Slow in the 6.2 forum, so I will offer up some reading

I am trying to decide what truck is next. I seriously hope it is the last truck I ever buy...I doubt it, but that is at least the mindset for now

I recently sold our 2016 F150 Screw 4x4 with a 2.7EB.


Loved that truck even more than our 2014 with the 3.5EB and the 2012 with the 5.0. The 2.7EB truck was so comfortable and fun the drive. Immediate pedal response. I love that. But with only 1500 payload and a family of 4, we would have to travel superlight to pull a 26' TT in the Arizona mountains...safely. Thus she's gone and we are searching for new truck.

First thought - 6.7. The power is very appealing, especially coming out of Ecoboosts. I guess I can afford it but I don't like the idea of wasting money. I certainly don't like dealing with chasing truck problems, taking to the dealer for repairs all the time, etc. If I knew the 6.7 was dependable, it would probably be a done deal...but then I came to this 6.2 forum

This new truck is going to be a daily driver, but really I drive infrequently. Some days not at all, a few days a week 5-10 mile trips to the store, maybe 5 or so unloaded 600 mile trips a year for getaways, and then 4-5 trips a year from 500 to 1500 miles each with the TT over western US. Doesn't sound like I need a diesel, but I like the idea of power and immediate pedal response.

Practical side of me keeps leaning 6.2 with the 4.30 gears. The TT is only 7200 loaded but I don't want to rule out that we may upgrade to a larger trailer in the future. That sends my mind back to thinking of diesel and round and round we go

As most know there are not a lot of 6.2s with 4.30 gears in stock. I could order but then current 3k in rebates is at risk and it would be inconvenient to be truckless for 8 weeks (guess I should have thought about that before I sold my F150). I did find some but most are East coast and shipping costs or my time/opportunity cost is going to be about $1400 to be back to AZ. I think I've seen over 200 online window stickers the last few weeks.

I have driven the 6.2 3.73 on test drives. Felt fine I guess. It is no Ecoboost off the line, but yeah I get that...sort of.

There are several with 3.73 locally that meet my needs in color and options. I called a very reputable gear shop here in AZ and they said they could change gears to 4.30 for $1600.

So options are:
1. Go 6.7, power a plenty, risks of maintenance, reliability/hassle, costs
2. Order a 6.2 4.30, be truckless for 6-8 weeks, bear rebate risk (won't be 3k I am sure)
3. Buy a East cost 6.2 4.30 and have it shipped to AZ for $1600, nice to have complete drive train dealer warrantied
4. Buy local 6.2 3.73s, drive for a while and see if I really need new gears, then go 4.30 or even greater for $1600 or dealer for $2200. (think as current rebates "covers" the gear upgrade cost in my mind
5. Get a F150 Heavy Duty Payload package. Could meet current needs right on the number, much better daily drive so to speak, but rules out upgrading to larger trailer. Also would need to be truckless for 6-8 weeks.

Food for thought, that's where I am at.....today.....at this moment

Ideas and opinions welcome.

 

This topic has been covered a lot on here and I will tell you that I am extremely happy with my 6.2 and 3.73's. I had a 2016 F250 that I special ordered with the 6.2 and 4.30's and really liked it as well. I ordered it in that configuration based on the research I did on this site.
I needed a lot more payload for my slide in truck camper so I made the decision to get an F350. I did that but the one I found which met my needs from a payload perspective had 3.73's. I took it and have been very happy with it after 6000 miles. The majority of my driving, 60+%, is empty so while there is a difference between the two gear sets, for me if was not that drastic of a difference to say I wish I would have stayed with 4.30's in my new truck.
Everyone's needs are different and you will have to determine what the best configuration is for you and what you are using the truck to do.
One thing I do know, you will never got wrong with the 6.2!
Good luck in your search and decision.

 

If you spend a lot of time in thin air and in hills and grades I would get the lower gears... especially if you will be getting bigger tires.

 

Given some short trips are in the mix, and the potential for a heavier trailer comes into play, I think the F350 w/6.2 is the best fit.

As for the gear set, it is a toss up. If you can roll the dice and wait, order the 4.30. You will get some 'snap' off the line with those gears and will be happy with the towing performance for sure.

I have no direct experience with the 4.30 though. I have 3.73 gears in my 250.

