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Old 05-10-2018, 08:15 AM   #1
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2017 f 250 6.2 towing, possible trade Ram 6.4 for Ford

Im looking at possibly trading my POS 2016 ram 6.4 2500 for a ford 6.2 f-250.

Can you ford owners tell me how well it does with the 3:73 gearing? im probably around 9500 pound trailer weight right now with the new trailer and I have towed it twice with My Ram (also with 3:73) and it did a pretty decent job. I understand the ford to have about 25 HP less, but better tranny gearing to offset that. Most grades wont be over 6-7 percent and those will be rare.

I will be looking at a long bed crew cab. I know the motor was updated in 2017, thats why Im looking for that particular year.
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Old 05-10-2018, 08:22 AM   #2
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I'm towing our 8529IKBS 5th wheel that is 9.5k unloaded and 11k loaded with our 2017 Super Duty with the 6.2L and 3.73 gears. It does a fine job and we live in the mountains of Western PA. (lots of 7-8% grades) It will run 4-5k RPMs at times but it's made for that and I like the 'slightly' better MPG empty.

My brother has a similar weight TT he pulls with a 2017 RAM 6.4L. We camp a lot together... we're pretty much equal in the mountains towing.
I wouldn't do it differently.
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Old 05-10-2018, 08:31 AM   #3
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I had an older 2000 Ford Super Duty pickup with the older engine that the 6.2 replaced the V10 6.8 engine. I pulled a similar trailer for many years with that rig and it did very well. That engine was a work horse. Several times in PA they closed the interstate and diverted me to state roads through the mountains. The old girl worked hard on some of the grades more that 7% but it pulled right through.
Good Luck in your search. Maybe some one with real 6.2 engine experience will reply to you.
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Old 05-10-2018, 08:31 AM   #4
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I'm curious as to why you're calling your 2017 Ram a POS?
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Old 05-10-2018, 09:17 AM   #5
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Do yourself a favor and order a F250 6.2 with 4.30's. Fuel mileage impact is virtually non-existent (empty) and better loaded. You'll pull those grades so much better and hold your gears better.

We just did 5,100 miles pulling a 11K fiver with a 6.2 with 4.30's. Minnesota to Tucson. Lots of big grades at elevation. Over Vail Pass and through Eisenhower Tunnel. Can't imagine doing this trip with 3.73's.
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Old 05-10-2018, 09:20 AM   #6
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Do yourself a favor and order a F250 6.2 with 4.30's. Fuel mileage impact is virtually non-existent (empty) and better loaded. You'll pull those grades so much better and hold your gears better.

We just did 5,100 miles pulling a 11K fiver with a 6.2 with 4.30's. Minnesota to Tucson. Lots of big grades at elevation. Over Vail Pass and through Eisenhower Tunnel. Can't imagine doing this trip with 3.73's.
I tow maybe 6 times a year, and i'm on the east coast. 3:73's are easier to come by (like the Ram) . IM kinda wanting to compare apples to apples because I have 3:73 now, and it does fine with the weight, Im just trying to make sure the ford wont do any worse@
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Old 05-10-2018, 09:21 AM   #7
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Do yourself a favor and order a F250 6.2 with 4.30's. Fuel mileage impact is virtually non-existent (empty) and better loaded. You'll pull those grades so much better and hold your gears better.

We just did 5,100 miles pulling a 11K fiver with a 6.2 with 4.30's. Minnesota to Tucson. Lots of big grades at elevation. Over Vail Pass and through Eisenhower Tunnel. Can't imagine doing this trip with 3.73's.
I concur. I think it's completely idiotic that dealers rarely, if ever, stock the 4.30 trucks. Who buys a gas F250 and is worried about an insignificant increase in mileage? 4.10's should be standard with a 4.30 option, IMHO.
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Old 05-10-2018, 09:23 AM   #8
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I'm curious as to why you're calling your 2017 Ram a POS?
Its a 2016.. and honestly I like the performance from the truck, just having a few warranty issues that are being called normal operation.. Rear end whine, Shudder at take off ( its not the tranny, its the carrier bearing needs to be dropped about an inch with a spacer) Anywho Im tired of dealing with the Ram dealers in my area for over a year now, and im ready to go back to Ford. I had a Ford prior to the Ram and went with the Ram for an HD truck.

Yup, just turned over 12K miles.
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Old 05-10-2018, 09:45 AM   #9
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Makes sense. At time the dealer support in your area can dictate your vehicle purchase.

