For your application,Gas all day.I'd get the 6.2 with 4.30's and wouldn't look back if I were in your situation.

College student working part time...You don't want a diesel.I'm sure your on a budget and that truck with DEF,Fuel and oil on top of a payment(assuming your financing)would run you dry.

Just remember K.I.S.S,Keep It Simple Stupid

Gas is simple and diesels are complicated.

 

Gas!! Unless you have a money tree growing out back then get what ever you want, but you have stated that MPG is an issue. Gas motors get less MPGs but you'll spend the savings in MPG with the diesel on up keep. Sit down and ask yourself what your plans are with the truck and how long you plan on keeping it. That will tell you what you should get. IMO

 

I'd get a gas motor either the 5.4 or the 6.2 will work fine for this application and tow 10 times what you are planning.

Lower maintance costs and cheaper fuel as well.

Modern diesels don't work as well with all the city driving.

 

I would go with a gas motor in a Superduty V10 or 6.2 .A 5.4 is ok Don't figure on getting over 15 MPG with any of these and You might look at getting a 09 or newer F150 will get you better Gas milage plus the Newer 5.4 and 5.0 will pull 7000 lbs with no problem

 

Oh and make sure you get 4x4, better to have it and not need it to need it and not have it. Plus it only increases resale value..

 

Second that MUST be 4x4

 

I love my 6.2 gas. Just did 900 mile trip with 13 mph.

 

I understand your question, there is nothing like a diesel merging with a load. However buy a truck that will help you make money with a marginal investment. I'm no expert but it sounds like a 3/4 ton used gasser will work, like I've posted before it's easer to grow out of a half ton than a three quarter ton.

 

I would say go gas too. Either the 5.4 or 6.2 will pull more than you plan on hooking to it and not even know it is there. The v10 gets close to the same mpg's as the 5.4 and is a good engine too.

 

who are you and what have you done with Miles?!

anyway He's right that would be my choice or a loaded V10 08-10

 

If you are set on a new truck, get a gasser, and skip the low gears. All they will do is cost you fuel mileage. You state you're looking to tow 1500-ish pounds, and ANY gas motor in a new Ford truck wouldn't even know that paltry load is there. I don't know what the gear options are in the new trucks, but I doubt I'd be looking at anything in the 4.xx range.

If you really want to satisfy a craving for a diesel, do yourself and your wallet a favor, and go find yourself an F250 with the last of the 7.3s. It has way more than enough grunt to tug that small load, will cost you truck loads less money than a new diesel, and stands way less chance to put you into bankruptcy if something goes really really wrong.

I've got 2 6.0s and 1 6.4 currently and while I think they are both beasty engines, they are not for the faint of heart wallet wise.

If I were you, I'd look at whatever gets the best all-around fuel mileage and go from there. As I said, none of them are going to even notice a 1500 lb load, so it wouldn't even be a consideration if I were the one doing the looking.

 

My f150 is 2wd and we had a bad winter. The 4x4 would have been so nice. So I plan on getting a new truck before winter next year. Thats one of the reasons I want to upgrade. I have the supercab. Me and my family are starting to travel alot so a crew cab with a 6ft bed is a must. Also cause we tow motorcycles around. I absoulty love the look of the newer super duties and thats why I want to get the super duty. So what I think i am going to do is save up a couple more bucks and get a 2011 or newer either f250 or f350 (what ever is available) with the 6.2 gasser. my f150 is getting all highway 15mpg so theres really no change in fuel economy. I plan to keep this new truck for atleast 5 years.

 

Crew cab short box is an excellent choice for what you want to do, as is the gasser.

There are plenty of folks that will tell you 4x4 is a waste of money blah blah, been driven a hunnert years and never needed blah blah, maintenance costs are unreasonable blah blah blah, but in 35 yrs of driving a pickup I only had a short 6 month period of insanity where I did NOT have a 4x4 pickup and I would never be without one.

My current truck has only been in 4x4 a handful of times in the 4 yrs I've owned it, but those handful of times it was MORE than worth having.

Good luck on your search.

 

Go gas. Have you considered a 1/2 ton ecoboost? Abundant torque due to turbocharging makes it as close to a diesel as possible for a gas engine, provides decent fuel economy and doesn't require all the extra expense and maintenance of a newer diesel.

 

That is an excellent choice. Having driven one they tow really well.