Hi all! Recently purchased a new 5th wheel camper. Time to trade in my 2019 F150 and upgrade. I will be getting a 2012-2016 F350 but I can not decide between a gas or diesel. Camper is 10700 empty (will be around 12k loaded) hitch weight will be about 2150 lbs.
I will be driving this truck daily 30 miles round trip for work. I live in Ohio and truck will parked outside. We dont camp far away, at most we go 1-3 hours as we normally only get weekends off. In my area as Im sure in most its hard finding 1 tons. Im trying to stay under $35k and need at least an XLT. Diesels seem to be on avg $5000 more, with more miles and less options. I know while towing gas will get a lot less in the mpg but how do they compare driving daily? What are people getting mpg wise? Also worried about extra maintenance and cost if something goes wrong on the diesel. Would love to hear opinions.

 

I would favor gas over diesel. This should be a good discussion.

Hobo

 

This really comes down to just a few things. The years your looking at have the 6.7 Powerstroke, which has proven itself to be far superior to the 6.4 that it replaced. So if you want to go diesel, it's a good, sturdy motor from everything I've seen.

Mileage in a gas truck will be worse all around, no questions asked. That said, IIRC guys are still putting down 18 empty with the 6.2 gasser, which for a truck that size is respectable. Towing is going to be around 10, maybe 12 if you're lucky. The diesel is going to do better in both regards, I've heard of guys getting over 20 empty and 15+ towing.

Daily driving is going to be basically a wash between the two. The 6.2 gasser isn't the old 5.4, it's got plenty of giddy-up to make the truck get going. The 6.7 Powerstroke is now rated for over 1k of torque, though - and you can feel it. The ride is going to end up being about the same, Ford just adjusts the front springs a bit due to the weight difference between the two motors.

The next three things are where you're going to see differences.

The diesel is going to tow better. Period, hands down, no questions asked, it is going to get the load moving quicker and easier than the gasser will. That said, the 6.2 isn't a slouch, it is every bit as powerful as my 6.4 Hemi in my Power Wagon, and I have no issues pulling our 35-ish foot travel trailer.

You'll be able to get a LOT more amenities in a gasser for the same price as a lesser-equipped diesel. Diesels hold their value better long-term. You might even be able to snag a Lariat or King Ranch gasser for the price of an XLT diesel.

The diesel is going to cost more in maintenance. Quite a bit more. Thankfully it seems the 6.7s are relatively trouble-free, but it's a simple fact that components for diesel engines are more costly than those for gassers. Things like oil changes though are still going to cost more. The gassers are quite a bit cheaper to maintain.

Long story short, if you're going to be towing that 5'er a lot, you'll probably want the diesel. If you're only going to be taking it out a couple times a year, you may want to strongly consider the gasser - it'll pull just fine, and you'll likely be able to get more 'creature comforts' in the truck that will make daily driving it much more comfortable and fun!

 

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You make some good points. Being in a different make truck currently, you give some things a bit of a different perspective. But on the other hand, some things remain the same regardless of if it's a Ford, Chevy or Dodge.... The one common denominator I watch is "Maintenance".... The Ford PSD guy's here know that, currently, a replacement engine is $7k +/-...... That is the #1 component to take really good care of. Those guys get 300k miles + out of an engine. The same can be said for the Dodge (Cummins) diesel guys who maintain the engine. On the other hand, the small fleets (no maintenance) might get 200k miles out of a diesel light duty truck. If a buyer today is committed to proper maintenance then a diesel is worthwhile. If the buyer is going to make it a daily driver, hauling groceries and kids, the gasoline is a better choice.

There is never going to be a "Perfect Truck"....

Hobo

 

I second that Gas over Diesel debate! Cost is in the top 3 when it comes to anything maintenance related.
PJ

 

I've owned a 5.4L (2007) and a 6.7L PSD. I can offer some perspective.

With your expected use and area, a 6.2L truck with the 3.73 differential gears will do the job without complaints. It's a good engine, a good transmission, both with very few problems and minimal maintenance cost.

Yes, a 6.7L Power Stroke will tow that load easier, but at a higher initial cost, higher maintenance cost, but also a higher resale cost.

Just remember, if you are going to tow with a gas V-8, just put the truck in Tow/Haul mode, leave it in Drive and use your throttle. Cresting a hill in 3rd gear with the engine singing at 4500 RPM will not hurt anything.

