1 Ton Gasser ? More Thoughts

Bobl1958

Well-known Member
Thought I would bring this back up to the front for the possibility of a little more discussion or a new poster that doesn't go back far enough to see the original question. Had a lot of good replies, but here is a little more light on the subject to see about some further educated discussion.

I realize the truck I have is same as new. 87K miles and looks and drives like a new one. However, I can also get the best trade value out of it right now. Keeping in mind that it is 12 years old. Some of you know I have the draft horses I pull around some, and I always feel better in a newer truck with livestock, of any kind. Newer may break down more, but definitely feel like there is a better chance it won't. It's one thing to break down with a tractor on a trailer on a 100F+ day, it's a whole other breaking down when you have livestock in the middle of an interstate highway.

Having said that, I know to those of you who have the older 460' and 454's in 3/4 and 1 tons have a complete different cat than the newer injected engines, thus they don't really play into what I am looking for. I am looking for those who have experience with the newer gassers. Most of the gassers (and there isn't many in the 2010-2013 range) appear to have the 3:73 gears. The couple I looked at with 4:10 are sold, while the 3:73's are still around which makes me think the 3:73's rob too much power.

I appreciate all the reply's for sure. Bob
 
My '01 F350 with the V10 has 3.73's. Have never not had enough power. If it had the 5.4, I might want 4.10's, but not when it has 300+ h.p. and 400+ ft.-lbs. of torque.
Find out where the power band is on your engine of choice, and then find out the cruising RPM for the 3.73's vs. 4.10's.
 
Local Marathon dealer has a Dodge with the 6.4 ? hemi and says it's a beast ! Way better power and better gas mileage than the 5.7. I don't know what gears he has ?
 
2 friends of mine now have the Ford 6.2 and they are both really good motors. Both have more power than my v-10 and get quite a lot better mileage. They also have the 373 gears. Any load they can't handle would be well over the rated capacity of the truck.
 
Bob, for what it's worth I have a 2012 Ford F-250 with a 6.2 gasser. I don't drive it much, but when I do it sees a fair amount of work. I bought it new in 2012 and it has 29,000 miles on it now. 0 problems, 0 complaints. I pull a 24' steel horse trailer with two 18 hand percherons with no problems or a 24' flat trailer with around 8k regularly. The trans does excellent. If you run it hard it will drink like a typical old gasser, but if you drive it like you have some sense it's decent on fuel loaded. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for all the replies, but Truckpuller, do you know what gears you have in the 2012? You haul just about identical to what I do it sounds like. Thanks to all - Bob
 
I have a 2015 Ford with a 6.2 gas. Comparing it to a 460 is like comparing a 460 to a model T. With 3.73s it is a horse and still gets respectable mileage(at 13.4 over the first 16,000 miles, half that time I was pulling/hauling something). You will find yourself down in second with big loads on big hills(still at whatever speed you want to go), but no complaints from the truck or me.
 
You want 4.10 gears in a gasser! Any gas Chevy 2500HD made within the last 10 years or more should have 4.10 from the factory; they are standard.
 
I have 2014 Dodge 3500 w/the 6.4, 4.10 gears,9 ft. flatbed, two tool boxes. Heavy truck, (cab/chassis model) 7400 lbs. I wanted a diesel, but that was 8K more money. I don't put that many miles on, so 8K will buy a LOT of fuel !! It will get 14+ mpg running empty at 70 mph. Run at interstate speeds (ours is 80 ) and 10 or 11 is about it. That's it's best, tow anything, put a good load on it, fight a head wind, 7.5 to 10 mpg. I have dropped below that ! A good wind with a gooseneck stock trailer - 5.5 !!(that was only one trip) It pulls good, better than a 460 Ford I once had. I do also have an 07 Chev. 25000HD. 6 litre, 5 speed manual, 4:10 gears. It will get a bit better mileage, but it's also lighter to start with. I haven't towed much with the Chev., when I did, it did very well - same deal however, the mileage drops like rock when it's loaded or drive interstate speeds ! These modern engines have a pretty broad, flat torque curve, peak torque is at a pretty high rpm, but I've found both the Dodge and the Chevy pull pretty good at lower RPM's. I have '0' experience with a 'modern' Ford gasser. My neighbor has one of the later v-10's in a F350. The only comment he ever made about mileage was one word - 'BAD' !! They really like the truck however. As far as 3:73 / 4:10 gear comparisons, I still don't think most people would notice much difference - see my post on your earlier thread.
 
I think I came across sounding like I was trying to sell a Dodge - not intended. I think any of the modern 6+ liter gas engines will perform about the same as far as power and mileage. The Dodge was just the best deal for me at the time. My Chevy dealer had one I liked, however, it was LOADED !!, I didn't need all that luxury for a ranch truck. The Ford dealer only had loaded crew cab, diesel F350's with pickup boxes.
 
I drive old stuff. I have a 96 Chevy C3500 with a Vortec 7.4. 4:10 gears and a 4L80E auto trans. Great puller. Yep is drinks gas, but I like it. It will get 13 empty and working hard it goes down to 10 if you don't beat on it. Beat on it and it gets thirsty. It almost never gets driven empty. It works hard. I also have a 99 Dodge 2500 4X4 with a 8.0 and 4:10 gears and an auto trans. Pulls good too. Very narrow power range and likes to be driven like a diesel. I think the max rpm is 4,500 rpm. The chevy will pull hard to 5,800. The Chevy 502 is strong too. Hard to find though. A local lot in my area had a one ton dually crewcab with the 8.1 502 inch engine Silverado with all the goodies and couldn't give it away. Everybody in my area wants the diesel. Many people like me cannot justify a diesel. We just don't put on enough miles to get it to pay off.
Anyway, I like the big cubic inch gas engines. Thirsty yes, but very dependable and low maintenance.

Greg
 
Sorry Bob, it's been a busy weekend I haven't been on the board. I will look when I get home this evening. I'm 99% sure they are 3.XX something. It's definately geared high, BUT with the push button gear selector on the shifter you can "turn off" gears. For example on a 55 mph highway it will hunt between 5th and 6th, so I just turn 6th off and go on down the road.
 
(quoted from post at 12:45:07 06/24/16) I wanted a diesel, but that was 8K more money. I don't put that many miles on, so 8K will buy a LOT of fuel !! It will get 14+ mpg running empty at 70 mph. Run at interstate speeds (ours is 80 ) and 10 or 11 is about it. That's it's best, tow anything, put a good load on it, fight a head wind, 7.5 to 10 mpg. I have dropped below that ! A good wind with a gooseneck stock trailer - 5.5 !!(that was only one trip) It pulls good, better than a 460 Ford I once had. I do also have an 07 Chev. 25000HD. 6 litre, 5 speed manual, 4:10 gears. It will get a bit better mileage, but it's also lighter to start with. I haven't towed much with the Chev., when I did, it did very well - same deal however, the mileage drops like rock when it's loaded or drive interstate speeds.



I bought a 460 in a F250HD in 97 when shopping for a 7.3ps cause the difference in price didn't seem right. Then after owning the 7.5 for a few years and sort of wishing I had bought the diesel it seems I started liking the thirsty old gasser. It's like we've come full circle. This engine has been trouble free but then it's only got 108k on the clock.
 

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