well everybody, i know this is yet another loaded question... im getting good at those on here...lol
but i am having some trouble deciding on trucks. i cant decide between gas or diesel... if i go with gas, it will be a 150, but diesel will be 250...
i figured the best bet is to talk to the guys that have owned and drove both...
let me start off with the fact that i haul NOTHING other than a motorcycle, so i need a longer bed so i can have my toolbox too...
i will only take crew cab, for interior room and ease of access...
i dont need 4x4, but also, i dont wanna spend my life's savings at the pump...
i know the diesel is a little bit more money to operate, i just wanna know is it worth it?? i know you get a LOT more truck for the money, i know the fuel economy is better than a gas burner, and i know that you can get ungodly miles on the motor before she dies... that is a big factor right there...i am finding them for about the same price ranges, it just boils down to the big question...
is it worth having diesel???
i really like diesel, but as i said, i dont need it... i just wonder if im gonna regret it soon after purchase... i know there are many other factors to think of, i have most of those, this is the only thing i have left... deciding what kind of fuel i want...lol
thanks!!

 

Ive owned both. I switched from a 97 f150 to a 2003 f250 diesel.
I was doing lots of highway miles, the occasional towing, the occasional hauling, not heavy stuff at all.

The longevity of the diesel is amazing. That sold me on the 7.3 over the 6 liter when I was looking.
Just about everything else is better with the diesel except a few things. The oil changes do cost a few bucks more, and it can get harder to start in the winter if you live in the cold.

The way i figure it, with the slight savings in fuel (diesel is cheaper up here msot of the time too) it evens the more expensive oil changes. The pure power of the diesel is amazing. It was night and day difference between my 4.6 liter and my 7.3!

So if you like power, longevity, having more potential of a truck in general, and better fuel economy, that diesel is a great way to go!

Absolutely nothing wrong with an f150 though, they are good solid lighter duty trucks!

 

Personally I don't need a diesel, I have access to my dads 97 F-250 diesel for heavy pulling. I have a diesel because I love them that is my hobby and always has been since I was in high school I love modifying my ol 7.3L and eating ricers up. A gasser will save you at first but when you get up in miles its value drops though the price differnce between them now is close because the diesel market is dead and you can get some real deals in them now. I do have to say the life is getting less on them with this ULSD and the repair costs are ALOT more then a gasser so make sure you can afford it.
I don't believe you can get a CC LB F-150 so you might consider a F-250 gasser if you want to go that route. Just my opinion if you don't need it don't buy it unless you just really want a diesel and that makes you happy.

 

THATS what im lookin for!! thanks man
here, diesel is $2.70, regular gas is $1.75... so, its a good deal higher... today was the coldest day of the year so far, and almost a record low... it was 14...lol so it doesnt get that cold here in north GA...lol
how bad are oil changes?
i have heard over $100, but i do it all myself... so im figuring around 60 to 70 with decent quallity oil... is that about right??

 

yeah, i have always wanted one... always thought they were too expensive, but they dont seem too bad now a days...lol
i really like the power... and no, they dont make a cc lb 150... i would have to loose the toolbox for that one... therefore makin me mad everytime i had something small to carry...
and no place for the most important thing in the WORLD... my tackle box...lol

how much more are the repairs?? are there any bad issues with these trucks??

 

You settled it yourself. Long bed. CrewCab. Can't get a 150 in that configuration.

Also, the 250/350s are just built tougher. F150s will last, and with the light work you'll put it through, would probably be just fine. But I wanted a truck that could pretty much outlast me... F250 7.3 was the only way to go.

 

I had a Dodge 1500 gaser and now a Ford F250 Diesel. I did less work on the Dodge and it was quicker (at first). I bought the Diesel for the long haul. I'm happy with it. Go with a diesel, and save some money for a DP chip from Jody Tipton.

 

My oil changes run about 85 bucks but I run Schaeffers 5w40 Syn regular rotella you can get an oil change in for about 50 bucks.

Repairs can get expensive if you take it in to have it done. If you lose your injectors a new one is 325 bucks but you can find deals in rebuilts I am getting a rebuilt #8 injector from Ryan Casslery for under a 100 bucks. Repairs can get up there but if you maintain the truck you can keep them down. You also have to consider two heavy duty batteries, expensive coolent changes its not cheap.

But If you can afford it and love these trucks then by all means go get one!

 

good point... im 19 years old, so im lookin at it in terms of, "where am i gonna be in 6 years when this thing is paid off??"
i dont want a new truck to be in the equation of a house, a family, my job moving me around... i want that truck to be there for me when i need it. and im worried about whether or not that 150 can do that for me... it seems like that 7.3 will still be here in 10 years...lol
i know that sounds kind of strange for a teenager, and i know that automaticly makes me a dumb kid, but i like to think im doin something pretty smart by not running out and grabbing a brand new mustang, im actually thinkin it through...lol

 

Take a quick look at your avatar. Do you want a "truck" or not?

 

im used to optima yellow tops... how much are these batteries comapred to those??

yeah, i would be workin on her myself or i can get free labor...lol
oil, coolant, filters, trans. fluid... what else is there to do on these puppies?? diesel kleen in the tank and zmax in the oil?? does that help??
and gauges... i know i need gauges... lol

you say expensive coolant changes??
how bad and how often??
sorry... dont mean to bombard with questions...

 

lol. good point. i was waitin on that... i knew it was comin as soon as i posted this up... j/k

 

The way i do my oil changes, is i buy a 20 liter pail of oil, and a filter. That usually costs me 130 bucks or so up here in Canada (thats for synthetic) and after im done i have 5 or so liters of oil left over for the next oil change, so i get every third one "free" haha.

I actually havent noticed any repairs more expensive yet either, but i havent had to repair much. I have to buy two batteries in the future instead of one, tranny filter was around the same price as my f150 was, Tires costs the same..

I think even the mods are around the same cost!

On edit, Im a slow typer tonight haha.

 

thats good news!!
i think thats a good price in gallons...lol

 

Coolent can be fixed with some rotella ELC its 25 bucks a gallon you need 4 gallons and a gallon of distelled water but it will last you a life time avoid the green stuff.

Transmission takes 20qts I believe and that including the transfer case it cost me 75 bucks of Schaeffers and a 38 dollar filter.

Diesel kleen is 6 or so bucks but I have been using the truck stop brand.

Zmax is a crock of crap I used it and noticed no differnce at all in the truck.

Get you a good set of Isspro or Di Optix gauges I got my gauges from throughbreddiesel.com for 310 shipped but you need alot of stuff to get them to work they lack a lot in the kit.

Don't be afraid to ask questions thats what we are here for. Also I don't like optimas because of what they bailed out on us and they are way to much compared to other batteries that are just as good. Factory Motor Crafts work great and also Cat batteries will last you a life time.