I have a 5500-6000 lb boat that I would like to tow. Do I really need to put 1000 miles on it before towing. (F-250 platinum 6.7)

 

To me if the manual says so then you should. What would happen if your truck broke down and they looked at your history? It would be a gamble I couldn't afford.

 

The break in is for the gearset, not the motor. That said, tons of businesses and municipalities buy these trucks and put them to work on day one. Issues and warranty complications don't seem to be an issue. If it were me, I'd tow your boat without concern.

 

Thanks for the input. Still torn, anyone else have a viewpoint?

 

Yep, you won't hurt it. Tens of thousands of these trucks are purchased every year and put straight to work with nary a break-in period. From everything I've read over the last few years, the break-in period exists more for proper wear-in of the gears than anything else, but even then I've never heard of issues from towing too soon.

If you have issues because you pulled 5,000 lbs before the end of the break-in period, you would be the first I've ever heard. My dad's '10 F150 was hooked to 12,000 lbs with about 500 miles on the odometer, and he's never had any issues with the truck whatsoever.

 

I put my dually to work towing a similar load within a few days of buying it. No issues whatsoever, very close to 8k on it now.

 

As previously stated, the concern is the gears in the rear end which should never be an issue with only 5,000 lbs. As far as the Powerstroke engine goes, pulling would actually be good for it as it helps "set" the rings in the cylinders before they have a chance to turn as possibly cause a loss of compression.
I don't know if Ford could or would actually deny a warranty claim if something happened before 1000 miles. That would be very hurtful news for a truck that is advertised as "Ford Tough".
Have fun with the boat.

 

When I ordered my truck I had snoozed a bit and wasn't suppose to get it until the week before we leave to go camping. My dealer warned me about towing my trailer that if something happens throughout the trucks life while under warranty to the transmission that there was a good chance Ford my not cover it as it is specified in the manual to break it in. They also know when the trailer is connected to the truck so it can't be hidden

 

Over the years I've heard of incorrect information being handed out by dealers hundreds of times. It's extremely common, and an unfortunate consequence of thousands of independent businesses selling products under a franchise license.

Hundreds of examples of bad info given by dealers, and not a single time can I recall hearing of a warranty denial because of towing before break-in. I think this is a myth.

 

This is the same dealer who told you your new 6.7 Super Duty would weigh 7200#. Take what they say with a grain of salt...

 

Regardless, I am taking it turkey hunting and will be putting on close to 1000km before I hook up to my trailer. I rather be safe then sorry after spending so much money plus the extended warranty; my luck is that good to be "the one" you will have now heard about

 

They actually have no idea if you towed a trailer or not...only that the connector was "connected" to something.

Somebody plugged a stupid horn into my 7-pin connector as a joke...every time you hit the brake pedal, the horn would honk. Every time you activated a turn signal, the horn would honk in sequence with the blinks.

So if this was true, I could have voided my warranty without actually towing anything.

Not to mention, people sometimes hook brake lights into their receiver hitch. Again, not towing.

 

I was thinking the same Tyler but as usual, was too lazy to type it all out...

 

Somebody plugged a horn into your connector too? Dam, what're the odds?

 

No, but they could have... LOL... Imagine, someone could go around voiding everyone's warranties this way. Better keep it garaged...