Well.... I am trying to decide what to do for my next truck.... I currently have a 2003 f250 with a 5.4 and six speed manual and at times it just isnt enough truck. Here are the options I am considering. Feel free to give your facts/opinions/experiences on the two.

If money was no object I would get a 2013 f350 dually with 6.2 gas, six speed auto, 4x4 shifter on the floor with manual hubs, vynal floors/40-20-40 seats cab and a half and a few other options.

How is the 6.2 working out compared to the 5.4 and the v10? I like that you can safely drive the truck like a manual with the new 6 speed auto (would get manual transmission if available). Would an SCT programmer help wake the truck up at all?



Since I tow a fair amount and I like them, the other truck I'm considering is:
1999-2001 f350 dually with a 7.3 and six speed manual. 4x4 shifter on the floor with manual hubs. Probably an xlt which means carpet (I don't like carpet). Problem with these are they are either rotted out, beat to death, or have quarter million + miles on them. Seems the ones with about 100,000 or less bring a small fortune! Dumb question.... what years did they use composite rods???

FYI the truck would get used on my farm. I haul hay/straw throughout the winter and some of fall. I haul equipment around and sometimes go out of state to pick up equipment or parts for my dad (we farm together), I cut firewood, but still half the time the truck get driven around empty. So let me know what you guys/gals think. Sorry for the stupid questions but my phone won't let me search the forums for some reason and I hope thus thread will get lots of discussion since I haven't seen a good thread here in awhile.

 

Members with the 6.2L engine and 4.30 gearing are VERY pleased with their trucks.

 

Since you use it as a farm truck, write that puppy off your taxes and get what you want !

barring that, are you sure you need a dually ?
you didn't state what weights you were going for... a F350 has a gvwr of 11.5k and towing limits in the 23.5k lb gcwr or about 16k for 5er's --- will you be over that ?

but your tight requirements for a manual, etc...
if you are going new, would make you order one since very few new are built like that since the dealer could never sell it...

they want auto's and leather cuz that's what most of their customers want

 

My trailer that I use most if the time is a 14,000 lb 24' gooseneck that I usually have about @ capacity unless its empty. Sometimes I use a 38' trailer or a 25' 20,000 lb trailer when needed. When I haul hay/straw with just the truck there are 80 bales at a minimum of 40lbs each. I also pull 300 bushel gravity wagons which is kinda dangerous with just a 3/4 ton if you're hauling wet corn BC it's hard to stop. The dually would handle the loads safer but I definitely should have a one ton truck to safely do what I do. Also the extra power would be great over coming the wind resistance when hauling hay/straw or the 38' trail BC the 5.4 in my 03 has all it wants at 65mph with those loads.

 

With the double overdrive, anyone know what rpms you'd be at cruising at 70mph???
Thanks
Robert

 

Here is a link to a thread that should answer your question https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...xle-ratio.html

Denny

 

The new trucks have auto's with a manual shift mode. I have a co-worker that has a 2013 and it is AWESOME! He beats the crap out of it.

 

Yes they do......... and Yes they are !!!
(have automanual and awesome(r) than that old 2012 !

 

With the base tire size being 31.5" tall, you would be at 2,151 RPMs at 70 MPH. The second overdrive gear is misleading, as it's not very much taller than the overdrive gear of the old 4R100.

Top gear:
6R140: 0.67:1
4R100: 0.71:1

Fuel economy will be marginally better than what you have now, so don't expect a huge improvement.

 

why are you hauling trailer's weighing 14k and 20k that have no brakes at 65 and 70mph for?

 

Guess there's one in every crowd. Yes, all of the trailers (not gravity wagons) have excellent functioning brakes. Have you ever compared a 2003 f250's brakes to a 2008 f350's? Stopping 20 feet sooner in an emergency is huge. And yes, I have good brakes on my 2003 but they only have certain capacity and they're tiny compared to my dads 08 350.


I'm surprised no one has commented on the 7.3 yet.... also anyone has any mpg figures on a dually 350 with the 6.2? Thanks for the replies so far!

 

7.3


You are already familiar with the legend...
Sounds to me like your looking for a 2nd choice... if you cant find the 7.3 you want.

409k on my '00 and just now getting to "injector time"

Mine sees limited farm use... the occasional gooseneck with my tractor on it... but mostly i pull my 5er at around 12k.

Im geared 4:10 with duals so i get best economy around 55... 17-19mpg before my sticks started crapping out.

Consider what repairs are going to cost... maintenance, fuel, insurance, and payments...

Pick the one least in the red for what you use it for.