Towing with my new 2017 F250 CC gasser

[TexBohunk]

Had my first trip pulling with my new F250 STX CC 6.2L 2wd gasser last week. Replaced my 2010 F250 XLT CC 5.4L 2wd. in Feb, the new truck is a pleasure to tow with. Pulled my 2015 KZ Sportsman 314BH TT, empty weight about 6500 and grosses at 8000. Pulled a split of flat land and gently rolling hills. Averaged about 8.2 mpg towing. Truck seemed happiest at 62 mph on the cruise control in tow/haul. On the flats trans would shift into OD and on the steeper hills would drop down to 3rd. The more HP,TQ, payload, and tow rating make towing a more enjoyable experience. Old truck was rated for 9700 towing, new is rated 12900. Had to shop around a bit to find a 2wd gasser that wasn't white. Mine is Shadow Black. So if anyone likes gassers like I do, the new Ford is great truck.

[marobrown]

TexBohunk wrote:

colliehauler wrote:
How do you like the new transmission Torqshift G?

Shifts smoother than the 5spd Torqshift in the 2010 I had. I like the added feature of being able to "lockout" gears. Instrument cluster also indicates what gear your in. Has a manual shift control, but I don't think I will get much use from it. In june I had the recall for the "G" done.

I usually lockout 6th in mine, every little incline seems to prompt a downshift. Have noticed when running empty on the highway I drop the truck in manual and leave it in 6th gear all the time, seems to stop the constant dropping to 5th gear on hills when it isn't needed and adds a little fuel mileage as well. Just don't forget to go back to automatic when you get off the highway. Lol.

[Camper_G]

Congrats on the new truck! Glad its working well for you. My new 17 ram 2500/6.4 pulls very well also. I'm very happy with it

[Rubiranch]

I average about 8.5 hauling/towing with my 2011 6.0L Chevy. Maybe about 6500+ lbs.
It has all the power I need, runs quite well and has been trouble free.
We have a 2016 and a 2017 F-250 regular cab 4-wds with the 6.2L here in the park.
They seem to pull real hard once the RPMs get up there a bit (like most gassers) but they sure do ride hard.

[hondapro]

I like my 6.2 also I just wish it would get a little better fuel mileage when towing,I average about 7.5 mpg

[RinconVTR]

I'm towing with Toyota's 5.7L and have the same MPG results and commonly good towing experience. Go go gassers for towing under 10,000lbs!

[kw_00]

TexBohunk wrote:

kw/00 wrote:
Glad to read the report. There nothing wrong with owning a gas job, as i have a gm 6.0 and love it. The gas jobs are so reliable and easy to work on and maintain without spending a pile of money on it when it breaks. Question, how large of a difference between the power of the 5.4 verse the 6.2? I'm sure it's noticeable, just curios your thoughts of the towing differences. Got a friend that has the 5.4 and plans to step into the 6.2 ford if the towing is better, if not he's looking at the ram 6.4.

The 5.4 in my 2010 was rated 300hp and 365Tq. The new 6.2 is 385hp and 430Tq. It is a noticeable difference. When towing I noticed it doesn't lose speed as fast and doesn't have to downshift as soon as the 5.4 did. As far as leaving from a stop it leaves a little better, but the 5spd and 6spd have good 1st gears and both get moving quite well. Daily driving the power difference is day and night. First time I mashed the 6.2 to the floor I had the biggest grin on my face.

I can see that, and I'm thinking the grin is still there when towing as well! Thanks for answering the question, I was thinking there should be a difference. I will pass it along to my buddy, he is on the fence.

[TexBohunk]

kw/00 wrote:
Glad to read the report. There nothing wrong with owning a gas job, as i have a gm 6.0 and love it. The gas jobs are so reliable and easy to work on and maintain without spending a pile of money on it when it breaks. Question, how large of a difference between the power of the 5.4 verse the 6.2? I'm sure it's noticeable, just curios your thoughts of the towing differences. Got a friend that has the 5.4 and plans to step into the 6.2 ford if the towing is better, if not he's looking at the ram 6.4.

The 5.4 in my 2010 was rated 300hp and 365Tq. The new 6.2 is 385hp and 430Tq. It is a noticeable difference. When towing I noticed it doesn't lose speed as fast and doesn't have to downshift as soon as the 5.4 did. As far as leaving from a stop it leaves a little better, but the 5spd and 6spd have good 1st gears and both get moving quite well. Daily driving the power difference is day and night. First time I mashed the 6.2 to the floor I had the biggest grin on my face.

[Grit_dog]

Hannibal wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

kw/00 wrote:
Glad to read the report. There nothing wrong with owning a gas job, as i have a gm 6.0 and love it. The gas jobs are so reliable and easy to work on and maintain without spending a pile of money on it when it breaks. Question, how large of a difference between the power of the 5.4 verse the 6.2? I'm sure it's noticeable, just curios your thoughts of the towing differences. Got a friend that has the 5.4 and plans to step into the 6.2 ford if the towing is better, if not he's looking at the ram 6.4.

Have had a pile of 5.4s, couple V10s and couple 6.2s.
5.4 is a pooch compared to the new(er) 6.2s. It doesn't get any discernible better mileage in my experience but imo the 5.4 is not made for towing in a HD truck, it's the low buck option for those that need payload on a budget.

LOL! By the looks of your signature, your mighty Cummins and the Ram it's in required several thousand dollars to bring it up to satisfactory towing specs. My pooch required a hitch. The 5.4L is definitely made to be a work horse in a HD pickup. Contractors and private folks alike have been using them for many years with great success.

