reddogsailor
Newbie RV’er
2020 Durango Gold 391RKQ 2018 F350 Lariat DRW
Posts: 5
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Post by reddogsailor on Feb 26, 2020 23:42:17 GMT -5
We use a 2018 F350 DRW 6.7L Diesel 4x4 with the 3.73 rear ratio. Like others have said conduct your own research because the salesperson is just trying to make a sale and are not as knowledgeable as they should be. Bottom line is you have to like what you drive and drive what you like. I have never been a brand guy and have owned trucks in all of the top three American companies and each one has had their plus and minus. I have been pulling heavy RVs for 23 years now and the reason I went with Ford this time was simply because I liked it more than Chevy/GMC or Dodge has on the market today. Doesn’t mean my next truck will still be a Ford. Have to see what’s out there at that time. Make sure you get the engine you want that can pull want you want to pull and add 5% to the weight. Just remember 26000 combined GVW is the max in most states. Check with the state you are licensed in because that is the restrictions you are limited to. Another item to look at is transmission. Again, will it pull what you want to pull. Then gear ratio. This is important for torque and mpg. As far as rear wheels what is the weight you are going to be putting on them. There are plenty of opinions on YouTube, forums, and dealerships. Check the specific company ratings and read the reviews from the BBB, National Traffic Safety Commission, and Safety Testing. Be safe and have fun traveling.
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Post by ronc on Feb 27, 2020 11:22:34 GMT -5
We use a 2018 F350 DRW 6.7L Diesel 4x4 with the 3.73 rear ratio. Like others have said conduct your own research because the salesperson is just trying to make a sale and are not as knowledgeable as they should be. Bottom line is you have to like what you drive and drive what you like. I have never been a brand guy and have owned trucks in all of the top three American companies and each one has had their plus and minus. I have been pulling heavy RVs for 23 years now and the reason I went with Ford this time was simply because I liked it more than Chevy/GMC or Dodge has on the market today. Doesn’t mean my next truck will still be a Ford. Have to see what’s out there at that time. Make sure you get the engine you want that can pull want you want to pull and add 5% to the weight. Just remember 26000 combined GVW is the max in most states. Check with the state you are licensed in because that is the restrictions you are limited to. Another item to look at is transmission. Again, will it pull what you want to pull. Then gear ratio. This is important for torque and mpg. As far as rear wheels what is the weight you are going to be putting on them. There are plenty of opinions on YouTube, forums, and dealerships. Check the specific company ratings and read the reviews from the BBB, National Traffic Safety Commission, and Safety Testing. Be safe and have fun traveling. That’s not true. That is point where many states require special licenses. Some allow over 26,000 with no special license. Some states require a class A non CDL ... some require a class A CDL. But no state (that I am aware of) limits the combined weight to less than 26,000 lbs. if that was true every 5th wheel that has a GVWR of 16,000 lbs or more couldn’t be sold in that state. |
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Post by ronc on Feb 27, 2020 11:25:52 GMT -5
The 17 has more HP & torque? I love the 15 for the power above the 7.3 & 6.0 and I don't want to buy another truck. My mistake, the 2017 had a bump in torque. 2015: 440 hp, 860 lb-ft torque 2017: 440 hp, 925 lb-ft torque |
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Post by Edd505 on Feb 27, 2020 20:10:11 GMT -5
The 17 has more HP & torque? I love the 15 for the power above the 7.3 & 6.0 and I don't want to buy another truck. My mistake, the 2017 had a bump in torque. 2015: 440 hp, 860 lb-ft torque 2017: 440 hp, 925 lb-ft torque I do have a programmer that bumps HP & Torque by reprogramming the ECM & TCM. It does more but I don't have the expertise to fool with most of the other settings other than correcting speedo that is now dead on with my GPS. I stayed with a tow program setting and the change is noticeable, DEF usage dropped significantly. Not legal in CA. |
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Post by laknox on Feb 28, 2020 10:26:22 GMT -5
My mistake, the 2017 had a bump in torque. 2015: 440 hp, 860 lb-ft torque 2017: 440 hp, 925 lb-ft torque I do have a programmer that bumps HP & Torque by reprogramming the ECM & TCM. It does more but I don't have the expertise to fool with most of the other settings other than correcting speedo that is now dead on with my GPS. I stayed with a tow program setting and the change is noticeable, DEF usage dropped significantly. Not legal in CA. What programmer do you have? Can you swap between stock and custom tunes easily? Lyle |
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Post by mdcamper on Feb 28, 2020 16:29:21 GMT -5
My oldest son used to work in a multi-brand repair shop. Their entire crew saw a lot of trucks come through. Most troubled engine were the ford diesels. He refuses to get a ford based on what he saw (quality wise). They did a lot of fleet work (mostly fords) When ever I bring up possibly getting a ford he just shakes his head and tells me i'm nuts. LOL He also hates our Nissan Titan XD that we currently own. There are not many choices when you need something that can haul 16k lbs though so you have to pick your poison so it's either Ford, Chevy or Dodge in the Pickup truck arena. Myself, I lean towards a Ford but not with much enthusiasm.
