Your right 1 MPG difference between towing and not towing is probably unrealistic. That's why I qualified the statement I didn't travel very far when I went camping. I suspect the towing MPG is much less.

However, I LOVE THIS TRUCK!

 

Yes 6 MPG towing the WW. It's not a mistake I am sure if I go a longer distance on flatter roads I will see better MPG. I was supposed to be at Glamis last weekend Jan 17th for the clean up but I could not make it. I want to see what the average is on a longer run like Glamis. The 6 MPG I experienced was going North and South on the 14 FWY to Dove Springs (Mohave) from the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles) and back about 300 miles round trip.

 

My Montana 3400 is 39 feet 6 inches long and weighs 0ver 13K .Truck and camper total over 22K. Pulling down here to Florida from Ohio we got better than 10 MPG with a DEFECTIVE DPF.(since replaced) at 6MPG there is something seriously wrong with the engine.With 6K miles plus on the motor we are now doing 12 to 15 local driving and 16-18 interstate. By the way twinturbo FX4 your 05 Montana is pretty well overloaded at around 15K unless you put 7K axles under it???

 

don vito,

We just got back from Glamis. New F350 DRW,CC,4WD pulling 2009 SLC 3705 about 1400 miles round trip at 65 to 75 mph. Average with the Lie-O-Meter 7.2 MPG, pen and Paper 7.6 MPG. Not bad for traveling in the lap of luxury. I love this new truck.

 

I know this ant a 6.4 but I have a FSW 3200 Weekend Warrior loaded and I want to show mine off to 13,000 lb loaded

 

Below is from a post last summer. Towed over 2,000 miles total and can not wait to tow over 3,000 this summer. This truck impressed me. Just came back from 1665 miles of towing from Massachusetts, through Pa to stay off of 95 to Virginia and back. It was amazing pulling the hills through the Pocono mountains in Pa. I was surprised when I weighed in at a Cat scale in Maybrook NY. Dry weight of my truck is 8,700# total Gross was 25,350# making my tow weight 16650#. No wonder my 99 V10 use to strain. Going up hills I was able to keep the speed limit with no problem. Going up the hills in cruse control it would drop from 65 to 62 then accelerate to 67, you could really feel the torque pulling up the hills. On the way to VA I used cruise control. I liked it on flat or rolling hills, but on steeper hills it would come up to the top a little too fast sometimes, normally where bridges are or curves. On a section of alternate 17 in Va. trailer trucks are not allowed, it is curvy, up and down, a little scary in cruise. On the way back I left it out of cruise control and felt more control and could keep my speed at where every I wanted. At the bottom of a hill I would bring the speed up a couple of mph over the limit and let it drop a little at the top, you could really feel the transmission well if you did not want it to down shift. Got fuel on the way back in Port Jervis, NY $2.69. Coming out of there it is about a 2,000’ climb in 2 miles. This is the first time a floored it to get up to speed from the entrance ramp, Wow did it pulls strong. The first time going through the hills in the Poconos heard this winding sound near the top of the hill. It was the extra cooling fan kicking in to keep it cool during 90* heat. Never during the trip did I ever feel it go into Regen, so I do not know if it did. Empty in the past I have felt it, but not towing. Very impressed how quiet it was normal driving, just a little noisy when it down shifted on the hills. Very pleased with the 4.30 gears, always felt very strong at any point, just a little lugging at 50mph in overdrive hitting a bit of a hill. It really felt strong at 60 to 65 mph. Had to be careful out of cruise it would creep up to 70 mph if I weren’t paying attention. The tow mode is fantastic, really helps slow on big down hills. Even at 65mph tap the brakes it will downshift to help slow you down and very nice control on exit ramps slowing down. Once on a long steep down hill a car spun out and had to slow down in a hurry, Amazing between the brake controller and tow mode could not believe how well it controlled the stop. Used tow mode 99% of the time, except sometimes near the bottom on the hill I would want to pick up speed for the next hill and I would kick it out to up shift sooner to get up to speed faster. Air conditioning in my 99 f350 was not up to par, but on the new truck; the only problem I had was after 3 hours in the seat my foot would get a little cold in 95* heat. Tow mirrors extend out far enough that I could see the sides of our 102” fiver. Seating support is perfect, never a tired back. The climate control was very comfortable. Now the big question everyone might have? Fuel mileage: 190.83 gallons for 1665 miles all towing, the computer showed 9.1 and hand calculated 8.73. Usually drove up to 5 mph over the speed limit under 60 and tried not to exceed much over 65, except in W. VA where it was 70 mph and kept it lower than the speed limit on some really rough roads and bridges. It also surprised me coming off traffic lights in heavy traffic, ¾ throttle had to look behind me to be sure the camper was still there (well almost) it really pulled strong and had no problem staying with traffic between lights. If you want fuel mileage go with a 250 standard cab with 3.73’s, If you are going to tow heavy go with either the 350 4.10s, 4.30s if heavy or a 450. From what I have experienced the 4.30’s will have no problem even over 20,000# towing. I wouldn’t think you would need 4.88’s unless you are towing 22,000# plus. A little tough finding ultra low sulfer fuel sometimes. Went on map quest to find diesel stations and called 1’st. BP and Amaco pretty much always have it. Over all I would not be happier with the job Ford did on the F450. Now after towing with it I am very pleased with the 6.4 too. Ford built the real deal with the F450 when it comes to towing.

