I'm trying to find F-350 with the 6.2 and 4.30 gears

[niknak]

Originally Posted by Tim_T

Towing fuel economy on a recent 500 mile round trip was 7.9mpg on the way there and 8.3 on the return ( top off and calculate). That was 2/3 highway and the rest on 50mph country roads. Witn the 48 gallon tank * 8 mpg, that's 384 mile range to empty.

Does the ford gas gauge register all 48g, so when it's on empty, does it take roughly 48g to fill it?

[Tim_T]

The lowest I've taken it so far was a couple of 39 gallon fills. I think those were below the 1/4 line. I really should run it down until the light comes on and see what it takes to refill. Better to find out when it doesn't matter.

I'm happy to have a theoretical range over 300 miles towing my trailer. I do need to do the experiment to find out if I actually have the usable capacity that I think I have.

[niknak]

Originally Posted by Tim_T

The lowest I've taken it so far was a couple of 39 gallon fills. I think those were below the 1/4 line. I really should run it down until the light comes on and see what it takes to refill. Better to find out when it doesn't matter.

I'm happy to have a theoretical range over 300 miles towing my trailer. I do need to do the experiment to find out if I actually have the usable capacity that I think I have.

Ya, with my Tundra having 20g of usable gas, it can get really annoying getting gas ever 200 miles or less. We drove over 900 miles one day with the rig, luckily I was averaging 10 mpg, but still, I probably got fuel every 175 miles or so.

[Jack Klompus]

Originally Posted by Tim_T

A few more comments from someone who has one...

I obsessed over the 4.3 vs 3.73 axle before I ordered my 2020 F350. 15.9k vs 20k rated towing capacity. A little gear ratio math and I figured out that the 10 speed first gear with a 3.73 is roughly equivalent to the 6 speed first gear with a 4.1 axle (which is not available, just math games). So the 10 speed does not recover all you lose by dropping to the 3.73, but it gets you 2/3 of the way.
We were planning to get a travel trailer and wanted to be over-trucked for potential upgrade. Plan changed and we bought a 5th wheel instead. I have not weighed it, but believe I am towing 11-12k (dry weight + stuff loaded). I have no complaints about performance, level or rolling hills in NW michigan. Acceleration with the trailer is good. I like the big V8 roar at 3500 rpm

Towing fuel economy on a recent 500 mile round trip was 7.9mpg on the way there and 8.3 on the return ( top off and calculate). That was 2/3 highway and the rest on 50mph country roads. Witn the 48 gallon tank * 8 mpg, that's 384 mile range to empty.

Steering - I have the optional adaptive steering. Initially I felt like I had to turn the wheel to drag steering back to center. 5000 miles on the truck and I don't notice that, although I'm not sure whether that's me getting used to it or the steering loosening up. In tow/haul with the trailer, I really like the steering. On the highway without a trailer, the steering is lighter than I would like.

I have not had the rig in mountains yet, but engine braking held speed down a short 6% grade at 50mph.

This is super helpful for those of us who have just one decision to make: 3.73 vs 4.30 with the 7.3.

So just to be clear, you DID go with the 3.73?

For my personal case, I will not tow above 12000 (5er) if that, so I don't need to bump up the numbers for the sake of numbers. And I don't really want to crush unladen interstate MPG for when I have empty trips. But I also want more "get up" IF it is warranted and makes a more pleasant towing experience.

I had been leaning 4.30.... but comments like yours (if I am interpreting them correctly) have me swinging back to 3.73

As I said before, this is not the easiest one to just find and go out and test drive on an F350....

[niknak]

Has anybody been having issue with the 7.3?

[tuffr2]

I had 4:30 gears on my 2012 F-450 6 speed. That truck did not like solo highway driving as it needed more gears. It was only happy towing.

Now you have more gears. I am thinking 4:30 gears with a 10 speed will be a much better solo highway cruiser than my 2012.

That being said, with the 10 speed transmission there is less difference now between 4:30 and 3:73 gear ratios.

That 10 speed really messes things up with trying to figure these kind of things.

