I'm planning on getting another vehicle for towing in the near future. I'm seriously considering a used Ford 4X4, 6.2 gas engine F-250 or F-350 srw. I thought about a diesel but I've pretty much decided against it because of the upkeep expense and price. Except for a trip to Alaska I don't plan on putting a lot of miles on it so mpg isn't that big of a concern. I'm planning on getting a small 5th wheel and I may on occasion pull an aluminum Bass Tracker behind the fiver for no more than 160 miles one way. I don't expect the weight of both to be much over 8,000 lbs. (probably not even that much) loaded.From what I've read the 6.2 has been a dependable engine since introduced in 2011. I can't find much info here on rv.net so I'm asking for your good and bad experiences with this engine. Has it been dependable for you? Does it pull good and with what axle ratio and how much weight do you pull? Even though mpg isn't my main concern, what is your mileage in different circumstances?Any replies will be appreciated.Thanks, Danny

Great engine. My neighbor has one to pull his camper and he loves it. I think Ford's got a real winner with the 6.2 and so far reliability has been great. Most people are recommending to get the 4.30 axle but they're hard to find and with the weights you're planning to move, the 3.73 axle may be just fine. For mileage I included a link from Fuelly.com of actual users getting well over 12 mpg's in mixed conditions:http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/f-250_super_duty?engineconfig_id=299&bodytype_id=&submodel_id=Here's another link from actual owners discussing 6.2 topics:http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f154/Finally, you can always check Ford-Trucks.com for more 6.2 talk:http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum206/Good luck and enjoy the new truck!

If you are thinking fifth wheel and new pickup, I would select the F-350 SRW over the F-250 just for the extra cargo rating. This will give you the cargo capacity to carry a generator, or anything else you might want to carry.Also fifth wheels tend to get heavier as you get closer to putting down a deposit, 'honey, this one has a electric fireplace, and larger kitchen' = that sort of thing. Of course if you already have the fifth wheel in mind, then you will know the exact weight of the trailer, and pin weight 'empty'. And you will know if it has a forward or rearward mounted fresh water tank. Normal 60 gallon tank is about 540 pounds, and that can be split equally between the trailer axle and pin, or more on the pin, or not, depending on how far forward the tank is to the hitch. Many get surprised when they buy a 2500 truck that 'can tow anything' and then find out that they meant anything under 1,500 pounds of pin weight. The F-250 has a slightly higher GVWR, and they tend to be able to carry 400 pounds more with the gas engine, due to lighter curb weight. Still a crewcab is about 400 pounds more than the regular cab, and you did not say what you are looking at.Have fun shopping!Fred.

I have a 2013 F 350 6.2 and have towed a 12,000 pound fifth wheel coast to coast and over Wolf Creek Pass. I am very happy with it and have had no issues.

Thanks for the information and thanks for the links patriotgrunt. Plenty of good reading there. From everything I've read so far I think a 6.2 would fit me well.I'm going to buy used and don't really know whether I'll buy a supercab, crewcab, F-250 or F-350. It'll probably depend on what I can get for a good price.Thanks again, Danny

Happy with mine, IF towing the 4.30 rear is the way to go, although I'm 12,000 lb with the 3.73.

Ford 6.2 Opinions | Good Sam Community

La_Gasser
Explorer
Jan 20, 2016
I agree Transamz9 - I believe Ford has finally got an awesome Diesel with the 6.7, which really is no comparison to the 6.0 or the 6.4, which both left a lot to be desired. However, for my application, I couldn't justify the approx. $9k extra cost on the 6.7 diesel - even with slightly better fuel economy which is for the most part eroded by the higher maintenance cost plus the DEF on the diesel. If I towed heavy loads on a frequent basis, I would definitely consider the 6.7. That said, I'm very happy with the 6.2 gas for now - have had the truck 3 years and only have 31k on it. Had the 6.0 for 7 years and only put 101k on it.
brholt
Explorer II
Jan 19, 2016
Not pulling a trailer but the aerodynamics of my truck camper means pushing a barn door through the air. I have a 2013 6.2 DRW CC with 4.3 rear end. I got the gas in part because I carry a 5,000lb+ truck camper and the diesel losses almost 1,000 lbs of payload capacity. (My yellow payload sticker reads 6,200+ lbs :) and I have lots of options in Lariat trim)

