Just did my first pull through the mountains with the F-350 and my 14K+ fiver. All I can say is I am still smiling. Pulled from east Tenn. through the mountains of North Carolina down into South Carolina and back. Not the big west coast mountains, but good pull for us east coast guys. Went across I26, Sams Gap and then down US 25 and the back side of Saluda mountain and back the same roads. Truck had 1500 miles leaving and over 1800 when back. Averaged 10.9 MPG for the trip, truck pulling fiver whole trip, which really impressed me. I traded an '07 Chevy LBZ dually for this, and it averaged 10.5 for same trip. Some other impressions: Topped Sams Gap going into NC at 55 MPH, Chevy did 45 MPH, and I drove both the same, not ******* it, where it felt comfortable. I found that both ways it the F-350 averaged almost a 10 MPH gain in speed over the Chevy. I had read all the comments that the exhaust brake/grade braking on the Ford wasn't up to the others, all I can say is they are wrong. Blew my last truck away. One touch of pedal and it downshifts, not 3 or 4 times to get it to go down a gear. And once you hit 3rd, it almost slowed down to much for me. Also noticed not near the noise in cab when grade braking as it doesn't pull the high RPM's my Alllison did, even wife commented how much quiter it was. From stops, I could tell a big difference when starting out as it just pulled with no effort all through the power band, smooth shifts. I think the wife got tired of me saying how much I like the truck. Only concern I had was the oil temp would go to 240 degrees near top of mountain but cooled back down after topping. Cooling fan never kicked on the whole trip and it did every time in my LBZ no matter outside temp. All I can say is "WHAT A TRUCK." Had worried I messed up letting my LBZ go, but no more, I am one happy camper. Here is a pic at TN welcome area.

 

Great to hear the good towing experience Travlingman. I have a bumper pull 34' camper and can't wait to get 500 miles on the truck so I can pull it. I was down to 9.5 MPG with the 2005 F250 I traded in. I am hoping for a good improvement on the 2012. I will post my numbers after I get a few trips done.

 

Great write up and this is what I have searching for. I just bought a 2012 F450 to tow a goose neck 16,500+lbs. When I go on the road, I travel a minimum of 1,500 miles round trip when I connect to the trailer.
I have been searching for an article of someone towing a trailer similar in weight. I just took delivery last Tuesday, I am going on a trip in 5 weeks so I will find out. Your write up built my confidence for my next trip.
Did you install air bags?
First trip with a new truck has me wondering if I should worry about anything as you were with your first trip.
Also good to know about the mileage.
Thank you for the write up.
Rob

 

Great post! I could read these all day!

 

but i thinking you where to light on foot pedal need to add more foot pressure lol

 

Yeah, I know how that smile feels. We go 1800 miles Kansas to Travis AFB,Ca every summer and stay for three months. This truck outpulls the 6.0 pulling the same 5th wheel over the same route so easily, I just couldn't believe it. Thou this truck actually makes less HP, it makes more torque. The climbs are achieved with much less downshifting and far ferwer rpm's.

The ride is smoother,quiter and more comfortable. Love the Sirius. I am now a dually owner forever, or at least until the towing days are over. Makes towing in the midwest sidewinds far less scary. I only have 11,000 miles on my truck, it is only used for towing.

Just love the truck!!!


Jim

 

Great post t-man!

I too came from an 07 Duramax. While I did have some reservations switching to Ford, I am pretty pleased with my dually. Power wise I don't think I can tell much difference between the two. It sure gets a lot of looks. Keep on truckin'.

 

Glad to see you guys come over and be happy.
I made the switch from GM products a while back (10 Fords ago) and have never ever seen a reason to go back.

 

Looks like I have your trucks older sibling!!! Glad you had a good trip. Would love to have a 6.7 but with only 15k on the 6.4 it's kinda ridiculous. I love the newer Fords!

 

Racing1320,

Unless you have a lowboy and dozer, a tripple axle car hauler, or Toyhauler with the bulk of the load/braking on the 5er's axles I don't think you will get by without airbags.

My 2011 450 sagged 4 inches with my 16,999 GWR 5er weighing 16,800 with 3925 on the pin. Due to storage locations I simply cannot move any more weight from the front of the 5er to the rear. That left about 1/2 inch between the yellow rubber bumper stops and the axle on the 450, making for a very harsh ride - lots of bottoming out. I also had a tremendouus driveline shutter when accelerating from a dead stop on an incline. All gone with airbags. I keep them at 6-8 psi empty, has zero impact on ride at that psi, load the 5er they become 30 psi or so without adding any air, and there is just a little squat; put in 3-5 psi more (35 total) back to level and smooth as it can be. I will be adding SuperSprings Super Sway Stops shortly to take better advantage of my stock overloads and then probably won't need to add the extra air. My 2008 sagged only 2 inches with the same load, but was it always in the shop.

Unless you have a chassis-cab model 450, with the 19.5 tires (speed rated for 80MPH), 14,500# GVWR, 12,500# rear axle with its monster differential/brakes, and engine governored at 84 MPH that was found in the all models of the 2008-2010 450's, your (my) 2011 -2012 450 has the same 13,300 GVWR, 6k front axle, 9k rear axle, even 17 inch tires/rims as a 350 dually, but you (I) do have slightly larger brakes on each axle, and a wide front axle allowing for a much improved turning radius. And our 4.30 rear ends versus the 350's 373 give our 450's higher tow ratings. However, unless you have very little fuel and nobody else in the truck, the pin weights really are the killer with the 13,300 GVWR. Airbags on the 450 and disc brakes on the 5er make allows me to sleep at night.

I had the factory hitch/gooseneck prep (you need to specify if you have or not), and the airbags went in easily. I opted for the onboard pump, left and right controls, and 3 gallon tank (and mounting brackets) for frame mounting just behind the cab (where you can mount Ford's optional $500 swing away step for accessing the bed). To do over again I would add a 2nd 3 gallon tank on the passenger side so I had more air for airing up 110 psi 5er tires and the large 17 inchers on the Ford. I would not go with the 5 gallon tank only because there isn't a good place on the drivers side to mount one that large (too long).

There is a writeup on a progressive air overspring in this or other SuperDuty forums, but I don't know much about them.

 

I was hoping that I did not need to do this, but I am hauling a 46 foot with living quarters on the front for that extra weight. I received a catalog for a company that makes the added leaf set up. www.hellwigproducts.com
I had air bags on the 04 without a tank. I kept the pressure around 40 to 45 with the trailer.
Thank you for the information, very helpful.

 

Great write up!! I think these 6.7's are STRONG as heck. I hope they hold up like the 7.3's. That is yet to be determined.

 

Yes but the 6.7L is doing good so far.
It will be a number of years before the diehard 7.3L fans accept this new engine.

 

Funny.

 

Thanks for sharing. Good report. I hitched mine up tonight to my 35' travel trailer. Heading out tomorrow evening for my first outing. I am anxious to see how it feels. One thing I miss is the smell of diesel exhaust. It almost smells like a propane forklift when it is idling while I was hitching up. Guess I've never smelt urea burning before.