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wayneh · 04-02-2006, 11:06 AM

TV HELP
I am looking at a F250 with 6.8L V10 and 4.10 AR, GCWR is 2100 Twing is 12500
With a 06 30 ft Classic at 10000 GVWR
Can I safely travel the highways

Holzarbeiter · 04-02-2006, 11:18 AM

You will be fine

clancy_boy · 04-02-2006, 11:48 AM

Have the 2004 model at work, it's a monster of a tow vehicle. You shoud have not problems.

davidh · 04-02-2006, 12:33 PM

GO FOR IT! Plenty of truck, have fun airstreaming.

2airishuman · 04-02-2006, 03:03 PM

great combo wayneh........

what year f-250? the 05/06s can have the built in brake controller....which is really nice.

there is a factory kit available for trucks built without the controller....that the dealer can ad if your doesn't have it...it will work back to late 04/early 05 trucks, i think...

really the 'tow command package' that included the big tow mirrors, brake controller and tow/haul tranny program....is a must have imo......and as an option fairly priced...

cheers
2air'

ITOWAIR · 04-02-2006, 04:27 PM

We tow our 28ft 2004 CCD with a 2004 Ford/Harley Davidson F250 with the V10, it is an awsome truck and I have enough power to take the bike with us in the bed as well. I 2005 Ford added the three valve heads , this increased the fuel economy and the power.

It is refershing to see some one choosing a good old AMERICAN truck to tow our AMERICAN trailers. I have a feeling a lot of people are going to start feeling the effects of the failing AMERICAN auto industry.

Silvertwinkie · 04-02-2006, 05:01 PM

You'll barely know it's back there.

85MH325 · 04-02-2006, 05:53 PM

A word of caution... with the 4.10 rear end you'll have gobs of low end... but your highway mileage will be sad. I get 12+mpg towing the 34' with my Y2K Excursion V10 with a 3.73 rear end. I can get as high as 16mpg hwy average unladen.

Roger

Coastalview · 04-02-2006, 07:44 PM

Wayneh, Rodger is right about economy with the V10 and 4:10 gears. But if that isn't an issue, you will be fine towing, but your wallet will get lighter

Silvertwinkie · 04-02-2006, 08:51 PM

Not sure on the Ford 6.8L V10 w/ 4.10s, but the GM 6.0L V8 w/ 4.10s I have seen as high as 13 towing. On average, I seem to hear most folks claim 10mpg towing...some more, some less. To be honest, no matter what you do, at over $2 a gallon, and no end in sight to higher fuel prices, just about anything you do is going to cost more than it should and involve some level of pain.

davidh · 04-02-2006, 09:02 PM

Hi wayneh, I have a friend that has a 01 four door 3/4 ton, V10, and he gets 12MPG loaded, empty or towing. He just wish'd that it had a larger fuel tank. If I remember right it has a 28 to 30 gallon tank, he would like it to be 40 or larger. Oh and that is with 3.73 gears and also a 4x4.

85MH325 · 04-02-2006, 09:05 PM

The couple of folks I've talked to with 4.10s in their Excursion got around 7-8 mpg towing to my 12 mpg, and 12 mpg unladen to my 15-16 mpg. I thought that was a pretty significant difference.

Rog

Silvertwinkie · 04-02-2006, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85MH325

The couple of folks I've talked to with 4.10s in their Excursion got around 7-8 mpg towing to my 12 mpg, and 12 mpg unladen to my 15-16 mpg. I thought that was a pretty significant difference.

Rog

That's pretty bad. Hard to believe that .8 of a litre could produce that much of a difference with just 2 extra (though smaller) pistons.

...have you driven a Ford.....lately?

ITOWAIR · 04-03-2006, 05:29 AM

Me again.

2004 6.8l V10 , only mod made K&N Cold air induction system.

10.8 mpg , loaded or empty.

Also note that as soon as you start towing at speeds greater than 65mph you will see a rapid drop off in MPG. I use the tow/haul mode in town but on the expressway we do not.

RoadKingMoe · 04-03-2006, 05:33 AM

To answer your question, yes, you can tow that trailer safely with a gas-powered F250, and the 156" wheelbase crew cab/short bed or 158" extended cab long bed would be a little safer than shorter trucks. We have the latter not only for the 8' bed, but also because it came with a 38 gallon fuel tank vs the short bed's 6-3/4' bed and 29 gallon fuel tank.

Our 2002 F250 has the diesel with 3.73:1 gearing and we'll never go back to a gas-powered truck.

