I am trying to buy a new dump truck to update an older 7.3 diesel. I am not sure I want to go diesel but may have too. The truck will be hauling 6400+ lbs of mulch and towing a 6000 lb bark blower for about 2 months in the spring. After that it will tow a 7000 lb bobcat a couple times a week. The truck only does 6-8k miles per year.


Will the 6.2 with 4:30 rear do it well?
How well compared to my old 7.3/ will I be way disappointed?
Should I go v10 instead? ( would have to go 550)


I have test driven a few but that's without a load in it or a trailer on it. Any help is appreciated

 

Subscribed to see replies. I'm curious also.

 

You probably need a 550 anyway how many Lbs is your dump body?
Your already talking 6500 of mulch plus 600+ of tongue weight plus you, your crew, tools and a dump body? You are looking at 8000-10000 of payload needed.

But rolling around with around 24k (8k truck+8kpayload+6ktrailer) i think the 6.2 will be pushed. The 10 would be fine except mpg which you state low miles so the lower maintnAnce and purchase the diesel cost to own probably will never catch up.

 

I would go with a 550 with the v10 and 4:88 rears. I drive a f-450 grossing 13,000 lbs with this drivetrain everyday and am never lacking for power. You are going to overload a f-350 pretty quick with a dump bed.

 

6.2 will put out more power than the V10.


But...I think you need to go bigger because of the load on the axles.


Since this is all in town type work I would go gas vs diesel.

 

I would figure that the v10 would have more torque and be a better pulling truck. It definitely seemed slower when empty on a test drive

 

typical dump body might weigh 2500 lbs plus the weight of the truck.


I know when I have to pull the bobcat with a cheby 6.0 gas there is no way it would tow the cat with a yard or two of loam in it. With 8 yards of mulch in my older 450 superduty the 7.3 is working hard with the bark blower on the back. I just keep reading how awesome the 6.2 is. I just don't want to be lost without the diesel power. Maybe v10 is the best non diesel option- Thanks

 

V-10 is a great, powerful motor. Also very reliable. My dad has 330,000 on his 2000 v-10 and has done very little to it at all. Lots of power, but when towing it doesn't pass a gas station. And with those gears your probably gonna average around 10 mph around town.

 

Why not update the 7.3l?

I just don't see how a 6.2 gasser would be any better than what you have?

Some of the gasser firetrucks that I periodically drive in similar chassis are flat out dogs compared to their diesel counterparts. However they do get the job done...but you'd think the motor was going through the hood.

The mpg is beyond dismal...almost gallons per mile.

 

It is and has a powerband more suited for heavy loads. Get the V10 with the steepest gears they have.(probably 4.88s) Don't expect the 6.2l to get any better mpg than the V10.

 

Thanks for the help
I would update the 7.3 if I could win the rot battle but I am tired of fighting it.
There is no good situation. It sounds like the 6.2 would end up being a disappointment for what I want it to do. V10 is the better option for gas and the truck only does 8k per year. Maybe I will just bite the bullit and go diesel. For the extra 8k or whatever it ends up being, I know I wont be disappointed with the power, just the repair bills after its out of warranty-haha

 

Check places like Ryder or penske used trucks. You just might find a good used truck reasonable.

 

Buying a used rental truck is like going to a ***** house to find a wife.

 

Its a far better choice than swinging into "Bob's" used truck lot and buying something you hope was maintained.

When you buy from a rental fleet like Ryder or penske you get the entire maintenance record as well as dot inspection records. You know when every bulb was changed, oil changed, tires rotated or replaced....everything that was ever done to the rig.

But hey what do I know. I can see how someone would buy a medium duty truck (or any vehicle) at any lot with out knowing if it came from a auction or not...without any more history than a Carfax at best.