well boys got a tough decision to make and would like you to weigh in with your opinions. got a different job that is farther away (not sure on exact mileage) and i got a feeling the ole 92 is gonna get real thirsty now that i have to drive farther. so logically most people would go and get a small commuter car ( i was thinking about a jetta actually) so that would make sense, but where i work you have to take gravel roads to get there, and when it snows and blows the gravel roads are not exactly a high priority item for the plow trucks, so 4wd would be nice, and since i only have a 2wd truck, i would need to get a different truck that is 4wd, well if i got a different truck i would upgrade to a 3/4 ton truck so i dont have to work the 1/2 ton so hard. well if i got a 3/4 ton i would prefer it to be a 7.3 with a 5 speed but a 351 with a 5 speed wouldn't be sooo bad lol. so what do i do, do i get a commuter car and get exceptional gas mileage, or do i get a 3/4 ton probably diesel and drive it when the roads are bad and drive the 1/2 ton when it is nice (the half ton gets about 16 mpg in the winter and 19 or 20 in the summer)? all opinions appreciated thanks guys

 

That is a dilemma, can you fit two more vehicles? That is always the best option.....
If not, I would suggest something like a used Subaru forester or outback. Pretty capable in winter, and drives like a regular car during the summer. Decent fuel economy with a manual.
Or, a Jetta with a diesel. Great ride, and fuel econ, but only FWD (unless you wait for the new 2014).

 

4x4...decent mileage...blue oval...a Ranger or Escape is what I'd be looking at.

Also remember that you can buy a lot of gas for what it usually takes to buy a new(er) car. The numbers often don't add up when everybody starts talking about mileage savings. Don't misunderstand, I don't have anything against new or small cars (I drive the Mrs' Focus every chance I get) but put pencil to paper and you may be surprised.

 

Buy a small car, drive the car when weather is nice. Drive you truck when it gets nasty out. Then when you get a chance sell truck and upgrade to what you want.

I just bought my 1997 f350 with a 460, love it. Gets about 10mpg. I only live 6 miles from work and I drive a jeep with a straight 6 that gets 17mpg back and forth to work, mainly to keep the short trips off the 460 and save gas.

 

I like the 3/4 ton 4x4 diesel rout myself

 

As stated be Daniel5.0 figure out if it is worth it. How long will you have to drive the 2nd "gas saver" before it pays for it's self in savings.

Me personally having had a 5.8L 4x4 3/4 ton 5speed vs the same truck only a 7.3 idi. I would go Diesel all day long. I love both engines. The Diesel has economy, low end power & has less emissions. Trucks were only 1 year apart too.

If I were in you shoes I would get a good running 3/4 4x4 7.3L 5 speed. If you have a family look for an extended cab truck. The extra room is worth it plus you will get the D50 front. Find one that is mechanically sound. It doesn't matter rather it be IDI, IDIT or Power Stroke. Just remember I listed them from cheapest on up for buying price and maintenance.

Do some looking in the Diesel section and figure out which one will best meet your needs.

 

well thanks for all the opinions so far, and a couple answers to your questions, i am certainly not in the market for a new car, as a matter of fact it would be an older jetta or ford truck, both probably in the 90's to 2000's. i do have room for 3 vehicles but i would prefer to keep it down to 2, i really wish the 4.9 was in a 4wd 3/4 ton truck as that would be perfect but unfortunately it is a 1/2 ton 2wd. i am leaning in toward getting the 4wd as a jetta doesnt save me any money if i get stuck in the snow on the gravel roads

 

If you do some searching you might be able to find an F250, 4.9, 4x4. Start searching and see what is out there.

 

i have been searching around, seems they are not to popular, i have heard of having a 4.9 in a 3/4 and 1 ton but i have never seen one. right now i am primarily looking for a 4wd, a f250 or 350 (sticking with obs ford, they are what i know) with a 351 or a 7.3 idi maybe a powerstroke if i can find one for a decent price

 

i was thinking about getting a ranger but i need something bigger, need something even bigger than my 1/2 ton, i pull firewood and trees alot during the summer and the 4.9 struggles with the full 16 foot carhauler

 

the thing is my truck is 2wd, so it really isnt any better than a small car, and the gravel roads i travel really suck in the winter

 

Another option is to put some weight in back of the half ton, put in a good limited slip and good tires. Nothing wrong with a 3/4 , 4*4 diesel either , especially if its a longer drive to work. Maybe an awd commuter car?

 

My only diesel experience was with a 2002 F-350 crew cab 4x4 with the 7.3L, auto trans and 3.73 gears. In normal around-town driving that truck had the same or higher fuel costs than my '97 F-250 crew cab 4x4 with a 460, E4OD and 4.10 gears. I don't know if the older PowerStrokes were any better (the old IDIs probably are), but the unloaded mileage (13 mpg with my diesel) wasn't good enough to make up for the more expensive fuel. So if you're going for fuel savings in a 3/4 - 1 ton "commuter car", run the numbers before jumping to a diesel.

I will say that the diesel fuel costs were much better than my gas trucks when loaded. And as nice as the 460 pulls, the PowerStroke is better. So if you're doing a lot of hauling the scales tip toward the diesel pretty strongly. But for your useage I'd stay away from a PowerStroke.

 

Here is what I get fuel millage for decent running trucks. I say decent because I'm no ASE certified mechanic and I do my best at keeping up on them.

1988 F250 5.8L 4x4 ZF5 RCLB 3.55 axle gears... 13mpg empty 10mpg loaded.
1989 F250 7.3L 4x4 ZF5 RCLB 4.10 axle gears... 15mpg empty 13 mpg loaded.
Now I do have a 7.5L setup the same but I have only driven it maybe 500 miles since I bought it.

 

I'm not sure what you want, doesn't sound like you do either, I guess that's what we're here doing. The Ranger would take the "Jetta slot", was that an additional slot? So ultimately my recommendation would be a cheap Ranger ($2000 or less is possible) and then you keep the bigger truck for hauling.