I have finished my first hotrod, and have another in progress. Its a trailer queen due to the paint..

we just towed a 6500lb (actual weight) closed trailer for 3300 miles with our 08 Suburban (5.3l, 3.73 rear).
we used a load leveling hitch, and it was great for this drive.

normal mpg is 14, and with the load we got 7. the documented towing capacity is 7000lbs in our config, so we were near the limit, and it showed on the hills in Tennessee.

SO.. I'd like to move up to give me some additional capacity
1. not AT the towing limit all the time
2. ability to tow 2 vehicles on a gooseneck trailer (say 10,000 lbs)
3. still quad cab.
4. don't need 4x4, but don't see any big trucks without it.
5. don't think I need dually.

so, what should I look for? F250/350? I read about the 3 diesel engines, 7.3, 6.0 and 6.4.. seems the 6.0 has troubles..
if I look used (I don't need to drive this everyday, my 06 F150/4.6L can handle that job) what should I look for/stay away from?

what kind of towing mileage can I expect? we just sucked down $1200 in gas for this trip, even 10mpg would be a lot better. Typical tow distances will be under 500miles, with limited long distance such as this trip. (the F150 gets 16mpg tops on the highway, the suburban 14).

thanks for any guidance.

Sam

 

You should be able to find a V10 in a crew cab configuration that would suit your needs. When I bought my used '01 V10 it was still $3,000-$4,000 less then a diesel and much cheaper to maintain. You can expect around 11-14 mpg in regular driving and around 8-10mpg pulling the trailer you've described. If you are always going to pull #10,000 then I would consider the deisel.

 

I would buy a PSD as you will most likely grow in the future. There are some 6.0 that are ok. I have the 6.4 and it is great. I got it because it is quite and lots of power.

No maint issues. I can get as high as 11.5 towing 10K flat bed trailers. Just did a trip up to NH and back with the family TT and got 9.48. Total combined wt was 16K.

 

Since this will be mainly a tow vehicle, I would look for a diesel. I love my V10, it's a pulling machine, but at 10k constantly, the diesel would be a lot more comfortable and pull better fuel economy. Pulling 10k I can only manage around 8mpg and that's if I keep my foot out of it and drive sane speeds. What to get depends on your budget. If you can afford new or a year old, try to find a 6.4, the 6.0 scares the crap out of me. If you're willing to go a little older, find an 02 or 03 7.3l diesel, there are still some nice ones out there with reasonable miles that haven't been abused.

 

I agree that you'll probably want a diesel...

The new 6.4's are very quiet and pull like there's no tomorrow but don't get decent mileage as far as I'm concerned...
I have an '06 6.0 and don't have any problems with it. I tow a 7.5K enclosed trailer and get about 11 to 12 with it (15.5 MPG empty)
I think the 7.3 are getting a little long in the tooth for heavy towing...

So my vote would be to get an '06 or '07 6.0 and at that weight a dually might be better in the long run, certainly not an F-250.

 

I forgot to mention that the 7mpg was at mostly 70mph..(cept for the hills).

I put new Denman 10ply radial trailer tires on, LR-E, 80psi, and they never even got warm.

Sam

 

all I read says the 250/350 are equal in terms of towing capacity until you throw in the dually on the 350.. (see the specs section at the top of the banner).

whats a typical (for planning) pin weight on a dual car closed trailer, 3 wheel I think? (40ft?)

Sam

 

Cant answer the pin weight question because I haven't owned that particular type of trailer, but with something that big, I'd strongly consider a dually. Much more stable and less likely to have the trailer man-handle the truck. I own a single rear wheel F350, and I think that big of a trailer would really give it a workout, a dually would be a much better option IMO. Seems like everyone who tows big with a SRW always ends up switching to a dually eventually...

 

Here's some differences between the 2003 - 2007 F-250's and F-350's...

