looking at a f350 cab chassis for a tow pig for my goosneck horse trailer and have a few questions. First is the valve issue ...all i originally heard about was with f450 or 550..... anyone heard of a 350 cab chassis valve issue?Is it isolated to just cab chassis or has it happend to the SD pickups too? Second question has to do with rearend ratio it has a 4.10 rear end what rpms is this going to run at doing 65mph empty? and fuel mileage? WE got a ecoboost loaded for family trips and want to come back to ford from my old cummins for my farm truck. I would like to stick with diesel on this truck but i am questioning going back to gas due to the complexity of the new engines any thoughts?
thanks in advance

 

I love my chassis cab. It has 4.10 LS rearend. I drive 55-60 mph empty or pulling my 5th wheel. I have a little over 10,000 miles on the truck and it hasn't been at a dealer since the day I took delivery.

We pull the 5th wheel from Kansas to Northern California every year. The truck pulls the 5th wheel effortlessly. 60 mph is 1800 rpm. Lowest mpg was 9.5 in headwind and high was 12.5 mpg on the level, no wind. Empty at the above speed is 18.5 to 21 mpg. The vast amount of the time my mpg stays between 19 and 20 mpg.

I have 100 gallon fuel capacity. 40 gal stock and 60 gal auxilliary. Airtex pump and Autometer gauge with electric shutoff valve. Hooked up upfitter #3. I only fuel twice in 1800 mile trip to California. The truck is very stable in heavy midwest crosswinds with the 5th wheel. This is my 7th year pullling the same 5th wheel to the same place. This is the first year for a dually, will never go back to SRW until towing days are done. I hope this helps, good luck with your decision and let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Jim

 

thanks jim48, how heavy is your 5th wheel? empty mileage is pretty impressive for a heavy truck!!!

 

Hay is for horses I get 17-18 highway, 12 in town and around 9 towing in my CC. Mine is 4wd and my towing is typically short distances. I have been happy with mine so far.

 

The 5th wheel is a 34' Holiday Rambler Alumascape. All I can tell you is the sticker says 10,560 empty. After 7 years I have finally quit trying to take everything I own when we travel. I only carry about 10 gals of fresh water and we don't take a lot of groceries. We go straight to Travis AFB in California and it only takes 4 or 5 days. Our daughter and her family live there.

I had Pullrite SuperGlide/SuperRails in the 04 F250 FX4 shortbed diesel. I have Pullrite Super 5th in this one. The hitch sets in a well on top of the frame. No more worries of hitting anything. We love the truck!!! The satelite radio is really nice and we love the seats and console. This is my first two wheel drive Ford in 30+ years. I just don't need the four wheel drive and I sure like the truck setting a little lower and saved some money.

Thou this truck is 25 less HP than the 6.0 it pulls the same 5th wheel with much less effort. No downshifting, just put on cruise, select oldies on the sat radio and watch the miles roll by. We got in heavy winds between Albuquerque and Williams, Az 35 mph crosswind with gusts to 45. I've had this happen twice with the old SRW, and the extra stability of the dually is just amazing. No more squeezing the wheel and leaving finger prints in the leather. No more slowing down to 40 mph and wondering if you could keep the rig in your lane. Even my wife said this year, wow you sure aren't fighting the wheel so much!

i-40 is notorious for crosswinds, and the state highway departments have gas powered mobile signs they post on the side of the road cautioning of heavy crosswinds. So believe me I know driving in heavy winds. LOVE MY DUALLY.

I drive much slower than most people I see posting here. I always have been that way, it didn't just happen because I'm old now. I probably get better mileage than some because of that. My truck has never been over 70 mph and probably never will. This truck is used 90% as tow vehicle and only gets driven on a daily basis when we are in California. When at home it sets in the garage and only gets maintenance driving.

I wouldn't change a thing about my truck, it isn't as pretty as some of the guys pickups. I'm over the looks thing and decided to go aluminum bed, boxes and quit lifting over the sides of a bed. I wish you well with your decisions, let me know if I can be of any further help!!

Jim

 

Happy New Year and welcome to FTE!

The valve issues have been mostly seen in chassis/cab trucks but we've seen a couple in the pickup models as well. Right now the thinking is that there is a problem with the manufacturing of some of the exhaust valves, but I have yet to hear of a definitive cause. The choice as to get the diesel or the gas engine really should have lots to do with your intended use as well as how many miles you drive. Those who tow more and drive more miles are better suited to the diesel due to the better efficiency and potentially lower operating costs. You say this is going to be a farm truck, so I suspect you'd do well by picking the 6.7L.

The 6.2L is an amazing engine that's capable of pulling just about anything these trucks are rated for, but it's nowhere near as efficient. Either truck will serve you well, you should test drive both of them!

 

Several of the Ford dealers around here sell LOTS of chassis cabs. Mostly steel bed, and hydraulic hay hauling fork. But lots of city and county use trucks as well. I've been asking, but they havn't seen any valve problems. YET. I hope we can find out what's going on with the valves, and why it is in the cc's. I thought they were the same engine except turbos and emissions.

Please keep us posted as to this situation. I know all cc owners will particularly interested.

Jim