Questions on 2016 F250

[Luke'sScreenName]

I am likely buying a new F250 in the next week or so. I need some advice on how to option it.

It will haul a 5ton dump and 6ton equipment trailer on short trips about 4 times per month. The plan is to buy a 5th wheel camper next year for family trips with 2 children. No heavy bed payloads on a regular basis. Light off-road use. Daily 10 mile (each way) unloaded commute is where 70% of the miles will come from.

My plan is to buy an XLT, SRW, 6ft bed, crew cab, 4x4, gasser.

Which axel ratio should I get? (3.37 or 4.3)

What gas mileage have others gotten?

Whe have a new hands free law in NH. I don't think it will have Bluetooth. How have others delt with this?

Is the back up camera in the rear view mirror any good?

Is there any difference in the O.D. of the 17" vs 18" wheels?

What other options should I look at?

Thanks in advance.

 

[4570Man]

I prefer the backup camera to be on the dash which has a larger screen, but the mirror screens are pretty decent.

 

[Green Power]

Rearview mirror backup cameras are better than no backup camera at all, and are great for hooking up trailers,3.73 should be more than enough axle for the described uses, and hep you get slightly better fuel economy than 4.30s. If you plan to do much offroading, i would consider the fx4 package. Tailgate step is also nice if you get in and out of the bed much. Also i would get a gn hitch with it. Post pics when you get it.

 

[Snobdds]

With those weights, I would seriously look at 4.10 gears. I thought Ford offered that gear set with the 6.2, but if not you may be looking at the 4.30. The xlt should have sync with the blue tooth. Camrea will be in the rear view mirror and is more than adequate. The 17 inch wheel option is for the XL with steel wheels.

The 6.2 is a solid engine. The same engine comes in the raptor and has more HP (410) vs 365 in the superduites. Ford just detunes them for duty cycle and longevity with towing. It's very easy to put the OEM raptor tune if you ever wanted more HP.

My dad has a few of them in the fleet of construction trucks. These trucks are beat on and they hold up well.

 

[Snobdds]

Thinking about those gears. On the raptors, Ford uses the 4.10 and it's near perfect so I know it's possible. However the supercities and the raptor use different axles, but Ford should have that ratio for the 10.25 sterling rear end.

 

[coobie]

Do yourself a favor and buy the F350 it will not sag in the rear as much when you hook onto a trailer.I loved my 2011 Ford F-250 but hated the way the rear sagged when I hooked up to my 20 ft. bumper pull trailer with a heavy load.I would go with a 3.73 or 4.30 gear and tow package.My mileage with the 6.2 engine and 3.73 gear was around 14mpg,s city/highway driving

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

What do y'all think the gas mileage difference will be unloaded between 3.37 and 4.3 axels?

Edit: It's a 3.73 ratio not 3.37

 

[barko1]

How much weight in the bed from the 5th wheel?


I'd also opt for the 350.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Do yourself a favor and buy the F350 it will not sag in the rear as much when you hook onto a trailer.I loved my 2011 Ford F-250 but hated the way the rear sagged when I hooked up to my 20 ft. bumper pull trailer with a heavy load.I would go with a 3.73 or 4.30 gear and tow package.My mileage with the 6.2 engine and 3.73 gear was around 14mpg,s city/highway driving

Great looking truck

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

How much weight in the bed from the 5th wheel?


I'd also opt for the 350.

Don't know? Good question.

 

[bdog]

I traded my 2015 F-250 CC short bed 4x4 with the 6.2 last week. It was decent truck but switched to a diesel because it tows a lot. Empty the 6.2 would get around 16 on the highway but towing even a modest trailer the MPGs were single digits.It had plenty of power even with a 10k trailer.

Definitely watch your pin weight. Does not take much to exceed your GVWR on a 250. I would get a 350 if having a GVWR over 10k doesn't cause legal issues for you.

 

[GManBart]

My work truck is a 2014 F150 XL 4x4 Super Crew 6.5' bed with the 5.0L V8 (385hp and 387Lb/Ft of torque) with the 3.55 limited slip rear axle. I've only towed 4,500lbs with it, and I can't imagine towing the kinds of loads you're talking about with the 6.2L gasser that has the same horsepower and a bit more torque (405Lb-Ft). I guess if it was a couple of times a year it would be one thing, but multiple times a month...no way.