Truck has been up and down mountains in the west (Beartooth, Big Horns, etc) and the engine and transmission have been a great combination. Average a little under 9 mpg with the camper. Had to order though as finding gas DRW in anything other than white XL trim was impossible.
pigeons101
Explorer
Jan 19, 2016
I have a 2015 4x4 crewcab 3:73, I tow a 16 foot enclosed trailer (avg weight of 5-6k) all week I get 11 mpg. without the trailer I get avg 15 mpg. I'm looking at a few different fifthwheels from 8500-1000 pounds, reading what some of you guys said about it makes me feel good about my choice in a camper.
transamz9
Explorer
Jan 19, 2016
La Gasser wrote:
I have a 34 foot gooseneck horse trailer with living quarters that weighs approx. 14,000 lbs that I pull with a 2013 F350 Dually CC with 6.2 engine and 4.30 rear end. Truck pulls this trailer with no problems - traded a 2006 6.0PSD F250 for the 6.2 gas engine with no regrets - I pulled the above trailer with both trucks and both pulled it equally well- you just have to learn to keep the gas engine in the higher rpm ranges. I had to order my F350 DRW as I wanted a 2wd with 4.30 gears with a gas engine - odds of finding that combination on a dealer lot is slim to none. If you're not ever going to tow a heavier trailer than what you have now, the 3.73 gears will probably be fine. The 4.30 gears are awesome and only hurt the mpg about 1 mpg. I believe you will be very impressed with the 6.2 engine. Mileage towing above trailer at posted speed limits is between 8 and 9 mpg. Empty is around 14 to 15 highway at posted speed limits. Good luck

I'm not trolling or trying to start something, I just wanted to comment on your comparison so please don't take it the wrong way. Towing with the 6.0 Powerstroke is no where near the same experience as towing with any of the new diesels on the market so I hope you wasn't trying to make you findings about towing with the 6.2 compared to towing with a diesel.The new diesels are a whole different breed. ;)
danrclem
Explorer
Jan 19, 2016
Thanks for all the information. The only negatives I have found so far is that some people say the transmission shifts too much and sometimes rough but most people seemed pleased.

I think I see a 6.2 in my future. I also thought about a 6.8 V10 which also seems like it's an almost bulletproof engine but I'd rather have a little newer truck and since it's not going to be used for towing a whole lot the mpg should be better with the 6.2.

Thanks,Danny
La_Gasser
Explorer
Jan 19, 2016
I have a 34 foot gooseneck horse trailer with living quarters that weighs approx. 14,000 lbs that I pull with a 2013 F350 Dually CC with 6.2 engine and 4.30 rear end. Truck pulls this trailer with no problems - traded a 2006 6.0PSD F250 for the 6.2 gas engine with no regrets - I pulled the above trailer with both trucks and both pulled it equally well- you just have to learn to keep the gas engine in the higher rpm ranges. I had to order my F350 DRW as I wanted a 2wd with 4.30 gears with a gas engine - odds of finding that combination on a dealer lot is slim to none. If you're not ever going to tow a heavier trailer than what you have now, the 3.73 gears will probably be fine. The 4.30 gears are awesome and only hurt the mpg about 1 mpg. I believe you will be very impressed with the 6.2 engine. Mileage towing above trailer at posted speed limits is between 8 and 9 mpg. Empty is around 14 to 15 highway at posted speed limits. Good luck
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Jan 19, 2016
Everything I have read on that power plant has been positive
shepstone
Explorer
Jan 19, 2016
Its a great engine and trans . Very dependable nothing but oil changes in 65,000. We are halfway through a second round trip from Ontario Canada to British Columbia via Quartzite Arizona then returning back in couple of weeks, love the ability of manual mode for hills and mountains and to downshift for engine braking in town and downhills, I hardly have to touch the brakes comming down the mountain passes (it will do the same in tow- haul)Getting about ~4 hrs on a tank of fuel depending on terain and distance to next gas station I usually start to look for a fill up at 1/4 mark. Do carry a spare can of gas (I have 2)as a lot of stations are abandoned but still show up on gps and still have signage up.
lawnspecialties
Explorer
Jan 19, 2016
My '13 is the 6.2L with the 3.73. I use it for my landscape business so its pulling a trailer pretty much 95% of the time its on the road. Its been a fantastic engine. The whole truck has been great. I have about 53,000 miles in 2.5 years.

I had been using it to pull our Work & Play. We raced ATVs 14 times per year. The W&P is around 10,000 lbs. loaded and that started to get really old with that many trips. I felt I was working the truck to death between camping and all my business miles. The truck does pretty well but if you've had a diesel, its two totally different worlds.

MPG was around 7.5-8.0 if I kept it under 65. Close to 70mph and it drops like a rock.

Around town and as a daily driver, I much prefer the 6.2. Hitting the interstates and longer trips, I pull out the diesel.
Jack_Diane_Free
Explorer
Jan 19, 2016
I had a 2011 F250 with the 6.2 and now a 2014 with the 6.2 both will 3:73 rear end towing a 8000lb TT unloaded. Probably loaded closer to 10klb. Awesome set up and I have no complaints at all. As far as gas mileage goes, you get what you get.