4300 rpm. I have deleted the one resonator and have a flowmaster 50 on it at present-- single pipe. It is much quieter than I like when not loaded; but it is what the shop recommended for towing...

[ksmith954]

Originally Posted by rather_b_camping

I was actually pretty amazed at how infrequently I had to hit the brake pedal with the engine braking. I'm sure it's not as powerful as an exhaust brake but I didn't even have to touch the brake pedal going down a lot of the grades but if I felt my speed was getting a little too fast for comfort on the steeper ones all I had to do was tap the brake pedal and it would automatically downshift.

X2 Our 2016 6.0 HD Chevrolet in the tow haul mode works exactly like yours. We pull Smokey Mountains at 50 mph at about 3200 RPM. Overall trip MPG avg 10. Of course our 31' SOB 5er scales in only at 9000 lbs. We have a 36 gallon gas tank, and because we like to stop every 2-3 hours to stretch our legs, we usually find truck stops or rest areas, we fill up when 1/2 full.- no desire to drive 500 miles between fill ups. As of yet we have had no problems filling up at any of the truck stops. Right now in our home town diesel is 25c more per gallon.

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

What rear end gear does your truck have? I've kicked around the idea of ordering a F250 w/a gasser in it. I did see you can get a 4.10 rear end with the 6.2. I know that would probably absolutely kill any fuel mileage, but it would give you a little more ummph when you need it.

I think you'll find that the choices for a SD Ford 6.2 are either 3.73 or 4.30. If you tow on the heavier side and/or often, 4.30 might be better for you. Feedback on forums is that the 4.30's "wake up" the truck. Most of those who have 4.30's report better fuel mileage in town and when towing. Worse fuel mileage empty on the highway. (That is compared to 3.73's among those who have owned both gear sets.) 4.30's will give you better "leverage" and bring you closer to the peak torque band. 2,000 RPM with 3.73's becomes 2,300 RPM with 4.30's. So, I don't think you'll feel it is wound up too tight. I doubt that you would hear the difference.

But, to each their own. Happy camping.

[KMP44]

Originally Posted by philobeddoe

What rear end gear does your truck have? I've kicked around the idea of ordering a F250 w/a gasser in it. I did see you can get a 4.10 rear end with the 6.2. I know that would probably absolutely kill any fuel mileage, but it would give you a little more ummph when you need it.

Its actually a 4.30 ratio - and if you order a 6.2 to tow with, I would absolutely get it. That's what I ordered in my '17. That 4.3 with the other tweaks they made to the engine, and the new tranny for the F250 is a really great setup. I'm seeing about the same mpg's as I did with my old 5.4L F150.

The truck is very responsive and is great to tow with - granted I'm pulling a relatively light trailer (~6500 lbs loaded, 850lb tongue weight).

The truck also has a nice setup as far as some engine breaking. When I crest a hill and don't step on the gas, it starts downshifting. It will drop as low as 4th if you let it go. Not a diesel exhaust break for sure, but a nice feature that reduces the need for braking.

[tspoon]

I had 2011 f350 6.2 with 4.3. I now have 2017 f350 with 4.3. The new 6.2 has more low end torque so hills I was in 2nd gear always to maintain 60, now I'm in 3rd now with more to go before shifting to 2nd gear. I tow a 5th wheel that weighs 12000 lbs

[Trawlerphil]

We just finished out "Northern Walkabout" towing a 9,000 lb 5er with a Toyota Tundra 5.7 and went through Allegheny, Catskills, and the Green mountains including the "Gap", which had a 10% grade for over 2 miles. I used tow/haul with all nannies turned off and paddle shifted when it made sense.
Trip metrics for our “Northern Walkabout” were:
Gasoline Gallons 225.651
Miles Traveled 2,908.15
Average MPG 12.887

[timfromma]

Originally Posted by Trawlerphil

We just finished out "Northern Walkabout" towing a 9,000 lb 5er with a Toyota Tundra 5.7 and went through Allegheny, Catskills, and the Green mountains including the "Gap", which had a 10% grade for over 2 miles. I used tow/haul with all nannies turned off and paddle shifted when it made sense.

Trip metrics for our “Northern Walkabout” were:

Gasoline Gallons 225.651

Miles Traveled 2,908.15

Average MPG 12.887

Im finding your numbers difficult to believe, in particular your mileage.

I used to own a Tundra towing a lighter trailer over basically flat land and averaged only 8mpg. You are well over your truck's capacity towing up and down very steep grades and you get 50% better economy than I did. I apologize but I don't buy it.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by timfromma

Im finding your numbers difficult to believe, in particular your mileage.

I used to own a Tundra towing a lighter trailer over basically flat land and averaged only 8mpg. You are well over your truck's capacity towing up and down very steep grades and you get 50% better economy than I did. I apologize but I don't buy it.

X 200

[Trawlerphil]

Here's the detail: Excel just pastes text. The 9-10MPG figures are pure towing.
DATE ODO MILES GALLONS COST/GAL COST MPG
7/10/2017 71520 74.9 4.640 1.939 $9.00 16.14 Sonoco no Sarah
7/11/2017 71607 93.1 9.241 1.949 $18.01 10.07 Pilot Card
7/11/2017 71796 202.2 19.337 2.379 $46.00 10.46 Red Run
7/12/2017 71865 73.8 4.664 2.359 $11.00 15.83 Sonoco no Sarah
7/13/2017 72043 190.5 18.110 2.319 $42.00 10.52 Fastrack
7/14/2017 72160 125.2 13.958 2.149 $30.00 8.97 Pilot Card
7/15/2017 72318 169.1 18.040 2.439 $44.00 9.37 Stewart's Shop
7/17/2017 72618 321.0 19.335 2.379 $46.00 16.60 Sonoco
7/19/2017 72783 176.6 18.395 2.229 $41.00 9.60 Exxon
7/19/2017 72958 187.3 19.921 2.259 $45.00 9.40 Sonoco
7/21/2017 73141 195.8 15.972 2.379 $38.00 12.26 Mobile
7/21/2017 73323 194.7 18.904 2.259 $42.70 10.30 Speedway
7/21/2017 73459 145.5 16.529 2.299 $38.00 8.80 Service Area
7/22/2017 73591 141.2 13.598 2.059 $28.00 10.39 Exxon
7/23/2017 73732 150.9 15.007 1.999 $30.00 10.05 Pilot