I'm looking for someone that uses the Ford V10 for their truck for camper use. I have a 2003 F350 6.0L SRW. I have an Artic Fox 9.9 which has a "sticker" weight of 3200 lbs., but is close to 4000 lbs when loaded. I'm not happy with SRW configuration, and after having numerous problems with the 6.0l diesel I've lost confidence in that engine.

The Ford F350 DRW, 4x4 with the lighter V10 engine will work fine for me from a weight perspective. The F350 with the diesel will put me overweight. I really don't want to spend an additional $12,000 to get the F450, which only comes with a diesel.

I'm retired and will drive less than 10,000 miles a year on this truck. I'm not too worried about the mileage because the intial cost savings will buy a lot of gasoline. I've read that it takes about 100,000 miles to break even on the initial cost of the diesel. Those of you that use a Ford V10...how does it pull your camper up hills? What's your general feeling about this application. What is your mileage?

Many thanks,

Alano

Alano
You should do fine with a V10. People hauled big campers with smaller engines than that for years. They just didn't go 60/70mph. I would get a 4:30 rear end or at least 4:10 so you don't have to do 70 to get up to your power range RPM. I can improve my milage 10 to 20% by staying under 60 and useing a light foot.

quote:

Originally posted by CD:
Alano
You should do fine with a V10. People hauled big campers with smaller engines than that for years. They just didn't go 60/70mph. I would get a 4:30 rear end or at least 4:10 so you don't have to do 70 to get up to your power range RPM. I can improve my milage 10 to 20% by staying under 60 and useing a light foot.

Cliff

Thanks for your encouraging words and advice on the rear end......they only offer the 4:10 or 4:30 so my thoughts are for the 4:30....

Alano

quote:

Originally posted by Seth,Tiffany and Henry(MH Dog) Winick:
the V-10 is a great motor I had a F-250 super crew pickup 6 FT bed with the V-10 I owned it for three years... What a greeat motor is was... I only got 11.2 MPG but other then that it was great...WELCOME TO IRV2 hope you enjoy this website as much as we do...

Seth, Tiffany and Henry,

Thanks for sharing your experience with your V10 and for your welcoming words to iRV2!

Alano

Definately get the 4.30 because that V-10 needs to wind up a bit. I would also highly recomend the 6-spd over the auto. The V-10 is an excelent motor. I came very close to geting one in our current F-350 DRW.

I just traded in my '99 F-350 with 7.3 for a F-250 V-10 in my sig. I tow a 31' fith wheel about 11K lbs loaded and it tows it great. I get about 11.5 to 12 mpg unloaded and have been too scared to calculate it towing. I think even with 4K lbs you would be fine with the 4.10, but if you will spend any significant time in the hills, then get the 4.30. And good luck finding a V-10. They are tough to come by unless you order it.

I throw a 2500# TC in my '01 F350 4x4, SRW, AT, 3.73s and also pull a 7000# GVW trailer that probably typically weighs in at 5500-6000#.

No issues with power, although in hindsight (didn't envision the TC when I bought it; just pulling the trailer), I kind of wished I had 4.10s or 4.30s and DRW.

I can usually hold most hills on the interstates to 50+ mph. Mileage usually runs in the 12-13 range empty with an all-time best of 15 (all highway), and 9-10 range fully loaded.

Also, I have to admit that another gear or two would come in handy, as mine's just the 4spd OD.

The V-10 is a good engine on Ford's line, albiet she's a fairly hungry girl, but what larger gas engine isn't? 4.10's really are a decent gear for hauling campers, or towing with a gas engine. I do okay with 4.10s and a 360 Chrysler engine, though I go kinda slow up large hills or mountains.

A bit off the subject.

But has anyone owning the 7.3 powerstroke received anything from Ford about a recall on the cam sensor. Mine (99 F350, 7.3 diesel) has failed twice, once only after a few hundred miles on the truck 10 years ago, and then again last April. The web has all kinds of information on the recall; however, I personally have not received a recall notice.

The whole thing has me pretty upset with Ford. While the cam sensor is the only problem I have had in the last 10 years, it is a major problem when it fails...you lose control of steering and braking (it will steer but only through a major effort)....I can only imagine the consequences of a cam sensor failure while on the road, for example going into Yellowstone where roads are narrow...no place to pull off.

While the truck only has the 72000 miles on it, I consider this cam sensor problem (potential problem) serious enough to be thinking about a new truck...not Ford, but Chev/GMC or Dodge.

As for gas or diesel, good question; I've always liked diesel...however the price of diesel is > gasser and I don't really put that much mileage on the truck annually....so perhaps gasser is better...less weight is a positive factor when hauling a large camper (ours is Bigfoot, 4200 lbs when loaded).

HEMI

PS Just reread the thread; on rear axle. I chose the 3.7:1 (or about that). I have no problems flat roads, small hills. But on steep grades (Monarch Pass, Co), I have to gear down...to "2", sometimes to "1". There are tradeoffs.. the 3.7:1 provides better mileage but not good for hilly roads etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Alano:
I'm looking for someone that uses the Ford V10 for their truck for camper use. I have a 2003 F350 6.0L SRW. I have an Artic Fox 9.9 which has a "sticker" weight of 3200 lbs., but is close to 4000 lbs when loaded. I'm not happy with SRW configuration, and after having numerous problems with the 6.0l diesel I've lost confidence in that engine.

The Ford F350 DRW, 4x4 with the lighter V10 engine will work fine for me from a weight perspective. The F350 with the diesel will put me overweight. I really don't want to spend an additional $12,000 to get the F450, which only comes with a diesel.

I'm retired and will drive less than 10,000 miles a year on this truck. I'm not too worried about the mileage because the intial cost savings will buy a lot of gasoline. I've read that it takes about 100,000 miles to break even on the initial cost of the diesel. Those of you that use a Ford V10...how does it pull your camper up hills? What's your general feeling about this application. What is your mileage?

Many thanks,

Alano

I had the same reasons for getting a gasser. I have the feeling most people switched over to diesels that may have had small V-8 and I agree they were underpowered. The 8.1 L V8 has a marginally better fuel mileage than the 6L V8 when towing. I average 8 to 9 mpg with the camper and the trailer behind. If I drove only at 60 mph I would probably do better.... I like the large V-8, that by the way has all the power and torque I need (345 hp, 455 ftlb torque) and works effortlessly. I don't use the truck for anything else but camping. However if you plan to use your truck for short runs I would recommend the 6L V8. Unloaded it has a much better mileage than the 8.1L V8.