If it wasn't for your wanting to have plenty of power to get up and go at the light, then I would actually say get just a v 8 gas burner. It would more then handle the tow load(bumper or gooseneck?). I consider both the v 10 and the diesel to be more towing vehicles and given the weight that those vehicles are going to be and if you mod it or not, you can do a lot of damage to those vehicles trying to launch yourself when that light hits green. Although moding a diesel well get your alot of power easier and cheaper then a gas burner. Really it comes down to your preferance, I've always had a diesel, now the brands have change but they have always been a diesel, but I'm also lucky if I just have to haul 6 times a month, whereis your doing it only 6 times a year. Unless launching power at the light is a very big issue with you, you probably would be better just getting a 3/4 ton v 8 gas, it has enough power to do the job, lighter truck, might be able to get you better on mileage and it would handle daily driving better(by daily I mean a lot of trips 10 miles or less). Both the diesel and the v 10 are overkill for your situation, but if your willing to shell out the bucks, then I hope your happy with your choice. I love the diesel, but I do need the diesel, the diesel really woudn't fit your situation either, out of the two, the v 10, but that's still overkill(but fun). Just a whole lotta my .02 worth.

 

Mitch,

See what you started???? LOL!! This could rage on for weeks!! Go drive both trucks if you can. Decide for yourself after driving both in your style of driving.

That being said, you won't be the first off the line w/ the diesel and a manual box. Well let me take that back. You might be first off the line, but you'll fall off as soon as you push in the clutch. The slushbox would be much better for acceleration w/ the diesel. V10, either or just make sure you get 4.30 gears. You'll be much happier w/ the acceleration than w/ the 3.73's.

Also, consider that you'll do 3-4 services on that gasser for the same cost as 1 smoker service. That plus the cost and availability of fuel, makes that gasser look pretty good when you consider the extra $5-6k for the smoker at the time of purchase.

I've got a 2V V10 w/ a slushbox and 4.30 gears and I'm very pleased. I've ridden in one 3V and it was nuthin but the truth. Also I've been in some damn powerful smokers too, so you really have to decide what's right for you. If you check my sig, you'll see that I get 12-12.5 mpg empty and I'm not afraid to stand on it when it's called for. The best part is when I do, I get a BSEG and it doesn't stink up the interior!!!!!!

Good Luck Man!!!

Dave

 

I've owned both. The V10 was a '99 (older design). The 7.3L PS is a '01.
First off, I live in Cheyoming and towing 10K up & down mountains at freeway speeds are the norm. (I live at 6,000 feet, and camp and hunt at 9,000 to 10,000 feet). You're in Ohio where it is probably not as much of a concern. (Rolling hills vs. Rocky Mountains)
Bottom line, the PS has tons more power off the line and/or towing than that V10.
NO COMPARISSON!
And consider some math: A 38 gallon tank @8mpg (V10) nets 280 miles @$2.00/gal=$76.00
Same for 7.3L: @$2.50/gal=494 miles at a conservitive estimate of 13mpg.
That's a $19.00 difference for an additional 214 miles (.09 / mile).
Diesel costs more, and always will. But the additional mpg as well as additional power in my mind makes it a no brainer.
Once you go diesel . . . You never go back!

 

I had a similar choice to make about 2 years ago. I tow a 29' boat about a half-dozen times a year (I'm only counting long distance tows - the 10 miles or so roundtrip from the store yard to the ramp don't count). Other than that little bit of towing, the truck is my daily driver/kid hauler/hunting vehicle.

My assumptions were that gas and diesel were roughly the same price, the V10 would get 12 mpg and the diesel roughly 5 mpg more. Plan to keep the truck 10 years, roughly 15K miles per year. For my usage, I just couldn't justify the smoker. Yes, it would get better mileage, though I'm not convinced that it would be all that much better, despite the guys claiming 25 mpg while towing 25K lbs uphill at 80 mph. If you look at total cost of ownership, you have to factor in fuel cost (and diesel is still consistently higher than gas around here), maintenance (more oil per change, additional filters, etc), and the upfront purchase price (and don't forget to figure in the additional finance charges that extra $5-6K is going to run you over the life of the loan).

Plus, there are some headaches with a diesel you don't have with a gasser - noise, smell, the fact that mileage goes to crap when they switch to winter fuel up here in the cold country, the slow warm-up in winter, etc. All in all, I couldn't justify it, for my purposes.

