Looking for new Tow Vehicle

[Brewer & Nancy]

New Excel Limited 35TKE has max CVWR of 17,500 and hitch weight of (w/o water) 2650. Have looked at the F450 super duty 6.4L V8 turbo diesel 4.88 axel ratio. The 350 did not seem to have the reserve power to pull the Excel. Comments on Cheverolet and Dodge comparable as a TV. Currently have the Silverado 2500HD DA diesel. Love that piece of equipment but it is not capable of doing the job with the Excel.
Thanks in advance for your comments.

[motojavaphil]

Good Morning,
We had a 35 MKO with a 17500 GVWR. We also had a Dodge 3500 4X4, a vehicle I really liked and had gotten at a good price. The 16000 GVWR rating of the Dodge made me nervous. I purchased the F450 King Ranch to tow the MKO as it was rated at 20,000lbs (+) GVWR. Eventually sold the whole mess and bought a motorhome.
What I found was the Ford did do the job and felt more substantial in stopping and ride with the rig attached. I felt it was adequate to the task. The alternatives to match the GVWR legally were MDT's and HDT's. MDT's were just too expensive compared to the Ford, which technically is an MDT. Price differences between the F450 and MDT were around $40K-50K which for a retiring educator is important. The HDT is just more truck than we wanted but could be obtained at a more reasonable price. I sold the Ford when we went to the MH to a guy who was purchasing a Wild Cargo and needed the GVWR room to tow it. He has no complaints in the power department. We liked the pick up configuration as it was more user friendly since we needed a larger truck. Ford made the motor more complex than my Dodge, 07 vs 08. The Ford also drank fuel like a drunken sailor. 6-7 mpg towing and 10-12 mpg unhooked. As a comparison, our MH has a CAT 330 and pushes more weight getting 8-10 mpg. We had an early 08 so Ford may have made some changes. I must say if I were to go back to Excel, which I really liked, I would not hesitate to get another F450.
Hope this helps,
Phil

[LindaH]

If we were looking for a larger truck, we'd look at the Chevy/GMC or Dodge 4500/5500 rather than the Ford. We're not PowerStroke engine fans, partially because of what Phil said...that engine isn't as fuel efficient as either the Cummins in the Dodge or the Duramax in the Chevy/GMC. The Cummins gives the best fuel mileage with the Duramax second (at least in our experience...we've had trucks with both engines).

[motojavaphil]

Ford had the largest GVWR towing capacity when I was hunting. GM had the Kodiak and Dodge was working on it. GM's Kodiak was a 4500 limited 16000 GVWR. The 5500 had a CAT Engine, was more expensive and could pull more. Ford did a good job even though mpg are terrible. I do not know how GM or Dodge engines are doing with mpg nowadays and the Federal Rules imposed on them.
Phil

[Still Working "NOT"]

Brewer,

Phil has stated what I found out when I went looking for a bigger tow vehicle. I went the HDT route because of the safety factor. I will never wear out the HDT. I set much higher for a better sight on what going on around me. MDT was going to be my choice until I found out about HDT's.

If traveling over the mountains out west, nothing will beat an HDT. Here is a link on more info on HDT's. We are having a rally in Oct. 2009 if your interested in it. Anyone can attend.

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index...211dd9e&showforum=32

[Johnny]

I'd go for a used International 4300 with the venerable DT466 engine and a Fuller 6-speed manual...avoid the newer trucks with the DPF (it has what looks like a beer keg in the exhaust pipe) for better fuel mileage. That is a million-mile drivetrain hauling something as light as a 17,000lb 5er.

Plan B might be a used Ford F-550.

[Bruce and Jenna]

Good for you that you're paying attention to the combined weight rating. Too many don't, confusing (or ignoring) towing power with stopping power.

In my experience with my new F350, the mpg changes based on the engine hours. My mpg bumped up 1 mpg, at 300 hours and again at 600 hours, as I recall. A full 1 at the first fill up after each engine hours level on the digital display. And stayed there.

