Ballistic, don't get too caught up on the manual transmission option. The auto is a good set up. I test drove the manual 7.3, and felt like it fell off boost and had to work through turbo lag while getting into the next gear.
I just finished a 670 mile trip in my ole army buddy's big rig. It was a 2019 Freightliner, we were hauling a massive conveyor belt system to Anchorage international airport.
That big rig had an AUTO! That thing shifted like a boss. We averaged 7.96 mpg. He ain't running gears no more, he's only 378,000 miles into the new truck and transmission has been flawless.
**Forgot one more thing:
Now would be a good time to upgrade to f350. You'll have a better high pinion Dana 60, rather than the Dana 50 on the f250. The ring gear and axle shafts are much smaller on the Dana 50. I'm pretty sure I would snap Dana 50 axles like twigs in a single firewood season.
Last edited by mainer_in_ak; 07/14/21.