I asked because my buddy just bought a 2017 Ram 2500. I'll have to see how he makes out.
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Old 05-10-2018, 10:01 AM   #10
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I had to order my truck so I could get the 4.30 gearing. I don't pull as heavy as the OP and I can't imagine not having 4.30. At times I wish I had more power in the hills out west even with the 4.30.
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Old 05-10-2018, 11:41 AM   #11
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The ram with the 3:73 pulls pretty good. I don't like the gap between 1st and 2nd, but otherwise it pulls very well and is pretty stable. I'd like to imagine the ford with the 3:73 pulls at least as good, or comparably so anyway. i know it has less power, but it also has lower transmission ratios I believe.
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Old 05-10-2018, 11:54 AM   #12
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Just pulled my 9,000 lb 5th wheel with my new 2018 Ram 2500 6.4 with 4.10 gears. Pulled about 120 miles each way. Up one way and down the other. Got 10.1 mpg.
Hit 5,000 rpm's a few times. Mostly ran in 4th and occasionally in 5th around 50-60 mph. Anyone familiar with the hwy from Salem Or to Sisters Or would know what we were up against.
I came from a 2012 Ram 2500 Cummins so the power was not even close, however the ride was sooo much nicer with the coils.
I was looking at Ford F250's but would've had to order a 4.30 version. Then try and deal on the price. The Ram was easier to get the deal on. Dealer had several 4.10's in stock in various models and trims. Also got a killer deal on my 12 Ram CTD as it only had 52,000 miles on it as a one owner.
If you're only towing 5-6 times a year then the 3.73's would be fine. We go out a lot from April to Oct so I wanted the optimum in gearing.
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Old 05-10-2018, 12:08 PM   #13
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Just pulled my 9,000 lb 5th wheel with my new 2018 Ram 2500 6.4 with 4.10 gears. Pulled about 120 miles each way. Up one way and down the other. Got 10.1 mpg.
Hit 5,000 rpm's a few times. Mostly ran in 4th and occasionally in 5th around 50-60 mph. Anyone familiar with the hwy from Salem Or to Sisters Or would know what we were up against.
I came from a 2012 Ram 2500 Cummins so the power was not even close, however the ride was sooo much nicer with the coils.
I was looking at Ford F250's but would've had to order a 4.30 version. Then try and deal on the price. The Ram was easier to get the deal on. Dealer had several 4.10's in stock in various models and trims. Also got a killer deal on my 12 Ram CTD as it only had 52,000 miles on it as a one owner.
If you're only towing 5-6 times a year then the 3.73's would be fine. We go out a lot from April to Oct so I wanted the optimum in gearing.
Im around 9500 pounds and I get about 10.4 or so going and I averaged about 9.7 coming home (more uphills) Like the truck, I am just Way beyond done with Ram ownership at this point and thinking ill trade it or accidentally drop a tree on it that im clearing.
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Old 05-10-2018, 12:28 PM   #14
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I here ya. I was the same way with Ford and my 2010 F150. Couldn't ge them to fix the ridiculous 2nd to 1st gear bump. Drove me up a wall. They literally told me that they have no clue and that since I was under warranty to just drive it until it breaks or something obvious goes wrong so they'd know what to fix.
I had a few issues with my 12 Ram 2500 CTD but my non purchase local dealer has been great to work with. I really wanted to try another Ford but I just couldn't fathom dealing with their service dept.
I think it goes both ways with any MFG dealership. you get some good and some bad.
Anyway good luck in your search.
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Old 05-10-2018, 12:51 PM   #15
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I think it goes both ways with any MFG dealership. you get some good and some bad.
Anyway good luck in your search.
It most certainly does go both ways and I have no doubt about horror stories from ford and gm dealerships as well, It just happens that in my area, the Ford dealership has a better track record for service than the two Ram dealers in my area. If I could get them to legitimately fix my truck id keep it in a heart beat, but 1 year and 7 trips to the dealership in 11K miles is just too much.
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Old 05-10-2018, 02:04 PM   #16
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The higher ratios will also give better holdback on downhills. I don’t have to worry about dealers as I rarely buy new vehicles, and even if I did all the dealers are over 50 miles one way so I could choose which way to go and see who I like, having been the auto and truck repair business over 50 years I figure them out pretty quickly.
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Old 05-10-2018, 02:45 PM   #17
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Shudder

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Its a 2016.. and honestly I like the performance from the truck, just having a few warranty issues that are being called normal operation.. Rear end whine, Shudder at take off ( its not the tranny, its the carrier bearing needs to be dropped about an inch with a spacer) Anywho Im tired of dealing with the Ram dealers in my area for over a year now, and im ready to go back to Ford. I had a Ford prior to the Ram and went with the Ram for an HD truck.

Yup, just turned over 12K miles.
I’ve two Ford F150. A 3010 and now a 2016. Both have driveshaft shudder when loaded and needing to move fast. The 2016 not so bad. Ford has special grease for the slip joint; didn’thelp much.
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Old 05-10-2018, 08:26 PM   #18
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Do yourself a favor and order a F250 6.2 with 4.30's. Fuel mileage impact is virtually non-existent (empty) and better loaded. You'll pull those grades so much better and hold your gears better.

We just did 5,100 miles pulling a 11K fiver with a 6.2 with 4.30's. Minnesota to Tucson. Lots of big grades at elevation. Over Vail Pass and through Eisenhower Tunnel. Can't imagine doing this trip with 3.73's.
X2
Our mileage was improved, city and hiway after we changed to 4.30.
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Old 05-11-2018, 03:47 AM   #19
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I had a 2013 f250 with3:73 gears bought a 2016 f250 with 4:30 gears WAY better towing all around and better towing and around town MPG. Our camping friends had a Dodge 2014 3500 with the 6.7 diesel (great power) to many problems with it and was sick of diesel smell on his hands after fueling bought a 2017 250 with the 4:30 gears 6.2 he is happy he did , we both also have the camper package it helps with load. Both of our fivers are just over 12k running. If you are going to do it get the 4:30 gears you Will be much much happier.
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Old 05-11-2018, 05:00 AM   #20
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The ram with the 3:73 pulls pretty good. I don't like the gap between 1st and 2nd, but otherwise it pulls very well and is pretty stable. I'd like to imagine the ford with the 3:73 pulls at least as good, or comparably so anyway. i know it has less power, but it also has lower transmission ratios I believe.
Go to the Fast lane truck and watch them take gas trucks up the Ike...The much weaker on paper GM 6.0 beats the Ram 6.4 up the hill by over a minute. You don't have anything to worry about...the Ford out pulls both of them.
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