12,000 lbs with 6.2 F-250

[fastalkintn]

I’m thinking about trading for a F-250 4x4 6.2 with 4.10 gears either loaded XLT or lariat. We will eventually be upgrading to a 5th wheel. The one we really like has a gvwr of 12,000.

I would love to hear input from folks that tow weights close to that with a similar truck.

Performance, power, mpg... that kind of thing.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Martsing]

I have a 2016 F250 with the 6.2L gas and the 4.30 rear. Our camper is close to 8,000lbs loaded out. I only have a few thousand miles towing (bought it in Sept of 2018) but it is effortless. Compared to my previous TV (2011 F150 EB) it is very smooth and very stable.

Hope this helps.

Marty

[JohnD10]

I tow a 9500-pound (loaded) 5'ver with a 2015 Chevy 2500HD gasser with the 4.10 rear end...

I personally feel that 10,000-pounds is the limit to be comfortable.

I was towing at 9800-pounds before I left Denver a year ago, but have shed a lot of weight from the 5'ver (that is what happens when you go through a divorce )

[fastalkintn]

Thanks to you both for the input

[andymil]

We’ve been towing our Keystone Sprinter 5th wheel (12,750 GVWR) with a 2017 F250 6.2 gasser with 3.73 gears. About 4,000 miles so far. I haven’t weighed the trailer but the cargo capacity is over 3000# and I don’t think we carry nearly that much so, until I weigh it loaded, I figure it’s about 12k. The actual loaded pin weight is just a fuzz under 2000#. (I used a Sherline type scale.)

It’s borderline, but not over payload or towing limits. With 4.10 gears you should be good. Driving is comfortable.

We have gone from Pittsburgh to Myrtle Beach three times now (both I77 route and I95 route) and get right around 8 mpg towing. It ain’t the Rockies, but it’s not flat. It will drop to 3rd gear climbing some hills so the engine will spin pretty fast. Some people don’t think that’s good, but they are designed to do that. If you don’t like the engine spinning fast, get a diesel. If you get a diesel, get a 1 ton.

[moose074]

I pulled close to 10k with two different gas engines and two different Diesel engines neither diesel got more than 10 towing usually 9 ish both gas engines got around 8 ish. Every engine has kicked into lower gear climbing long grades. The 6.2 probably has more hp and torque than 90% of all 2010 or older diesel trucks

[woo10-210]

'19 F250 CC 4X4 6.2's come standard with 3.83's and are rated to tow 12,500 pounds. The only optional gear is 4.30's which raises the towing capacity to 15K. The 4.30's aren't as steep as they sound as 5th and 6th gears are both overdrive. Search for the 4.30's and you'll be much happier.

[Teresa CAL]

You should look up the towing specks fleet.ford.com
You need to put in the year, and there are several specifics, that make a big difference in what the towing capacity is.
My 2017 F250 5th wheel limit is 14,000.
I’d like to report how it pulls the 5th wheel, but we haven’t picked it up yet!
I’ve pulled 2 smaller trailers, both very easy. I get 16 mpg towing, and 18 mpg reg.

[clarkbre]

Coming from an '11 Ecoboost with a 3.55 rear to a '16 6.2 with a 3.73, I would say the 4.30 is a must and you'd be fine. The handling of the F250 is awesome and the power of the 6.2 (it must spin up...think 3500+ RPM is good) is really good as well. Our trailer is 7,500 total and the 6.2/3.73 is well matched for it. Any more, I'd want more grunt in the gearing.

[Deanm]

Consider the F350
I just got an F 350 gas 4.3 axles, changed my order from the 250. Def play around with the online builder on the web site. F 350 comes with beefier Dana axles / and tranny, and beefier springs so you dont need to add those 4x4/ camper packages that in some cases basically add stickers. i can give more / better details if you want.

[jrk341]

Wait for 2020 as Ford is coming out with a 7.3 liter gas engine.