85MH325 · 04-03-2006, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

That's pretty bad. Hard to believe that .8 of a litre could produce that much of a difference with just 2 extra (though smaller) pistons.

...have you driven a Ford.....lately?

That's comparing the 6.8l V10 with the 3.73s to the 6.8l V10 with the 4.10s in similarly equipped Excursions. I was surprised at the reported difference in mileage.

Roger

Silvertwinkie · 04-03-2006, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 85MH325

That's comparing the 6.8l V10 with the 3.73s to the 6.8l V10 with the 4.10s in similarly equipped Excursions. I was surprised at the reported difference in mileage.

Roger

Yea, I had figured that's what you meant....I was talking about how the 6.0L in my Burb w/4.10s can get 13mpg towing and me pops 2500 Silverado w/6.0L and 3.73s can get near 15 towing (granted he drives very s l o w) if he keeps out of it. Granted is 2 more hammers in it, but only a .8 litre difference. That's a pretty big mog gap between the 3.73 and 4.10s in a Ford, let alone getting into the GM/Ford comparision. I wonder if the Excursion is heavier or if the gears in the trans are different sizes. Those are some vastly different numbers. I don't suppose the folks you know that have the 4.10s drive 'em like the stole 'em? That right pedal has been known on occasion to knock down the MPG by a bit at times.

CanoeStream · 04-03-2006, 09:27 AM

I saw something useful after my recent purchase of a 3/4-ton GMC. Roger (85MH325) addressed modifying the hard ride on lightly built Airstreams. He suggested actually carrying higher load than just the hitch weight within the tow vehicle. My interpretation was that the hard ride would be less with the suspension burdened beyond the 800-1000 range that hitch weight alone would impose. This will not be hard with my needs for a topper and planned in-box toys & tools.

Rog? I hope I'm not setting you up .... Did I get close to your meaning? I always wanted to see my 'warn' system lit up like a Christmas tree!!

Paul Mayeux · 04-03-2006, 09:56 AM

For what it's worth, I believe the 3.73 gears are no longer available with the V10- the 4.10 is now the standard ratio and the 4.30 is the optional ratio. I had a '03 model with the 3.73 and it really got pretty decent mileage - it would average around 14.5 empty and a flat 10 towing - the speeds being around 65-70. I put a 120,000 miles on it in three years and only had to replace the alternator at 85,000. Good engine.

85MH325 · 04-03-2006, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canoe stream

I saw something useful after my recent purchase of a 3/4-ton GMC. Roger (85MH325) addressed modifying the hard ride on lightly built Airstreams. He suggested actually carrying higher load than just the hitch weight within the tow vehicle. My interpretation was that the hard ride would be less with the suspension burdened beyond the 800-1000 range that hitch weight alone would impose. This will not be hard with my needs for a topper and planned in-box toys & tools.

Rog? I hope I'm not setting you up .... Did I get close to your meaning? I always wanted to see my 'warn' system lit up like a Christmas tree!!

Well, I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about... the suspension mods I did on MY Excursion had the net effect of making the rear end a little stiffer; although not sprung harder. I was a victim of the 4 spring stack that allowed for rear-axle steering. Unlike the SuperDuty 8 spring stack, the Excursion's 4 spring stack wasn't heavy enough to keep the axle centered under the truck. A Helwig sway bar and Land Yot radius rods along with new Edelbrock shocks and "E" range Firestones cured the problem.

Eric, I would conjecture that some of the difference in mileage may be attributable to the Excursion's extra 1,000 lbs of weight over the 3/4 ton Suburban. The Sub comes in at a little under 6k lbs, and the Excursion weighs in right at 7k lbs. Frankly, the weight differential between the Sub and the Excursion was part of the reason I chose the Ex as it has more mass to resist being thrown around by the trailer.

62 Overlander's mileage figures are about right for a normally aspirated Excursion at 60-70 mph. I try to drive mine "like a little old lady" for maximum fuel mileage whenever possible. I did add the K&N FIPK package and realized an increase of about 2 mpg over the stock system. And yes, I'm aware of all of the hoopla about whether or not the K&N system is better or worse for the engine; allows for less particulate filtration; fouls the MAF; etc. etc. etc. and I'm also aware that the MAF controls the amount of flow with the computer and it shouldn't technically get more air etc. etc. etc. All I can do is describe that I have realized a consistent 2mpg increase simply by adding the FIPK package.

Roger