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Old 03-04-2010, 01:57 PM   #1
kramperD
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V-10 anyone?

Okay....so I see that the 2010 triton can pull quite a bit when it comes to the 5er...will eventually be getting a Monty 3400. I know you all have your personals....and I know it's up to me...but what's your take...and don't hold back, I've made no decision. Thanks as usual, D
 
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Old 03-04-2010, 02:13 PM   #2
racerjoe
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I use a V-10 and for our use it serves the purpose. We pull a 2950rk which I believe is about 12000 lbs. It does tow well, but we also do not tow across country as of yet, but would not hesitate to go.
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Old 03-04-2010, 02:20 PM   #3
noneck
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I would think Richfaa will help with his experience as he too used to pull his 3400 with one. My less neutral position is...Diesel rocks as I'm still sooooo happy that I no longer need to mash the accelerator, listening to the high rpms just to clear the stupid mountain at 40 mph. All that and I'm getting around 10 mpg towing 10.5k...happy camper here.
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Old 03-04-2010, 02:32 PM   #4
Clemson1881
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I've towed with big v-8s and diesels. A diesel is much better for heavy towing. Fuel milage isn't close. I get around 11 MPG towing my rig, and that's with no chip, automatic transmission, and 4X4. The best I ever got with a large gas engine was 7.5 MPG. And if you're going to rack up a lot of miles the diesel is the way to go.
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Old 03-04-2010, 02:35 PM   #5
bjj5633
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I only tow about 700 miles a year with my longest trip about 220 miles. Last year was my first year with this combo and all seemed well. My average mpg towing on the long trip was 8.5 with 90% highway driving. I use tv for my daily drive to and from work mostly highway and I avg 11 mpg. Good luck.
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Old 03-04-2010, 02:57 PM   #6
Clemson1881
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Good point bjj, if you're not going to rack up the miles and tow a lot, the substantial additional cost of the diesels you may not want to spring for. How much and how you use the truck are big factors.
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Old 03-04-2010, 04:54 PM   #7
kmh3212
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The Triton V-10s are very reliable, quiet and smooth. No they don't have the horsepower and torque of a diesel but cost considerably less money. How many towing days per year and for how many years and what terrain are you planning to tow in. How long do you anticipate keeping the vehicle. All factors in what powerplant you will choose. More information would help in making a reccomendation.
Good luck in your choice.
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Old 03-05-2010, 12:43 AM   #8
Ozz
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We had a Sprinter Travel trailer, I guess it was a 35 foot or so, pulled it with a Ford Expedition? the big wagon. Loved it, had mucho power in most cases. We left Amarillo, West to Albuquerque fighting the headwind, we couldn't maintain 55 MPH. I had the gas pedal on the carpet, we were being passed by every brand of truck pulling same or smaller loads. I was furious, asked Sue how much we could charge on our credit cards and could we trade the puny engine/vehicle off without our title. We waited until we got back to K.C., bought a diesel. So, in my experience the V-10 just didn't have the torque we needed in that headwind situation. I have never had pulling problems with the Ford Diesel. Just my 2 cents worth.
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Old 03-05-2010, 03:52 AM   #9
SlickWillie
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Big Ford wagon; Excursion. OZZ, I felt the same way about the 6.0 Chevy I had. My friend here had the F350 SRW Ext Cab with the V10. He used to tell me how happy he was with it. Found out that was all BS, as he finally fessed up that he could barely make some hills on the way to and from Michigan every year. He's driving a new F350 with the 6.4 diesel.
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Old 03-05-2010, 04:05 AM   #10
jretz
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I had a Class C motorhome with the V-10, did great on level, none windy conditions. On low hills it pulled fine but on long up hills at higher elevations it slowed down. Gas engines lose power with altitude, diesels don't. As for fuel mileage, the V-10 in a 22 foot Class C towing a Jeep Wrangler with a stiff head wind got 6 to 7 MPG, my F-350 diesel towing my 3400 in the same conditions gets 10 to 11 MPG. Most people said my trade off was the gas mileage when I was driving around town, I did not have to drive a truck. Well my Jeep got 17-18 MPG on a good day, my F-350 does 16-17 when not towing.

Bottom line I did not even consider the V-10 when I went to the 5th wheel and I am very happy.
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Old 03-05-2010, 05:08 AM   #11
richfaa
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We did have a 05 F-350, V-10 and pulled this very same 06 3400 all over the country and some of the steepest grades.

1st MPG towing 05 V-10 7.5/8.0 mpg. 08 F-350 6.4L Diesel 9/11 towing MPg is not a big factor towing unless one does many miles (we do) Solo V-10 11/12 mpg 6.4 Diesel 15/18mpg. Diesel does better solo. IMO MPG would not be a make or break issue.