[Justice12t]

Some good points there. I'll throw in my 1 cent. I had a 2018 F250 XLT 4.30's.

In March we pulled our 5v'er from Rochester to FL taking 79, 77, 95 and some other connections. Ran 65mph the whole way. Truck pulls wonderful, so impressed with the downgrade breaking of the tranny. I could also stay in 4th on most hills and only jump to 3rd at times. Never worried if the truck could do it.

It was the fuel mileage that did it in for me honestly. On that trip we averaged 7-8 mpg and only touched 8.5 for a few hours in GA and even hit 6.5 on the rollers. I varied fuel grades up to see if anything would help and really no change. My 5v'er is around the 10k mark so not super heavy.

Daily driving I'd average 12-13mpg. Just food for thought. Loved the truck though. Good luck.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by fastalkintn

I’m thinking about trading for a F-250 4x4 6.2 with 4.10 gears either loaded XLT or lariat. We will eventually be upgrading to a 5th wheel. The one we really like has a gvwr of 12,000.

I would love to hear input from folks that tow weights close to that with a similar truck.

Performance, power, mpg... that kind of thing.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I have an almost identical combination to what you are considering. (see my signature)
I have no qualms.

Fuel mileage is about 8 MPG.
It is what it is and I don't worry about it.

[spock123]

Originally Posted by moose074

I pulled close to 10k with two different gas engines and two different Diesel engines neither diesel got more than 10 towing usually 9 ish both gas engines got around 8 ish. Every engine has kicked into lower gear climbing long grades. The 6.2 probably has more hp and torque than 90% of all 2010 or older diesel trucks

If I only got 10 mpg towing with my Silverado 3500 diesel I would trade it. If I keep my Silverado at 65mph I get 13mpg towing and everyday driving I’m getting 19mpg. I got 12.5 towing before I deleted the emissions. But if I speed up the fuel mileage goes down

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by jrk341

Wait for 2020 as Ford is coming out with a 7.3 liter gas engine.

I think I read it will be mated to a new 10 speed too, IIRC.

[VernDiesel]

Wait till fall and compare the 2020 7.3 with 10 speed to the Ram 6.4 8 speed. Both of which should be a lot better than what the big 3 have now in terms of gassers. You might also be able to order one this summer.

[dustman_stx]

GM is releasing the 6.6, too. Lot's of interesting things going on with HD gassers.

[DouglasReid]

My advice is to look for a diesel truck of whatever brand you like.

The experience pulling is night and day. YES, the gasser will pull that 12,000 camper but the diesel will do it effortlessly, and will be so much better in any mountainous country.

Our experience, the tallest mountain here in S Louisiana is the Mississippi River bridge on I-10 to Baton Rouge. Our previous truck, a Ford gasser would climb the bridge, after dropping a gear and the engine screaming we were at 35 MPH at the top of the bridge.

Our current truck, a diesel climbs it in 5th gear, has not dropped a gear and we are still at 62 MPH at the top of the bridge.

Just our experience.

[dwa1000]

My unit is 10,700lbs dry 5th wheel. No problem. I do go thru brakes quicker than I think I should. Truck pulls great. 8.5-9.5 is my mpg. Been up and down the east coast. Also pulled thru some mountains in PA. Many told me I needed more truck, I am happy with our results. I don't like to go over 65 mph and I believe where you drive will make the difference. I need more truck for the Rockies, but not for where I go.


At the end of the day be as safe as you can be and drive what makes you comfortable.

[eaglecrest]

If you travel in the mountains and have 6 ton of weight behind you pulling is not the issue as most 3/4 ton and up trucks can do it just fine. The real issue is braking down those 6 and 7 percent grades. I had many issues with brakes heating / smoking and then loosing some braking ability on both the truck and the camper. I now have a truck with an engine brake and that has solved the issue. It's nice to set the cruise at 65 and go 20 plus miles up a 7 percent grade and never touch the brake on the down side. I70 heading west out Denver is a good test.