F250 gas vs diesel

[boatflounder]

Has anyone towed anything with a newer 250 with the gas engine? Will be getting a new truck in aa few months and pretty much have narrowed it down to the f250. My boat comes in at probably a little over 5000# and I dont normally have to trailer it far at all, but when ive had to take it to the shop 40 miles away my old 4.6L f150 scares me. Would like the ability to make a road trip with the boat if I wanted also the ability to put my bike in the bed with a full load and tow the boat out for the next hurricane if needed.

I am torn between the two as gas is cheaper and am worried about hurting a diesel if not putting enough miles on it but dont want to fin myself in a bind. Am leaning towards a diesel for the nmore power but dont really use the truck that much, but want the ability to as I intend this to be my truck for a long time.

Now to head off some people lets set the record straight, I work offshore and dont commute, this truck is strictly for pleasure my current 98 only has 55000 miles onit, the new one will get more mioleage as my wife wants to downsize so this will be our roadtrip vehicle. Also Irealize a newer halfton wpould probably meet my needs, but I am a large man who has had a bad year and this truck will be a reward to myself for surviving thhis year, and I like the idea of a truck I cant see over!

any input appreciated.

 

[dave11]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

I have an F250 Super Duty with the V10 engine. Plenty of power. I wanted gas - not diesel. I generally don't tow too far. I tow a couple of trailers, one is about 3800#, dual axel, and electric over hydraulic brakes. I get about 11MPG on the hiway. I hardly know it is back there. I got the gas engine for the ability to get it fixed anywhere. You can't do that with a diesel.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

Just out of curiosity, what are the mileage figures for the V10 without the trailer/boat?

 

[JCF350]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

My son has an 2003 F250 with the 7.3. He had one of those "chips" installed that has a 4 position switch to it. He gets around 20mpg empty and averaged 13mpg towing from northern California to here with a total package weight of 17,864 pounds (truck,trailer,an off road Tacoma on the trailer plus his household stuff).

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

2500 ram with 6.7
last tank, 535 miles and 30 gallon.
do the math.
32' travel trailer on 1/2 of that.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

imho, if i were to buy new, and a truck it would be diesel. i've had 2 in the past, and liked both very much. we have down sized in vehicle, and boat.

 

[JCF350]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

2500 ram with 6.7
last tank, 535 miles and 30 gallon.
do the math.
32' travel trailer on 1/2 of that.

Comes to 17.833...mpg

First of all mileage figured by the fillerup method needs to be done over at least 3 or 4 tank fulls to be even close to being a valid result.

Second does that travel trailer weigh 11,664 Lbs (17864 - 6200 curb weight)? Not even close, more like 6000 to 7000.

Also the first part of his trip was through mountains as he drove south a ways first before heading east.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

i really look at it this way. buy what you want. don't matter what any of us say. if it's not the one you want, you will never be happy with it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

I agree with Tash on the buy what you want. What we feel is really unimportant since you have only one decision -- "gas or diesel". I will add only that diesel engines don't like being started, run a mile or so to the shopping center, turned off and started for the run home, and then repeating the cycle for other errands. They like to be started in the morning, run until lunch, restarted after and run until quiting time. That's what they do best. By your own admission, you say its going to be a very seldom tow vehicle and other than that a couple times a year road trip vehicle. That scenario does not fit a diesel application at all. But again, buy what you want -- after all it's your money.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

Comes to 17.833...mpg

First of all mileage figured by the fillerup method needs to be done over at least 3 or 4 tank fulls to be even close to being a valid result.

Second does that travel trailer weigh 11,664 Lbs (17864 - 6200 curb weight)? Not even close, more like 6000 to 7000.

Also the first part of his trip was through mountains as he drove south a ways first before heading east.

Ok, for the last 2152 miles, it used 125.36 gallons.
That makes it 17.16.
With that said, a friend of mine does have a 250 and PS that will not come close to that.
Both are bone stock.
Anyways, I was just showing a comparison.
Now back to the question.
My friend does tow with his and likes it.
But he does use it as a daily driver also.
But like ST says, the diesels like to be run, not putted arouind town.

 

[JRJ]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

2500 ram with 6.7
last tank, 535 miles and 30 gallon.
do the math.
32' travel trailer on 1/2 of that.

Good to see that kind of mileage. I still intend to buy a new Dodge.

To the OP, enjoy that new pickup.

 

[JCF350]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

My friend does tow with his and likes it.
But he does use it as a daily driver also.
But like ST says, the diesels like to be run, not putted arouind town.

Yeah, my son is looking for a little car to putz around town with. No matter how good your fuel mileage is, you can't beat pushing around less weight.

 

[mike176]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

IMO the powerstroke was good when they made the 7.3 . The 6.0 pulled better but was so problimatic they had to give up and start over with the new 6.4 TT, I drive one at work and it pulls almost as good as a cummings (personaly if i was goin to buy a diesel it would be a cummings). The 6.4 has already been trough one major problem with the wiring harnes being pulled apart when it tourqs up so they had to recall em and rewire them. I've noticed that pulling or just driving it get 12MPG at best and diesel cost more then gas. Its a nice truck to drive but only because I did not buy it and I don't pay to fill it up.

