Ordering new truck... need some help

[rbiederwolf]

I am ordering a new F250 King Ranch, I know what I want cosmetically/conveniencewise, but when it comes to the engine/mechanical side of it I am not the intelligent

I know I want the diesel, FX4, integrated brakes for the towing, but is there anything else I should know. There seems to be some choices on rear axle ratio, etc. This is the stuff I am not to knowledgeable about.

BTW I live in Florida, do not plan to travel out of Florida, and only pull my boat for pleasure.

Thank in advance

[rob28]

Do you actually need a F250 if it's only the boat you'll be towing? How heavy is your boat/motor/trailer package?
An F150 with the Ecoboost engine is able to pull over 10,000lbs, depending on the specified package.

With regard to axle ratio's, I went through all this a few years back when we got our F150 (our first truck). The usual ratios are 3.31, 3.55, 3.73, 4.10 etc.
The lower the numbers (3.31) are more suited to cruising and lighter work, whereas the higher numbers (3.73, 4.10 etc) are more suited to towing as they give more torque but less speed for a given engine speed. The higher ratios will also give you (slightly) better acceleration. We went for the middle of the road 3.55 for our truck.

I don't know about the 250's but on the F150, you can specify the tow package (oil cooler, uprated engine cooling, class IV hitch receiver and electrics) or the max tow package (as before but beefier springs, brake controller and more towing capacity). The brake controller can be added separately to the normal tow package if you want.

[Bamaman]

The King's Ranch comes with just about everything you need. You want to make sure it is equipped with the integral electric brake controls. The factory sprayed bedliner also works.

And as far as gear ratios, the 3.31:1 is all they're spec'ing out in Ford's website for the diesel. It'll pull anything you put behind it. If possible, you might see if a limited slip or locking rear axle is available.

I have a 10 year old F250 Lariat 2wd diesel with leather captains chairs, tow package and two tone paint. If I was ordering a new truck today, I'd order exactly the same truck but with the 6.2 liter gas engine. The $8K price of the diesel, high cost of oil changes and a 2 mpg reduction in fuel mileage is why I'd go with the gasoline engine. The gas engine fuel mileage has improved 2-3 mpg over the years.

The truck cabs, seating, suspensions and brakes just hold up so well on 3/4-1 ton trucks vs. 1/2 ton trucks.

Dieselstop.com has some great forums to read, including ordering information.

[blackberg]

Not to rock the boat, but Dodge is taking orders for the new 1500 diesel, which should be plenty to pull any pontoon, and give you better mileage, at the same time, and it cheaper than the Ford too.

-bb

[Jack65K]

You can order different axles on the F250 and a good choice is the 3.55/1 Electronic Locking rear. It offers a compromise for fuel effeciency and towing capability.
Jack

[Mosnowman]

I have a new 2013 Ford 250 Lariat which is a step down from the King Ranch. Trust me you will have no problem towing whatever you desire with the 250...I tow a 25 Foot Harris Cruiser and a 30 foot travel trailer with no problems. I can hardly tell they are back there. Great advice from the guys above...good luck!

[Gonefishing]

I have the 2013 f250 king ranch 4x4. This is my 5th king ranch and the 2013 is the best looking one of them all. You will have no problem pulling whatever you want with it. I have the diesel 7.3 get 16-18 around town and 19-21 on interstate. Pulling my 23 foot toon doesn't change in town mileage. Interstate truck loaded down with camping gear boat, 115 Yamaha I get 17-18. O the dodge ram doesn't compare to the king ranch. I had it also long ago. The king ranch come pretty much standard with everything you would want. Auto break system, up lifter switches. You will love the nav system and the hands free phone, audio. Everything on the 2013 is voice activated. Great truck, great ride. You will love it.

[BobL]

I had 3 King Ranch F250 Diesel Crew Cabs since 2000. My last one was the lemons they put out in 2007. The new ones dont have near the issues but I went to the gas F150 King Ranch 4x4 Crew (now have the 2014 GMC 4x4 Crew All Terrain - and love it) because the Ford service guy convinced me to go gas as the upcharge on the diesel engine plus the cost of fuel plus all the low sulphur fuel issues with diesel engines was not worth the expense and headaches.