LOL. Satisfactory is subjective. I'd have to bolt 3 5.4s together to put down the torque I got right now. And that's with minimal mods. Just a cheap tuner that came with the truck and injectors. I didn't say they were bad engines, just said they are not near the power of the newer 6.2s. I already had a hitch or I'd have bought one of them too....

Under different conditions, the 5.4 pulls better. One of The F250s that had a 5.4 I was running at average 8kft altitude. Turns a 300hp engine into 200 hp pretty quick....The one I had in AZ pulled better at sea level.

[kw_00]

wowens79 wrote:
Good info, I tow at around 8000lbs, with a GM 6.0 gasser, but is an older one with the 4spd tranny, and 205K miles. It does well, but it needs just a little more umph, and another gear between 3-4.

I'd love to go diesel next year when my son turns 16, and I pass my truck to him, but I can't see spending all that money. I'll probably go gas, and it's great to hear these good reports towing weights similar to mine.

I'm in the southeast, so we don't have the super long climbs like out west, but we have a lot of steep short climbs in our little mountains. I've gotten down to 1st gear at 28mph, and 4000rpms on one hill.

Was in your boat with the older 6.0 and 4 speed trans. I have the 09 with 6.0 and 6 speed. There's a lot difference in how this newer truck pulls my 10k. So if your looking for an upgrade or change then either the gm or ford would be great. I can't speak for the dodge 6.4 cause I've never been in one. But the newer gas jobs with upgraded transmissions are much improved.

[Hannibal]

Grit dog wrote:

kw/00 wrote:
Glad to read the report. There nothing wrong with owning a gas job, as i have a gm 6.0 and love it. The gas jobs are so reliable and easy to work on and maintain without spending a pile of money on it when it breaks. Question, how large of a difference between the power of the 5.4 verse the 6.2? I'm sure it's noticeable, just curios your thoughts of the towing differences. Got a friend that has the 5.4 and plans to step into the 6.2 ford if the towing is better, if not he's looking at the ram 6.4.

Have had a pile of 5.4s, couple V10s and couple 6.2s.
5.4 is a pooch compared to the new(er) 6.2s. It doesn't get any discernible better mileage in my experience but imo the 5.4 is not made for towing in a HD truck, it's the low buck option for those that need payload on a budget.

LOL! By the looks of your signature, your mighty Cummins and the Ram it's in required several thousand dollars to bring it up to satisfactory towing specs. My pooch required a hitch. The 5.4L is definitely made to be a work horse in a HD pickup. Contractors and private folks alike have been using them for many years with great success.

[Grit_dog]

kw/00 wrote:
Glad to read the report. There nothing wrong with owning a gas job, as i have a gm 6.0 and love it. The gas jobs are so reliable and easy to work on and maintain without spending a pile of money on it when it breaks. Question, how large of a difference between the power of the 5.4 verse the 6.2? I'm sure it's noticeable, just curios your thoughts of the towing differences. Got a friend that has the 5.4 and plans to step into the 6.2 ford if the towing is better, if not he's looking at the ram 6.4.

Have had a pile of 5.4s, couple V10s and couple 6.2s.
5.4 is a pooch compared to the new(er) 6.2s. It doesn't get any discernible better mileage in my experience but imo the 5.4 is not made for towing in a HD truck, it's the low buck option for those that need payload on a budget.

[wowens79]

Good info, I tow at around 8000lbs, with a GM 6.0 gasser, but is an older one with the 4spd tranny, and 205K miles. It does well, but it needs just a little more umph, and another gear between 3-4.

I'd love to go diesel next year when my son turns 16, and I pass my truck to him, but I can't see spending all that money. I'll probably go gas, and it's great to hear these good reports towing weights similar to mine.

I'm in the southeast, so we don't have the super long climbs like out west, but we have a lot of steep short climbs in our little mountains. I've gotten down to 1st gear at 28mph, and 4000rpms on one hill.

[4BIGAL]

I took delivery of my 2017 F350, 6.2, 4.30 on April 29th. Previous tower was an '06 F350, V10, 4.10. Traded in old truck with 72000 miles. V10 pulled my 34' 5th wheel and now 36' travel trailer all over. Yellowstone twice, Grand Canyon, Disney world, Niagra Falls and never had any issues. Great truck. With that said my new tower does everything better. Current trailer is 7600 empty and estimate 9300 lbs loaded. I really like being able to lock out 6th gear. Recently towed to Orlando in June. Lock out 6th, put in tow/haul and set the cruise at 66 mph. Averaged 8.1 towing which is about the same as my v10 but I am seeing a couple more mpg better empty. I think the biggest difference is being able to lock out 6th. 6th is great on the flats and the rpm is at 2000 at 66 mph. 5th at 66 mph is just under 2500 rpm. Fewer down shifts. My V10 with the 5 speed trans did not have the ability to lock out gears and towed in the top o.d. gear. 2000 rpm at 65 mph so it would down shift much more frequently. If I could have towed at 2500 rpm it would have been great. I ordered my new truck with the 4.30 rear end. Its a XLT crew with the xlt premium package in blue jeans. Just over 5000 miles so far. Just wanted to add my 6.2 experience also. Safe travels.

[kw_00]

Glad to read the report. There nothing wrong with owning a gas job, as i have a gm 6.0 and love it. The gas jobs are so reliable and easy to work on and maintain without spending a pile of money on it when it breaks. Question, how large of a difference between the power of the 5.4 verse the 6.2? I'm sure it's noticeable, just curios your thoughts of the towing differences. Got a friend that has the 5.4 and plans to step into the 6.2 ford if the towing is better, if not he's looking at the ram 6.4.