 

[arks]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

Has anyone towed anything with a newer 250 with the gas engine? Will be getting a new truck in aa few months and pretty much have narrowed it down to the f250. My boat comes in at probably a little over 5000# and I dont normally have to trailer it far at all, but when ive had to take it to the shop 40 miles away my old 4.6L f150 scares me. any input appreciated.

I've been driving my 2001 F250 (5.4 V8 gas) since new. For the first 4 years I towed an older 23' cuddy (5100#) almost every summer weekend 85 miles (round-trip). My route included some hills and the truck was very capable. A couple times we vacationed with the boat in the Poconos and NY Finger Lakes and it did just fine in the mountains, too. When towing I did not use the overdrive (as specified in the owners manual). My truck is a super cab long bed with 4 wheel drive and a steel contractors cap. It always did a good job towing and was comfortable for 2 adults and 2 or 3 kids. I've since sold that boat but still have the truck, which now has 257,000 miles. Still has the original engine and tranny, but for the last year or two I've noticed a significant drop in performance. Since I use it for work I intend to keep it for awhile yet, so we'll see how long it'll last.
I think the V8 gas will be good for your towing needs. The diesel is an expensive option!

 

[DJ]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

Mostly pleasure, low miles-Go gas. The 6.8L has plenty of power and will return economy figures in the teens and it's cheaper to maintain.

The diesel doesn't pay unless you drive A LOT.

 

[JCF350]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

Mostly pleasure, low miles-Go gas. The 6.8L has plenty of power and will return economy figures in the teens and it's cheaper to maintain.

The diesel doesn't pay unless you drive A LOT.

Your right about the power. In the past I driven several 30'-32' C-class motorhomes with the 6.8. They had power to spare.

 

[achris]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

I got the gas engine for the ability to get it fixed anywhere. You can't do that with a diesel.

WHAT?!?!?!? The other around me thinks!!! Diesels are the easiest engines in the world to repair. Anyone who can swing a spanner can work on them. Also they are far more 'water resistant' than an electrically dependent petrol (gas is the stuff we light bbqs with) engine.

I have a 1999 100 series Landcruiser with a GM 6.5l V8 diesel, drives great and I get 24mpg on the highway, about 18mpg in the city and 16 towing the boat at 60mph... I've always aspired to an F250/7.3 until I took a ride in one a few weeks ago. VERY disappointing. I call them "huff'n'puffs" now. It huffed and it puffed but it really didn't do anything special. So big and heavy that the driver couldn't go round a round-a-bout properly. Just drove straight over the curbing.

I think I'll be sticking to the L/C. What you buy is entirely up to you, and you only (and maybe the wife thrown in for good measure).

Chris...................

 

[DJ]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

WHAT?!?!?!? The other around me thinks!!! Diesels are the easiest engines in the world to repair. Anyone who can swing a spanner can work on them. Also they are far more 'water resistant' than an electrically dependent petrol (gas is the stuff we light bbqs with) engine.

I have a 1999 100 series Landcruiser with a GM 6.5l V8 diesel, drives great and I get 24mpg on the highway, about 18mpg in the city and 16 towing the boat at 60mph... I've always aspired to an F250/7.3 until I took a ride in one a few weeks ago. VERY disappointing. I call them "huff'n'puffs" now. It huffed and it puffed but it really didn't do anything special. So big and heavy that the driver couldn't go round a round-a-bout properly. Just drove straight over the curbing.

I think I'll be sticking to the L/C. What you buy is entirely up to you, and you only (and maybe the wife thrown in for good measure).

Chris...................

achris,

I don't doubt anyone can fix a 6.5 GM and you have to fix them a lot ;-).

Have you looked under the hood of an American diesel truck lately? They are all common rail injection systems that are completely electronically controlled. You can cause some seriou$ damage with a "spanner". Not to mention any 08 models now have particulate traps that will need service and they can only burn ULSD (ultra low sulphur diesel). Read $$$$.

American diesel vehicles are either quite large (F-Super Duty, Dodge Ram or GM full size) or small (VW, some Mercedes). There are no smaller diesel pick ups here.

If the question originator was looking for high mileage (30K+/yr.), on highway cruising, pulling a giant load, than I would say go diesel. He was specific that he is low miles and just needs good power. The 6.8L gas has gobs of power, has a bulletproof track record and gets decent mileage.

It's a much different market here.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

Availability of diesel mechanics is also much different here. In other parts of the world, diesels in smaller vehicles are more common, so there are more people available to fix them. In the States, diesels are, for the most part, confined to large commercial trucks and a few pickup trucks. There aren't as many places to get those worked on because you can't just roll into your neighborhood garage, with any expectation that the mechanic will have a clue.

 

[bamafutbal]

Re: F250 gas vs diesel

my 2005 quad cab dodge 2500 laramie is getting 22mpg in mixed driving after 1300 miles so far. its funny, no difference in mileage at 70mph or 80mph