 

Like you I had an F150 3.5L EB (loved it) but when I upgraded my trailer it put me 500 lbs over the rear axle weight rating even when the TT was lightly loaded (the TT is tongue heavy).

I struggled whether to go diesel or gas but with a fully loaded trailer of weight of only 9500 I felt that a diesel wasn't justified. I also had towed this new trailer with my F150 enough to know that the power it provided would certainly get the job done so the 6.2L would work almost as well but with a narrower power band than the EB.

Research on this and other forums convinced me that the 6.2L was much more "risk free" than the 6.7 PSD as well as the lower initial cost so I traded my 2012 F150 for a 2012 F250 6.2L. Although I would have preferred the 4.30 gears, the 3.73 certainly gets the job done. I have now towed with it over most of the mountain passes in WA, ID and MT and never had an issue. High RPMs are needed but only on the steepest sections which were such a small fraction of the total trip miles it simply isn't worth worrying about.

I would certainly attest to the fact that the 6.2 will tow your 7200 lb TT well even in the high mountains with the 3.73 gears. It is frustrating that 4.30 gears are so hard to find (a F150 with the heavy duty payload package is even rarer).

If I were you I would go with option 4 - buy a 6.2/3.73 local, drive it and then decide on paying the premium to swap out for the 4.30. My guess is that you will be just fine with the 3.73.

 

My opinion is based on what trim level you get. My truck came stock with 3.73's and 31.5" tires. I have no complaint about how it towed my travel trailer set up that was slightly heavier than yours. But 4.30's would have made running 6th gear very easy. I kept 6th locked out, which isn't a big deal, since 5th is still an OD gear.

If you plan on getting a higher trim level with 20" wheels and the 34.1" tires, there's no way I would settle for 3.73's. IMO, these trim levels should have 4.30's standard.

Although the lower gearing makes a difference when towing, I enjoy the feeling of deeper gears when leisurely driving around town. It just makes the truck feel lighter. My 4.88's and 37's are very close to a 4.30 with factory 245/75r17's(31.5").

 

For reference my F250 6.2L/3.73 is the Lariat trim level and the tires are LT275/70R18E. 18 inch rims but not sure what the actual tire diameter is.

 

20's are an option on the lariats. I should re phrase that 20's should come standard with 4.30's.

 

275/70 are 33" doing the math. I have the 275/65r18 with 3.73 gears and I have no problems with anything I've towed thusfar. Like Ron mentioned I lock out 6th gear in the hills and it's been great. I wish I had the 4.30 so I could run one size bigger tires when the time comes.

The real test will be when I hook up to 10-12k load, probably wish I had those deep gears then.

 

Truthfully I think you will be surprised by the 3.73, I have not had a problem hauling Firewood with a 9500-10000 pound trailer behind my F150 with 3.55 and 305/50 20 (32") tires. I brought my Buddies 10000# TT over Jellico Mountain here in East Tennessee at 50-55 MPH without a problem and it is about 5 miles of 4%. Now I am not going up I 17 into Flagstaff or through Jerome cutting across from Prescott to Cottonwood or even Oak Creek Canyon but we do have a hill or 2 here.

 

I always go in like you saying this should be my last truck or at least one I can keep awhile. It just never seems to happen because every year Ford is improving things.
Anyways your list, IMO comes down to #2 and #5. I have actually recently weighed these 2 options only because how much I find myself driving lately. I'm over 20k miles a year and every once in awhile I venture down the MPG road thinking more would be good. So for me the choice is how much unloaded time are you willing to give up close to 5 mpgs? I can live within the 10k lbs towing world so either truck would do the job. For now I will stick with the F250 because I just never know if/when I will have to rent or hook up to a larger excavator. I'm pretty darn satisfied with the 4.30 6.2

 

Circling back on this one to post update, a decision was made

I bought an east coast 4.30 truck configured with exact set of options and color that I would have ordered. Sure, there is a bit of an upcharge to ship to AZ but the rebates now vs ordering new cover the cost, and I just didn't have the 8 weeks+ to wait. It will take about a week to get here and will be sure to post pics. I even pondered buying local 3.73 and having Ford dealer upgrade gears, but found out that it would not be covered under Ford drive train warranty

In any case, excited about the new truck. Thanks All on this thread and the 6.2 forum in general.

 

Awesome congrats, can’t wait to see it. Be sure to post pictures when you get it!

 

Here she sits...so far away