HD F-150 or 3/4 ton truck?

[coobie]

So a used 2017 Ram 2500 diesel came up locally advertised at $43K. I was going to go look at it and who knows, might have bought it, but it sold before I got there! I'm kind of glad though. The more I think about it a 3/4 ton diesel probably isn't my wisest choice.

For the same $43K I can order a 2018 F-150 HD payload Max tow Eco boost exactly how I want it. It pulls like a diesel without the headaches according to those who have the EB. It has more payload than a 3/4 ton diesel. It's more pleasant to drive. And most reports indicate it's cheaper on fuel and maintenance. I never pull over 10,000 pounds and 95% of my towing is between 4,000 and 7,000 pounds and towing is only 25% of my driving.

Resale should be much better with the diesel... but then again, the F-150 with the HD payload package seems to be a hot commodity on the used market so might retain more value than I think. Planning on running it 200K+ anyway so don't expect to get much for it then.

I would research the Ford EB engine
more before your purchase.IMHO the ford EB will NOT pull like a diesel engine.As far as resale diesel engines will always command a premium price over a gasser on resale.

 

[gladehound]

Payload along with towing would be the deciding factor. You get up towards the top towing limit with a 1/2 ton and you can't even put the wife and kids and gear in the pickup without being over gross. My Chevy 2500, I can hook up 13000 lb of trailer with 15% of it tongue weight (1950 lb) and still have 600 lb of payload left over on the pickup before reaching gross.

I got mine mostly because of hauling payload. Not so much for towing. So the gasser works great for my needs. I can load the pickup up to gross and barely tell anything is in the back. And it doesn't squat like it is taking a dump like a 1/2 ton will. And if you follow tire maker inflation tables and reduce the tire pressures when empty, the ride is pretty darn good for general driving use.

Brakes and everything else are substantially more beefed up with a 3/4 ton than a 1/2 ton. Barely any comparison. And considering that many good 3/4 ton pickups can be had for almost the same price as equivalent 1/2 ton pickups, it almost becomes a no brainer to move up. And drive moderately, and fuel economy is not that much worse than 1/2 ton. My 2015 2500 6.0 Z71 only averages about 1-2 mpg less than a 2013 1500 5.3L Z71 I had before.

Not sure you realize that the payload of an F150 HD crew cab 4WD is 2,600 pounds.

Fuel mileage, handing, comfort and low RPM engine torque are all in favor of the F-150 compared to any gas 3/4 ton.

Towing stability is the one thing that is in the favor of the 3/4 ton (as long as the front end is tight but some aren't as refined as an F-150 and that makes me question if they are really better). Besides, I towed a 27ft Travel trailer through a line of tornados and up and down the Rocky Mts with a Jeep, I think I can probably handle the same trailer with an F150HD. I'm mostly looking to be legal on weights when traveling with all the toys, right now that's not a possibility with the jeep. Also I want more low and torque and not sure I want to get involved with modern diesel emissions.

I did used to use my F-250 diesel to pull down trees, so it made sense when I had a smaller tractor. but with the bigger tractor, I just use that. :thumbsup:

When I look at everything that's important to me, I think the F150HD might be the right way to go.... might be... I could still be swayed by an awesome deal on a 3/4 ton.

 

[coobie]

So a used 2017 Ram 2500 diesel came up locally advertised at $43K. I was going to go look at it and who knows, might have bought it, but it sold before I got there! I'm kind of glad though. The more I think about it a 3/4 ton diesel probably isn't my wisest choice.

For the same $43K I can order a 2018 F-150 HD payload Max tow Eco boost exactly how I want it. It pulls like a diesel without the headaches according to those who have the EB. It has more payload than a 3/4 ton diesel. It's more pleasant to drive. And most reports indicate it's cheaper on fuel and maintenance. I never pull over 10,000 pounds and 95% of my towing is between 4,000 and 7,000 pounds and towing is only 25% of my driving.

Resale should be much better with the diesel... but then again, the F-150 with the HD payload package seems to be a hot commodity on the used market so might retain more value than I think. Planning on running it 200K+ anyway so don't expect to get much for it then.

IMHO the Ford EB will NOT pull like a diesel engine "period".Not even in the same league.I have owned a 2004 dodge ram 2500 with 5.9 cummins diesel,2011 ford F250 super crew 6.2 gas engine,2006 ford F150 super crew 5.4 triton engine and now 2016 Ram with 6.4 hemi gas engine.From my experience with pulling with all of these trucks Appx loads of 12,000-13,000 lbs the 2004 dodge 5.9 cummins pulled better hands down winner.

 

[gladehound]

I would research the Ford EB engine
more before your purchase.IMHO the ford EB will NOT pull like a diesel engine.As far as resale diesel engines will always command a premium price over a gasser on resale.

I'd be interested to hear more about your experience with your towing with the Ecoboost. A previous poster confirmed that the Ecoboost pulls better than his 7.3 PSD did. I also had a 7.3 PSD so that is my point of reference.

