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skykingpilot · 09-29-2006, 09:00 PM

Devoman,

I have the F-350 King Ranch with the 6.0TD. The diesel is a fantastic engine for pulling. The wheel base makes it very stable. The ride is very TRUCK. I have driven/owned both F250 and F350 and the ride is not going to meet your VW ride. If ride is important, might want to reconsider. The milage of the TD is similar to that reported by others 18-20 on highway with my rig getting 13 to 14 pulling my 19' AS. To be honest my F350 is the King Ranch trimmed truck and has a high look-cool factor. This is a big-boy-toy of the highest order! Didn't really need this much truck but not sorry about it when I hook up and launch on a cross-country trip pulling the trailer.

My F350 has served us very well. To be clear, while I am a Ford guy, one of my best friends has the Dura Max in the 3/4 ton version and his experience is the same. We're both now sold on Diesel trucks. Today they are both excellent choices for your rig. You will not be disappointed going into this size rig for pulling! The balance of your driving is a bit more of an issue... parking a F250 crewcab is like parking an aircraft carrier! Still... worth the incinvenience. Hope all of this helps!

toddster · 09-30-2006, 09:08 AM

I stumbled across this press release for the 2008 Ford F450 Super Duty:

http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/28/p...y-brings-more/

Specs give it a 6.4L PowerStroke diesel capable of towing a whopping 24,000# (damn!!! that should be strong enough to tow my '64 Safari, right??) or hauling 6000#.

TIMEMACHINE · 09-30-2006, 11:35 AM

toddster,

Great info, it sounds as though some of the people looking at new TVs may be waiting until the new Super Duty comes out early next year.

Minnie's Mate · 10-02-2006, 08:34 AM

So, as an F-450 with a 6,000# payload, is it a 1-1/2 ton truck (next progression after the F-350 one ton) or a 3 ton truck?

toddster · 10-03-2006, 08:55 AM

Here's Ford's mini-site for the 2008 F-450. That is one tough looking truck!!!

http://www.fordvehicles.com/trucks/2008superduty/

ROBERTSUNRUS · 10-04-2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

So, as an F-450 with a 6,000# payload, is it a 1-1/2 ton truck (next progression after the F-350 one ton) or a 3 ton truck?

Hi, 6,000 lbs sounds like 3 tons to me! But Ford always has variations in GVWR versus payload depending on several factors. Two doors, four doors, 2X4, 4X4, short bed, long bed, and engine options if any. And make the lowest version, like maybe 4,000 lbs, a 2 ton for insurance purposes.

Bob

wahoonc · 10-05-2006, 02:51 AM

I consider the F450 to be a ton and half. My F350 is considered a one ton but has a real world bed payload of 3200#...

Aaron

overlander63 · 10-05-2006, 04:59 AM

F450 is supposed to be 1 1/4 ton, and F550 is supposed to be 1 1/2 ton, but you know how Detroit can massage numbers to make anything look good. Once you get over the F550 and into the Medium-duty truck market (which the F550 used to be considered), you can spec out a truck to change its payload drastically.

Devoman · 10-05-2006, 05:53 AM

Still trying to figure all this spec stuff out.There is so much of it on the Ford website that I keep having to scroll back up to make sure I have the right one.

Minnie's Mate · 10-05-2006, 07:12 AM

Well, that F-450 will be one styling truck when it hits the market next year. I wonder how much of the stylistic cues will carry "down" the line to the F-250's and F-350's. I understand that the '07 or '08 year was supposed to be the big year for redesign for the F-250's, but from what I have seen, there is very little if any cosmetic changes to them.

BTW, Devoman, the 3/4 ton diesels from Ford, Chevy, and Dodge will comfortably tow anything in the Airstream line if all of this talk about the F-450 is confusing. It is to me and I have an F-250 PSD. I would think, and correct me if I am wrong guys, the gas engines in these models would too but you would get less fuel economy and suffer a little at high altitudes.

I don't think there is any real need to go above 3/4 tons with an Airstream, especially with the Safari line because of its lighter weight. I could be wrong, again chime in here guys if I am, but the one ton trucks and SUV's have pretty much the same towing capacity as their 3/4 ton counter parts with the main difference being additional payload capacity because of heavier suspensions. If you were talking 5th wheels, the difference between 3/4 and one ton would be relavent, but with a tow behind, there isn't a gain in towing capacity that I am aware of without tweaking the drive train and Ford doesn't really allow that beyond differential until you get into the F-550 and up and then you are getting into commercial grade equipment.

