09 Powerstroke Diesel - Montana Owners Club

Montana Sky · 09-12-2009, 06:32 AM

I am currently working a deal on a 2009 F350 King Ranch, Crew, long bed, 4x4, SRW with the 6.4L Powerstroke. I would like to hear from all you current 6.4L owners on your thoughts of this motor. Would you buy it again had you had the option? Fuel mileage -- both towing and empty. Over perfomance of the Super Duty. Anything else I should know before I make my final decision. Thanks in advance...

richfaa · 09-12-2009, 08:48 AM

We have 25K miles on our 08 6.4L. It has been flawless. We have pulled some of the steepest grades in the country with no problems. It has plenty of power. MPG is a hard call as there are so many variables. At the end of the average day We can count on 10+ MPG pulling the 3400. We have got as low as 8 and as high as 12. Solo... again many variables but 15/17 is about average. We do not do big city stop and go driving. Those are very honest real time numbers. The truck is a brute.

Tom S. · 09-12-2009, 10:03 AM

It's pretty hard to go wrong with any of the Big Three.... well with what used to be the Big Three.

Fordzilla · 09-12-2009, 10:57 AM

Dave, Although I may sound a little biased with my user name. I thought I should throw in my 2 cents. I also have the Dually with 4:10's n the rear. The SRW used to be only available with 3:73's which should net better MPG's both empty and pulling, although you will give up a little power. I had a 350 with the 3:73's before the current truck and it pulled our Monty fine. I have an older motor so can't comment on the 6.4, but wanted to remind you the SRW's will have 3:73's vs Rich's big Dually.

Delaine and Lindy · 09-12-2009, 12:02 PM

Dave you know I would be the last person to recomend a Ford or Dodge for that matter. But if you haven't looked at the Ford Diesel forum, you might get some info to help make the decision. As for the rear gear as you know GM has used the 3.73 in the HD's for several years and it perfoms great, but I think the Allison is the reason it works so well. Dave there is a subliminal message here (Think Freightliner M2

. Good Luck on your choice, but don't let the King Ranch give you the wow factor. I do know the King Ranch is awesome. GBY....

P.S. Check the turning radius, that is a long Truck ???

Bruce Lenhardt · 09-12-2009, 03:31 PM

I have an 08 F350 (6.4) with 22K miles. Just returned from a trip to the Smokey Mountains in Tn. and NC. The truck does great in the mountains. I agree with Richfaa about the fuel mileage. I got just under 11 MPH on this trip with a lot of mountain pulling and almost no pulling without the trailer. Yes I would buy another one. I don't use the truck much without the Monty so can't say much about the highway w/o Monty. Somewhere around 17 or 18.

mlh · 09-12-2009, 04:09 PM

I have a 08 King Ranck 6.4. Best I have ever owned, nicest truck I have ever been in. You will love it. The 6.4 ts proving to be a much better engine than the 6.0, the auto tranny is bullet proof. All and all a great truck.
Lynwood

**Carl n Susan** · 09-12-2009, 06:03 PM

With just a touch under 30K miles, our 2008 6.4L has been flawless. Not an expression I would use with our previous 2004 6.0L truck. Plus the creature comforts of the 2008 6.4L are really, really nice.

As for mileage, we travel extensively with a friend, who has effectively the same trailer as we, driving a 7.3L Ford and our mileage is within 1/10 of a mile (hand calculated). We have the 3.73 rear end.

washley1 · 09-12-2009, 06:17 PM

Mine's an 08 F350, King Ranch, long bed, 4X, 6.4, DRW, with a 430 rear end. It has pulled my Big Sky's big weight about 10000 miles since November. While the 5er has had a few warranty issues, the TV is great! I firmly believe the DRW is the way to go with my weight, but I only get about 8 MPG. But that truck is one of the best performers I have ever seen.

richfaa · 09-13-2009, 02:51 AM

I have to add that we have the 4:10 diff in our 6.4 and you can get the 4:30 Diff if you need to pull more weight. We will agree that any of the..what's left of the big three..will do the job but we can only comment on the Ford 6.4L as was requested.

