F350 SD FX4 6.2 fuel economy with hard side TC?
- Thread starter 84FLH
- Start date
Thanks, Ken. This 28 page (!) thread about 6.2 gas mileage is the source of my question here. Posts are about 50/50 between towing mileage and non-towing mileage. Towing mpg is anywhere from 6 to 12, with most 8-10. Non-towing is mostly 12-13, with a few guys getting 14-15 by driving conservatively, using synthetic oils, and one or two guys claiming an intake filter called Airaid gave them another .75-1 mpg.
I'll be traveling with just myself and my dog and on my retirement incomes. 8-10 mpg to travel America for 6-12 months raised my eybrows! Would like to ask you:
~ How much better, if at all, do you think mpg would be with 4:10?
~ How much better, if at all, would mpg be with non-SD F350?
~ Do I really need a SD for a hard side that's 2200-2600 lbs dry? OTOH, I'd love a flatbed with storage boxes under and tucked in the side 'notches' of the camper, to carry good assortment of sockets, wrenches, ratchets, screwdrivers, impact gun, vise grips, jumper cables, 1/2 size floor jack; plus skis, boots, backpack gear, small charcoal grill, grilling tools, etc, etc. So maybe a SD would be best.
Thanks again. Always loved the build and build story.
Real world gas mileage with the 6.2 - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
6.2L V8 - Real world gas mileage with the 6.2 - Took my 2011 F-250 with 6.2 gas and 3.73 gear to The national farm mach.show in louisville Ky.this past weekend.Driving 70-75 mph average MPG was 12.4-12.7:'( if I kept it under 65 mph my average was 13.8:DMy truck is 4X4 SC with 5,000 miles on the...
www.ford-trucks.com
I'll be traveling with just myself and my dog and on my retirement incomes. 8-10 mpg to travel America for 6-12 months raised my eybrows! Would like to ask you:
~ How much better, if at all, do you think mpg would be with 4:10?
~ How much better, if at all, would mpg be with non-SD F350?
~ Do I really need a SD for a hard side that's 2200-2600 lbs dry? OTOH, I'd love a flatbed with storage boxes under and tucked in the side 'notches' of the camper, to carry good assortment of sockets, wrenches, ratchets, screwdrivers, impact gun, vise grips, jumper cables, 1/2 size floor jack; plus skis, boots, backpack gear, small charcoal grill, grilling tools, etc, etc. So maybe a SD would be best.
Thanks again. Always loved the build and build story.
Last edited:
BajaSurfRig
Well-known member
I have a 2014 F250 with the 6.2, 3.73 gears sitting on 32’s. I carry a 2001 Lance 815 (about as light as you can get dry is 1700). I get between 9 and 11 depending on driving habits and terrain). The 6.2’s are very reliable just thirsty. To save on fuel I’d recommend less miles and enjoy each location longer if you have the time.
deserteagle56
Adventurer
Yes, absolutely!
That hard side will weight 3000 lb or more once you have it loaded for traveling. If you carry all the other stuff you mentioned you are looking at another 1000 lbs on top of that. So now, not only are you looking at an F350 but maybe even a dually. Any half ton will have a payload of less that 2000 lb - most are around 1200 - 1500 lb unless you spec out an F150 with the heavy payload package and that will give you just over 2000 lb payload.
Been there, done that. I have an old Bigfoot 2500 camper. Only 9' long and no slideouts. Had it mounted on a 2500 but it felt so unstable with all that weight way up high that I ended up going with a dually. Whole world of difference in stability. As far as fuel mileage - if you stay with a newer gas engine then yes, you'll be lucky to break 10 mpg if loaded with the camper. My 2004 Dodge/Cummins averages 14.3 mpg hand calculated loaded with the camper and towing my Jeep. Huge difference.
Payload sticker on my F150 - and it is higher than most F150s because it is only a Supercab, not crewcab. You need at least twice that!
You'll want a 1 ton or at least a 3/4 ton with a payload package to handle 3000+ lbs for a cabover camper weighing 2600 lb dry.
My setup:
