6.2L F250 towing my Flagstaff 831FKBSS

[CypressNova]

Recently traded in a 5.7L Tundra for a new 4X4 F250 6.2L gas with 3.73 gears. From the scales, loaded, my trailer weighs 8200 and my truck weighs 7500. I have an Equalizer 4 point hitch with 1000 pound bars and after going to the scales I may need to go up to 1200 or 1400 pound bars, my tongue weight is 1240 pounds. I hear a lot of people say I couldn't even tell the trailer was back there, if that's true, God Bless them but I know the trailer is back there, maybe the heavier bars will make it better. I traded in a 33 foot Springdale and the Tundra towed it really well, when I bought this new trailer which is a little heavier and longer the Tundra had issues with sway, especially in the wind. So I decided to upgrade to a F250 and thought my troubles would be over, not necessarily, don't get me wrong, it's a big improvement but the campsite I pulled it to was about a hour from the house and there wasn't any wind so the jury is still out.
The 6.2L did fine, I couldn't justify a diesel, I can buy a lot of gas for $9000 and I only drive the truck about 10 miles a day and get about 13 miles a gallon around town. I tow the trailer about 5 times a year and towing yesterday at 65mph I got 8 miles a gallon, at 70 the mileage drops about a half a gallon. I really liked the manual mode on the transmission, at 65 mph the truck would pull the trailer in 5 th gear at 2200 rpm, the truck wouldn't hold 70 mph in 5th, I had to drop it to 6th and it was at 3000 rpm. That's why the gas mileage drops so much from 65 to 70. The 6.2L is really quite at 3000 rpm.

[WEMig]

The 6.2 should handle that load pretty well set up properly. I'm now getting 9mpg pulling my 113000 lb Crusader at 65 mph. I also use the tow haul and lock out 6th gear when encountering over passes and hills.

[CypressNova]

I agree WEMig, the truck is great.

[Lloydg]

Originally Posted by WEMig

The 6.2 should handle that load pretty well set up properly. I'm now getting 9mpg pulling my 113000 lb Crusader at 65 mph. I also use the tow haul and lock out 6th gear when encountering over passes and hills.

What do you mean by locking out 6th gear. I have a f250 6.2L and use tow haul while towing but don't understand the other comment.

thanks

[Ole Buzzard]

Might mean in the manual mode don't up shift to 6th gear. Leave it in 5 th gear.I have the same F250 and have been trying that to keep from up shifting when in 6th

[Twisty]

Nice rig, Nova!!

Lloyd,
There is a plus/minus switch on the gear shift handle.
Pressing it adds/removes the 1 thru 6 from the display and also locks out gears. It's in the manual. Have fun!

[EdJunior]

Originally Posted by Lloydg

What do you mean by locking out 6th gear. I have a f250 6.2L and use tow haul while towing but don't understand the other comment.

thanks

You can go into "Manual" mode (the +- button on the shifter) and put the transmission into whatever gear you want. It can be used as a manual shift, and be used to lockout the higher gears as necessary.

[Brother Les]

Originally Posted by CypressNova

Recently traded in a 5.7L Tundra for a new 4X4 F250 6.2L gas with 3.73 gears. From the scales, loaded, my trailer weighs 8200 and my truck weighs 7500. I have an Equalizer 4 point hitch with 1000 pound bars and after going to the scales I may need to go up to 1200 or 1400 pound bars, my tongue weight is 1240 pounds. I hear a lot of people say I couldn't even tell the trailer was back there, if that's true, God Bless them but I know the trailer is back there, maybe the heavier bars will make it better. I traded in a 33 foot Springdale and the Tundra towed it really well, when I bought this new trailer which is a little heavier and longer the Tundra had issues with sway, especially in the wind. So I decided to upgrade to a F250 and thought my troubles would be over, not necessarily, don't get me wrong, it's a big improvement but the campsite I pulled it to was about a hour from the house and there wasn't any wind so the jury is still out.
The 6.2L did fine, I couldn't justify a diesel, I can buy a lot of gas for $9000 and I only drive the truck about 10 miles a day and get about 13 miles a gallon around town. I tow the trailer about 5 times a year and towing yesterday at 65mph I got 8 miles a gallon, at 70 the mileage drops about a half a gallon. I really liked the manual mode on the transmission, at 65 mph the truck would pull the trailer in 5 th gear at 2200 rpm, the truck wouldn't hold 70 mph in 5th, I had to drop it to 6th and it was at 3000 rpm. That's why the gas mileage drops so much from 65 to 70. The 6.2L is really quite at 3000 rpm.

8mpg? omg. I guess you will be buying a lot of gas. My '01 7.3 Diesel gets 15-16mpg all day long. Cruising at 65mph and 1800rpms in overdrive. when I don't have the camper on, I get 20-23 mpg. (it is chipped and I like to blow smoke and lay down rubber or I could get better mpg)

[Lloydg]

Thanks for teaching me something today. It's a new truck with only 2400 miles. I'll play with that next time out. Right now it's time for football!

