Anyone know how well the Fords with the 6.8 V10 pulls? Im thinking about getting rid of my Avalanche for a Ford F250 with the V10. I know the power stroke is much better, but this is a hard deal to pass up for this truck. What are your thoughts??

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2007 Rinker 226 captiva
Fassler than you!
350mag w/ bravo 3

Drew, I have a 2002 F-350 crew cab 4X4 with the V-10 and it'll pull a mountain. I have driven the power stroke and yes there's a little more torque there, but I've had my V-10 since late 2002 and it's done a fantastic job. I will tell you that I get between 13 and 14 mpg highway not towing. When the wife and I went to the Summer Splash this summer we got 10 mpg towing our 225 with a full tank in the boat. Hope this helps.  

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Drew, We have one in our Excursion and like it. It'll pull most anything you hook it up to, and still be a nice civilized ride for you. What year truck are you looking at?

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"Toy Story"

Y2K 266BR
454 Mag B-3

I believe it was a 2004 Ford F-250 4 door Harley Davidson edition. Its black n orange. Really clean on the inside. Looks like the previous owner took real good care of the interior. has 45k. Im only looking cause my 07 Avalanche isnt cutting it. I want a truck that will pull with no problem and still look nice, not a work truck!

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2007 Rinker 226 captiva
Fassler than you!
350mag w/ bravo 3

That truck will pull most any trailer boat out there. The cool thing about the V-10 is it's REALLY inexpensive to maintain....basically the same needs as the 5.4.

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"Toy Story"

Y2K 266BR
454 Mag B-3

For what its worth, I drove a 99 F-250 w/ V-10 work truck for about 6 years (and did a fair amount of pulling with it), and have an 01 Suburban w/ 6.0 for my boat puller.  I get better mileage with my Chevy, and the hp and torque are very comparable.  I believe the V-10 has a slight torque advantage, but the 6.0 has a little more hp (varies somewhat by model year).  Does your Avalanche have the 5.3L?  Have had a truck with that engine also, and agree it would be a little underpowered for any serious towing.  If the truck is a good deal, I second Greg that the V-10 pulls great for a gas engine... might want to verify if it has a tow package also (transmission cooler, gears, etc)

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240 EX

My Avalanche is a 5.3L. with the 3.7 gear ratio, The Avanchle's rear end are coil springs which makes driving 70 to 80mph a little scary. Chevy hasnt came out with nor are planning to as far as I know with a 2500. This Ford seems like a good deal. They are asking for 27k with low miles for a 2004. I like the new 08 Ford F250 power stroke but I just bought this Avalanche a year ago and dont reall wanna spend 47k on a new truck.

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2007 Rinker 226 captiva
Fassler than you!
350mag w/ bravo 3

Drew you know that chevy did make an Avalanche from 02-05 2500 with the 8.1 V8 in it that will pull a house down .. if you so wanted to stay in an Avalanche...I have looked at a couple and just cant decide if I want a big V8 or a diesel which the Avalanche never offered.. I know I miss the Avalanche I had in 02, one of the first ones sold in my area....I love them...

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'06 21 Classic
FUELISH PLEASURES
Garland, TX

they are nice trucks. I get nothing but compliments on it. I have to start thinking long term..... Im worried the avalanche will wear down with all the pulling I do. The F250 can handle anything I can throw at it. Plus I like the idea of the V10 and it being better on maintence fees. Anything else you guys know of please share.  

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2007 Rinker 226 captiva
Fassler than you!
350mag w/ bravo 3

Drew, i pull my 250cr with a 01 silverado with a 5.3 and it does well i cant imagine an avalanche would have trouble with a 226 captiva, have you measured your tounge weight? when i got my 250 the bow roller was waaaaaaaay too far forward the tounge weight  was 1400lbs i moved the bow roller back 4inches and got a tounge weight of 860lbs and made a huge difference. you want your tounge weight around 10% of total weight.

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Danny and Jennifer Phillips
2007 250CR 496MAG MPi
"MONEY 2 BURN"
Portage Public Marina
Burns Harbor, IN

Drew, this is a great place to learn about the Super Duty and they have a V-10 specific forum that's really good...http://www.ford-trucks.com/

A few things I've learned from having one:

The 2000 to 2004 engines were improved over the 99's...275hp and 410 ft/lbs of torque were bumped up to 310 and 425 repectively.

Ford fixed the spark plug blow-out issue by adding more threads to the heads in '01.

The V-10 runs forever on regular old Motorcraft 5W-20 and FL-820 filters.

A new fuel filter every year keeps a LOT of running issues from happening.

Cat back exhausts and cold air intake systems sound good  but really don't give you much in return for the bucks they cost.

If you ever upsize in boats or start towing a large camper, throwing a set of 4:30 gears in the diffs makes a huge difference in the way the V-10 tows...remember, it's just a "small block" with 2 cylinders added to it so don't be afraid to let her rev if she wants to!

All in all, if you like to wrench on your rides and do engine repairs, you'll find the V-10 a very boring engine....there's just not much stuff that goes wrong with them!

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"Toy Story"

Y2K 266BR
454 Mag B-3

The Silverados have a higher towing rating then the Avalanches. I max out at 7200 lbs, n also the silverados have rear leaf springs for a sturdier ride. Where the coils, on my truck, make for a smooth ride but not with that kind of weight in the truck bed n pulling. I will look at tht tounge weight deff. Thanks for that info

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2007 Rinker 226 captiva
Fassler than you!
350mag w/ bravo 3

Drew I know several people that have added air bags to the Avalanche and said it made all the difference in the world...I know the5.3 should pull your boat just fine as I used to pull a uper heavy flatbed tralier with our frontloader tractor or sometime our GTO and it never had a problem pulling the weight in fact I have a 5.7 in my GMC and the 5.3 in the Avalanche seems like it would out run the 5.7 in my other truck power wise...just some thoughts

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'06 21 Classic
FUELISH PLEASURES
Garland, TX

Drew,

I have to agree with the posts above regarding the AV.  I had an '03 AV, although it had 4.10 gears, it was a 1/2 ton with the 5.3.  I pulled my 266ccr with no problems.  I did have to adjust the tongue weight on my trailer as well, which made a huge difference.  I will say, I wouldn't want to tow anything heavier with that truck, but your rinker should be no problem.  Considering the hit that you would take trading the '07 now, it would be cheaper to swap the rear ends for a 4.10 and put air bags in.  The gas mileage with the 4.10s would be worse than you are getting now, but still much better than a V-10.  Just my opinion....

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Craig and Marci
Zach, Brady and Caden
2005 275CCR, 496 mag

Danny, more typical boat trailer tongue weight is 5-7% so you could lower your tongue weight a little more yet.  10% is more like a travel trailer.  

My '07 Yukon has the 4.10 rear (had to order this way, everyone stocks 3.73) and with the 5.3, it tows our 266BR very nicely.  No sway, great braking, no bouncing...  I do have Autoride with the rear air levelling shocks and I guess the computer controls the shocks to avoid that choppy feel when pulling.  The pulling power is much stronger than my '02 Yukon I guess due to the rear end (old one was 3.73) and the 35 extra ponies. 

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O'
"Little Mascara 3"
2003 266BR,496 MAG w/Bravo III