Community Forums

Sunny1951 · 11-10-2019, 10:09 AM

I'm sure this has been discussed before, but here goes. I just purchased a Super Duty F-250 with the 6.2 engine. I've had two diesels and I don't want anything to do with them anymore. The truck is rated to pull 12,500 lb fifth wheel but I'm trying to keep the fifth wheel weight at 10,000 to 10,500lbs. Does this sound reasonable to 6.2 owners with experience?

tuffr2 · 11-10-2019, 10:50 AM

What does the payload sticker say. Typically the 6.2 boss engine will have a few hundred pounds more payload then the diesel version. Look inside the driver side door jam.

My knee jerk answer is yes, you will be good with a 10,000lb 5th wheel.

Sunny1951 · 11-10-2019, 11:17 AM

I'll be good on payload. It's 3160lbs. My tongue weight will be under 2000lbs.

keymastr · 11-10-2019, 11:32 AM

You're good. The 6.2 is a great motor and the way the exhaust is tuned it is pretty quiet even at 5000 RPM. Like all gas motors it likes to rev when going up steep grades but on reasonably flat land you will be between 1500 to 3000. Fuel mileage will be around 8. With a headwind I have seen 5, unfortunately for me it was in California so a very expensive day.

I climb a little slower and keep the RPMs around 4200 or so. A bit quieter but still in the power band. Real steep I might up that to 4500. I try to avoid 5000.

The computer will use the transmission to help you slow down and if you have your cruise control set it will use the gears and the brakes to keep you at the set speed. Works pretty well in my experience. Uses some brake pad instead of an exhaust brake but you save a bit on maintenance cost. Cheaper oil changes and far less $$ for fuel filters, no DEF etc.

Unless you tow daily a diesel is not the best choice for most of us but they sure are great to drive.

Cumminsfan · 11-10-2019, 11:47 AM

Not a Ford but a Ram 2500 6.4. I tow 9500 lbs. I'd go 10,500 or 11,000. Payloads not the issue. It's the fact that it's a gaser and the power band is about 3500 rpms. So in order to get the power needed you need to rev the snot out of it.
If you don't travel at higher EL then all is good.
We recently went through ID, WY UT and up around 5000' and even higher you lose 3% HP per 1000' of El. Thats about 15% of you HP and TQ. You will notice it. I was at 8300' one time. Thats a 24% HP/TQ loss. I def felt that.

The upside is less invasive maintenance and less potential for $$$$ repair bills. The other upside is you can hit any fuel station and not have to look for the green handle pumps.

I did the gas then diesel and now gas thing. I sorta regret going back to gas. We did a 3200 mile trip during the above mentioned states and it got a little tiring with the Hemi.
Regardless of what road you're on a gaser always needs to downshift way way more often than a diesel. That and the fact that the mpg's are around 8-9 and the fuel tanks are only 32 or so means you're always on the edge for fuel at 1/2 tank.
If you travel the mtns a lot I'd go as light as you can handle floor plan wise.

Tuquala · 11-10-2019, 12:20 PM

Not a 6.2 owner, not yet at least!! Maybe the new gasser if I win the lottery!!

Biggest thing for gassers is the rear axle ratio and the newer trannys. A 4.10 or a 4.30 ratio is best for heavy towing. Some older 6.8 peeples with the older 4R100 trans have gone to 4.56 and even 4.88s!!! I went to 4.30s a couple of years ago, and wouldn't buy a newer truck without that ratio. I pull just over 9K, and have been able to pull anywhere out west we've been. OK, maybe a bit slow at 8500-9000 ft passes, but make them fairly well. Mileage didn't suffer a bit going from 3.73 to 4.30, truck drives and pulls so much better, don't need to push pedal harder. Only thing missing is somewhat better compression braking, it is better, but not like a diesel or one of the newer transmission and computer vehicles.

If you feel that you're 6.2 isn't doing its job with a 10K fifth, check the axle ratios and maybe consider change to higher ratio. Your trans (6 spd ??) ratios in overdrive will help with mileage and you will notice a big difference in pulling. Just my thoughts and experience.

Cumminsfan · 11-10-2019, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuquala

Not a 6.2 owner, not yet at least!! Maybe the new gasser if I win the lottery!!

Biggest thing for gassers is the rear axle ratio and the newer trannys. A 4.10 or a 4.30 ratio is best for heavy towing. Some older 6.8 peeples with the older 4R100 trans have gone to 4.56 and even 4.88s!!! I went to 4.30s a couple of years ago, and wouldn't buy a newer truck without that ratio. I pull just over 9K, and have been able to pull anywhere out west we've been. OK, maybe a bit slow at 8500-9000 ft passes, but make them fairly well. Mileage didn't suffer a bit going from 3.73 to 4.30, truck drives and pulls so much better, don't need to push pedal harder. Only thing missing is somewhat better compression braking, it is better, but not like a diesel or one of the newer transmission and computer vehicles.

If you feel that you're 6.2 isn't doing its job with a 10K fifth, check the axle ratios and maybe consider change to higher ratio. Your trans (6 spd ??) ratios in overdrive will help with mileage and you will notice a big difference in pulling. Just my thoughts and experience.

Agree with rear axle ratio. I went with the 4.10's. I would've looked hard for 4.30's if going Ford.

tuffr2 · 11-10-2019, 03:04 PM

I am a F-250 6.2 owner but have not towed with it yet...opps I have towed my Seadoo.

You can go to YouTube a watch videos of how it tows. But you do not need to because I did. You will be fine.

seaeagle2 · 11-10-2019, 06:50 PM

We tow an ORV 21RD with a 6.2 gasser, we live in Washington and pulled Stevens Pass and North Cascades. The RPMS will be up to 4500 to 5500, but redline is 6000, it takes some getting used to, but it does okay. But for a vehicle we use 5000 miles a year couldn't justify the extra 9000 even used for a diesel.

keymastr · 11-11-2019, 08:30 AM

Note that fuel mileage goes way down and RPMs go way up if you travel faster than 60 up a pass. Much more comfortable at those speeds, just takes a few minutes longer to get there.

WYO George · 11-11-2019, 08:41 AM

I just came from a 6.2 ford and it’s a great engine within it's limits. If I didn’t live at 6,000ft and do most of my camping at 9,000ft I would still have it. My 5th wheel weighs 11,000 loaded it pulled it 2,600 miles this summer, but high elevations are rough on a naturally aspirated engine so I switched to a turbo diesel.

consolenut · 11-11-2019, 09:04 AM

just need a paxton supercharger and force feed it.

NDIrish · 11-11-2019, 07:21 PM

I have a 6.2 with 4.30 gears. I'm not towing a 5th wheel but I do tow a 11,000 lb travel trailer. I think my heaviest GCWR so far has been around 21-22,000 lbs. It did great on the interstate but on the backroads with switchbacks and 7-8% grades, it had to rev high. I could always accelerate and go faster, I just didnt want to beat up the truck. I can usually keep up with my friend's diesels when we go camping, their trucks just pull easier with less effort.

A diesel will always pull better but as long as you stay within the weight ratings of the 6.2, and let the engine wind out, it will pull what you need it to.

Sunny1951 · 11-11-2019, 07:49 PM

I would have loved to have the 4.30 gears but I bought a 2019 end of the year model. Couldn't find a 4.30 anywhere. We'll see how it goes and after a year or two I'll do the gear change if need be.