[WEMig]

Originally Posted by Lloydg

What do you mean by locking out 6th gear. I have a f250 6.2L and use tow haul while towing but don't understand the other comment.

thanks

Keep it in D (not manual mode) and use the +/- by pressing the - and it will not allow the truck to shift to 6th gear.

[Schnickle Fritz]

Originally Posted by WEMig

Keep it in D (not manual mode) and use the +/- by pressing the - and it will not allow the truck to shift to 6th gear.

WEMig is right. that's all it takes to "lock out" a gear, or gears.

Your bars may be a little light. I have 800 - 1200# and they work well with our 30WIKSS.

I have the F250, 6.2L supercab and got 8.3 over 700 miles from NE Louisiana to Pigeon Forge, TN. I am real impressed with this setup. Great on flat land but really strong in the mountains. I found it interesting that mileage actually got better in the mountains.

Good luck with yours.

[CypressNova]

I didn't have any water in the fresh tank because I thought my tongue weight was light, turns out its at 15%, but I like to travel with about a half a tank for road side stops so I'm going to do that on the way back and see how she does. The fresh water tank is behind the axles so that should lighten my tongue weight some. Thanks for the input.

[CypressNova]

Brother Les,

I had a 97 CC 4x4 with the 7.3 and it was a great truck and got excellent fuel mileage, hold on to the one you have. I just couldn't justify the extra $9000 for one of the new 6.7L diesels but they are nice. I figure the way I use my truck it will cost me an extra $500 a year in gas over what I would pay if I had diesel. That's about 18 years before I lose money. Fuel mileage isn't an issue for me I was just sharing for other folks that might be curious. As far as burning rubber, I haven't had a desire to do that in a long time but blowing smoke is a different story :-). Happy camping!

[Johnv]

I have a F 150 with a 6.2. It gets similar mileage as your F 250 pulling a 5th wheel. I find that it can get as little as 6.5 mpg and as high as 10 mpg depending on the direction and speed of the wind. However, It has plenty of stuff to get the job done and keeps up with the 18 wheelers. It can go 70 mph but it just runs better at 65. I am retired so what is the hurry? It works best when the cruise control is off. I chose the 6.2 over the ecoboost V6. I figure there is more braking capacity with the 6.2 in the mountains. I am told that my F 150 should never pull a 5th wheel, but it works for me. It has every towing option available from the factory.

[wyo700]

Originally Posted by Johnv

I have a F 150 with a 6.2. It gets similar mileage as your F 250 pulling a 5th wheel. I find that it can get as little as 6.5 mpg and as high as 10 mpg depending on the direction and speed of the wind. However, It has plenty of stuff to get the job done and keeps up with the 18 wheelers. It can go 70 mph but it just runs better at 65. I am retired so what is the hurry? It works best when the cruise control is off. I chose the 6.2 over the ecoboost V6. I figure there is more braking capacity with the 6.2 in the mountains. I am told that my F 150 should never pull a 5th wheel, but it works for me. It has every towing option available from the factory.

How do you figure you have more braking capacity with a v8 compared to a v6. The brakes are the same no matter what engine you have.

[Wmoses]

He means engine braking.

[CypressNova]

I didn't realize you could order a F150 with that much payload, so I decided a F250 was the way to go. I originally started this thread because I had read that someone else was having issues towing the same model Flagstaff as mine. Im learning that not all trailers are created equal, duh. My next trailer will be a 5er, I think I will enjoy towing it better, but you never know. My first trailer was a 5er and it towed very well. I was thinking my trailer didnt have enough tongue weight but after going to the scales it has plenty. On my trip back from the campsite I filled the fresh water tank which is at the very back of the trailer, but I couldn't tell much difference. You know That sucking feeling you feel when an 18 wheeler passes, I can actually feel that when a SUV passes. I have the feeling that sway will be an issue in high wind, we will see. Looks like "it is what it is", I had the same issues with the Tundra and thought the F250 would eliminate it but no luck.

[Flying dutchman]

Do you have a properly setup wdh?

[Windywest]

I used to have a 2010 GM half ton with the towing package and 5.3 gas engine, it was a dog when it came to pulling our 5,000 lb bumper hitch Kodiak trailer, I couldn't stand driving it pulling the trailer, no power and terrible gas mileage. I traded the truck for a 2011 F250 diesel and the difference was incredible. This year we bought a used Flagstaff 26' 5th wheel, and I can easily cruise at 60 mph, with hardly a downshift, although in the mountains or in town I use tow/haul mode. I have the 5th wheel hitch package, and it is one of the best options I purchased with the truck, although at the time of purchase I didn't have a need for it. I love driving my truck, and for a relatively heavy truck, the gas mileage is great, I can easily get 25mpg (Imperial gallon) when I'm not towing, and about 17 mpg with my trailer. Now that I've got a new set of trailer tires, a new TPMS, and a truck that will tow, I'm a happy camper.

[CypressNova]

Originally Posted by Flying dutchman

Do you have a properly setup wdh?

That's a good question, I'm able to drop the front wheel wells on the truck back to Fords recommendations so I think it's setup properly?