Performance..Now there is the big difference. Long grades, steep grades, high altitude. This is diesel territory and it out performers the V-10 gas motor.. We pulled the 3400 with the gas motor for about a year around Ohio and Indiana, etc and it performed well no reason for the diesel. After first trip to the S.W and our encounter with....big hills/ winds we purchased the diesel.

The V-10 had the 4:30 Diff which IMO is a must have for heavy pulling. Now the V-10 did the job it got us up all the big hills but there was a lot of huffing and puffing and screaming and howling and super high RPM's. Where we had to whip the V-10 to get up the hills we had to back off the diesel to keep the EGT's down.

Thee are two completly different motors and each does exactly what it is designed to do. For heavy, long range towing in the Mountains, hills and altitude the diesel is the choice..... Hope that helps.
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Old 03-05-2010, 05:11 AM   #12
JimF
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What they all said, we went from gas to diesel and from 6.5 mpg to 12mpg towing. The diesel even gets better milage than the gas when empty so it's a daily driver.
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Old 03-05-2010, 02:10 PM   #13
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I think it depends how far you are going and how fast you wont to get there. If you are not going far or fast it is hard to justify the diesel. Don't forget a gas engine looses 3.6% of its power for every 1000 feet of elevation. Just like Rich said.
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Old 03-05-2010, 02:57 PM   #14
kramperD
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A lot of great info......we're planning on using through the mts. and long distance.....I don't even want anything marginal....I have that now with our v8 jeep gr. cherok. pulling our 25ft tt throuh the Penn hills.....no way, no how.
Thanks for the insight and input....really helps with the decision making. You know I'm really relying on you experts out there! D
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Old 03-06-2010, 01:29 PM   #15
TLightning
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ddettorre...Based on your last comment ("through the mts and long distance"), IMHO, a diesel is the way to go. It will be a much more relaxed towing experience.
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Old 03-06-2010, 01:35 PM   #16
richfaa
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ddettorre.. See you are from Mansfield. Ohio. We live in North Ridgeville..well when we are there. We pulled those PA hills with the V-10...not good... Pulled to Baylor Beach and a lot of shifting..Sounds like you need a Diesel. We really liked that V-10..Smooth, Quiet... but we had to pull this 3400 anchor.
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Old 03-08-2010, 05:54 AM   #17
sreigle
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We started our fulltiming in March 2003 with a 2003 3295RK and a 1999 Ford F350 V10, supercab shortbed, 3.73 axle. Mileage was terrible with the V10 when towing, ranging from less than 5 mpg (35 mph headwinds in New Mexico mountains on US 380 and also up Vail Pass on I70 in Colorado) to almost 10 with a tailwind. Solo mpg was around 12 to 13 city and 14 to 15 highway. The V10 towed pretty well but was screaming up the long hills except on Vail Pass in Colorado on I70 where it was screaming and barely holding 32 mph at the top of the pass.

The diesels we've had do a superior job uphill and in mileage. But the diesel costs considerably more, also. And it's worth more at tradein time. If you plan to do a lot of towing I'd recommend the diesel. If not, then I'd go with personal preference.
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Old 03-08-2010, 06:03 AM   #18
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I have a 99 V-10 with 85,000 miles and agreed with all regarding mountains, I slow to 35-45 mph with revs at 3700 in second gear. Average 9 mpg except in mountains or headwinds. I have a 3000RK which does weigh less than a 3400. I am 19,500 fully loaded combined. Wish I had the 5 speed. Understand the 6 speed auto is not available on the 2011? V-10 but not sure.
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Old 03-08-2010, 01:31 PM   #19
ARJ
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I had built up my old 3/4 ton Chevy, 454 punched out to 460, cam, oval port heads w/max size valves, ported, 3 deg mechanical advance, beefed up turbo 400, 1 ton u joints & high capacity radiator.

I pulled a 27' trailer with an 8' PU camper on board. Did fine but I had my foot stuck through the floor boards a lot. The dyno test on the truck - 325HP and 475Ft# torque.

I now have a diesel (Duramax) and would never go back even though the old truck was quite capable.

Diesels rule!
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Old 03-10-2010, 11:18 AM   #20
soonerhooligan
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Sounds like everyone is having similar results with the V-10. Here is mine. Avg. 8.5 mpg towing. Around town, stop and go...10 mpg. I am in a 03 F-250. That being said...this is one stout gas motor. It will flat pull. If I was headed for the Rockies I'd go with Powerstroke. Everyone had differant needs. Go with what suits you.
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