Thread might not survive but it’s worth a shot.

Mr. Paul posted his 14.x mpg with 50% towing time.

Here’s my 7.3 gas with 10k of camper from Augusta to Kenosha. Ignore the eco mode, that’s one more after towing, which I was trying to switch off of after unloading the camper.



I was around 7.5 going through the App. Foothills, and closer to 9.5 once we got into the flatter Midwest. As I’ve said before, the gas cannot match the diesel for towing efficiency. But I tow maybe 10 times a year and never again would it be 1000 miles worth.

While the mpg wasn’t great, torque through the foothills was great, able to maintain 65-75 in 6th and 7th at about 2600 rpms.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: OttoSig,

In another thread, I complained about mine not downshifting soon enough while towing.

I found out the solution to that is to tow with the cruise set. Transmission acts exactly as I think it should in that scenario.

Dang. I'm so nerdy I did the math to figure out that's about 6.2 gallons per hour.

Anyway...
Glad you got there well, and, Dude, you need to stop for gas!

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
Dang. I'm so nerdy I did the math to figure out that's about 6.2 gallons per hour.

Anyway...
Glad you got there well, and, Dude, you need to stop for gas!

Probably closer to 6.5 drive time. Lot of idle time in there loading and operating the trailer controls, helping my wife drive the U-Haul at truck stops. And yeah, I’ll fill up soon

I thought mine was bad, Otto .



Granted, mine is a 2013 F250 with the 6.2 gas and the 6 speed, and I'm only hauling about 6k lbs of water or the Kubota back and forth from dad's to my place. This is about half my driving, the other half, I haul trash bags to the dump, or am empty. But, seeing your numbers, I dont feel so bad now .

Honestly I expected the 7.3 pulling 10k to be about where mine is, mpg wise.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
In another thread, I complained about mine not downshifting soon enough while towing.

I found out the solution to that is to tow with the cruise set. Transmission acts exactly as I think it should in that scenario.

Are you setting the transmission to tow/haul when towing? On mine, the end of the shifter is a button that switches the transmission to tow/haul mode. That mode changes the shift points, holds lower gears longer, and gives more engine braking.

quote:

As I’ve said before, the gas cannot match the diesel for towing efficiency.

If you factor in price per gallon, def, the initial extra $10k for, etc., then gas is more economical than diesel. My numbers for my F350 diesel back and forth from Florida to Michigan 1,500 miles each way on I-75: 10,000lb boat-12mpg, 11,000lb travel trailer-10mpg, 14,700lb 5th wheel-8mpg, tandem jetskis-13.5mpg, no trailer-15.5mpg. I’m going 75-80, so I could do better if I slowed down. Slowing down would make it a three day trip instead of a two day trip and an extra night in a motel.

Curious, did you do the math with actual miles & fuel to confirm the MPG numbers?

When I bought my 2024 F250 it had the 4.30 gears. The replacement 2025 has the 3.73 as the dealer did not have anything with the 4.30 unfortunately.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:
Dang. I'm so nerdy I did the math to figure out that's about 6.2 gallons per hour.

Anyway...
Glad you got there well, and, Dude, you need to stop for gas!

62 miles to empty is still damn near 8 gallons of gas!

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
Curious, did you do the math with actual miles & fuel to confirm the MPG numbers?

I did not, but if I'm thinking what you're thinking, I did definitely get over 400 miles on a full tank twice during the trip, which means the actual number should be closer to 10/mpg.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

quote:

As I’ve said before, the gas cannot match the diesel for towing efficiency.

If you factor in price per gallon, def, the initial extra $10k for, etc., then gas is more economical than diesel. My numbers for my F350 diesel back and forth from Florida to Michigan 1,500 miles each way on I-75: 10,000lb boat-12mpg, 11,000lb travel trailer-10mpg, 14,700lb 5th wheel-8mpg, tandem jetskis-13.5mpg, no trailer-15.5mpg. I’m going 75-80, so I could do better if I slowed down. Slowing down would make it a three day trip instead of a two day trip and an extra night in a motel.

You're absolutely right to a point, but a person who makes a living towing or needs it with any regularity is definitely gonna come out on top over time with the diesel.