 

Really appreciate all the feedback! Will add last year we camped about 10-12 weekends during the summer, farthest we went last year was an hour and a half away. So that is about the most we will be towing. My biggest concern is with the 6.2 with 3.73 tow that 5th wheel just fine with the weight? Id rather have the diesel but I really like my extra features like heated seats, touch screen and nav which Im having a hard time finding reasonable in a diesel without a ton of miles

 

My setup is similar to yours. 5th wheel is 11.5k-ish empty and about 12.5k-ish loaded with a pin weight of around 2600lbs. I'm pulling it with a 2016 F350 6.2 and 3.7 gearing with no issues. Most of my towing is in the Midwest, so LOTS of rolling hills. My mpg towing is around 9 and average 14-15 for daily driving. One thing to be aware of with pulling a little heavy with the 6.2 and 6R140 transmission is not to expect to hit 6th gear and pop on cruise control. It'll shift a ton with every small hill. I started with locking out 6th gear and letting it shift away, but eventually started going into Manual Mode, putting it into 4th (highest non-overdrive gear) and enjoying the drive. We pulled up and past Mt Rushmore last year and while that climb is steep, the truck made it easily at the speed limit. It just screamed in 2nd gear all the way up. A diesel would have made easy work of that hill, but I was still happy. As for getting up to speed with the 5th wheel behind me, the 6.2 gets up to 60-65 easily towing. With the 5th wheel numbers that you've given, you'd be good with the gas option unless you live in the mountain regions or plan to tow in them frequently. Overall, I've been really happy with my truck and the 6.2 is a stout motor that requires very little maintenance outside of normal oil changes.

 

First post and not looking to cause a stir, but frankly, #1 concern should not be cost; either of the truck or TCO, it has to be safety. You can tow that with a SRW gas, sure, but would you really want to is the question you need to ask yourself. Best advice is to run the numbers on the towing capacity (pulling) vs hauling ability (pin weight) and the GCVWR. I won't give advice on what to look at, but my personal preference is to be no more than 75% of those maximums on my rig and use a dually on anything over 10k lbs.

I've towed an 8000lb Puma with an '06 1500 LT SRW with a 5.3 v8 gas and it was getting 7mpg. Daily- 15-17mpg. Little big of sag on the hitch, but power to weight had no issues.

Hauled a 4000lb gooseneck on an F250 6.7 PSD and no troubles, good gas (~11mpg ave, don't recall tow vs empty)

Put the current 12k rig on a 6.7 PSD F-350 and it whined every time I went up an overpass. Got maybe 9mpg tops towing, about 14 daily. No tunes, no mods.

Today, F-450 6.4 PSD with mods and tunes, it hauls the 12k like a champ, no screaming uphill. The sequential turbos work great. 4.30 ratio puts me at 13mpg daily and 8 or 9mpg hauling.

 

I just got a gasser 6.2, I am comfortable in saying it’s the nicest truck I’ve ever owned and sure it’s not the best for mileage but as I am learning that ripping down the highway at 75-80 is getting me about 10 mpg on average. The ride is as you’d expect in a big truck, the DRW setup in mine is a not un-comfortable, my van was so noisy with all my tools knocking around scratching, creaking, slamming, vibrating, buzzing hahah, it was so annoying, the truck cab is so freaking quiet, it’s like night and day. It’s all on what your used to and are willing to accept. Good luck!!!

 

The 6.2 in F250 trim IIRC actually has a higher payload than a similarly equipped 6.7, because the gasser is so much lighter. I think in F350 trim they are the same? I may be wrong on that - please feel free to correct me.

Regardless, yes, that 6.2 is going to handle that kind of weight just fine, whether you're using 3.73s or 4.10s or even 4.30s in the rear. It is a good, strong motor if you're wanting to stay gas (which it kinda sounds like you are leaning towards), and since you say you usually only travel an hour and a half or so away, a 6.2 would work well even with that large of a camper. As others have said, put it in tow/haul and let it run.

 

Buy the engine you want, otherwise you will be counting the days until you can trade it for the one you did want. I have never found my level of satisfaction has been determined by spec sheets or group discussions!

My two cents,

Steve

 

if you're going to use it as a daily driver for 30 miles round trip I strongly recommend the gas engine. You really need to run a diesel long enough to get them good and warm anytime you start them and letting them sit there and just idle especially when starting cold is not the greatest.

What it all boils down to in the end is what do you want, gas or diesel? You must be happy. I've owned from 300-6 to 460 with a V-10 thrown in, the only diesel I haven't owned was the 6.0. Only one I was disappointed in was the 6.4 diesel because of the HP oil pump.

The gassers will want to rev higher under load so don't panic when it does. Let the engine and the trans do their job as they are smarter than we are at keeping it all happy.

Keep the oil changed, keep the maintenance up and you'll be happy.

 

Gas or diesel get a dually! Even though it will be a daily driver you can't sacrifice functionality for practicality. Even though you say you won't be going very far, still when you go you will need the capability. SRW will get the job done but nothing beats a dually for towing, and towing particularly heavy loads. I've had both and will always prefer the dually for towing. Who knows sometimes you may go a little farther or a lot farther. You don't want to be limited by your equipment. Want to save money? Get an older 7.3 F450 dually (1999-2002).

 

Here's one for you. 1999 Ford F350 4x4 7.3L Power Stroke Turbo Diesel LARIAT LOW MILES -... (craigslist.org)