Thanks for all the help, now the hard question?
Which to buy?
I will tow only 7-10 weekends of the year, about 8000lbs max. This will be a daily driver.
I want to get a super cab F250 2wd or F350 2wd, I'm sure with the diesel, towing will not be an issue, what about ride quality everyday, which one?
Which rear end ratio?
Do I need "Power Take Off"?
What is power take off?
Heavy-Service suspension package?
Thank You, in advance, for your help.

PS: Have you heard GM will introduce in 2001 an izuzu diesel engine in 2500 and 3500 trucks producing 300 hp and 520lbs torque, sounds like a nice motor, although I do prefer the Ford Super Duty looks.

 

F250 4x2 will handle 8000 lbs easily.

The diesel will easily handle this load.. For that matter, the V10 would also handle this just as easily. The 5.4L could even handle the 8000 load but would work a little harder.. (the 5.4L package with the 4.10 is rated at 8800 gvwr).

Ratios to get:
7.3 PSD, go with the 3.73
V10, again the 3.73 would work fine
5.4L, go with the 4.10..

PTO= power take off, used for aftermarket folks to power pumps, dumps or other equipment.. Not really needed if you have a pickup truck.

The heavy duty suspension gives additional front stablizers etc, which can be handy when hauling heavy loads.. I think with the diesel engine, you automatically get this, but I might be wrong.. (cause the diesel weighs more).

 

Sounds like the original posters towing usage is about the same as mine. IMO I would not consider the SD equiped with the std 5.4L however. It is not enough power if you plan on driving in mild mountainous terrain 'with' your trailer. Presently I am aware that 3.73's are not available with the 5.4L so unless Ford has changed that it is not an option. Also all F-250 SD's are rated at 8800 lbs GVWR no matter which engine is optioned just as all F-350 SD's are rated at 9900lbs. I have a F-250 V10 with a "tow" rating of 11300 for a 5th wheel and 10000 lbs for a travel trailer (TT). The reduced tow rating for the TT is due to the available hitch set ups of class IV. CGWR is total weight of truck total weight of trailer and for the V10 with 3.73's is ~17000 lbs. My advice is to derate the truck tow rating to 75%. That is with an 11300lb tow rating a trailer weighing 8475 would be pretty much the max. Your trip will be much more enjoyable and safer!! In addition make sure that the "heavy duty service package that the previous poster talked about includes the option for the "camper package" and "towing package" order separate if they are not included - you'll be glad you did. If you get a short box still get the camper package because of the forces exerted on the rear springs. Even with a 6000 lb TT and equilization bars, the overloads will come into play when you are loaded and ready to go.

If you get the diesel, get the F-350. Like the previous poster says those diesels weigh more....alot more and will eat in to the GVWR/payload of an F-250. My V-10 4X2 SC 142" WB weighs 6340lbs (certified scale) plum empty with only a few gallons of gas. The PSD will weigh 3 or 400 lbs more than that. Put a couple of guys in that truck and your over 7000 lbs.

I've heard that the Izuzu diesel they have contracted to build for Chev will have plenty of aluminum. Not documented but I'm also told that this will facilitate the soft channel iron resulting from the hydroforming process used to produce the multipiece frames as reference from one of the structures guys here at work.

>F250 4x2 will handle 8000 lbs easily.
>
>The diesel will easily handle this load..
>For that matter, the V10 would
>also handle this just as easily.
>The 5.4L could even handle the
>8000 load but would work a
>little harder.. (the 5.4L package with
>the 4.10 is rated at 8800
>gvwr).
>Ratios to get: 7.3 PSD, go with
>the 3.73 V10, again the 3.73
>would work fine 5.4L, go with
>the 4.10..
>PTO= power take off, used for
>aftermarket folks to power pumps, dumps
>or other equipment.. Not really needed
>if you have a pickup truck.
>
>The heavy duty suspension gives additional front
>stablizers etc, which can be handy
>when hauling heavy loads.. I think
>with the diesel engine, you automatically
>get this, but I might be
>wrong.. (cause the diesel weighs more).
>

 

Check out the April 1999 issue of "Trailer Life" magazine in which they comapare a 99 F-250SD 4x4 SC Lariat V-10 Auto to a 99 F-250sd 4X4 Lariat PSD Auto for towing idenical 6800 pound trailers. The trucks are optioned out to keep curb weights the same, and the rear end ratios are different to keep the tow ratings the same.(3.73 for the PSD, 4.30LS for the V-10). The well written article (almost scientific) looks at performance, both flat land and on a 6% grade, fuel and maintainance costs, and the costs of the options to begin with.
I personally tow 7000 lbs. with a 99 F-250SD 4x4 SC XLT V-10 Auto 3.73LS (Auburn) with P305/70R16 tires. This combo grosses at 14,000 lbs. (truck trailer cargo) and will tow at 75 mph all day getting 12 miles per gallon. I hope this can be of some help. (Especially the article in "Trailer Life.)