My thinking was like your math initially, and with my towing needs i didn't think I would ever make up the initial cost difference. Which in my case was substantial given the deal i found on the 7.3.

I always worry about the transmission more than the engine, what is the difference in transmissions between the gas engine and the diesel?

quote:

Originally posted by armored:
I always worry about the transmission more than the engine, what is the difference in transmissions between the gas engine and the diesel?

The diesel will offer more torque and power (obviously geared towards towing). The gas will offer some good low end torque according to google.

I'd wager though that any version in the 1-ton is gonna do just fine. I wouldn't feel like I was gonna wear out the gas version any quicker if I towed. All the versions for the super dutys appear to be robust and geared towards commercial use.

This would be my feeling toward the different gear ratios as well. Each offering something the others don't, but none would worry me as far as reliability.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
When I bought my 2024 F250 it had the 4.30 gears. The replacement 2025 has the 3.73 as the dealer did not have anything with the 4.30 unfortunately.

Fairly certain mine has the 3.73 as well but I'll confirm.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:


Are you setting the transmission to tow/haul when towing? On mine, the end of the shifter is a button that switches the transmission to tow/haul mode. That mode changes the shift points, holds lower gears longer, and gives more engine braking.

As far as I can tell, there is no tow/haul switch on my 2024. When I plug in the trailer wiring, the truck "knows" and pops up a screen wanting to know which trailer I have hooked up (I have two programmed, a 10 foot single axle utility and an 18 foot double axle with e-brakes) so I'm assuming it also automatically activates tow/haul mode.

If I'm wrong about that I'd sure appreciate having that pointed out to me.

My previous two trucks (2013 Tundra, 2006 GMC K2500) had switches on the dash.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

I'm so nerdy I did the math to figure out that's about 6.2 gallons per hour.

Now you're thinking like a pilot. The V-Tail could carry 80 gallons (74 usable); I burned 15.5 gph at typical cruise power setting. A bit less at higher altitudes.

Mr. Paul? Yours doesnt have the push button on the end of the shifter?

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

quote:

As I’ve said before, the gas cannot match the diesel for towing efficiency.

If you factor in price per gallon, def, the initial extra $10k for, etc., then gas is more economical than diesel. My numbers for my F350 diesel back and forth from Florida to Michigan 1,500 miles each way on I-75: 10,000lb boat-12mpg, 11,000lb travel trailer-10mpg, 14,700lb 5th wheel-8mpg, tandem jetskis-13.5mpg, no trailer-15.5mpg. I’m going 75-80, so I could do better if I slowed down. Slowing down would make it a three day trip instead of a two day trip and an extra night in a motel.

You're absolutely right to a point, but a person who makes a living towing or needs it with any regularity is definitely gonna come out on top over time with the diesel.

My thinking was like your math initially, and with my towing needs i didn't think I would ever make up the initial cost difference. Which in my case was substantial given the deal i found on the 7.3.

The point of owning a SD is not to go to Home Depot for a couple of plants but rather to move large objects a long distance. In that case the 6.7 Powerstroke is a fantastic choice. Empty I have 600 mile range and when towing or hauling my truck camper I’m getting about 14+/- mpg.
We took our truck camper from NC to Pruhoe Bay and back a few years ago and even with the crappy fuel in Canada we averaged 14 mpg over 14,600 miles. Plus going over the Rockies it’s nice to have all the power you want/need.

I understand that diesels aren’t for everyone and that’s ok but don’t knock a diesel. When you go to sell you truck I can guarantee you that a diesel will have a significantly higher resale value.

quote:

Originally posted by OttoSig:
Mr. Paul? Yours doesnt have the push button on the end of the shifter?

The pushbutton on the end of the shifter engages manual mode.

However, I did a little surfing and there IS a tow/haul mode, accessible from the "drive mode" knob in the middle of the 2wd/4wd/diff lock cluster on the bottom of the dash to the right of the wheel. Did NOT know that rotated and you can select Normal, Tow/Haul, Eco, Off Road or Slippery mode. Huh.

Put it in ECO mode as I've been driving with it in Normal. Be interesting to see how that affects unladen mileage. And performance...