I'm a little different than lovemy150's. I really like T/h mode. I hardly ever use manual mode for acceleration. If I'm in town, or pull off the interstate, I will slide it back into drive. I let the truck do its own thing. Once I get back out on the interstate and up to speed, I'll put it in manual. And if I'm in flat terrain, I'll leave it in drive. I just use manual to stay ahead of the hills. If I'm pulling the travel trailer, I'll lock out 6th. I've not pulled the skid steer on the interstate, but I think I could use 6th with it.

 

I use Tow/Haul mode, and lock out 6th gear, when hauling my camper.

In the winds of Nebraska, I locked out 5th gear too.

That way, the transmission doesn't hunt up or down much at all. Eliminating gears eliminates choices for the electronics which control it.

You can cruise in 4th gear at 75 mph at 3300 RPMs if you have 3.73 gears going up and down hills all day long. Occasionally it might drop to 3rd, but it wont "hunt up" to 6th and start dropping down again.

 

I have what is probably a silly question for y'all but when you mention you "lock out 6th" is this a capability that's available on all trim levels of 6.2 powered F250s? I'm looking at a used 2012 model tomorrow that is about as base as they come (XL model with manual locks & windows and rubber flooring) and since I'll be using the truck primarily to haul my RV I want to make sure I have all the benefits available since I would going a bit over my original price range in my search for a new tow vehicle.

 

YES, all trim levels.. only one transmission is used.

from the D mode.. press the up or down button..
from the M mode .. same
tow/haul mode same.

I also have the 2012 XL.... with power windows and door locks, rubber floor coverings..
I just did a 1,800 mile trip with my 9k trailer.
truck has 155,000 miles in it.

 

Great, thanks for the info. My trailer is 5,400 dry but my wife and I will be full timing in it so that weight will go up a good amount. Even then, this truck is likely overkill but Ecoboosts are too expensive and V10s are hard to come by around here. On that note, anything I should look out for? I've been working on cars for almost twenty years so I'm aware of all the typical stuff but is there anything special on the 6.2 (similar to how you always want to check exhaust studs on V10s)?

 

About my only advise is stay ahead of the plug change schedule. We have seen a number of catalytic converters fail, some early.

 

Good to know. Thank you!

 

remember the 6.2L has 16 spark plugs...

just keep up the normal maintenance...

 

Just got done looking at the truck. Two things I noticed:

A little bit of a fluttering/ticking noise under acceleration (sounded similar to leaf in an AC blower motor). This noise came from the firewall area in the engine bay near the footwell. It didn’t sound serious... just maybe a 6.2 thing?

The AC was ALWAYS blowing on the feet. Even when you had it strictly on upper vents it still came out of the floor vents. It didn’t blow at full speed but it was definitely noticeable. I think I read somewhere that the blend door is a problem on these? Could that be the issue here?

Thanks in advance. I’m in town eating lunch right now and hoping to hear some response on these possible problems before I make my decision.

 

I like the lockout feature for this. As I am approaching a incline I start to lockout gears. Once the truck is into the meat of the climb I unlock them all in anticipation for the descend.