Ever tow with a diesel, especially a top heavy #15,000 boat and trailer(that is max tow 250 or F350 a must territory), you will like the experience towing with a diesel way better. However, for 10,000 miles a year, you just need to go gas 6.2 L, 4.30 gears and make sure its an F350. You will be buying more than enough fuel when towing, to make up for the diesel, but it will work out about even after 10 years, you will only have 100,000 miles on the truck by your estimates. I am towing a TT at 8000 and I would never go back to gas, but it is a definitely affordability issue long term, maintenance costs are higher on a diesel, gas is more expensive all the way along, poorer fuel mileage with the gasser. Good luck with your choice.

 

I struggled every bit as much as you, but my boat is only maybe 7k lbs that I currently own. I finally went 6.7 after driving both for the reasons you stated above. I wanted to future proof my purchase for the ability to tow a large travel trailer or a 5th wheel in the future. ESP's can take all the fear out of diesel ownership, and those horror stories are far from the norm.


One major thing I want to point out is that I personally wouldn't want to be towing in the top 20% of the tow rating range with a gas truck, thus why I wanted to trade my F150 that I loved in for a F250.

 

My neighbor tows regularly with his 6.2 which is a very capable motor. "If" you go Diesel, you won't go back. LOL

 

As someone else already said, the gas guys will say gas and the diesel guys will say diesel. This probably isn't possible since 4.30 gears are hard to find, but you should try to tow your boat with a demo.

 

The gas guys always mention the price of diesel, but if you look at it, there's really no teeth to that bite.

Let me break it down for you:

- Diesel costs about $8k more to purchase, but when you sell it you get $8k more back...so you lose the interest you would've gained on having that $8k invested while you have your truck...not much.

- Diesel is the same or cheaper where I'm at, but a lot of guys say diesel is more expensive where they live. However, you get quite a bit better mileage than a gasser, especially when towing. So at worst its a wash, at best you are spending less on fuel.

- Maintenance. Diesels cost more to maintain. But its really not that much. I just changed my oil for about $100. Do that every 7-10k and its not even worth mentioning.

- If something breaks....get an extended warranty if you are going to keep it longer. Its a couple grand more and you have piece of mind for 7-8 years of ownership.

So there it is....its not that much more to have 925lbs of torque and one hell of a monster truck. It was an easy decision for me, but thats what it is, a personal decision. I have a feeling that if you have even an inkling of an idea that you want the diesel you are always going to wonder "what-if" if you don't get it. But in reality, either truck will do what you need...you just need to decide on what you want.

 

I asked if I could do a towing demo and every dealer in the area looked at me like I was nuts! I didn't think it was that crazy of a request.

 

You're not supposed to tow until theres 1000 miles on the clock I believe, and I highly doubt their insurance is setup to cover towing a customer vehicle.

 

I'm on my second diesel. I have always driven sports cars with high HP gasoline engines. How am I getting this much satisfaction out of a diesel F250? It's all about that engine! Not only is the power just unbelievable but the efficiency and the sound are just amazing to me also.

I tow a 10,000 TT and the engine and the extra weight and raw power of the engine make the experience very easy and IMO a bit safer.

 

Gasser will pull the boat just fine but diesel is a nice upgrade. I have a 6.0 diesel (coming from a V-10) and the torque and power makes them very fun to drive. The 6.7 is even more of a brute and fun to drive (my daughter’s husband has one I’ve driven a few times). Fuel mileage is so much better than the V10 we hardly drive our car anymore. I know mileage is much closer between the 6.2 and 6.7 due to the extra emissions crap. But if money isn’t the issue go diesel.

 

Pretty simple, really........if you want to have a “job” when you tow something, buy the gasser (towing with it is like going to work)!!!

If you want a “vacation” when you tow something, buy the diesel (towing with it is like going on vacation)!!!!

I have had both and there is no comparison when towing!!

 

F350 instead of F250. Cost difference is minimal and Payload is 1300-1500lbs more and they drive the same unloaded.

Diesel for sure if you're towing.

You can't have too much truck or too much torque.

 

There's a minimal cost difference between the 250 and 350. 350 without even thinking about it. JMHO.

 

I appreciate all the insight and opinions. I'm leaning toward the 6.7 F350 CCSB SRW. You only live once.

Now to decide black, silver, or magnetic...

 

Platinum white. Lol

 

All this talk about gas vs. diesel is one thing, but F250 vs. F350 is still another. The OP mentioned the east coast, but did not say in which state he resides. When I ordered my F250 KR, stepping up to an F350 would've cost only $1,000 more. However, if I had bought an F350, my personal property taxes would have more than doubled ... during every year of ownership. The F250 is eligible for a tax relief here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, whereas the F350 and F450 are not. I would have had to pay about $3,500 personal property taxes next year on an F350 versus the $1,700 bill I'll get for my F250.

BTW, my F250 is my first diesel and I'm loving it so far. But I still have less than 800 miles on it, so I am undecided in regards to gas vs. diesel over the long term.