First time poster. Long time Ford owner. So this might be long winded. I have a roofing company and haul a 5000lb box trailer for our tools. I also have a 31' foot travel trailer that's 7200 dry but have four females in my family that like to fill it. Only camp 3-4 times a year here in Michigan and usually less than three hours from home. Work trailer is hauled 1-2 times a week usually less than 1/2 hour drive switching jobsites. So currently I have a 2012 250 with the 6.7 diesel. Truck has given me some headaches with radiator and emissions issues. Truck is now deleted and running good. It does however smell a lot worse without all the emissions stuff and my ladies don't like to drive in it anymore. So these new 17's have caught my eye. I am thinking 6.2 this time. I had a 2003 250 with a 5.4 and though it screamed while I made it work it never let me down and wasn't bad on mileage. 15-16 highway 11-12 city. But my 2008 250 5.4 rarely saw any driving over 11mpg no matter what I did. That is why I upgraded to the diesel which gets 19-20 highway and 15-16 city. I also wonder if I need a super duty any more with the f150 tow ratings where they are? So I am thoroughly confused where I should go from here. I feel like I am really going to miss the diesel performance but like the simple reliability of a gasser like I had in 03. What do you guys think?

 

F150 ecoboost. Problem solved. You don't need a SD or a diesel unless you need the cc with 8' box.

 

Only need a 6.5 bed. Problem is I test drove a superduty with the 360 camera system. It is awesome. Love how the 150's ride. Real world problems

 

You can get the 360 camera system with the F150 too.

 

Really? In all the packages?

 

I do not think you can get it in the lower packages like you can in the SD.

 

For what it's worth, I've towed a 7x12 enclosed dual axle trailer loaded with 3 full size dirt bikes with both Ford and GM V8 half tons. I do not know what the total weight was but I can tell you it was not an enjoyable experience, due to the constant shifting/hunting for the right gear on the smallest of inclines. To say that you could tell that trailer was always there would be an understatement. I've got no experience whatsoever with a 3.5 ecoboost so I can't speak to that.

If I were towing what you do, it would be a 250 without question based on my own experiences. I also much prefer the look and ride of the 250/350, so that alone would be enough for me personally. Get the 4.30 if you go with the 6.2. I don't tow much anymore and that's what I'm ordering because I know within the first week I'll switch to 35" tires, which will not result in as much of the sluggish feel you'd get from throwing a larger size on the 3.73.

As for diesel vs gas, that's a never ending debate. I have a diesel currently and I bought it for no "need" I have, just wanted to try a current model 3/4 ton diesel, as my last ones were pre-DEF and other emissions junk. They're nice and the power is impressive stock. But if you plan to keep it for several years, decide for yourself if the added maintenance costs are worth it to you-oil changes are higher priced, fuel filters changed much more often, DEF fluid, and the time of the year for me when diesel is 20-35 cents/gal more than regular unleaded.