The extra $6k for the diesel, you will get back when you sell.

Why does everyone keep mentioning that? Unless you are one of the few people that pay msrp on the truck, who ever pays that 6k extra for the diesel engine. The most I have paid for the diesel option was 3700, now granted that's still higher then the 600 v10 option, but still no where near the 6k that everyone mentions. I paid 2400 for the diesel option on the truck that's in my siggy, but I brought alot to the table as well too.

Whatever the option costs, you basically get it back when you sell. When I bought my 04' it said $5k plus

I would agree with that up to a point, the less it is, the easier it is to recoup what you spent. It's easier for me to recoup what I spent on this truck versus if I had to pay that 6k and maybe have a little left over.

Still got me on the v10 or dsl, nobody really said anything about the 5.4... Of course, I did not ask.

I am also looking at cost of ownership, mainly fuel costs. I would think that a gas engine would be running less (I would also let my smoker idle long periods, especially when it was cold out, both at morning starts and while waiting) I think that a gasser would not require this type of running to keep the oil warm. The fact that I can just startup and leave is appealing.

BUT, if I am loosing 2 MPG over the life of ownership, that would be roughly 350 gallons of fuel a year.

My math ~ 40,000 miles on a stroker that will average 16 mpg = 2500 gallons fuel, x 3.49 = $8725

40,000 miles on a gasser that will average 14 mpg = 2857 gallons gas, x 3.09 = $8828

basically, the cost will even out, as long as my mileage figures are close. Anybody with a v10, I would like some economy figures.

Thanks...

But I did, advising against it.

A 5.4L will handle your load, but the reason I advise against it in your case is you tow most of the time. A 5.4L V-8 will be working 70-90% while you tow. While the engine will easily handle the load, I have doubts any drivetrain could handle this type of use for 200,000+ miles and still be reliable.

A V-10 or a PSD will be working 50-60%, which is much better for longevity.

My advise, go with the V-10. They are much better in the short trips. Diesel engines in general don't like lots of short trips. They like to reach full operating temp and stay there (reference the covers most diesel owners use on the front grill around here). I don't think that a diesel is showing it's best attributes when put into your driving situation.

As for resale......who cares. I drive my trucks for at least 200,000. Value to me is will the truck start and do what I ask it to do for the entire time I plan on owning it. When it's time for a new truck be very sure the current truck will have a bunch of miles on it and pretty much depreciated.

I don't know if those mileage numbers are reasonable. I know that I drive my PSD 2.5 miles to work and I think I get less than 10 mpg doing that. Can't say for sure because I always go somewhere farther than that on weekends. Point is, if you do a lot of 1-2 mile trips you are going to get really bad mileage with the PSD. It'll be bad on the V10 too, but it might not be any worse than the PSD. So you need to think a little more about how much of those very short trips you will be doing. If a lot of short trips is the norm, the gasser has to get the nod WRT economy and motor life.

Bill

Incidently, I checked trade value for a 2001 F-250 4x4 CC LB Lariat with 190,000 miles at Kelly Blue Book. I used a zip code for Sierra Vista AZ (85613).

V-10 in excellent condition is valued at $9,500. The PSD (rest of truck otherwise exact) is valued ay $11,725.

great input. Scratch the 5.4. I just got off the phone with my neighbor who happens to be manager at a large car lot. He pretty much convinced me to get a v10, unless I get a chance to steal a diesel.

As far as using KBB, I have found that it is no more than a feel good site. NADA is a little more accurate, but nothing can ever call them all the time. KBB called my 99 stroker a $16,000 ride, dealer(s) offered me $6000, I sold it for $12,000 and was elated to get that much. Even my neighbor said $6000 to $8000. Statement was made 'its only worth what you can sell it for' and around here the economy is poor, super poor.

So, off to drive a v10 and hope I like it.

If I figure out how much I will save by getting a gasser, I will probly be sick.... $500 programmer, $500 exhaust kit, $250 gauges, expensive fuel treatments, coolant additive, saving $$$ on electric bill not running 1500 watt heater, $60 oil changes, etc etc etc.

i am in the same dilema you are in but i am going PSd only for the reason that i know this truck is going to stick with me for more than 8 years (that is how long my 97 F250 LD 5.4 has been with me) so i need something that can handle high mileage and long trips since i take a trip to wisconsin once a year all the way from south texas and i like driving with my folks who think it is ok to make the trip in less than 2 1/2 days so we are really driving for more than 14 hours a day to get there. This year i am planning on hauling my car and alot of racing gear up to road america so i need the towing capacity

A 97 with a 5.4L? I think you must mean a 5.8L or 351 CID?

I haul 8-9000 pounds with my F-250 (see sig) in a 28 foot enclosed car hauler. It gets the job done. It's work for your once-a-year trek to Elkhart Lake. Depending on your load, a 4.11 gear might be the ticket, you can haul 11,000 pounds. A 5.4L will haul up to it's rated capacity, but I wouldn't do it full time. Anything more, you should look at a V-10 or Power Stroke.

Here's my $.02

GET THE V10! I have a 5.4 and agree 110% with Redford, it can do it but the added load... I love diesels with all my heart, but if you work on your own truck you will learn to hate them.

As far as cost goes, it's really 6 one way half a dozen the other, as you've read above. But short trips and what you've described fit the gasser bill more than a diesel. The diesel's really pull through on the long haul, but around the county not so much.

The 97 trucks had 5.4 engines. The 97 250 LD used the same body style as the F-150 of the time. The LD became renamed the 7700 series a few years later. Its just a F-150 with a higher GVWR.

97-98 F250 LD were just like Ford 390 gashog said and in 99 they changed the name to F150 7700 edition

Go with v-10
 

I have owned all of them and can tell you if you are used to pulling a lot with the diesel you are not going to like the gas 5.4 or v-10. I really had good luck with my 7.3 but the 6.0's where a nightmare. When they ran they ran good but if you have a break down look out, the repaire bills are expensive. If you are in the used market finding a 7.3 under 100,000 miles is all but impossible. There are alot of 6.0s out there but I would not recommend owning one past 100,000 miles without a good warranty. I just bought a 07 v-10 and to tell the truth it does fine, but not real impresive compared to the diesel. I do like the fact that the oil changes are alot cheaper and the cost of gas v.s diesel is a wash if you compare mileage differences. v-10 about 12.5, 6.0 diesel about 15 average unloaded. I would not be too concerned about resale value because when I bought my v-10 they were hard to find and there were alot of 6.0 diesels out there for about the same amount of money. When I traded in the 6.0 the trade value was not that good because everybody was worried about the reliability of the engine. If you do not plan on keeping it past 2 years you could find a really good deal on a 6.0 with alot of warranty left. Good luck with whatever you buy.