Hi Guys
I am in the research process of ordering a 2015 F350 Crew 2wd.
The unit will be used primarily as a daily driver (50-60 miles a day interstate) and a fifth wheel tow rig 12-24 times a year. My fifth wheel weighs in at 12,000# dry with approx loaded weight of 13,500ish and a pin weight of 2400#. Fords spec's say fifth wheel tow cap of the 3.73 axle is 12,400 (gcwr 19,000) and the 4.30 is 15,400 (gcwr 22,000). I was leaning towards the 4.30as to not exceed tow capacity and Gcwr, am I on the right track or should I stick with 3.73 and not worry. Since it will be a daily driver mpg is a concern but I currently get 16ish empty on my dually and 16.5 on my Sportrac (4.3 v6 2wd 4.10) and I could live with something in that area.
I am kinda interested in want kinda mileage you guys are seeing.
Any and all feedback is welcome, Thanks in advance

Regards

 

You may be able to get close to 16 empty on an all highway trip (mid 15's more likely), but expect to realistically see 11-14 in everyday driving.

 

If you're dead set on gas, definitely get the 4:30s, (You'll have to order the truck to get them), and you may want to contact 5-star for a tune as well. The 6.2 will do it, and some owners tow that much, but towing over 10K I'd probably recommend a diesel. kinda depends on the terrain, and distance you pull the 5er. Going 350 in 2wd, the payload will be no problem.

I get just under 16 on the highway in mine. Combined average so far is 13.8, and towing my 7500lb trailer I get 8-10 depending on the wind, hills etc. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the input so far. I am going gas mostly to save money on fuel, maintenance etc. I own a diesel now and like it but it definently costs more to own one.

 

If you're free this coming up weekend, you're welcome to join us at the Ohio meet. I have no idea how much we're in for with the trailer weight this year but it's usually around 13-15k for the pulls. I'll be there in mine (4.30's, 93 tune, etc). You're welcome to drive it/ride along during the tow or we can take it out on the main roads for a quick WOT run (up to the speed limit of course). Scott (senix) will be there with this 6.7 dually. It's a great way to really see the difference between the engines. I bought mine new back in 2010 with the intent of getting a 5er. Plans changed so the majority of its life has been short/empty runs (I work from home). I have just over 30k miles on my truck and am under 10mpg for the life of the truck (trip B never reset). I consider my mpg's to be an extreme case here on FTE, I haven't found anyone who's gotten worse mileage yet.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...june-22nd.html

The 6.2 will do what you're asking for your scenario, but a 6.7 will do it a little easier (and with better mpg's).

 

I have a truck close to what you are thinking about, 2013 SC DRW 2wd 6.2 with 4.30 gears. I don't use it for daily driving because it's my pulling truck and I'm retired. I don't have that many empty hwy miles but it has done 14 to 16 without any problems depending on the speed, the faster the lower the mileage. My truck scales at 8439 running without the trailer because of my tool boxes and aux fuel tank so truly empty it may do better. With the trailer it grosses at 24340 and I get 8 to 9 with the low number being out west in the Rockies.
With the 6 speed it's a very capable motor and its done everything I have asked it to do and I'm not afraid to push it to its limits day after day.

Denny

 

The highest I've seen is 14 mpg on the highway. 4:30s and 4x4.

 

In March 2013, I went from a '06 F250 CC with the 6.0 PSD with a 3.73 limited slip rear end to a '13 F350 CC Dually 2WD with the 6.2L Gas and 4.30 limited slip rear end which has just over 19k on the clock now. To date the 6.2L has performed flawlessly. It has plenty of power to tow my 34' 14k lb gooseneck horse trailer. Last fall I went on a 1,550 mile trip from Louisiana to Tulsa Oklahoma pulling the above trailer - avg mpg for the entire trip was 8.9 mpg with 2/3 of the miles pulling the trailer - just pulling the trailer was 7.8 mpg; without the trailer was 13.0 mpg - all hand calculated - truck computer showed .4 mpg higher. I was pulling at the posted speed limits which was for the most part either 70 or 75 mph. The previous year, this exact same trip with the F250 6.0 PSD with the same trailer yielded 12.7 avg mpg for the entire trip. So I'm very satisfied with the gas engine and don't regret not getting a diesel again - just too many issues with them and I don't pull often enough to justify the diesel. Based on how I use this truck, I calculated it was going to take me over 150k miles just to breakeven on the cost of operating the gas vs the initial cost and operating costs of the diesel, assuming no major maintenance issues with either engine which for me is approx. 10 years. To date, I've averaged 11 mpg overall with about 37% towing above trailer. Solo mileage is approx. 14 depending on speed, better if held under 70, and about 8.5 towing above trailer. I haven't seen 16 but have seen around 15.

 

My truck is in the picture below and pulling the trailer from NJ to Florida - almost all interstate highways until the last 75 miles or so, I get between 8 & 9 mpg. That is staying close to the speed limit and trying to not go over 65 even when the limit goes up 70 MPH.

While my trailer is not a 5ver by any means - it has some extra height to it, last trip my total weight was 17520,
steer axle 3200
drive axle 5980
trailer axle 8340

Around town - no trailer - the truck always has about 500lbs of cargo - people - tools - equipment I do better on some of the "back" country roads I will get just over/under 16 MPG. On the local interstates where I am going 65 mph it drops to between 14.7 & 15.2

 

With frequent trailer towing of that weight I would get a diesel. The 6.2 with 4.30 gears can do it, but you will be needing to frequently rev at 4K or above to get the torque necessary in hills when towing. Your tow gas mileage will be 7 range with gas. Yes, the diesel has more maintenance needs but the increased mpg and torque is worth it for your situation.

 

Thanks for the input Guys. For various reasons I am not going to do diesel this time (may regret it) Silverbullet thanks for the invite can't make it, Rv puller and djm Exactly the info I was looking for, Big Vic truck will be used primarly as a daily driver with towing only a dozen or so times a year, I only put 4000 miles in a year on my current truck approx 2500 of those towing.
I appreciate all of the responses
Regards

 

Based on the above statement alone, I'd go with the 6.2.

It's worth going through all the videos from previous meets to see how my truck did compared to others (diesels, v10, eco-boost, etc).

 

Thanks Matt I will do that
Regards

 

Go with the 6.2 liter, but be aware that Ford has not added Direct injection to the 6.2 liter yet. When they do, expect a significant power increase. They may be waiting for the 10 speed auto transmissions to arrive before implementing it, but I'd bet the upgraded engine will arrive first.

I'd expect +30-40HP and +40-50 torque. Over the long term the 6.2 liter is supposed to replace the V10, but in its current configuration it's just not capable enough.

 

Welcome to FTE.

Uhh, huh? I understand it could/would phase out the 6.8 but I don't see where it's not capable.