mlh · 09-13-2009, 04:09 AM

Rich
The 6.4 comes standard with a 3.55 rear end, extra cost option is a 3.73 or a 4.10 the 4.30 does not come with the 6.4 now.
Lynwood

richfaa · 09-13-2009, 05:03 AM

Hummmm.It still shows on the "build your own truck" portion of FOMOCO.... perhaps that is a 09 change.. That does take away from the tow capacity.

mlh · 09-13-2009, 06:02 AM

The Ford web site that I looked at listed the 4.30 as gas only.
Either way this truck will pull your Monty faster than the law allows. I have pulled my Monty at over 80 mph, over the mountain between Cheyenne and Laramie Wy. several times. Thats over 8800 feet.
Lynwood

sreigle · 09-13-2009, 10:34 AM

Dave, as you know I towed our Montanas with two different Ford diesel trucks. Neither was the 6.4L so I will not be able to comment on the engine other than all reports I've heard rave about its towing ability.

What I wanted to comment on is the transmission, which is the same as the transmission in my 2005 Ford. I found it an excellent transmission in the 89,000 miles we put on it. The one and only magazine test article I ever found that included more than cursory comments about the transmission was very favorable. They said when they looked at construction that it was very well built, very strong. Unlike what some people seem to think, they said it is NOT just an update to the prior transmission. They also said that it is smarter about when to shift (when in tow/haul) than is the Allison in the GM trucks in the comparison article. I've heard of no problems with this transmission and we had no problems at all with it.

adelmoll · 09-13-2009, 11:38 AM

Dave, we are still pulling our Big Sky with the same Ford we had when we saw you three yrs ago... That's 118,000 miles and not one bit of trouble... We usually do not go over 60mph when towing and that is just fine with us. We're on vacation... Go for it... That is the same one we are looking for and will be keeping our eyes and ears open while we are in Elkhart/Goshen. I think the '09 is the best way to go for a good deal right now.. We drove the bigger trucks (450, 550 etc) but I don't think I could stand that rough of a ride for as much as we travel.

Good luck... We'll be looking over your shoulder.

Helen

TLightning · 09-13-2009, 01:47 PM

Understand Ford is coming out with a replacement for the 6.4 either this year or next year...might be something to consider.

Montana Sky · 09-13-2009, 05:04 PM

Thank you all for your input. I will be trying to work a deal with Woodhouse Ford on Thursday in Omaha. I hit the Ford shop in Spokane tonight and found the exact truck I want. Will be going down tomorrow for a test drive. The only down side to this truck is it has the 18" KR wheels and I really wanted the 20" KR wheels. Other than that, everything else is perfect. All depends on who gives me the best deal...Spokane or Omaha. I have not ruled out a new Duramax, but neither Dave Smith in Idaho or Karl Chevy in Des Moines can locate the exact Silverado I want. It is looking like a Ford for my next truck.

8e3k0 · 09-13-2009, 05:12 PM

We're running a 09 King Ranch dually long box with 3.73 gears and love the truck all around. At 62 to 65 MPH the rpms are at 1800 which is that optimum torque curve. We have installed a 210 horse tune and modified the exhaust system at 4800 miles. Have towed with this tune and the truck is totally awesome for horsepower, shift and fuel mileage. Could not stand the poor fuel mileage, regens and loss of horsepower during those regens while pulling previously. Son has a 09 SRW with the 6.4 and was ready to sell it, then made the modifications and loves the truck now. He has about 25000 miles on the truck. Great design and absolutely no problems with cab, chasis etc.

richfaa · 09-14-2009, 05:48 AM

We on the other hand get acceptable MPG for a truck that weighs in at 9300lbs. Got the latest flash last month and it reduces the frequency of regenerations.Have not had one now in over 500 miles also seems to have increased the power.

8e3k0 · 09-14-2009, 08:03 AM

Rich, check the inside of your exhast tip for black soot, just use a light colored rag of finger tip to check.( All normal regens are running 150 to 250 miles pending engine load and rpms). It should be clean, if not your regen is not working properly and your filter will eventually plug with soot (delta "P" will increase across the DPF). Mine did this in early stages, would go for 500 miles regen and then regen every 100 miles for a while. That filter is huge and weighs 70 to 80 pounds. Great exhaust restriction over time which decrease horsepower and increases fuel consumption.

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