Not bashing the F250 at all but the price justification was just not there for me.

[Liquid Asset]

I know your in florida but on those cold to you morings I know for the money you will want the rapid heat. I have it in my truck and my brother doesn't. It makes a huge difference clearing frost off the windshield and just making the truck warm much faster. Again you'll only need it twice a year in florida ! I have the 3:31 electric locker and am pleased with it. I usually get 13.5 mpg around town towing. I run a landscape buisness so I always have a trailer in tow with mowers, skid loader, etc. Now If take a road trip with out a trailer and drive the speed limit I have gotten as good as 22 mpg. That was delivering a used snow plow 4 hours away. Even with the added cost of a diesel it's worth it. Switching from a 07 v - 10 it's a huge money saver !!! Your going to love the new diesel for towing and dailky driving !!! The exhaust fluid thing isn't a big deal at all. You can go from 5k to 10k miles before you need it , depends on driving habbits and conditions. Any questions just ask we have 2 of the 6.7's and they are real work trucks not just cars with beds.

, shaun

[Nautical]

Ford is the only choice . . . just wanted to get that out of the way. Sorry, Dodge guy!

The torque of the diesel will make up for not getting the tallest gearing. Unless you're going to tow an 18,000 lb 5th wheel, you won't ever need the 4.10 or 3.73. Go with the 3.31 or 3.55 others here are recommending (I personally would go with the 3.55). You for sure do NOT need the 4.10 gearing. I have that on my 97 and my revs are unnecessarily high which hurts in the MPG department, towing or not. One of the main reasons diesels get more miles per gallon is because they go the same speed with LOWER engine revs. Go with the lower or middle numbers and you'll be fine. Now if you DO think someday you might find yourself towing HIGH 5 digits worth of weight, more than once, consider the 3.73.

I'm a big fan of diesels but the fuel changes back in 06 (or 08, whatever that was) took all of the "fun" out of it for me. It used to be that you got at least 30% more MPG with cheaper fuel. Now with the extra refining and restrictions, there is less energy in diesel fuel and it's MORE expensive than gas. You might get up to 25% more mpgs but the fuel now costs 50 to 75 cents a gallon MORE than gasoline (at least around here). If you don't need to tow at LEAST 8k pounds, just go with an F150. Just be sure to stay within 75% of rated towing capacity. That is a rule of thumb from the RV and truck forums. In general, most "safety" numbers on products are well padded on the side of safety but not THOSE numbers. Tow ratings on trucks are set dangerously high for marketing purposes.

[killerkernrich]

I wonder if FORD will ever have a F150 Diesel??

[blackberg]

they may take a wait and see approach,
they already make em for the export market I believe,just like they make the ford ranger, but stopped US sales.

just that automakers in the US have been wary of diesel do the the fiasco in 80's

But a good amount of consumers have been buying them. I see diesels all over out here now, I even see a good amount of Mercedes diesels even S class and C class.

And realisticly, buying a 1500 series diesel over 2500 diesel can be $10-20k in savings.
-bb

[devdwt]

I have an old '99 F250 with the 7.3 (International T444E) diesel engine that's coming up on 250K miles with it's first transmission rebuild at 215K but no other major issues in it's life.
This truck still runs like a champ, but I have a hankering for a new one.

That being said, and considering that I will keep this truck, I will most likely go with an F150 for my next one.

The 6.2 gasser has plenty of power for towing and fuel mileage is more or less secondary with me
because I don't drive that many miles per year.

And whether it's an F150 or F250.....it's FORD Trucks FTW!(Chevy and Dodge are OK too! just don't buy Jap Crap!)

[STEVEBRENDA]

Never had any lack of power towing our 22.5' pontoon 125 HP motor with our 2005 F150 Lariat 5.4. I think I have the 3:55 rear ends. We have some pretty good "hills" here in southern Missouri. I would buy the exact same set up unless I were to be pulling equipment all day,everyday.

[lakerunner]

Check the F150 hd. That is unless you need the 250