No question that diesel has (or had) more resale. Right now, pre-DPF diesels go for a fortune. 10 years from now, once the manufactures completely solve the emissions issues, do you think today's diesels will be worth much on the used market? If the diesel emissions issues really get solved, you wont be able to give away today's diesels. They will be like early 80's cars!

 

[gladehound]

IMHO the Ford EB will NOT pull like a diesel engine "period".Not even in the same league.I have owned a 2004 dodge ram 2500 with 5.9 cummins diesel,2011 ford F250 super crew 6.2 gas engine,2006 ford F150 super crew 5.4 triton engine and now 2016 Ram with 6.4 hemi gas engine.From my experience with pulling with all of these trucks Appx loads of 12,000-13,000 lbs the 2004 dodge 5.9 cummins pulled better hands down winner.

You just listed a bunch of naturally aspirated gas engines with weak low RPM performance and concluded that the forced induction EB would not pull like a diesel. Others who have owned both EB and Diesel have a different opinion.

Just look at the torque curve! it's shaped just like a diesel torque curve. Just shifted up in RPM a little.

 

[Bigfoot62]

I'm looking for a new truck and am looking for input to help me decide (I know you guys are good at that!) :thumbsup:

Background on my situation:

I had a 1999.5 F-250 Crew Cab 7.3 PSD for 14 years and eventually got rid of it due to rust. In retrospect, I probably should have paid someone to fix the rust problems and kept it. It was a great truck. . .

You're correct. We're really good at giving advice and spending other peoples' money!!!

I would suggest that you go back to the F-250 Diesel. MUCH more truck than the F-150. A 1st cousin of mine has the Eco-Boost 150, and tows about the same weight tractor and travel trailer as you do. It's adequate, but not by much. After your experience with the 3/4 ton, it will be hard for you to be satisfied with a 1/2 ton.

As for your concerns about the diesel and the DEF system, don't worry about it. I live in a rural farming area and about every other truck you see here is diesel. I really don't even know about any of the 6.7 Fords with an emission problem.

As for towing with the 6.7, it's a beast! My camper is a 31' 5th wheel that weighs 10K dry, I can drag it as fast as I want to. Just turn on the Tow/Haul Mode, engage the Jake Brake, set the cruise, and hang on. My tractor and trailer weighs right around 14K, and it's nothing. With 3.63 gears, 60 mph is about 1400 RPM's. It averages around 18 mpg empty, and towing gets me about 11-15, depending on what I'm pulling.

Mine is a 2016 crew cab FX4, and it rides great. I'll probably never buy another 2-wheel drive. Plenty of room for 5 adults.

 

[Ford850]

A couple of my thoughts:
- Buy what will make you happy and fill your needs for the years to come, not what you think will have the best resale value. I judge how well I like my trucks by how well the perform and their dependability, not how much I sell them for when I'm done with them.
- Be aware the tall, wind sensitive trailers will kill your mpg's especially the gas engines (including V8 and EB). KILL. There's no way around it, that big surface area catches the wind and a large light trailer will suck more fuel than a small/low very heavy (max) load. Just be aware of it, and live with your decision.
- There is no perfect truck for everyone. Know your needs and research to find the brand/model that best fits those. (I do think you are already doing this)

So buy what will make you happy, be comfortable with your decision, and have a smile on your face for years to come as you drive it.

 

[gladehound]

I would suggest that you go back to the F-250 Diesel. MUCH more truck than the F-150...

I drove a used 2012 F-250 PSD. The engine was crazy strong and I'm sure the new ones are stronger. If I go for a diesel, I should probably just get a 1 ton SRW. I used to overload my 1999 F250 all the time and eventually put heavier springs on it (but that didn't make me legal of course).

Happy to hear the vote of confidence for diesel. I've been reading every thread I can find on the net and they have practically scared me away from considering a diesel. Then today I talked to a co-worker with a 2014 with zero issues and now you say you haven't heard of issues.

I'll definitely have to look at the F-250s more. The great thing about this is I have until next June to actually have the vehicle (next trip with the travel trailer) so I have a lot of time to go back and forth!

 

[ning]

I find all the concern about ride quality funny... my two rides are a '97 F350 (7.3PSD, CC, 4WD, SRW) and a motorcycle.
The F350 gives me a great abs workout on some highways, but I wouldn't trade it for a light-duty truck.
Maybe you should check out a big SUV or something like the VW Touareg TDI if you're looking for a more civilized occasional tower?

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I have an F150, 2016. Ecoboost, supercrew, 4wd... Put 850 lbs of wood flooring in the bed this morning and headed to my cabin 45 minutes away, which has a 2,000 ft elevation difference. Lot's of twisty turns and ups and downs; the truck ran up those hills like it was empty, and handled just as well. I was very impressed. Yes, I had it in tow / haul mode. I used to have the 350 superduty with the 6.7 powerstroke diesel, that was just flat out an animal at towing or hauling.