On the flip side, I also regularly drive an F550 that weighs right at 13,000lbs with the 6.7L derated diesel (chassis cab models only have 300hp and 660Lb-Ft of torque) and I think it has the 4.10 rear axle, but I'm not certain. At 13K it's not straining at all...no constant downshifts, no racing engine, and it's generally much more relaxing to drive.

 

[ovrszd]

What do y'all think the gas mileage difference will be unloaded between 3.37 and 4.3 axels?

Edit: It's a 3.73 ratio not 3.37

I think unless you are trying to cruise at high speeds, speed limit and above, you'll not see much difference. Might even see an improvement with the 4.3 gears. Your engine choice needs some rpms to develop it's HP/Torque. If you selected a diesel I would think the opposite.

 

[ovrszd]

My work truck is a 2014 F150 XL 4x4 Super Crew 6.5' bed with the 5.0L V8 (385hp and 387Lb/Ft of torque) with the 3.55 limited slip rear axle. I've only towed 4,500lbs with it, and I can't imagine towing the kinds of loads you're talking about with the 6.2L gasser that has the same horsepower and a bit more torque (405Lb-Ft). I guess if it was a couple of times a year it would be one thing, but multiple times a month...no way.

On the flip side, I also regularly drive an F550 that weighs right at 13,000lbs with the 6.7L derated diesel (chassis cab models only have 300hp and 660Lb-Ft of torque) and I think it has the 4.10 rear axle, but I'm not certain. At 13K it's not straining at all...no constant downshifts, no racing engine, and it's generally much more relaxing to drive.

I don't hear many people brag about how well their 5.0L tows. I also don't think there's much comparison between the 5.0L/6.2L. Statistics are often irrelevant in towing situations. I believe his choice will work. It'll just require more rpms to do it than a diesel. Nature of the beast I guess.

 

[GManBart]

I don't hear many people brag about how well their 5.0L tows. I also don't think there's much comparison between the 5.0L/6.2L. Statistics are often irrelevant in towing situations. I believe his choice will work. It'll just require more rpms to do it than a diesel. Nature of the beast I guess.

No argument with any of that (the F150 is normally only used to tow trailers under 2K).

I'm sure it will work, but I still wouldn't want to tow 5-6 tons with the 6.2L gasser setup on a regular basis. My Tundra has the 5.7L V8 in it and that has similar specs to the Ford 6.2L and while I've pulled 9K plus with it a few times I wouldn't want to have to do that on a regular basis. I know stats aren't a perfect comparison, but they get you in the ballpark.

Ideally Luke might see if he can take a demo home with the exact combo he'd be buying, put one of his trailers behind it and get a feel for how it will really be.

The loads he's talking about would be a relaxing tow with the diesel F250, and what I would call aggravating with anything else. I can't stand to listen to the engine wail away at 4K every time there's a slight incline, but that doesn't seem to bother many folks

 

[dodge man]

I just switched from a Dodge with a Cummins to a 3/4 ton Chevy with a 6.0 gasser. My Chevy had the 3.73 rear gears. This works fine for me, I usually drive around with and empty bed and only tow maybe 6 to 12 times a year but I know the rating between 4.10's and the 3.73's is huge. I think mine is rated to tow 9500lbs but with 4.10's that jumps to something like 14,000 lbs. My gas mileage seems to hover around 13 mpg empty.

If I towed a lot, the diesel is really hard to beat. The Chevy is newer and better in every way then the Dodge except the engine. The Cummins just pulled so much better. A lot of it is just the power curve between diesel and gas. Even towing the Cummins rarely went past 2800 rpms while my Chevy empty will often pull to 3000 rpms.

It sounds like you tow often enough that the 4.30's or 4.10's might be the way to go. I'd make sure to also get any kind of tow package, a posi unit in back, and tow mirrors if they aren't standard.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Thanks for the input y'all I really appreciate it!

Most of the time my load is well under 5ton. Maybe every other month will I haul 5ton and thoes are typically short trip.

The currently imaginary 5th wheel camp may involve longer trips but should be less weight. :confused3:

 

[ovrszd]

Good luck with whatever you buy Luke. Look forward to hearing your experiences with the truck.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Good luck with whatever you buy Luke. Look forward to hearing your experiences with the truck.

I will continue to share here! I really appreciate your imput.

Anyone have anything to say about Zeibart rust protection? I have one within driving distance.

 

[GManBart]

The currently imaginary 5th wheel camp may involve longer trips but should be less weight. :confused3:

Your wife clearly doesn't pack like mine does :laughing: