How does the 6.2L do at that? Does anyone have any videos of their trucks towing a similar load? I'm really concerned about hilly terrain. I don't think I would like having the truck scream up hills at 4,000 rpm while towing. Should I consider the 4.30 gear ratio?

My current tow rig is a 1992 Dodge Ram 250 with a Cummins and am looking for a new truck. I don't think I really need a new diesel so have been looking at the 6.2L F-250. I don't tow that much or that often, I mostly use my truck to run to the dump or the lumber yard. I do have a 5th wheel camper, but it's a small one, and is 5,000 lbs unloaded, 7,500 with max payload. If I did get one of these 6.2L trucks, I would be sure to keep a future 5th wheel purchase around the same weight.

 

I won't have my new 6.2 until later this week but this is what I have learned so far. I don't think an 8k trailer is that much for the gasser. It gets max HP and torque in the higher RPM band so you very well could see 4000 up grades. I also gather 4.30 gears are the way to go. You might have to order your truck, 4.30's sitting on a dealers lot are scarce. BTW, when I decided to trade trucks I made the switch to gas from diesel because most of my trips are short and I don't tow frequently. Somewhere on youtube is a guy pulling a decent size trailer with an F350 dually 6.2.

 

I just pulled my 24' travel trailer which weighs in around 7k for the first time on friday. Went up two decent size grades on my short 11 mile run with no problems. Pulled at 55 mph in 3rd gear around 3300 rpm. I have the 3.73. So you will have absolutely no problem with your 5k 5er.

 

Not my truck, but a homemade video.

 

Haha, my V10 won't accelerate like that empty. I'm impressed with these new trucks for sure.

 

You will be fine with that load and 3.73 gears. They will do anything you need them to do. One of the engineers at Ford that designed the driveline said they specifically designed the engine/trans combo to work best with the 3.73 gear.

I tow a trailer with a max weight of 8k. It pulls it no problem with 3.73 gears. The new 6 speed trans has a very low first gear. This makes all the difference in the world. And guys with the older trans don't seem to realize how large a difference that makes.

There are a bunch of folks that are about to climb all over you and insist that if you don't get the 4.30 gears that the sky will fall, your dog will get pregnant, and all your friends and family will abandon you. None of this is the case.

If you were pulling a 15-18K trailer all the time, every day, then sure get the 4.30's. Or if you lived on the side of Pike's Peak and drove 10-12% grades every day, sure, get the 4.30's.

Most of us do neither of those things. Which is why most of the available trucks you see will have the 3.73 gears in them.

Oh and some guys are also about to tell you that you should get an F-150, so brace yourself for that too.

 

I have looked at the F150. I played with the "build and price" thing on Ford's site, and they come out to nearly the same price as an F-250. I also wouldn't feel comfortable pulling a 5er with a half ton, although I see a few tourists doing it when they come through my town.

Also, is the F-150 rated to tow 12,500 like a 6.2L 4WD RC F-250 is?

When you say "new" 6 speed transmission, are you talking 2011+? Or did they revise the ratios after then?

 

2011+ when they came out with the new driveline. There has been a shift control update/shift reprogramming update done to the 2011's, but 2012 and up has the updated shift program.

I would encourage you to take one for a test drive. You will be impressed I think.

 

I see a different side to the 4.30 gear option. According to Mike Harrison, the lead engineer on the design of the 6.2, the engine reaches 90% of its torque at around 2500 RPM. With this said the 4.30 will be a help at starting a load off but after that not a big difference from the 3.73. My experience pulling 11K trailer on some short 6-8% grades, the truck drops to 4th gear RPM goes to the 2800-3300 range and up the hill we go at about 55-60 MPH. I have so far not had a need to run my engine in the 4000 + RPM range. But if I towed a lot at near the capacity of the truck (like RVPULLER) I would get the 4.30's.

 

I'm not sure I want to go that much higher on the gearing. 15% seems like alot. One thing I saw is with the F350 you can get taller tires 275/70 on the 18" rims, 5.4% taller sidewall, that would knock the cruising rpms down a little bit.

Is there really that much difference between the F250 and the F350? It looks like the 6 speed auto uses the same gearing for everything, be it 250, 350, gas, diesel, etc.

 

You'll be happy with the 3:73's towing that weight. No problem at all. If you could find a leftover '13 on a lot right now you would reel in some big rebates! Difference in the 350 is mainly the rear suspension, which gives you higher payload, and towing, and a stiffer ride empty. My 250 has 275/7018 tires. My payload is 2876 lbs. Plenty for a small 5th wheel. Good luck.

 

Is there any downside to getting 4.30 gearing? I don't care tooo much about fuel mileage, as I only use my truck when I need to do truck stuff. I have a car for just getting around.

 

There is no real down side except finding one on the lot. Most of the time 4.30 is special order. There should not be a big difference in fuel mileage as you will only see about 200 rpm difference. Most people are saying about 1-1.5 mpg difference. You will also find that driving these trucks is such a thrill, you will be using it a lot more than planned!

 

My truck in my sig is pulling my 8500k TT (loaded) I can drive it with one hand in the wheel with no effort. I have not been on a grade over 4 percent, but it does not like 6th gear, even in Florida. Saying that, it pulls very strong and I am very satisfied. Any heavier on a regular basis I would consider the 4.30 gears. If you are ordering, I would try and get the 350, not much price difference but it nice to have the payload upgrade. My fully loaded crew cab has a 3500 pound payload per the door sticker

 

I pull an 8500lb 34ft travel trailer and have been down to Tennessee in the Smokies and with 4 adults and the trailer it pulls like a freight train and I have 3.73's. We never lost speed anywhere and the lowest it went in gears was 3rd. I always run 91 octane fuel when towing though as it does make a difference in power even without a tuner. Of course now that I loaded the 87 octane tow tune from 5 star I will never go back to stock as it makes that much difference.