something that looks missing is the life expectancy of the motor - gassers are the first to die, yeah?

 

I had a '99 V-10 in an E350 motorhome. I towed my Wrangler and it went over the highest passes with no trouble. Passed a lot of diesels climbing the grades too. Not to say it was the finest rig ever built but that V10 kicked butt!

 

If or When the next depression hits I wonder how many gas engine owners will be creating petrolum products in their garages to get around town. This last hiccup in the economy made me decide to keep my diesel (or another) around forever as the ability is their to produce my own if needed.

 

I have a 9k TT. up until this past Feb, a 2002 F150 had the towing duties. It had the 5.4L, 4R100 trans, 4x4 7700 GVWR and many "extra" goodies to help pull it. It did just fine as long as I stayed away from the mountains. However, we love to camp in the mountains. I would start out at the bottom of a grade, particularly on I-26 between Shelby and Saluda, NC, at about 70. By the time I got to the top, I was doing 40 with my foot buried in the floor and the truck absolutely screaming. I know that gassers are supposed to rev and all that, but it's not an easy feeling.

The diesel takes the "job" out of towing and we can enjoy the trip as much as the destination. We go out about twice a month with the TT. Other than that, it stays in the garage most of the time waiting for it's next adventure.

 

You my friend have brought up one valid point and if that were to come to pass I would get an old mercedes or vw car vs driving a huge truck...

 

Well, would you see as many WWII movies as I did you'd notice that ***** were using charcoal to power the converted gas engines. Actually they used a firewood, that was fried in special pressurized drum mounted on front bumper of the trucks. At least that how I have seen it in the movies.
Wouldn't it be nice to go to the woods with ax for truck fuel?
Once you there you could chop a plug for the hole in the block where spark plug used to be....

 

Hauls our 5er like a dream, never even thought of a gasser....

 

The HP rating is not what kills the mileage, it is the emissions. Without the crazy emissions, and with proper tuning, the new diesels would be way more efficient than the old ones. A 400 HP motor can get better mileage than a 200 HP doing the same work. And if driven equally the 400 HP will get the same as the 200 hp, all things equal.

A 5.4L is capable of doing it, but not easily. The diesel does it with much less effort. If you have not towed with a diesel, you don't know what you are missing

Well, if we had to produce our own fuel, then road systems as we know them would be a thing of the past, and I don't think an old car would work very well. Ford diesel 4x4 for the win

And, to the OP's coments: there is less benifits to buying a new diesel vs a new gasser than there used to be. Is there enough benefits for a gasser over the 7.3L? No way! I could start listing the reasons why, but won't unless I am asked, because it would take a while

 

That might be the truth in dreams. I did own cars from 21 HP to 300 HP. The 21 HP Fiat 126 was unique, but had several cars in similar size and weight rated between 75 and 300 HP. Theoretically the same mass require the same energy for steady cruising. The only difference is in acceleration. Now in my whole life I have never seen a driver (including myself) who having 300 HP available would use only 75 for acceleration.

 

Ummm.....Ford didn't build the 7.3. International Navistar has built the 6.9, 7.3, 6.0, and the 6.4. The new 2011 6.7 is Ford's first in-house diesel. I'm staying diesel for now.

 

With all the stats and bs aside the short answer is get what suits your needs or wants. Spending 50 k just to pull a camper is stupid IMO. Justifying it is rediculous. Buy what you need and you'll not have to blow yourself up creating combustable materials in your garage. If the world comes to creating a man's own gas, dont think I'm not coming for yours. That has to be the dumbest reason for justifying buying a deseil I have ever heard. Really man. Its a truck. Truck guys have bigger egos than the quad racers I'm used to, which I thought was impossile. It mostly comes down to wee wee sizes. hahaha

 

I agree with the OP. Unless you are towing very heavy buying a diesel is not cost effective at all. I will admit that I could easily get by with a gasser but I just like diesels better, always have. I hope to keep my 6.0 for a long time, as it will be the last diesel I buy unless they seriously revise the emissions equipment on the newer trucks.

 

I'd get a new 6.7L, just cause it has 400 HP and 800 lb. ft.

 

I pull trailers regularly but wanted to throw another log on the fire. I purchased my diesel as my 1/2 ton would not pull my loaded 28' trailer worth a damn. The making your own fuel is a plus. Also, I look forward to seeing you come my way as I am an avid hunter and have my fair share of weapons also. This is yet another reason for owning the truck, To hall out all my taxidermy mounts......

 

Wow, this thread is TOO good to leave alone.

I too think that a HD diesel Pickup has its place. There are contractors, Hotshots and fifth pullers that Genuinely haul 10k plus loads and/or base their commercial business on one. They need one.

Did you get that? NEED ONE.

The sad fact is, MANY not ALL have a diesel and dont really NEED one. MANY haul a trailer, but might do it 6 times a year. Some can just simply have the financial ware with all to afford $50-$60K on a new diesel. I cant.
Nor can i justify the $7k Premium.

It would be super if i had big $$ but i dont.

I RARELY haul more than 9k #. Mostly, its less than 7k #.

I went used and i went V10. Main reasons were Good reliability, good value in the used marketplace and better cost on maintenace. You might beat me up a hill by a few MPH, but im gonna have more $$in my pocket when you tabulate the WHOLE ownership experience.

Not bashing diesels- Id like them, i just dont NEED a diesel