New Truck & 5th Wheel Shakedown

[JeffS]

We just completed our shake down with the new F250 and Cougar 333MKS 5th Wheel. The Ford owner’s manual said we needed 500 miles on the truck prior to towing so at 503 miles we hooked up and headed North to Manistee. When we unloaded the old 5th Wheel I weighed everything so I am reasonably confident the new unit comes in right around 11,000 lbs. We had been getting a non-towing average of about 18 mpg and with the 5th Wheel in tow that dropped to 13 mpg. The trip had a lot of good hills but the truck never seemed to even breathe hard. Having never owned a diesel before, I am not sure if that mpg is a good number at this point. However, I would expect it to improve with added mileage. The truck sagged just a touch less than 3 in. so I will add Timbrens which by all reports should cut the sag to about 1½” to 1¾”.

Thanks to the pre-delivery inspection list we only encountered one surprise. I never thought to check the drain connections for the kitchen sink thus we had a little water on the floor of the cabinet when we did the dishes. A little hand tightening and half a dozen paper towels fixed the problem. Based on what I have read here on the forum it seems most new owners encounter a “mystery switch”. Ours was one of the switches in the stairway up to the bath/bedroom. It drove us nuts for a good ½ hour until we discovered it turned the LED lights on the front cap (see picture). Of course the radio mysteriously came on at midnight but fortunately I remembered reading about the alarm setting. I am blaming this on the DW as she felt compelled to set the radio’s clock without using the directions.

[2011 keystone]

Glad to hear all went well. That a nice looking set up you have.
13MPG seems be be about average for the Ford, Dodge and chevys while towing.

[nano]

Keep an eye on your control panel. Don't know if you've read about the issue, but if your control panel, or part of it, quits working, you will have to unplug from shore power, turn your battery disconnect switch off, then turn both sources of power back on again to reset the panel.

Our first replacement panel still doesn't work correctly. We have a second one on order now.

[JeffS]

nano -
Thanks for the tip. I have read about panel problems and am hoping they have it corrected by now but am not counting on it.

[Family_5ers]

Great duo you've got there. We average 13-14mpg's with a similar size setup.

[byrdr1]

Sweet!
enjoy that set up!
randy

[Javi]

Glad you're enjoying the 333MKS. The DW is just about to wear me out wanting one. "bouncey:

[5mary6]

Glad to have another 333MKS owner around here!!!!:wlcm:

[Poppy's 5th Wheel]

Beautiful setup for sure. You will love the diesel without a doubt. I can't see me ever getting another gasser after getting ours. I remember years ago being a big time diesel hater. They were noisy, smelly and dirty. Blowing smoke over the rest of the world. These new generation diesels are a world apart from those old things and I swear they were built for folks like us to tow our big trailers all over this great country. Enjoy

http://www.keystoneforums.com/attachments/photobucket/img_89093_0_b16c8e8777670081fcea5c15a5960b78.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/blown96ws6/media/freshlywaxedandreadytogo.jpg.html)

[Keoni37]

Congrats on the new rig and that mpg looks great to me! We have a 3 mo old 333MKS & pulling with 2010 Ford F350 CC PSD Long bed SRW FX4 and getting about 8.6mpg! :( Just returned from a 3,200 mile trip, everything working fine, no issues with the control panel....yet!

[macattack]

We also have a 2010 F350 6.4L diesel Super Duty that gets about 14 mpg unloaded and no better than 8 mpg towing our 12,500 lb Montana (empty).

A friend of mine has the same truck and with some modifications (bigger air bell, straight-thru exhaust, and new engine computer program profile) was able to improve his mileage to around 26 mpg unloaded. I don't know how those mods would affect towing, but the original factory engine profile can always be restored for that use. Cost him about $1500 altogether. Once out of warranty I may do the same. Let me know if anyone wants the details of his mods. Send me a PM if you wish.