That can't be a coincidence. Likely Ford programs the computer for a breakin period.

(Unlike the salesman, when I asked him about driving to break it it. "Naaah. Drive it like you stole it.")

So don't take the early mileage literally. It does get better, IMHO.

[Roam America]

I had an `02 GMC 3500 with the Duramax/Allison combo. I thought it was a great truck until I got my new (current) trailer. The truck was straining going up hills. In `02 GM only put 3:73 gears in the 3500 (in `02 all 3500' were dually's). Since then I have read that they now offer a 4:10 in the 3500; don't know if `08 offers a lower gear than 4:10. IMOHO 4:10 is still not enough. That is why i went back to Ford. Not that I wanted 4:88's but I feel the 4:30 provide plenty of pulling power and my rig is right around 16,500#. I had an `06 F-350 with the Tow Boss pkg that did a great job but I was close to (not over yet) the max weights. If we ever get another 5er the one we like weighs in at 20K #. The F-450 with the tow boss will easily handle that trailer weight with quite a bit to spare.

My MPG is getting better. I think you will find that most `08's get poor MPG's due in part to the DPF filter that the EPA now mandates.

[LindaH]

Originally posted by motojavaphil:
Ford had the largest GVWR towing capacity when I was hunting.

You're right, it does (or did back in 2006 when we got our 2007 Dodge).

My ideal pickup would be one with the tow ratings of the Ford, the Cummins diesel engine, and the Allison transmission! Maybe the Big 3 should get together an design one, whadda ya think?

[M&S Norrell]

Brewer & Nancy - We have the 2008 F450 w/ just over 12000 miles. We are now getting 9-11mph pulling our 35MKE and 12-13 empty.

[Shaun and Amy]

We have a MDT truck. A Sportchassis by Freightliner. I know it may be more then what you really want to spend, but it's a huge difference over a pickup truck. Both pulling and stopping. It's very comfortable to drive. It's as easy as driving around your car. Of course the HDT would be great too!

Good luck in search.

[MakinSmoke]

Towing my L36CLO loaded at 55mph I'm getting 10.3 mpg. When we are "bobtailing" at 55mph we get 14.6mpg. If you will PM me, I'll tell you what I paid for it. You will not believe it.

[Boogeyman]

Just to add my two cents. I have the 2008 F-450, and am pulling a Wild Cargo with it. We have just pulled from Edmonton, Alberta to Phoenix, and are starting on our trek home tomorrow. Having travelled nothing but the mountains and encountered snow, and slippery highways, we have had no problems what so ever. The truck handles the trailer with ease. An HDT would definitely do a better job, but then you have an HDT to drive around when you get to where you are going. This truck is my wife's daily driver, when we are not camping. Can't pick up the kids from school in an HDT. Now if I were retired, and we were full timers, then the HDT probably would have been the route I would have taken. So your own individual situation and needs will dictate best which truck you get. I also looked at the Dodge 4500 and 5500, but they did not measure up with the GCWR, and fifth wheel towing capacity. Also the 2009 F-450 with 4:30 gears is rated to tow about 24,400 lbs, up from the 20,000 lbs on the 2008 models. Also, with regards to fuel economy, one needs to separate the pre 2008 models from the 2008 on. Starting in 2008, all manufacturers, have had to change the emissions systems on their trucks. This includes DPF's in the exhaust system, etc. What this means is when you do fuel economy comparisons, you have to compare 2008 model years on together, and pre 2008 models together. I have talked to owners with Dodges, and GMC model year 2008, and they are all reporting the same terrible mileage as the Fords. Keep this in mind whenever someone with a cummins says they are getting 20 mpg. They probably have the pre 2008 model. Hope this helps.

[Shaun and Amy]

Keep this in mind whenever someone with a cummins says they are getting 20 mpg. They probably have the pre 2008 model.

Keep in mind that if someone tells you they are getting 20 mpg they are probably going downhill, without a trailer, with their wife pushing behind in the car.