ALANSD · 10-05-2006, 08:07 AM

Having recently got my first F250 ( 97 HD) I would like to hear from those of you more experienced, on the feeling of towing the bigger AS ( 25- 34') with our rig. I was next to a guy in a new F250 pulling a Cigarette boat that looked as long as my trailer- 31'....and we seemd to both accelerate from a stoplight at about the same pace. Just trying to determine what power you all feel seems right.
Cruising at 50 the RPMS on the diesel are pretty low even with the AS behind me. But I have nothing to compare it to.

Minnie's Mate · 10-05-2006, 08:45 AM

Alan, I can't help you with the engine and rpm's in your truck; however, I have a 6.0L and six speed transmission in mine and in tow/haul I don't get into the final gear until I reach about 62-63 mph. This puts my rpm's towing about the same at 75 as they are at 55. This is pulling a 30' Safari which proabably compares in weight to your 31'. My Safari weighs about 7,100# empty and dry, IIRC. Loaded for a week end of camping, who knows? :LOL: Under these conditions I average 12.8 mpg's consistantly on mountainous interstates. (I don't tow anywhere near that fast off of interstates!)

I know this doesn't help with your model of truck, but it will help confirm that diesels have plenty of torque in the lower rpm's and tow smoothly without having to keep the pedal to the floor.

AZstreamin · 10-05-2006, 12:53 PM

'05 F250 CC PSD towing my 30' Safari this past weekend. 4 adults one child lots of stuff no idea how much it all weighs (but I know it is well within spec)... towed about 800 miles in very mountainous terrain. And did 50 plus miles off road in 4X4 (not while towing

) and another 100 miles exploring the back country of Monument Valley...11.8 MPG for the total of 950miles... While towing on the interstate at 70mph the RPMs sit at about 1800-1900 and you have plenty of power in reserve to climb big hills or when you encounter a slower moving vehicle plenty of power to safely pass. Also note coming thru Flagstaff, AZ on the way home I encountered the strongest winds I've towed in to date.. Easily 50-60mph gusts. Never once felt like I was not 100% in control of my rig she is very steady can't even imagine towing in these conditions with anything less than a 3/4 ton chassis.

trevisgardne · 10-05-2006, 01:10 PM

I have a 1996 F-250 Powerstroke, Ext Cab Long bed with a Camper shell. I get right at 18mpg with mixed around town driving and about 16 towing.

My fuel mileage really goes down if I am running at 75 on the interstate.

wahoonc · 10-05-2006, 04:27 PM

Alan,
Part of it will depend on which rear end ratio your truck has. It will more than likely be either a 3.73 or 4.10. Mine has 4.10's. At 65 mph I am taching around 2250 rpm. 55mph is the sweet spot for my truck in terms of power vs economy. At a constant 75mph I only get about 13 mpg. At 55 mph I get close to 18mpg. Normal unloaded on the interstate running right around 65 mph I am getting 17 or so. I am also running an additive due to the lowered sulphur content. I don't know if that makes a difference or not. But with a replacement engine in the $5-8k range I don't want to take chances. BTW mine is a 1996 F350 CC, Dually long bed.

Aaron

ALANSD · 10-06-2006, 08:56 AM

I was running b100 bio when I towed last week. Not that it made any difference other than the smell.

Minnie's Mate · 10-06-2006, 09:27 AM

Where do you get your b100? I haven't seen any stations advertising it on my side of town. Looks like there probably isn't any performance difference. What kind of smell did you get? Mine doesn't smell too much when idling.

ALANSD · 10-06-2006, 11:29 AM

I bought it at S A White
oil in Marietta, check out the atlantabiofuels web site too.
I paid 2.70 but its down to 2.35 for B100 or less for B20.
It smells like grandma is frying alot of chicken in the kitchen, as its made from local chicken fat.
In fact I walked past a restaurant in a parking lot and thought my truck was still running.
Supposedly it will clean out your system and you might have to change the fuel filter, at least after the first few tankfuls.

Minnie's Mate · 10-06-2006, 12:27 PM

Well it is time for a fuel filter change anyway. My dealer (consider the source maybe) recommends changing the fuel filter every 20,000 miles. Does that sound right to everyone else? This is my daily driver and I am just over 20K miles.

wahoonc · 10-06-2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

Well it is time for a fuel filter change anyway. My dealer (consider the source maybe) recommends changing the fuel filter every 20,000 miles. Does that sound right to everyone else? This is my daily driver and I am just over 20K miles.

Sounds right to me. I usually maintain my truck by the book. I do oil at every 5k, change fuel filter every 4 changes, unless it gets contaiminated prior to that. Add a bottle of additive to the cooling system every 30k and that about covers it. Rear end gets oil changed once a year whether it needs it or not. Don't recall on the tranny but it is getting close to time to do it again