Keep in mind this is OLD historical information. Ford used to buy it’s Diesel engines from International. The very old 7.3 was very reliable, the 6.0 and 6.2 were problematic, but fixable with “bullet proofing”. Ford designed their own 6.7 liter diesel (scorpion) in 2012. That engine had ceramic turbo bearings which couldn’t tolerate much abuse and caused some failures. In 2013 they went back to steel turbo bearings and corrected that weakness. In 2015 they went to the 6.7 gen 2 engine with increased torque and horsepower and an improved exhaust brake. In 2017 they introduced the gen 3 6.7 with even more torque and horsepower. So since 2013, the 6.7 scorpion turbo diesel has been an excellent engine. I don’t know how long ago your son worked on those “bad” Ford diesels ... he was probably working on International diesels rebranded to Ford. The last 8 years have been Ford designed and built 6.7 liter scorpion diesels. That’s a pretty good track record for reliability. He got out of the business about 2 years ago. Not sure but the next time I see him I will ask him. The kid knows his stuff when it comes to engines and transmissions.  |
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Post by Edd505 on Feb 28, 2020 21:11:46 GMT -5
What programmer do you have? Can you swap between stock and custom tunes easily? Lyle Lyle the programmer recommended by my diesel guy is an SCT X4. The "tow mode" was 40HP bump and the truck can be returned to stock in about 10 minutes, it is not shift on the fly. The plus, and I don't know if it still holds true, the SCT was programmable. I had it on two Super Duties an 6.0 & my 6.7, when the 6.0 was returned to stock I download the 6.7 programing into the X4.
I also have a Bully Dog GTX unused (also from SCT same web site) as I can't find anyone that can answer if I can go back to stock. What I see as the difference is it can be dash mounted, has a larger screen & set to show EGT temp ect.
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Post by nvguy on Feb 29, 2020 0:48:59 GMT -5
Yes, old info regarding Ford Diesels, the 6.7 was a clean sheet design from Ford itself. Some things to keep in mind regarding fleet service work. Typically what the shops see are the lowest spec trucks driven my people who don't care, with maintenance intervals at the max. Basically one step up from what rental trucks experience. Also, with Ford being a top fleet seller, you will see more Fords than others.
With all that being said, I am the first to admit Ford used some poorly engineered engines (I had one of those infamous 6.0's) but let's not forget every manufacturer has had issues.
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Post by laknox on Mar 2, 2020 11:14:01 GMT -5
What programmer do you have? Can you swap between stock and custom tunes easily? Lyle Lyle the programmer recommended by my diesel guy is an SCT X4. The "tow mode" was 40HP bump and the truck can be returned to stock in about 10 minutes, it is not shift on the fly. The plus, and I don't know if it still holds true, the SCT was programmable. I had it on two Super Duties an 6.0 & my 6.7, when the 6.0 was returned to stock I download the 6.7 programing into the X4.
I also have a Bully Dog GTX unused (also from SCT same web site) as I can't find anyone that can answer if I can go back to stock. What I see as the difference is it can be dash mounted, has a larger screen & set to show EGT temp ect.
