To Diesel or Not to Diesel in a F250? Diesel truck owners check in.

[OILFIELDTRASH]

At the end of the day, you're right in your own previous post, you gotta buy what you enjoy every once in awhile. Posters like above have other priorities. If you like to spend money on cars, more power to you, that's where I spend my money . There's actually a thread on my fordtruckenthusiasts forum with the same battle you went through previously, F-150 vs the 250. At the end of the day, if you want something that lasts a really long time, a gas F-250 with that beautiful 6.2L is the way to go, it doesn't need the maintenance of the diesel, but you get the major points of longjevity, the big one being full float vs. semi-float axles. If you want a truck you can put anything on or behind, and you're gonna take care of it forever, it really is the way to go. But if diesel is what you want, get it, the 6.7L is a beast of an engine, and 2015 it's getting even more powerful. Even I've thought about a nice gas 250 vs a 150, just because I plan to pay off the truck and keep it 11 years like the Expedition (until it got totaled).



Both of those sound boring as hell, I've been in those early decade chevy's, everything is like a vinyl covered plastic, even on high end trims (and it's not even the good quality plastic, it looks like the brittle crap. Every 10 year old chevy I've been in just looked disgusting). I think Ford really one upd chevy on those pickup and SUV interiors at the time in terms of having a quality look and feel.

I know your past history on vehicles and how you took a major loss for what you deemed as a stupid decision. You don't like to spend any money on decent, or especially fun, transportation. Your driving is life is boring. This thread isn't meant for you. :whiste:

Major loss. Sure. 5k "lost" and I drove a F150 lariat for over a year and a half and over 20k miles. That's about $270 a month to drive a 40k pick-up. If that is a loss please sign me up again as $270 won't even barely get you in a base economy car.

 

[heymrdj]

Major loss. Sure. 5k "lost" and I drove a F150 lariat for over a year and a half and over 20k miles. That's about $270 a month to drive a 40k pick-up. If that is a loss please sign me up again as $270 won't even barely get you in a base economy car.

So then there's no issue with getting an uneeded truck then, as there was apparently no waste to it. So why should the OP get a crappy old used truck.

Which is it?

 

[MichaelD]

Oh don't worry; I won't be getting a crappy used truck! As previously stated, I have a strong aversion to used vehicles unless I can verify their history. "Factory recertified", recent model vehicles with a real warranty are OK, but dealers typically want so much for them that it's better to just spend another 10-20% and get a NEW vehicle with a full factory warranty.

That always pisses me off; how much they want for new vehicles. Example:

2013 Used Model B Truck, 37,500 miles: $35,999.00
2014 New Model B Truck, 0 miles $40,000.00

Are you kidding me? Why would I not buy the new truck? Pisses me off!

I keep vehicles for a long time and take better care of them than I do myself, usually. I see a shiny F250 gasser in my future.

Thanks to all for the very educational input and lively discussion! Seriously, I appreciate all of the input! :beer:

 

[Jeff7181]

Sounds like you're set on gas, but I'd go with diesel. There's just something cool about a truck that can pull a house off its foundation.

I always told myself if I ever got a truck, it would be diesel. Then I learned of the Raptor and decided I'd get one of those before a diesel truck unless the Raptor really didn't have the torque to tow something I had to tow.

The other cool thing about diesels is that you can pick up 100 HP and almost double that much torque with a custom tune.

 

[iamwiz82]

Test drive both, really that's what will sell you. Diesel torque is intoxicating.

 

[MichaelD]

Oh, I know about diesel torque; I love it to death. My little Ford Escort with the diesel would pull almost as strongly uphill loaded with 800 pounds of passengers as it did with just me. If I could've imported that car I'd have done it in a heartbeat.

The Raptor is badass and selling like hotcakes. They are just as expensive as an F250 w/the diesel, though.

 

[WackyDan]

Sounds like you're set on gas, but I'd go with diesel. There's just something cool about a truck that can pull a house off its foundation.

I always told myself if I ever got a truck, it would be diesel. Then I learned of the Raptor and decided I'd get one of those before a diesel truck unless the Raptor really didn't have the torque to tow something I had to tow.

The other cool thing about diesels is that you can pick up 100 HP and almost double that much torque with a custom tune.

Raptors are awesome but their tow ratings are less than an F-150 with the 5.0... They just weren't built to tow though I'm sure you could remedy that with the aftermarket.

 

[Raduque]

Raptors are awesome but their tow ratings are less than an F-150 with the 5.0... They just weren't built to tow though I'm sure you could remedy that with the aftermarket.

