Do I really need a diesel?
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 108
From: Northern Indiana
Simple answer. Heck ya everyone needs a diesel!!!!
Real answer always depends on how good you are at maintenance, what do you pull, short drives verses long drives. Ultimately your choice.
Real answer always depends on how good you are at maintenance, what do you pull, short drives verses long drives. Ultimately your choice.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
To the OP, if you decide to look at gas rigs I would skip the '99s and look for a '00+ 2V V-10 as they have a little more power. BUT the most important thing to find for heavy towing work is the deeper gears behind the gas motors, try to find a gasser with 4.30s to make pulling a heavy trailer much easier.
Try to narrow down the trailer choices to have a solid weight range to match a used truck to, or buy a truck then find a trailer that fits within the trucks ratings.
Try to narrow down the trailer choices to have a solid weight range to match a used truck to, or buy a truck then find a trailer that fits within the trucks ratings.
The truck I am considering buying (if all checks out with purchase inspection by a diesel mechanic) is a 1999 7.3L Diesel (manual, 4wd, 218k miles) for $8K.
After looking at some trailers, I plan on getting a trailer that is GVWR of 10K lbs or less.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 710
Likes: 2
OP, for 100 miles per month, get a gas truck. Diesels (and Superduties in general) don't like to sit. You will have more issues with a truck sitting weeks at a time than one worked everyday. Also, a 7.3 with 218k has a long life ahead of it if properly maintained. The same age truck with a gas motor, and likely similar mileage, will require engine overhaul sooner if all upkeep is equal between the two.
That said, I'll always own a diesel after having one. I had gas trucks in the past, and they have their place, but a diesel just makes any work seem so effortless. Yes, maintenance is more, fuel is more, MPG is around the same or slightly better, but if you pulled with one you would immediately understand why they win out in hauling/towing applications.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 6
From: Massachusetts
You could get a 7.3 they are very reliable. Since you only tow 100 miles a month a gas v10 would be fine. v10's have spark plug issues though.
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 585
Likes: 11
From: Upper penninsula
I bought a 2005 V10 F350 crew cab dually as a more or less dedicated tow rig for a 13000 lb fifth wheel camper last summer. Paid $4500 for it with 140k mile I just drove it 1500 miles from Michigan to Texas.
performance was good. It downshiftsto fourth and even second on one occasion, but maintained an entirely adequate speed, even with 3.73 gear I averaged 8 MPG over 1500 Miles, but with gas less than $2.00/gallon, the fuel mileage still made for a cheap trip.
If I drive this thing 6000 miles/year, a diesel would never pay off.
performance was good. It downshiftsto fourth and even second on one occasion, but maintained an entirely adequate speed, even with 3.73 gear I averaged 8 MPG over 1500 Miles, but with gas less than $2.00/gallon, the fuel mileage still made for a cheap trip.
If I drive this thing 6000 miles/year, a diesel would never pay off.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 710
Likes: 2
I bought a 2005 V10 F350 crew cab dually as a more or less dedicated tow rig for a 13000 lb fifth wheel camper last summer. Paid $4500 for it with 140k mile I just drove it 1500 miles from Michigan to Texas.
performance was good. It downshiftsto fourth and even second on one occasion, but maintained an entirely adequate speed, even with 3.73 gear I averaged 8 MPG over 1500 Miles, but with gas less than $2.00/gallon, the fuel mileage still made for a cheap trip.
If I drive this thing 6000 miles/year, a diesel would never pay off.
performance was good. It downshiftsto fourth and even second on one occasion, but maintained an entirely adequate speed, even with 3.73 gear I averaged 8 MPG over 1500 Miles, but with gas less than $2.00/gallon, the fuel mileage still made for a cheap trip.
If I drive this thing 6000 miles/year, a diesel would never pay off.
New User
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Do I really need a diesel
Well, if you never had one you won't notice the difference. I went from a diesel to the 6.2 and it was the worst decision I ever made. I hate the performance and I hate the truck. Only reason I bought was the good deal I got on, If I could go back, I would not have made the deal. Just my opinion.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
Likes: 1,550
From: Media PA
Well, if you never had one you won't notice the difference. I went from a diesel to the 6.2 and it was the worst decision I ever made. I hate the performance and I hate the truck. Only reason I bought was the good deal I got on, If I could go back, I would not have made the deal. Just my opinion.
What gears does your 6.2 truck have, one must do one's homework........gas rigs need the deeper gears to get the heavy work done well. Not saying that the gas truck will ever be equal to the PSD in pure power & torque but comparing the towing performance of a gasser with high gears vs one with low gears is almost night and day.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 710
Likes: 2
The problem with deep gearing in a gas truck is daily drivability. What RPMs are you running at unloaded highway speeds (70-80mph)? Seems like that V10 would be screaming and guzzling gas with those gears at higher speeds.
New User
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
It has the 3.73, for me its towing, I've had to learn how to drive a gas truck. Throttle response sucks, almost got T-Boned twice, stepped on the gas and nothing for probably 2-3 seconds. Ergonomics of the audio and steering wheel controls leave a lot to be desired as well. I read a lot about the 6.2 here and everyone loves them. For me no way. Truck has a plow package which I do plow and live in the NE, guess what when the Windshield Washer is low it doesn't tell me. Along with some bad experiences with the dealer = I hate this truck. I would trade even for my old truck back and even keep the payments. Believe me I know I'm comparing apples to oranges with diesel and gas. But to go from a 10 year old truck , it had more user friendly controls and it told me when the WW fluid was low. Sorry for the rant.