 

just an update, I have over 2,000 miles on the truck thus far and I still LOVE this truck. I will be taking it out over the Presidents Day weekend and I will get to test it fully loaded up a 6% grade. I will report back and let you know how this truck tows 15k lbs up Cajon Pass tomorrow.....

 

I have a F250 pulling a 13k 34ft fifth wheel. Use to pull a tow behind 36ft 8500lb travel trailer. NO COMPARISON. I don't even know the fifth wheel is there. One thing if you are going to be using a short bed, make sure you get a sliding fifth wheel hitch. I love mine. I have made 90 degree back ups with no problem of the trailer hitting the cab.

 

I'll second that. But the danged semis make me mad. Never used to have to worry about them before, but they go sailing down the hills faster than I wanta go grossing 20K and then hog both lanes going up at 50 MPH while I'm still going the same speed I was going downhill and wanta blow their freaking doors off!!!

 

What year f-250 are you pulling 13k with??? Gas or deisel???


My 99 f-250(5.4, 4x4 ,x-cab, 4.10 rear 8ft. box) struggled with my 10k 5er in hills & mtns., flat land ok.

 

It is the 6.4 diesel. it gets about 9 mpg when pulling the fifth wheel. 13 mpg around town. I pulled it up some small mountains (Hills) in AK, 2700 ft. elevation. No Problem.

 

Well I made it back from my trip. It was aprox 175 miles round trip from my house to El Mirage Dry Lake. I had 150 gallons of water, 40 gallons of gas (generator) two quads and a Polaris Ranger with plenty of wood. I guesstimate my LE3105 had to been close to 16k loaded. I made it up the first part of cajon pass at 60 MPH pretty easy. The second half of the grade I was at 55 mph and I put the pedal to the floor. I think I could have made it up with less than full throttle and maintained the 55 mph. ...Overall the truck and trailer (5th wheel) was rock steady in the side winds and was very smooth and quiet. I enjoyed the horsepower. My old V-10 F-350 would have died pulling this weight. I consumed 25 gallons of diesel fuel in this trip which gave me 7 mpg. Considering most of my drive was mostly grade, I feel pretty good about the mileage. I think if I am on less grade or mostly flat, it doesn't take much to go 60 mph and the fuel milegage should go way up....

I LOVE THIS TRUCK!

 

Just got back form a 1350 mile round trip to Lake Havasu AZ. Set the MPG when I left and it read 11.7 after the trip. We are restricted to 55MPH in Kalifornia but you will get run over doing that, so 62 MPH, up to 70 with a long clear view to the rear. Ran 63 over Tehachapi running between 20 to 35 PSI boost, in 4<SUP>th</SUP> gear, manual trans, 3:73 in the rear. Pulling an Eagle Lite 28.5 RLS. One thing for sure the diesel is the only way to go. Any time you need to pass, all the power and torque you need is there . Will be leaving for a trip this weekend about a 480 mile round trip with about 25 mile of 5 to 6% grades.

 

I just got home from a trip from Salem Va to Agusta Ga. This is a trip I make each winter, pulling the same Montana 2955 5er. My old truck was a 2004 Lariet 6l psd my new truck is a 250 6.4 KR. The new truck used 2 gallons more fuel gowing down there. For the full trip it averaged 9 mph. Comming home we ran at times, when we could, 75 to 80 mph, yes I know the tires are only rated for 65 mph, thanks Richfaa. Keep in mind my 08 KR only had 1000 miles on it. MY milage will get better.
MLH