Transfer Case and 4x4
On 4x4 models there still is a choice of a BorgWarner manual gear-driven transfer case floor shifter with manual front locking hubs or Electronic-Shift-On-the-Fly (ESOF, a $185 option over the manual) dash **** with vacuum activated automatic and (in case of failure) manual override front hubs. The optional FX4 models are basically a standard 4x4 with an Off Road package that includes a few extras like upgraded heavy duty Rancho shocks, limited-slip rear differential, added skid plates for the fuel tank and transfer case, and two "FX4" decals on both back bed-sides instead of the standard "4x4". For all 4x4 models, the 2-speed transfer case 4x4-LOW range has a gear reduction of 2.72:1.

[edit] Front and Rear Suspension

The front suspension on 4x4's use a solid front (monobeam) Dana 50 and Dana 60 axles on the F-250 and F-350 pickups. A Dana 60 is used on the F-450 and F-550's until the 2005. The 2005-2007 models got a "Dana Super 60" a heavily modified Dana 60. Leaf springs eventually got switched to coils and a sway bar was added. The front suspension on 4x2 models is independent twin I-beam with coil springs on the F-250 and F-350 pickups. While a solid axle is used on F-450 and F-550 trucks.
The rear suspension on all F-250 models and some F-350 models use a 10.5-inch (270 mm) Visteon 35-spline axle with choices of conventional or limited-slip differentials in 3.73, 4.10, and 4.30:1 ratios. While the other F-350 models use a Dana 80. All models have heavy duty 3" wide leaf springs and staggered shock absorbers. A standard stabilizer bar is included on DRW (dual rear wheel) models. An optional slide-in camper certification package with heavier springs and an optional stabilizer bar package are available on SRW (single rear wheel) models. The rear suspension on F-450 trucks used Dana 80 axles while F-550 models used a Dana 135 until 2005 models. 2005-2007 models use a Dana S 110 axle.

and...

Approximate payload capacities are 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) for the F-250 Super Duty, 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) for the F-350 Super Duty with Single Rear Wheels (SRW), and 5,800 lb (2,600 kg) for the F-350 Super Duty with Dual Rear Wheels (DRW). This generation of Super Duties has exactly double the payload capacity as compared to the older traditional (non-Super Duty) F-250 and F-350 trucks. By direct American comparison to the F-250 SD the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD/GMC Sierra 2500HD is rated at 2,600 lb (1,200 kg) max and the Dodge Ram 2500 Heavy Duty is rated at only 2,100 lb (950 kg) max payload capacity.
Approximate towing capacity for the F-350 Super Duty is 19,200 lb (8,700 kg) max. By direct American comparison Dodge Ram 3500 Heavy Duty is rated at 16,400 lb (7,400 kg) max and Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra 3500HD is at 16,500 lb (7,500 kg) max.

Hope this helps.

 

Great info.. thanks..

so, never having owned a PSD before, is there anything I should be looking for, when looking used?

I've found an interested 08 f350, 6.4, DRW. king ranch. crew cab, long bed.
100k miles (2 yrs means lots of highway I would guess).. for about 30k. about 6k below KBB retail. white over gold , dealer sale.

a local dealer has a new 09, same setup, for probably 48k. (55 minus discounts), red over tan.

so is 100k miles worth 18k?

I typically drive 1k/month. + towing.

Sam

 

Wow that is alot of miles for an '08.
The important thing is that the motor is now out of warranty. How much is that worth to you versus a new truck...

 

I rounded up.. its really 98k, so still IN warranty.. and would require an extended warranty as part of the deal to keep it that way.

what other landmines should I be looking for?

Sam

 

Ok, I've gone to a local dealer who has an 06, F350, DRW, 4x2, Crew cab, lariat package, longbed. 87k miles, $21,900.. will provide the BaseCare 48k/48 month extended warranty. looked at the carfax, nothing interesting.

drives nice, peppy.. front end feels heavy tho.. takes a lot to turn it.. seems to wander on the hiway..

they let me drive an 07 F350, DRW, 4x4 right next to it, and it was MUCH nicer handling, but I don't need the 4x4, or the extra height.

the dealer said they would 'fix' the front end...

Sam

 

the fix should include a new front stabilizer, good one not a regular shock.

 

are there stabilizers on 4x2?

sam