[sdetweil]

We just completed our shake down with the new F250 and Cougar 333MKS 5th Wheel. The Ford owner’s manual said we needed 500 miles on the truck prior to towing so at 503 miles we hooked up and headed North to Manistee. When we unloaded the old 5th Wheel I weighed everything so I am reasonably confident the new unit comes in right around 11,000 lbs. We had been getting a non-towing average of about 18 mpg and with the 5th Wheel in tow that dropped to 13 mpg. The trip had a lot of good hills but the truck never seemed to even breathe hard. Having never owned a diesel before, I am not sure if that mpg is a good number at this point. However, I would expect it to improve with added mileage. The truck sagged just a touch less than 3 in. so I will add Timbrens which by all reports should cut the sag to about 1½” to 1¾”.

Thanks to the pre-delivery inspection list we only encountered one surprise. I never thought to check the drain connections for the kitchen sink thus we had a little water on the floor of the cabinet when we did the dishes. A little hand tightening and half a dozen paper towels fixed the problem. Based on what I have read here on the forum it seems most new owners encounter a “mystery switch”. Ours was one of the switches in the stairway up to the bath/bedroom. It drove us nuts for a good ½ hour until we discovered it turned the LED lights on the front cap (see picture). Of course the radio mysteriously came on at midnight but fortunately I remembered reading about the alarm setting. I am blaming this on the DW as she felt compelled to set the radio’s clock without using the directions.

where is that delivery checklist? we pick ours up in 2 weeks.

[sdetweil]

We also have a 2010 F350 6.4L diesel Super Duty that gets about 14 mpg unloaded and no better than 8 mpg towing our 12,500 lb Montana (empty).

A friend of mine has the same truck and with some modifications (bigger air bell, straight-thru exhaust, and new engine computer program profile) was able to improve his mileage to around 26 mpg unloaded. I don't know how those mods would affect towing, but the original factory engine profile can always be restored for that use. Cost him about $1500 altogether. Once out of warranty I may do the same. Let me know if anyone wants the details of his mods. Send me a PM if you wish.

that 26 is only on the dash. the mods confuse the computer. the actual hand calculate improvement is 1-2 mpg max. I did the same on my 08 dually.
finally traded it on a 2012 6.7 dually and get a real 16.7 highway empty stock. tow my new fifth in 2 weeks.. hoping for 11.. (the dually is 3.73 gears).

[JRTJH]

where is that delivery checklist? we pick ours up in 2 weeks.

Go to the "GENERAL FORUMS" and the first category is "Keystone Questions" The PDI is the first entry (sticky) you'll find there.

[sdetweil]

Go to the "GENERAL FORUMS" and the first category is "Keystone Questions" The PDI is the first entry (sticky) you'll find there.


thank you!

[jerseyphil]

Wow! The 333MKS is a gorgeous rig. Enjoy it.

With my 2011 F250 diesel, I usually get between 13.5 and 13.9 MPG.

[WaltBennett]

that 26 is only on the dash. the mods confuse the computer. the actual hand calculate improvement is 1-2 mpg max. I did the same on my 08 dually.
finally traded it on a 2012 6.7 dually and get a real 16.7 highway empty stock. tow my new fifth in 2 weeks.. hoping for 11.. (the dually is 3.73 gears).

Now I'm really wondering about my new/old '06 F350 6.0 dually. I'm getting 11.5 (both dash and 500 mile computed) towing our '10 3665RE Montana, 17+ urban and 18-20 interstate. It's got a 4.10 rear so I seldom go over 70. I thought the engine was completely stock, but I'm beginning to think it may have been programmed.

[sdetweil]

Now I'm really wondering about my new/old '06 F350 6.0 dually. I'm getting 11.5 (both dash and 500 mile computed) towing our '10 3665RE Montana, 17+ urban and 18-20 interstate. It's got a 4.10 rear so I seldom go over 70. I thought the engine was completely stock, but I'm beginning to think it may have been programmed.

My 08 DRW 4.10 rear, with the Spartan computer and DPF removal added about 3/4 mpg measured. I got a LOT more power (which made me worry about the tranny as I felt slippage), but didn't really need power.

the 6.7 at 400hp/800 tq is all that I can ask for. and 18-20 highway with 3.31 gears, and 16-17 mpg with 3.73 gears. Keep the RPM below 2000 is the sweet spot. 68mph.

on the 08 we didn't know we had a 7,000lb enclosed car hauler back there.
can't wait to tow the 5th wheel (12.5k empty).