Currently drive a 2003 F150 supercrew 5.4 with 140000 miles. Just recently started pulling trailers more often and truck doesn't like it. I will be purchasing a 14 foot dual axel dumptrailer. Will only pull the trailer once a week or so. I'm looking at F250 super dutys. Never had a diesel so need input. Should I get a gas or diesel? 6.4 or 6.7? Or would a newer F150 4X4 work better? Thanks for any input

 

Not again

 

What is the max weight of the trailer loaded?

What is the rear axle ratio on your 03?

Do you short trip your truck alot?

Whats your budget? Do you want a truck loaded with features or would a unoptioned XLT do the job?

Anwser those and I will let you know my .02


The new ecoboost F150HD can tow significantly better than your 03 and I would suggest that first. If you are towing alot the new 6.7 diesels are very nice but may be overkill for your application.

 

My thoughts exactly!

Jsgilliam - just a warning, these types of posts almost always turn into heated gas vs. diesel debates and typically stray significantly from what the poster was asking in the first place.

That said, I'm a glutton for punishment so I'll chime in - we need more info though, what does the trailer weigh and what will you be hauling? Local or long distance? Dump trailers can get heavy fast so I'm pretty comfortable saying you want a superduty - gas vs. diesel imo depends on how much weight and how far you'll be hauling it.

 

As mentioned, the topic has been beaten to death, and then beaten again.....repeatedly.

Check this thread, you'll find some good/bad information in it:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...vs-diesel.html

Also, check out the threads for the Ohio meets, lots of good data with videos of several different drivetrain combinations pulling the same (heavy) trailer up the same hill.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...nd-videos.html

/unsubscribing

 

Thanks for the willingness to help.

Trailer has a GVWR of 14000#

03 rear ratio is 3.55

Budget is kinda open. It will be my daily commuter so I do want the comfort stuff.

Drive about 70 miles a day. Lots of short trips carting kids to after school activities on many of the days.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

Remodeling homes so I will be hauling lots of debris, material for the job and dirt/rock.

 

Pulling a 14k trailer is a job for a Super Duty, not an F-150. That is a very heavy trailer.

Take a look at the towing weight chart in this link and make your choice accordingly.

http://www.ford.com/resources/ford/g...DtyPUnov17.pdf

Good luck.

 

I'd get a 6.8l or 6.2l gasser with thee 4.30 gears. A friend of mine brother does what you want to do but everyday. He stepped up from a 7.3l 350 to a 6.2l 350 and loves the new truck.

 

Assuming over 25,000 miles per year, and 14K lbs is pretty darn heavy I would make the choice strictly on cost. All this is just my opinion!
- a 6.7L diesel cost approx $8,000 more than a 6.2L gasser
- in 5 years with 125K on the clock the Diesel will have a significantly higher resale value
- The diesel will be cheaper on overall fuel costs (both towing and empty)
- The diesel will be more expensive in overall cost to maintain
- both can do the job IMO, even though 14K is slightly over the 6.2 SD weight.

So if you are willing to spend $60K+ on a truck get a 6.7

If you want to spend high 40's -50 get a 6.2 with the 4.30 gears

If you want to spend 30-45K buy a used 6.4 PSD with a extended warranty. This would be my choice

Good luck!

 

If you pull that trailer at it's capacity, for 14,000lbs you're probably pushing the limits of a gassser. Don't even think of trying it w/ any F150. The 6.2 would do it no doubt, but the diesel would do it easier. Read up on them down in the 6.4 and 6.7 forums to find out specific info on those engines. These new diesels aren't your daddy's diesel, there's a lot to them which means theres a lot that can go wrong and when something breaks it's not cheap...but they make a ton of power.

 

I usually tend to tell folks that there's nothing like buying more truck than you need.

You will love a new SD, I would suggest an f250 or 350 single rear wheel and 4x4. You may want to research air bags for the rear axle.

Thinking of the future, I always like to encourage folks to get more truck and grow into it.

Maybe you will develop into a business that will give you more opportunity, find ways for your truck to make you money, haul the dump for now, move up to using equipment trailers, maybe you will get an RV for your family. All kinds of opportunity presents itself if you get a big truck (250-350).

My company has a 6.7 diesel and a 6.2 gasser. Both are solid trucks, great transmissions, both tow trailers to the tune of at least 50,000 miles/year. I HATE towing with the gas motor but that's me. Gear hunting and screaming rpms drive me nuts given that we spend many hours on the road each week. If I did it only once or twice a month it would be a harder decision. Both trucks have their strengths.

I pretty much would tell most folks to get the diesel because I like it so much.

 

I would much rather have too much truck & not have to use it all than not enough truck to do the job when I needed it to do! !! Simple easy said!!

 

As said many times, lots of threads on this and lots of people take either side.

My signature speaks for my opinion for you.

To each his own. Do your research and pick what you think will work best for you.

Good luck!

 

Js-my V10 hauls great. But I am a diesel guru and would love to own one just no justification. If you have a business, I would invest in the diesel. Like a few others have said, it would suck to not have enough truck!