I've had the truck 2 weeks, and now have just over 2,000 miles on her already (what can I say? It's fun to drive!).

First off I'll tell you guys. Thanks again for the gear recommendation!!! Got a F350 with 4.30LS, & the torqueshift 5 speed. She pulls like a horney mule! I picked up our new 29" camper that weighs in at 7,500 empty, and the truck worked GREAT!

One other recommendation I'll give to ANYONE pulling something like this is BE SURE you get the camper package!!! Naturally the day I picked up the camper the wind was blowing steady 30mph, with 60 mph gusts. The camper is 13' tall and makes a REALLY good sail when your north bound on I75 and the wind is comming from due West. A little exciteing! But, would have been MUCH worse without the sway bar on the rear of the truck. ALL of the flex and excitement was from the flex of the tire sidewalls. I've still got the stock all terrain tires (FX4), and after this tow have put bigger tires WAY on the back burner. The whole trip I was thinking what it would have been like with D instead of E rated tires, and then having even taller sidewalls... "Death trap" comes to mind!

LOTS of power though! VERY smooth pull. And without a dought, accelerates as fast, or faster than my diesel with a 3,000 pound trailer behind it!

BOY she's a thirsty girl with that trailer back there though!!! Try 4.7mpg on for size! Yes, absolutely I could have milked it for maybe 5.5 or so... But wanted to see what the big beast REALLY had under the hood. What a great growl the V10 makes when its working!!!!!!! You'll never hear that from an empty truck!

 

sounds good man. but that wind the 13 ft boy did that hurt you plus it's still a baby . please add some photos to your gallery
good luck

 

2,000 miles in 2 weeks? You are sure racking up the miles fast. I'd have to say you were really working that V-10 if you dropped below 8 mpg. I've never worked mine that hard long enough to measure the fuel mileage. At least you know that if you need the pulling grunt it's there. Is that camper you bought a 5th wheel?

Good luck! Sounds like you are breaking her in right! Keep us posted if you find any weak links. Keep that BSEG

 

Trailers loaded with all the "necesary" camping goodies now, along with two quads and a dirt bike... I'd guess I'm looking at about 10K pounds back there at least.

I've got to take it for another hour drive this coming weekend and I'll let you guys know how she does without the crazy wind. I never went over 60mph the first time, and dont plan on going much more than that at any time soon.

By the way. The owners manual is right on the money recommending you set the brake control at 6.0 for starters. I actually tried 6.5, but felt the trailer dragging the truck down a little when stopping. 6.0 is perfect.

I'll try and snap a couple pics this coming weekend.

 

Big Cheese if I can pull this with a lowly 2V your trailer with a 3V should be a walk in the park. I think that when you are out of the wind and the truck gets broke in 8 and 9 should be close to what you get. I only really check mine on a long trip so I can get a real good average with all road conditions.

 

HOOOLLLLYYY CR@^! DUDE!!! THATS one BIG rig! Looks like a lot of fun though!

I hope your right about the mileage, I'm not worried about it to much. If I really cared about it we'd take my wifes Chevy Tracker on trips and stay in cabins. The V10s all about power and fun! I'd MUCH rather spend the extra couple bucks in gas and enjoy the trip anytime!

Hope you can help me with a question though. Our camper has two deep cycle batteries, and as I understand it, as long as the truck is plugged in, the truck is charging those batteries. So if I leave the truck plugged in overnight and run the camper off the batteries... What does it do the the truck battery? Drain it first? Drain it at the same rate as the deep cycles? Or does the camper only draw power from the truck when its running?

 

You have to have the truck running to charge the battery's, be sure that the 30 amp fuse and relay is installed in the fuse box under the hood. They where in the glove box when I got my truck new. If this is your first camper you will have to learn how to make your batteries and water last. The same with the pulling mileage it takes time to learn how to get the best mileage out of your truck, every truck is a little different.

Denny

 

I have a F250 05 crew cab short bed with 4.10 pulling a 27 ft. packed in California 55 to 60 that'a the law 9mpg. In Arizona to 75 to 85 6 mpg 1500 miles of towing .The tow comand what can I say the trip is a little hilly 5500 to 6000 ft. Coming down the hills the truck held it self man what a truck.I set the brake at 6. and how can you ever thank all the Guys here GOOD LUCK Nick BSEG

 

WOW- that's a pretty low MPG figure for towing that empty trailer. I think the worst I ever got was around 7... and my RV (sold) weighed closer to 10,000 lbs.

Be careful out there. The wind not only cuts into the economy, but, as you've seen, can be quite a hazard. Happy Rv-ing!

 

I pull a 34 foot 5th wheel with my 03 2v CC (11000 lbs and get 8-9 towing in Utah & Colorado mtns) -- I think the wind was a big factor in your mileage. I once drove a 88 f250 with a 460 and a slide in camper from Montrose Colo to Salt Lake in a 50/60 mph headwind and actually snapped the front tidedowns - Couldn't maintain 60mph without drafting semis and got 4-5 mpg.

 

tow an 11000# 5ver with mine. avg somewhere around 7-8 mpg on interstate driving. V10 pulls her and more importantly stops her with no problems. would love to get to double digit mpg towing, but hey, everybody has to have a dream! haha