Short background...I have an 05 FX4 SCrew 5.4 that is my daily driver and tow vehicle for a 7000 lb open car hauler. I'm going to upgrade to a gooseneck enclosed trailer (possible w/living quarters) somewhere between 28 and 48 ft. Yeah, another thread to be sure.
The trailer GVWR will likely be 12-15K, either 2 or 3 axles. Actual weight will likely be about 4000 empty, 3000 for the racecar, 2000 for parts/spares, 1000 extras, plus growth. So, lets say I need to haul 12000 to be conservative. Payload will be purely tongue wt. Anyway, I know I'll need a SuperDuty and now I'm trying to decide what options to get. As for usage, it will share daily driver duty with my 65 Mustang about 50/50. I want to drive the Mustang whenever the weather is decent. It's a project car, not a show car.

I absolutely love the new 08 trucks, so I won't be getting anything less than that. After seeing the FX4 lux pkg, I may wait for an 09. I am in no hurry to buy, the F150 is great and the trailer is fine. The larger trailer will make my life and my crew's (wife and brother) life easier at the track. I was planning to wait until early 09 to buy the truck and then buy the trailer after the 09 race season but with a decent pay raise right around the corner, I've got the itch.

Things I know I want: F350, Crew Cab, 4x4, 8' box, auto trans, black paint.

Decisions:
1. gas vs diesel: Has anyone done the cost/benefit of spending $6000 on the PSD over the V10? Is there a calculator out there? I had planned on getting the new PSD but with diesel fuel costs, I'm considering the V10 ($4.05 for reg, $4.99 for diesel today in my 'hood). I don't know the difference in mileage to do the comparison.

2. SRW vs DRW/dually: I had planned on getting the dually, but after reading the specs, the dually adds no additional trailer capacity except w/4.30 gear.
15,200# for F350 SRW, only axle listed is 3.73.
15,200# for F350 DRW w/3.73 OR 4.10
17,700# for F350 DRW w/4.30
I don't need the additional gears, I'd rather have the lower revs. So, the only real gain is in payload 3640# (SRW) vs 4830# (DRW). 3600 is more than enough for the trailer I want to haul (15-20% of 12,000# is 1800-2400# tongue wt), PLUS the added stability, and added "spare" tires in the event of a rear tire blowout. Then there's the added weight, added parking headaches, added turning/manuevering headaches, added cost for tires, etc.
So, does a dually really tow better? I've never driven one with a load.

3. Lariat vs FX4: I bought the 05 FX4 F150 because I like that interior design best, don't like woodgrain, wanted black interior (NA on Lariat), like the black grille and body colored bumpers. Now, I'm considering a Lariat bc I want the dual-zone automatic HVAC, autodimming/compass mirror, powersliding rear window, power seats, message center/trip computer, and steering wheel controls. All things that come on the Lariat but not the FX4 on 08 SuperDuty. I was willing to give up the black interior to get these conveniences. PLUS I *think* the Lariat suspension is probably better riding on the highway than the FX4. I do almost no off-roading here in the DC metro area so improved ride quality would be nice. Now, I see that there's a Luxury Pkg available for the 09 FX4 that has all the lux features I want plus a few other conveniences that would be nice to have.

4. New vs slightly Used: I got my 05 w/X-plan about $32,000 with an MSRP of $42000. A nearly new, low mile 05 would have probably cost me $28,000 and I got better financing. I'm wondering the same thing now only more money. The truck I want will MSRP at about $55,000, I'm guessing employee pricing will put me about $49000 w/discounts about $45000. I can get a slighly used 08 w/ low miles for about $35-40K. Obviously, these prices will go down the longer I wait.


Anyone have input?

 

Just noticed that the Lariat will be available with black interior in 09...That could make life easier on me.

 

I'd get the dually, Have you looked at the actual trailers? I'd get some extra "comfort" room in the pin weight

 

Appreciate the input.
I have looked at actual trailers-mostly what others are using at the track.
I'm still trying to decide what to get. Right now I'm leaning towards a 28-38' goose neck enclosed with no living quarters. GVWR for most is about 15K-18K. Again, I'll only be towing about once a month. I'll probably be towing 10-12K.
I'll probably be driving the truck 3-5 days per week unloaded commuting to work.

Has anyone done MPG comparisons between similarly equipped V10s vs the 6.4L PSD?

Anyone know the difference between the Lariat and FX4 suspension?

 

Mystic I got rid of a 05 f 350 diesel. Absolutely loved it but the truck was sitting alittle more than I would have liked. I ended up ordering a 08 F350 V-10. My Mileage was better with the 6.0 compared to the 6.4. I figured an $.80 cent difference in fuel to gas cost, hwy. mileage differential between the 2 trucks, oil change costs (diesel 15 qts + $15-18 oil filter, for a total of 30,000 miles. Also included the price of full synthetic oil for v-10 compared to dyno oil for the diesel. Again, everything based on mileage, I figured $3000 savings/30,000 miles. There is no difference between the FX-4 and Lariat suspension. They are just models. The quietness and ride are better in the 08 than in the 05 Super duty. I figured the oil changes at 5,000 miles even though I do mine every 3 months/3000 miles. Did my diesel pull better? yes it did! But I pull a 31 ft. TT fully loaded under 10,000 lbs, and with the v-10 I don't know it's there. The v-10 is an animal. I love it. But to each his own. I hope these calculations may have helped

 

Appreciate the input, wiingnut. I just spent weekend at the track racing and hanging out with other racers. I got to chat with others who have trucks and trailers and added some more data points for my search.
One fellow-racer just picked up an 08 F350 Lariat SRW longbed, CC. He said he loves absolutely everything about the truck except the fuel mileage. He got 17 around town over 300 miles. Then got 8 towing (about 10K lbs) to the track. I get 11-12 towing about 7000 lbs with my 150, 13.5 in town and 17 highway.
I'm leaning towards a ~32' (15K lb GVWR) trailer and an 09 SRW, 6.4L, right now.

 

Mystic good luck with what ever truck you you choose. I know if I had decided to stay diesel, I would have kept my 05. I have heard they have made a few program changes to the 6.4L for better mileage. I can tell you I haven't heard any bad about the 6.4L other than mileage. The lack of mileage has been the only complaint from all the guys I have ever talked to. I guarantee the 6.4L will pull just about anything. If you buy a 6.4L you'll have that Powerstroke grin tatooed to your face as I once did.