I ran a Banks Bullet for over 10 years on my '02 D'max, but it crapped out on me. Cost me more to remove the d@mn thing that it cost to install it =with= the optional EGT probe. Only gave about a 12-15 hp boost in tow mode as that era of D'max had turbo issues and you have to keep a close eye on temps. "Sport" mode was about 40-50 hp, IIRC, but towing was verboten in that mode. Hell, I got temp warnings in =stock= mode pulling grades at speed and empty, though the alarm was set pretty conservatively. Lyle |
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Post by Edd505 on Mar 2, 2020 21:49:50 GMT -5
If I recall the SCT was 40 Tow/90 Street/150 race also nothing over 40 while towing. I pull mountains towing at what ever speed I want and we have some big mountains out west. I can't imagine more power than it has.
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Post by ronc on Mar 3, 2020 10:29:09 GMT -5
If I recall the SCT was 40 Tow/90 Street/150 race also nothing over 40 while towing. I pull mountains towing at what ever speed I want and we have some big mountains out west. I can't imagine more power than it has. I’m still stock (440 hp) and I’m heavy (17,300 lbs fifth wheel weight) ... big mountains are a management issue, I could go faster up the grade, but the rpms would be high and I don’t want to abuse the equipment. Often, I find myself in 4th gear (sometimes 3rd) and kinda 50 mph ish. Going down, same speed and gears ... love the exhaust brake. |
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Post by Edd505 on Mar 4, 2020 22:14:24 GMT -5
If I recall the SCT was 40 Tow/90 Street/150 race also nothing over 40 while towing. I pull mountains towing at what ever speed I want and we have some big mountains out west. I can't imagine more power than it has. I’m still stock (440 hp) and I’m heavy (17,300 lbs fifth wheel weight) ... big mountains are a management issue, I could go faster up the grade, but the rpms would be high and I don’t want to abuse the equipment. Often, I find myself in 4th gear (sometimes 3rd) and kinda 50 mph ish. Going down, same speed and gears ... love the exhaust brake. I'm 4K less and the 6.7 pulls it great. The exhaust brakes works really well and reading on the Ford forums they say set the cruse control and set back, it will hold the set speed and the ECM will not let it over REV and self destruct. I have played with it and it seems to work but I add brakes at about 3000 - 3200 RPM as it makes me a little nervous getting that high,max power is at 2800 RPM per Ford. I know it has a built in RPM limiter and the forums say 4000 RPM but the race guys say 6000 but they have to have defeated the REV limiter. |
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Post by laknox on Mar 5, 2020 11:34:33 GMT -5
I’m still stock (440 hp) and I’m heavy (17,300 lbs fifth wheel weight) ... big mountains are a management issue, I could go faster up the grade, but the rpms would be high and I don’t want to abuse the equipment. Often, I find myself in 4th gear (sometimes 3rd) and kinda 50 mph ish. Going down, same speed and gears ... love the exhaust brake. I'm 4K less and the 6.7 pulls it great. The exhaust brakes works really well and reading on the Ford forums they say set the cruse control and set back, it will hold the set speed and the ECM will not let it over REV and self destruct. I have played with it and it seems to work but I add brakes at about 3000 - 3200 RPM as it makes me a little nervous getting that high,max power is at 2800 RPM per Ford. I know it has a built in RPM limiter and the forums say 4000 RPM but the race guys say 6000 but they have to have defeated the REV limiter. We have mandatory emissions testing here in Maricopa County and, for diesels, this includes a governor check as well as 3 tests, all with your foot to the floor and redlining the tach. Each time I've gone in since I bought the truck in '04, I've asked who's responsible if I scatter my engine on their floor due to this mandatory test. Every time but 2, I've gotten an "uhhhhhh" as an answer. One guy basically said that, if my engine is in good repair, it won't blow. If it blows, it's proof that it's not in good repair. I =finally= got an answer from a supe running the test station just last year, that if the engine blows during the test, and everything's in good order, they're responsible. Now, if I only could have got that on video or in writing... Lyle |
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Post by nvguy on Mar 5, 2020 23:46:44 GMT -5