[Tim_T]

Yes, I have the 3.73 locking axle.

Our plan was a tow behind under 10k give and i saw no reason to get the 4.3, and rev higher to push the tow rating from 15.9k to 20k. This was to be my daily driver, then 2020 happened and I work from home while the truck sits.

I believe all other hardware on the truck is the same, whichever axle is chosen.

After the truck was ordered and built, we ended up selecting a 16k gvw 5th wheel trailer.

By the numbers, we are right on the line.
But with an empty weight of 10k, I will never get that trailer to 16k. Maybe 13k.

Now that I have had the truck a while,
10th gear is so tall that I'm around 1500 rpm at 65mph. The 4.3 would push that up to around 1700. Would I notice the difference in fuel? Maybe it would be a little slower to downshift.

If I knew then.... with the trailer I have, I'd probably get the 4.3 just to make the numbers work. But I don't feel hampered in any way now. I push down the pedal and the truck and trailer move out very nicely. No trouble merging into the highway.

[Jack Klompus]

Thanks Tim_T.

Clear as mud (i kid, it's helpful).

I think the lesson is with a 7.3 / 10 speed either gearing is going to work very well.

I can't decide which way I want to lean at the margins: help towing 11,000 pounds up the Rockies, or help running empty at 81 MPH on the flats outside Van Horn TX.

[Go Dawgs]

Originally Posted by ttavasc

A 48g fuel tank comes on the crew cabs w/8' beds and 176" wheelbase - both gas and diesel. My SuperCab long bed has the 34g so I carry a 5g jerry can and have yet to encounter a situation where I've needed to use it except for the generator.

ttavasc,
I saw in your signature that you have a 6.2L gas F250. How does it pull your trailer ? I'm about 2K heaver than you and wondered if you like the pulling power of the 6.2 gas.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by Go Dawgs

ttavasc,
I saw in your signature that you have a 6.2L gas F250. How does it pull your trailer ? I'm about 2K heavier than you and wondered if you like the pulling power of the 6.2 gas.

I've got about 10K with this combination and I've been very happy with the 6.2L so far. Most of our trips have us heading east over Snoqualmie Pass as well as Dead Man's Pass (Cabbage Hill) in eastern Oregon. The 6.2L usually runs up the hills in the 62-65mph range and around 3800 rpm in 3rd gear. On a rare occasion where it's a particularly steep hill or I end up getting behind a slow truck it will kick down to 2nd and jump the rpms up in the low 4K range. If needed I can accelerate on those hill climbs as well though admittedly it does work the 6.2L a bit in doing so. I've found the 6.2L to be smoother and somewhat quieter than the 5.7L Hemi in the previous TV.

On the flats I usually run 62 in 6th gear around 1800 rpm. Average mpg is close to 8.5 where there is a mix of hills and flats. Last trip out though we had a tank come in about 9.6 where there were no hills. The GVWR on our 23DBS is 10K and I feel like I'd be good running up closer to that if needed.

Hopefully that's useful info.

[09 harley]

They are out there. Hard to find though. You understand gearing and that’s why you want 4:30 axles. I have what you want and I love it. Those who think an 8 or 10 speed transmission mean you don’t need or want 4:30 over 3:73 don’t really understand gear train basics. Keep looking and I hope you find one soon. 2017 F250 CCLB

[09 harley]

Originally Posted by niknak

Thank you, the larger tank size is what I'm looking for. My biggest complaint about my Tundra is the tiny 26g tank, that reads empty with 6g left in the tank.

The 48 gallon tank I have only comes on the long bed.

[505scott]

It’s little known but real. Ford will give you a sweet price break if you own just 100 shares of their stock for at least 6 months. The price break is larger than the cost of the stock! Just bring in a copy of your brokerage statement when you order.

I wouldn’t waste my time trying to find the perfect used truck. Special order exactly what you want. We’re not getting any younger.

[caryt]

Do your self a huge favor, get a 2015-2016 6.7 F250-350.
You will never regret it, gas motor...you will every time you go up a hill and fill the tank. Then when you try to sell it.