Now, if I was towing that boat a 100 miles every weekend, or if I towed for work, then I would certainly give the oil-burner a harder look; there is no doubt it is much more of a workhorse than any gas engine. That is just by design, but all vehicles are compromises and you have to determine which attributes are important to you.

And bottom line, not all things can be measured objectively. Sometimes ya gotta go with the heart

 

BTW, I've got a 2005 F-250 CC 4WD SWB with the 3v V-10.

 

I do have experience with an '03 F250 SC 4x4, 5.4l, 3.73, Auto. It accelerated ok but got about 9 - 11 mpg with me driving it. I've heard the V10 gets about the same. Although I may only get 7 - 10 mpg!! If I get a gasser it would be a '04 to '07 but I would look for a '99 to '03 7.3l. I don't have a warm fuzzy about the 6.0l. It's hard to find a 6 speed to test drive.
I had a '79 F250 4x4 350hp 400, 4sp, 3.54 gears and 35's. It ran GREAT! It got 8 - 10 mpg and pulled 10k+ many times.

 

I get 11 mpg in mixed city/highway with my truck. 8-9 mpg towing the boat in the same city/highway mix, at speeds up to 75 mph.

Of course, if I was worried about the mileage, I would've bought a Civic. Hard to tow with one, though

 

Gotta be the PSD . . . (u know it only comes in a auto torqshift)

 

I always thought a diesel & auto was a bad combo till I got my 03 6.0 & torque shift, I love that truck,

I agree with test drive both & pick what you like,

 

I have an 05 V10 and tow a Jeep on an 18 foot trailer once in a while. Power, no problem it is flat around here but 65 mph is no problem and I get about 8 towing. I get 10 - 12 mixed and have 30K and it runs like a top. I drive it hard keep up on the maintence and I have no worries of sticking vanes on turbos, no oil leaks do not have to add fuel additive everytime I fill up, no smell, on freezing days I do not need to plug it in. I am still trying to find out what I am missing.

If I towed heavy everyday I would get a PSD but for me the hassle is not worth it.

 

I know this probably won't help anything, but I agree. The Superduty is the best truck out there. I'd own one even if all they offered was a V6 and a can of beans.

The SD's are just totally sweet trucks, work or play, pulling or pushing. I'll probably never own a different truck, as long as Ford continues to build them this tough and durable. I have the V8, I pull a small camper and I push snow in the winter.

Not once has this engine failed me. It's always ready to roll regardless of the temperature out and has never left me lacking power. Ford rules. Everything else (engines, options, tranny) is just preference.

 

I drove my 05-PSD today...

No smell...

No hassles...

I hadn't driven the truck in over 3-weeks. It had been under the car cover.

No worries, and almost 17-MPG.

Then I leaned on it getting on the HWY and

I have the programmer in level-6 and yeehaa...

Ill gladly put in my fuel additive each time I fuel up, which is significantly less often than the v10s.

What a great feeling to have 400HP & 700TQ at the wheels.

Try that with a v10.

Oh and yes the diesel is an expensive option.....that is worth every penny.

Its all relative, take a look at the resale values of the gasser Super Dutys vs the Diesel Super Dutys.

You get what you pay for.

 

Either choice is good.

When I ordered my '05 Excursion, I drove both a 7.3 diesel, 6.0 diesel and V10.

Just driving without a trailer, the V10 will show it's taillights to a stock diesel. Throttle response is much better as well with the gasser. I did not want the noise, aggravation of finding a diesel pump, or the higher cost of diesel...not to mention the added maintainence.

I tow mostly short distances, with one or two trips of a few hundred miles a year. The V10 tows fine.

The best mileage I have seen on a mixed tank was 13...usually it hovers around 9. I know several guys with diesels that get mid teens.

You can mod a diesel to run like a scalded cat...but so much for the engine and trans warranty too.

 

I had a V10 in a 2003 f-350 and let me tell you.. it's a work horse! The only problem I had is my 40' toy hauler 5th wheel (having electronic trailer breaks) kept burning up my breaks on my truck. I recently got a 2006 (new) powerstroke and it has the automatic downshifting when in tow/haul mode and it certianly saves on the breaks, plus more power!!

 

Yeah and you'll be "paying for" it when your warranty claim is turned down and you have to shell out big bucks to get that thing back on the road again