I'm 4K less and the 6.7 pulls it great. The exhaust brakes works really well and reading on the Ford forums they say set the cruse control and set back, it will hold the set speed and the ECM will not let it over REV and self destruct. I have played with it and it seems to work but I add brakes at about 3000 - 3200 RPM as it makes me a little nervous getting that high,max power is at 2800 RPM per Ford. I know it has a built in RPM limiter and the forums say 4000 RPM but the race guys say 6000 but they have to have defeated the REV limiter. We have mandatory emissions testing here in Maricopa County and, for diesels, this includes a governor check as well as 3 tests, all with your foot to the floor and redlining the tach. Each time I've gone in since I bought the truck in '04, I've asked who's responsible if I scatter my engine on their floor due to this mandatory test. Every time but 2, I've gotten an "uhhhhhh" as an answer. One guy basically said that, if my engine is in good repair, it won't blow. If it blows, it's proof that it's not in good repair. I =finally= got an answer from a supe running the test station just last year, that if the engine blows during the test, and everything's in good order, they're responsible. Now, if I only could have got that on video or in writing... Lyle That's abusive in my mind- a perfect example of idiots devising these "tests". Here in Washoe County NV we have to submit to dyno tests, which I have to assume are no where near as abusive what Maricopa County does, as i didn't hear any redline pulls going on. I use the same strategy as Edd505 on hills, much more than 3200 and I start wondering about rod bolt strength. |
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Post by laknox on Mar 6, 2020 10:32:29 GMT -5
We have mandatory emissions testing here in Maricopa County and, for diesels, this includes a governor check as well as 3 tests, all with your foot to the floor and redlining the tach. Each time I've gone in since I bought the truck in '04, I've asked who's responsible if I scatter my engine on their floor due to this mandatory test. Every time but 2, I've gotten an "uhhhhhh" as an answer. One guy basically said that, if my engine is in good repair, it won't blow. If it blows, it's proof that it's not in good repair. I =finally= got an answer from a supe running the test station just last year, that if the engine blows during the test, and everything's in good order, they're responsible. Now, if I only could have got that on video or in writing... Lyle That's abusive in my mind- a perfect example of idiots devising these "tests". Here in Washoe County NV we have to submit to dyno tests, which I have to assume are no where near as abusive what Maricopa County does, as i didn't hear any redline pulls going on. I use the same strategy as Edd505 on hills, much more than 3200 and I start wondering about rod bolt strength. We used to have to do dyno tests (older cars still do, IIRC), but my '02 just uses an exhaust probe. Lyle |
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Post by Chuck on Mar 16, 2020 19:13:25 GMT -5
I have a 6.0 International which was bullet proofed, it woke that engine up way more than I expected an is still preforming pretty darn well for being 15 years old an 154,000 miles on it  Safe Travels Chuck |
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Post by juzplanekrazy on Mar 17, 2020 15:54:56 GMT -5
I wonder what he went with??
If he was looking at the 386FLF, I would have went with a dually for sure. Not so much in the 450 class, just a 350 class dually.
At 41' long that's a bunch of trailer to pull.
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Post by chulavista on Sept 13, 2020 22:45:20 GMT -5
They told us ETA 14-16 weeks. I'm hoping sooner. That's about the same as I was told. I think it showed up a week or so early. What drove me crazy is it came by rail right thru here (Reno) to CA, then got loaded on a truck and hauled back up the Sierra's to Reno..added another week or so to the wait. Ford used to have a web site where you could track the progress, but they took it down. Wow....alot has happened since this post was made! We cancelled the order on our truck due to the COVID related market plunge. Re-ordered the same truck on June 15, now ETA is Oct 20. You can track the build if your dealer gives you the VIN#. BUT, I've still not changed my mind on the 382MBQ. I've searched and searched, and I keep coming back to that particular trailer. I've started a new thread in the "so you want to buy a K-Z" section asking several questions. cheers! Kathy |
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Post by nvguy on Sept 14, 2020 21:33:31 GMT -5
Congratulations on the new truck. Hopefully it arrives as promised.
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razor
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 16
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Post by razor on Oct 23, 2020 0:11:59 GMT -5
Towing a ‘21 Durango Gold G383RLT with my ‘19 Ford F-350 4X4 King Ranch Dually Crew Cab, 6.7L Power Stroke diesel, 4.10 ratio axle. This truck handles the job without even breaking a sweat!
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