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Old 09-02-2015, 02:22 PM   #1
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Truck recommendations for 3950

My family and I are going full time and looking for a good reliable truck to pull the 3950. I've mainly been looking at 2011+ F350 and F450 but reviewing the PowerStroke forum problem topics has me questioning the reliability of the 6.7. I'd appreciate any recommendations. thanks in advance.
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Old 09-02-2015, 03:03 PM   #2
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I have had my 2011 build one F-350 since the early rollout of the 6.7. I love mine. Zero major issues once they finally got the tranny programming down. Pulls my 3950 without issue, and I am running 3:31 rear end (ordered it years before I bought my 3950).

Keep in mind that most people join forums to find answers to problems they have, very seldom does someone get on a forum and praise the quality of what they have, so the number of problems you see will definitely be skewed as compared to the number of ford 6.7's on the road. (disclaimer: this holds mostly true for most manufactured products EXCEPT Dutchmen.... LOL)
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Old 09-02-2015, 03:19 PM   #3
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Thanks Thom. I agree, forums are usually filled with 'problems' and not 'praise' for any product. I knew that a few here pull their Voltages with a Ford so I wanted to hear from the owners. Good to hear you like the Ford.
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Old 09-02-2015, 04:00 PM   #4
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I have a 2015 F350 DRW with 4.3 gears...pulls like a champ. Other than some early valve problems, I have not really heard of any major problems from this engine, other than those self induced by tuning them.

The 2nd Generation has a bigger turbo and some fuel system changes. Love it.

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Old 09-02-2015, 04:11 PM   #5
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I'll put in my two cents worth on the Ford. This is the fourth Ford diesel truck I've owned. One 7.3, two 6.0 & this 6.7. 7.3 was fine only lost a turbo. Both 6.0 were major problems. This true Ford engine was been flawless. 42k+ miles on it most of that towing with ZERO problems. No warranty work has been done to it. I've just done normal oil changes. I've towed twice to So. Dakota & back. This past summer went to Glacier N.P. I just changed out the OEM tires & they still had 4/32" left on them.
As far as I'm concerned you wouldn't go wrong with a Ford. Find a 2015 & get the 0 % financing they have now. Bought my 2012 in Sept. & got over $12.5k off of MSRP.
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Old 09-02-2015, 05:59 PM   #6
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2015 Ford F-350 dually diesel with 3.73 rear end. No problems.
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Old 09-03-2015, 01:57 AM   #7
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'15 F-250 3.55 rear end... SRW... I went back and forth on whether I should buy a dually, and if I should have lower gearing... had the best one ever made the 7.3... but I'll tell you I'm much more impressed with this 6.7 then I ever was with the 7.3 (except I miss the sound and the fuel mileage but you won't find a Diesel these days that gets anything worth crap because of DEF). I put TOYO AT/II 4000LBS+ EA Tire, sway bar, bags and overload springs and 5100's (shocks). I may have over built the truck but she pulls beautifully. I didn't want another dually because she's also the truck we drive around in when parked. But I have to say I wouldn't change a thing. Best truck I've ever owned and nock-on-wood I haven't had any issues with her. 25k miles... had an '11 before and it was also a great truck but the exhaust brake made the deal. I don't touch the brakes hauling my 3990 and I mean it. She does all the work and I just went through the Pigeon Forge area this summer (July actually). But this is just my experience others have better or worse ones. Best of luck.
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Old 09-03-2015, 06:37 PM   #8
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Thanks for the responses. It's good to hear some praise for the new Ford Powerstroke. Since I'm looking at the used market, anyone know how long these trucks can last? I've heard that these diesels can last north of 200k miles.
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Old 09-04-2015, 03:19 PM   #9
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I had a 2012 F250 with 75K on the odo. Never a problem. Both my adult kids have 2011 & 2012 F250's and we haul 6 different trailers. Never any problem. I just upgraded to a 2015 F350 DRW CC with 3.73 gears and 14K GVW upgrade. Only about 1K miles so far and I love it. Rides as good or better as my 2012 F250 when empty. Tows my Voltage 3950 like it's not even there and we live in the mountains of SW Colorado. Get a 2015 with 0% APR and you'll love it even more.
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Old 09-05-2015, 03:04 AM   #10
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I've got just over 160,000 on my 2011 Ford F-350 DRW. I've had to replace two fuel injectors (which is a rare failure), but both failed after a long road trip where I had to make some sketchy fuel purchases. Apart from that, it's been flawless. Even with those two repairs, I'd make the same decision to buy. The power of this truck pulling my 19,000lb toyhauler up a mountain grade is staggering. I expect this truck to go well beyond 200,000 miles.
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Old 09-05-2015, 09:50 PM   #11
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Personally, I'd buy a truck you like and don't look back. Remember one thing, if it has teets or tires, your gonna have problems with it, and these new diesels like clean fuel. Our company did a study on slip tanks, we have a fleet of 200+ pickups and vans, and found that guys with diesels and a slip tank, are twice as likely to have injection problems. Too much dirt/moisture in the fuel, and poor fueling practices. If you want an eye opener, look in the fuel nozzle at truck stop, and then stop a rancher or miner and look at the nozzle. Guaranteed it's full of dirt from offroad, and it ends up straight in the fuel tank.
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Old 09-08-2015, 12:52 AM   #12
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I'll throw my vote for the 6.7 Ford too.

I had an 2005 Duramax 2500 that I towed the 3200 with, powerwise it was fine, but it just wasn't heavy duty enough for a 16.5k trailer. Stopping was so so. It had 35s with 3.73s and the 5 speed Ally. I usually towed at 55 mph in 4th gear (1 to 1). Averaged about 8 to 8.8 mpg. But it started to break. The trans was on borrowed time from slipping it with too much power (all my fault with a programer), and then I overtemped it by hauling ass up the 15 going back to Vegas. The water temp was good to go though (aux radiator), but the trans was not happy. Then I broke a u-joint and warped the yoke...enough of that, started looking at a new rig.

I was going to get a dually, but decided I could get away with an SRW if I bought a new truck. The GVWR of my F-350 is 11.5k. That's a lot. I'd def go DRW for a bigger trailer, but SRW is good for me since my truck is also my daily driver, and it's all legal with the 3200.

The Ford I got was pretty decent. Lariat with nav and a sun roof, bench seat with heated and cooled seats, crew cab long box, FX4 and the 5th wheel prep package. I got a B&W Companion that takes a whole 1 minute to install or remove.

With the 6.7 and 3.55s, I tow at 65 mph with no struggling, usually in the top gear and I get anywhere from 9.7 to 11.7 MPGs. Unloaded putting around town, usually 13-16 MPGs.

It didn't have some driveline vibration, not an uncommon thing, but the dealership installed an upgraded 2015 driveline and it's cleared up big time.

The only problem really is hard to overcome though, these trucks are bloody expensive...even used. Totally worth it though in the long term. I don't plan to change up for a long long time.
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