2018 DRW 6.2 for Truck Camper
 

Good Morning FTE's,
New user from the West coast of New England. Not new to Fords – have a ’40 Deluxe Wagon and have had prior stick-shift 150’s and 250’s. But most recently switching over from a chevy. Hmmm – come to think of it, this will be my first Ford auto tranny…any good?
Just ordered a 6.2L DRW F350 Lariat 4x4 CC w/4.30 axle and have a few days to tweak the order. Truck will be used to haul a 5,000# (wet) slide in camper and tow a 5,000# boat/trailer but rarely together.
So the question keeping me up at night is can that engine hold 6th gear at 65mph through the flats and light terrain with the wind resistance of a hard side, single slide camper if I switch to a 3.73 axle? I would love to cruise at the lower RPM’s but not if the truck is shifting back and forth. It seams like my intended use is pretty light for this truck and it should be able to oblige.
Would love to get the feedback from any 6.2 DRW Truck Campers on their experience with the different axles, effect of camper wind resistance and long haul mpg.

Sounds like a great truck on order. Stick with the 4.30 gears and you will be always happy with the camper, or the boat. I highly recommend the Northern Lite campers. I own a 9-6 on my F350 SRW and love it.

6th is a very tall gear... if memory is correct 65 mph is 1,500 rpms...

stick with the 4.30 gear.. with head winds.. otherwise lots of shifting.. 6,5,4,5,6

with 5 in the bed and 5 on the hook... you will love the 4.30 gears...

the guys running 4.30 are not reporting much of a difference in gas mileage over the 3.73... running LIGHT...

No, it will not hold 6th. My 2012 won't hold 6th with a 3,000 loaded pop-up. I have 3.73s, and lock out 6th when I have the truck camper on board or am pulling our 10,000 fiver. Doesn't bother us.

Steve

I am a bit envious. Be sure to post pictures

Will do -
4.30's it is - nothing left but the waiting...

You're not getting a 10 speed ?
I have 2015 250 6.2,3.73, with a 825 Lance on full time.11.8 mpg since new.25000 miles.
Pulling a 3000 lb Lund sometimes.
We look for mountains.Seldom use the brakes descending mountains.Love the truck.

The 6R140 transmission seems to have a very good track record. The lack of problem posts here on the forum reassured me that the F-350 was the way to go.

I noticed a trend... holding 6th gear !!! WHY..

5 and 6 are overdrive.... let it shift... the 6.2L loves and needs to spin... let it.

coming down from Ohio to south Texas last month.... towing heavy and with strong head winds.... I have 3.73s... truck ran 5th gear for over 1,000 miles... my truck currently has 156,000 miles..

You have the tow option to keep the trans from shifting too much or you could go to manual and run in 5th gear. I have a Lance 855s with a 19ft8in Ranger bass boat and I just leave it in the tow/haul mode.

What kind of MPG do you get hauling a slide in camper with
a 6.2 dually?
If I could get 10 at 55 MPH I would be happy .

I'm still waiting on the truck to arrive and then it'll be a few months to complete the camper deal. Perhaps there are others in the know but I haven't seen many gas duallies out there...
I'm expecting to forfeit ~2 mpg's v. a srw truck

I've owned and towed with 2 gas DRW trucks, one was a V10 with 4.30 gears and my present 2013 DRW with 4.30 gears and the DRWs don't lose 2mpg over a SRW.

Denny

Great to hear - love the stability of the drw. Looking forward to the new blue 6.2