Yep, the suspension just isn't designed for it. It's an off-road toy.

I vote for the diesel in a Super Duty. Just doesn't seem right putting a gasser in an SD truck.

If you were open to it, an F150 XLT with the 3.5 EcoBoost and Max Tow will do... somewhere around 11k lb, I think?

 

[WackyDan]

Yep, the suspension just isn't designed for it. It's an off-road toy.

I vote for the diesel in a Super Duty. Just doesn't seem right putting a gasser in an SD truck.

If you were open to it, an F150 XLT with the 3.5 EcoBoost and Max Tow will do... somewhere around 11k lb, I think?

10,300 last I knew. Wonder if the new aluminum body and weight savings will change the rating... Really though, at that weight range you need to be in a 250/2500 with diesel.

My 2012 F-150 with the 5.0 is rated 8000# due to my gear selection. I tow at 6000# on average... and sometimes have been at 7500#. I've always taken those max tow ratings and try to stay under by 20% as even at 80% of rated tow, I have found most trucks at their limit for safe margins. A 250/2500 is going to tow better, and also brake better out of the box.

 

[Teehee]

Teehee... Please start a new thread...

AT Moderator
Bartman39


Good Day All. This is a bit of an old thread, but is somewhat up my alley with what I'm looking at, so I figured I would just reply to it, rather than start a new thread.

I'm considering a, (new to me), used truck, (never had a truck before). Based on what I read in this thread, I would say that most of my needs fit the gasoline engine. However, I really am still leaning toward the diesel engine and here's why....

First, I 'll give you my reasoning's for a truck in the first place.
1. Wanting to take long vacations with my family of 4. (We're planning a long, multi thousand mile, trip out West this summer)
2. Wanting to occasionally pull an RV Trailer, (one that sleeps 4 to 6). This would be used for those same, future vacations, along with occasional weekends with the family.
3. To have a truck for general, multipurpose use, and occasional light towing.

I'm looking at used, and, either way, my price range is likely going to put me in a truck that has near or over 100k miles. (probably over 150k if I go with Diesel)

Now, the first 3 reasons certainly point toward a gasoline engine. However, the one item that keeps leading me back to consider diesel is uber-high-mileage and uber-longevity.

Also, please note that I'm the type of person that if I get a good solid, reliable vehicle, I will drive it and keep it for 20+ years. (I've had two cars that lasted 13+ years and were only retired for reasons beyond my control

So, is the last reason enough to justify a diesel engine, or do you think that a gas engine will meet that need and give me 200k Miles, (on top of what it already has when I purchase it?

I know that it all depends on how it was driven\treated, but putting that aside, (as I will do my best research to find all that out), what are your thoughts on this scenario?

 

[RLGL]

If you intend to drive this thing into the ground,go with the fuel oil. If you intend to keep it 5 to 7 years, go gas. With the gas burner you won't loose the up charge for the fuel oil.

 

[WackyDan]

I know that it all depends on how it was driven\treated, but putting that aside, (as I will do my best research to find all that out), what are your thoughts on this scenario?

Well... I would research what the maintenance schedule is on the diesels and what the associated costs are to have those done. Buying a high mileage diesel may make sense until you find out you are only 20k miles away from some major expenses.

I have a 2012 F-150 with the 5.0 V8 and 3.31 gears. While I wish I had gotten the ecoboost, it does the job and I've towed a 30 foot trailer that sleeps 6 through the mountains on a 2400 mile trip and last year on flatter terrain back and forth to Florida totaling 2600 or so miles. As long as you take it easy and tow safely, a gasser will serve you well and the repairs are probably cheaper.

Would I love a diesel too? Sure... Anytime you tow something big and heavy on a regular basis you always want more truck. I probably tow our trailer 4000 miles a year. A diesel would be heavier and get better mileage but the other costs would diminish any of the arguments for it. If you take your time you can find a well maintained gasser with lower miles and it will last you a long time.

 

[heymrdj]

The key to the modern diesels is in their past life, and unless you know they were used by like an RV transport company that puts 100K on them in one year then sells them, the history will be questionable. Lots of short trips cause issues with the DPF clogging up and the motor will make it's own oil. Same if the engine was never used for heavy work, or idled extensively without being put into high idle. Modern diesels need to work hard and frequently to stay in good shape. They won't run 200K without some sort of emissions issue, be it sensors, DEF system, DPF, ect. Today, the cheap operating cost is gas, even with half the MPG. The 6.2L in the Ford and the 6.4L in the RAM are both heavy hitters in terms of power and performance in HD trucks.