Rolled 5k miles on the truck last night after dropping off the camper at storage.
A few stats:
MPG on the truck to date, just shy 12.
Towed 35' camper almost 2000 miles of the 5k, averaging right at 8mpg.
34gallon tank allows for around 250 miles between fill ups towing. Not great. Not bad. Looking to opt for the 58gallon after market.
Recently got back from a ~1800 mile round trip camping trip leaving from DFW up to Colorado and back. I would say that route throws everything you can at a towing experience. 35' bumper pull weighing somewhere around 9000lbs loaded. Another 300-400lbs in the bed. Did most of the trip with cruise set between 68 and 72, depending on wind (gas mileage really drops once you push it to 70mph with winds).
I should also add that this trailer model is notorious (unfortunately, thank you Facebook group) for not pulling well. Its axels are designed way forward and has lots of weight behind them, leading to porpoising and tail whip. It was doable, but not fun in my '21 f150 with max tow package doing the same route. This led to long stretches going 60mph max in the panhandle.
Route included:
- rolling hills of the red river valley from 82/287 all the way through Estelline.
- strong, open range head and crosswinds of Texas summer.
- extra strong winds of panhandle/llano estacado
- 6 mountain passes varying in length and grade: Wilkerson Pass (9,507 ft)
Trout Creek Pass (9,346 ft)
Poncha Pass (9,010 ft)
La Veta Pass (9,413 ft)
2x Raton Pass (7,834 ft)
Ran to the top at 65mph with no issues. Transmission does run hot in these new 10 speeds but I've read 215-220* is very normal. Very little braking needed on the downhills. Set cruise to 65 or 70 in tow mode and the truck will do the rest. Climbing in 6th gear usually. The hum of that V8 is exhilarating.
Truck feels like it shrugged off everything. At one point I had to pass a car hauler semi around the hills south of Pueblo and got it going 80mph uphill. Press the pedal and it goes.
Im sure the 6.7 would do all this better but really liking the 7.3 gasser thus far. Paired with the Ford Borla exhaust, it sounds mean and ready to please.
Ford really needs to find a way to squeeze a bigger tank under the 6'9" bed. If an aftermarket company can get it in the same footprint, at 58gallons, so can Ford. 42g-48 would be ideal.
A few stats:
MPG on the truck to date, just shy 12.
Towed 35' camper almost 2000 miles of the 5k, averaging right at 8mpg.
34gallon tank allows for around 250 miles between fill ups towing. Not great. Not bad. Looking to opt for the 58gallon after market.
Recently got back from a ~1800 mile round trip camping trip leaving from DFW up to Colorado and back. I would say that route throws everything you can at a towing experience. 35' bumper pull weighing somewhere around 9000lbs loaded. Another 300-400lbs in the bed. Did most of the trip with cruise set between 68 and 72, depending on wind (gas mileage really drops once you push it to 70mph with winds).
I should also add that this trailer model is notorious (unfortunately, thank you Facebook group) for not pulling well. Its axels are designed way forward and has lots of weight behind them, leading to porpoising and tail whip. It was doable, but not fun in my '21 f150 with max tow package doing the same route. This led to long stretches going 60mph max in the panhandle.
Route included:
- rolling hills of the red river valley from 82/287 all the way through Estelline.
- strong, open range head and crosswinds of Texas summer.
- extra strong winds of panhandle/llano estacado
- 6 mountain passes varying in length and grade: Wilkerson Pass (9,507 ft)
Trout Creek Pass (9,346 ft)
Poncha Pass (9,010 ft)
La Veta Pass (9,413 ft)
2x Raton Pass (7,834 ft)
Ran to the top at 65mph with no issues. Transmission does run hot in these new 10 speeds but I've read 215-220* is very normal. Very little braking needed on the downhills. Set cruise to 65 or 70 in tow mode and the truck will do the rest. Climbing in 6th gear usually. The hum of that V8 is exhilarating.
Truck feels like it shrugged off everything. At one point I had to pass a car hauler semi around the hills south of Pueblo and got it going 80mph uphill. Press the pedal and it goes.
Im sure the 6.7 would do all this better but really liking the 7.3 gasser thus far. Paired with the Ford Borla exhaust, it sounds mean and ready to please.
Ford really needs to find a way to squeeze a bigger tank under the 6'9" bed. If an aftermarket company can get it in the same footprint, at 58gallons, so can Ford. 42g-48 would be ideal.
