Hi All,

I'm looking for advice on the best F250 for towing a two horse trailer. Pretty much all local towing (within 50 miles, not cross country excursions), two horses with a combined weight of 2,500 lbs (yeah, they're BIG!) and a trailer that's about 2,500 lbs (although at some point I'll be getting a new one that will be about 3,000 + lbs). I'll probably be trailering about 3 times a week. A 350 is a bit "overkill" for my needs.

The top of my list is RELIABILITY! Being stranded is not a option!

Sooooo, with all that being said, what would you recommend? Diesel, gas? I've heard that diesel is much more reliable, better mileage, and will outlast a gas truck? True?
Also, what are the BEST years to get? I plan on keeping this truck for a long time, so I don't want one to old, but I'm hoping to not spend more than $25,000k, maybe a bit more if it's really worth the investment.

Thanks!

Joanne

 

You don't need a Diesel with that small of a load. I would prefer a gas engine 2005-2010 with the V10 or even the 5.4 would serve you well. Or the 2011-present 6.2 gas engine. F250 and F350 have the same components, just the f350 has more rated capacity to haul stuff in the bed, you don't have to rule out a 350 because its a lot of truck. Even a F150 could pull that weight.

 

Hi Joanne,

The only real difference between the F250 and F350 is the sticker on the door that gives the weight rating. See here.

Is a diesel more reliable? No. Neither is it less reliable. However, when a comparable item breaks on a diesel, it is more expensive to fix.

Will a diesel get better mileage? Absolutely. However, fuel costs more per gallon and oil changes cost more on a diesel.

Will a diesel outlast a gas truck? That depends on maintenance. My dad's V10 has over 350,000 miles on it, about half of that while towing.

When I bought my truck I was looking for a gas engine because they were cheaper by 1/3 and I don't need to tow often. The extra cost of a diesel would not have been offset by the fuel savings.

In your case (towing multiple times per week) you would probably be better off buying a diesel.

As to what years are best, drop on over to the diesel side and those folks can give you the scoop.

 

+1

If you are looking at something new. A F150 XL with the 5.0 V8 is around 24k dollars.

 

go ahead and sniff at the diesel fourms but ask them about maint. cost...my advice go gas you dont want a loud,stinky diesel

 

I own and trailer horses fairly regularly as well. First, with that light a load, any F250/350 will work fine. An F150 would work fine as well and give better unloaded mileage...so long as you stick w/ bumper pull trailers. If you ever decide to move up to a gooseneck or even think you might, then I would argue for an F250/350.

I would look for a gas engine personally as they will haul that load just fine and not have the higher maintenance or fuel costs of a diesel. A 5.4 in 2005-10 would do just fine, but a v-10 would as well and only get slightly worse fuel economy. If you're looking at a newer one then the 6.2 is your only choice and would work well. If you go w/ a gas powered Superduty, look for a 2005 and higher, that gets you the Torqshift transmission which is much improved over the older ones.

Good luck and let us know what you decide!

 

Any 2005+ F-250 will handle your load. If you find one with the 5.4L V-8, you will be more comfortable towing the load with 4.10 gearing (vs. the more common 3.73 differential gears) but the 3.73 gears will get the job done if it is all you can find. A V-10 or diesel will pull better, but the ubiquitous 5.4L will get the job done.

 

We use to tow quite often with a 2500lbs or more horse trailer and 2 horses. We used our 86 F150 302 4x4 multiple times but if I knew it was to be hilly terrain I used the 02 F250 V10 4x4 crew cab. Now we have only one horse but we will probably end up using the 02 F250 to tow anyways. The V10 tows it like pretty much nothing I have seen. We tow quite often. Ya the V10 doesn't get the worlds best gas mileage but a diesel can be expensive in the long run especially if not being used alot for driving or towing. I would recomend a 05-10 F250 V10 only because of the 3 valve engine and the supposle torqueshift 5r100 transmission is better but I haven't seen any problems with the 2 02 F250 4x4 V10s we have had one we still own and drive regularly the 99-04 F250s had 2 valve engines and 4r100 tranmissions. I only say the V10 over the 5.4L because of the fact that your terrain may be hilly and struggle the 5.4L quite a bit. Plus in order to haul hay it will help having the extra 2 cylinders to help you out. Whichever of the trucks you get it will do the job F250s and F350s are the same and all 3 engines will see that as nothing.
Trav

 

I used to trailer two horses in a heavy two horse trailer. I started off with an 87 Bronco, which had (I think) a 5,000 lb tow capacity. I used a bumper pull trailer with a weight distributing hitch.

After hearing a horror story about a friend who flipped his Bronco, pulling horses, because the horses started fidgeting in the trailer, I decided I wanted a longer wheelbase.

I ended up buying a (then brand new) F150 Supercab with an 8' bed. Talk about wheelbase! (Crewcabs were nonexistent or rare then.) It had ample capacity to tow the load, and resisted dancing around when horses did the Macarena at stop lights.

I no longer pull the horses (sold the trailer, buried one of the horses) but still have the truck.

The short version - any of the modern F series will do the job. Consider a long wheelbase for stability, since horses move.

 

Trucks are NOT investments. I like my investments to go UP in value.

 

I vote for the gas engine. I have had a 6.0l 03 F350 and probably kept the local Ford dealer going with the ongoing problems with that motor. Then I bought a 08 F450 crew cab. Again a disaster with endless maint problems on the new improved 6.4l. I feel that the diesels are still at the start of the learning curve with all the smog requirements and you're the guinea pig. Like to spend big bucks on maint then go with the diesel. So now I also run a 6.8l V10 and couldn't be happier as how well it tows my 10000lbs dump trailer and load. It works harder than a diesel but gets the job done and at oil change time I wont get 2qts of diesel mixed with the oil as I do with my 6.4l because I didnt complete the exhaust filter cleaning.

 

Hello Joanne. My vote is for a gas powered truck from your described use. Either 5.4, 6.8 or 6.2 if your going new. 4.10 or 4.30 gearing wil be helpful also. Good luck!

 

I would recommend going with a gas engine as well. 5-6,000 lbs isn't enough to make any of the engines work too hard.

 

Thank you everyone for all of your input!

I was pretty much thinking I would get a gas rather than diesel which most of you recommended, but since I posted it a friend of mine (that has a bunch of cars and trucks and works on them) told me flat out to get a diesel truck with a Cummins engine. That would be a Dodge (four letter word around here?). He said they are the best as far as reliability and will last forever. Opinions on this? Given the choice, what would you choose? Overkill for my needs? Geeze I'm confused now!

I'm SO not a "car person"! Ask me anything about the "one horsepower" kind of transportation (horses) and I know my stuff, cars and trucks make my head spin!

Thanks!

Joanne

 

If you are not a car person than the diesel will be a pain in the *** for you when problems arise and when doing routine maintenance. The diesel is allot more expensive to maintain and if you only have to tow that much than get a gas engine. The Cummings is a good engine but the truck its paired up with is a steaming pile.