Which tow vehicle to buy?

[Mike120]

I've got an '06 F-350 Dually that we've already put 40K on. Most of those miles were pulling either a 7 horse or a 2 horse trailer. It performs great and we've had no problems with it at all. I've had F-250s in the past, with and without the powerstroke....I wouldn't get another one without the diesel, there's just no comparison.

 

[rdln]

I have an older version of option 1 and love it. If i had money to burn I would drive to work 50miles one way. But I dont, so I have a 4cyl beater. If gas to diesel price ratios continue to be $2.14 to $2.59 like it is here, a gasser would make sense and your drivetrain/body differences equate to a 1000lbs less the gasser has to motivate.

 

[GaryCrowell]

Normally the F-350 powerstroke would be a no-brainer, BUT...The 6.0 powerstroke engine has had a LOT of problems, so many problems that I wouldn't own one. You really need to do some research before you commit to buying a truck with that engine. At least know what you're getting in to before you buy, that way you can't say you didn't know when you have problems. I'll get flamed with posts from guys saying that they haven't had any problems, but the fact remains that the number of warranty claims on that engine is very high compared to it's competition. It's a very problematic engine in all years that it's been produced.

The 7.3 powerstroke that was used until the first half of '03 was a good engine. Ford is replacing the 6.0 with a new 6.4 liter engine in a few months. If you have to have a Ford, I'd either wait for one of the new engines or find an older truck with the 7.3. Otherwise you'd be money ahead to consider either a dodge cummins or chevy duramax combination.

 

[jayhaitch]

Let me stir the pot and say, so what if a 5.4 is underpowered? (Duck! Incoming!!! I have 2001 5.4 Expedition. I've only towed 3500 lbs so I don't claim to be an expert, far from it. But is it worth driving an ungainly beast daily, to have the perfect tow vehicle, rarely?

I'd love to have a diesel. I love the sound, the smell, the torque. I test drove an 06 PSD crew cab long box F250. I couldn't believe the torque, the remarkably smooth ride, the nice handling. But the turning radius? Sheesh! I'm moving to the country but still work in the city. Too big!! I couldn't get that truck through half the Tim Horton's drivethrus around here. An extended cab long box is the biggest I find acceptable for urban driving. I test drove a used Dodge ext/LB Cummins: far better turning radius. Now if you're mainly driving in smaller towns/highways, no problem.

And does it really matter if you're underpowered hauling infrequently? It's far important to be able to stop fast than go fast

Just food for thought.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Jay, I can also see your piont on this. I will probably be towing less than once a month. So It maybe worth having the 5.4 250. I 'm curious why you guys feel the 5.4 is underpowered I believe it's 300 hp and I know that the GM's 6.0 is 300 hp and I know plenty of folks that tow with that engine. I will most likly get the 350 DRW PSD and I'll just pick up a cheap four banger truck for the comute. As for the Powerstroke issues the engine and tranny have 100000mile warranty and the truck only has 11k on it. So I'm not too concerned with that. My man concern is the 350 is too much truck for my needs.

Matt

 

[Highbeam]

"I'm curious why you guys feel the 5.4 is underpowered I believe it's 300 hp and I know that the GM's 6.0 is 300 hp and I know plenty of folks that tow with that engine."

Don't worry so much about HP and look at the torque numbers. The 6.0 is more engine than a 5.4 but neither one is a towing monster like the diesel which makes only slightly more HP in modern trims. People towing with the 6.0 do fine until they hook up to a trailer of belgians.

 

[jayhaitch]

Growing up, us gearheads when discussing vehicles used the phrase "trucking gear" to describe a low differential ratio, factory direct for pick ups. I remember 3.73, 4.10, 4.11, even 4.56 gears. So big sixes like the Ford 300 or small V-8's were still sold in 3/4 ton pickups, just geared low. I remember the "creeper gear" of old Ford manual trannnies, where you actually started in second gear unless you were hauling out of a launch ramp, etc. I think some of our current love of monster engines is (I'm guilty too!): MORE POWER. I NEED MORE POWER! Actually, it's a want, not a need. As long as eventually we can get up to reasonable highway speed, it's "enough."

But I still want a Dodge Cummins 2500.

 

[Jimbrown]

Well given those two choices I would get the new 5.4 F250. It is a fine truck. Specially if you are happy with the 5.4 in your F150. i just traded a GMC that had the small 4.8 in for an F250 PSD. The PSD for sure will out tow the 5.4. I pull a three horse goose neck with a Friesian in it. ( Almost as big as a belgium) he weighs over 1800lb. You can pull 9800 with the 5.4 with standard gears and 11800 if you get the 4.10 rear axel. and it will be new with a new warranty. I don't know the milage is on the 5.4 but it should be close to your F150. My 06 PSD gets 15 to 16 at best. yes you will have to keep the 5.4 in the high RPM range probably 3600 or higher when pulling heavy but it won't hurt it. Some of the V10 guys with the heavy RV's turn that are more almost all the time. So its a new truck vs a two year old one.
I never owned a used vehicle I was happy with. If you are going to stay in Ct I doubt you are going to be pulling long distances and you sure don't have the 20 mile long 5 % grades we have out west. I went with the PSD mainly becuse i have to drive I10 (any thing less than 75 out here you are considered to be a road block) and because of the mountains. I live at 5100ft it is usually a 2 or 3 thousnd ft climb for me just to get home. My lttle 4.8 would pull the rig but it was slow and just really could not cut the interstate.

 

[Boondox]

I went with a Chevy 2500HD but the make doesn't matter. I could have gone diesel but elected not to because I'd only be towing about 8500# four to six times a year on trips of less than 100 miles. After computing the difference in mileage, price of gas vs diesel, and the extra cost of the Duramax and Allison combo, I figured I'd have to drive 75,000 miles just to break even. And as much as I use the truck that would be in about ten years.

Just a reality check. What you WANT is often more than what you NEED. If you want more truck than you need, so be it. Heck, I could get by with a Kubota B2910 but I drive an L4630!

Pete

 

[Dargo]

Well, I'm in a little dilema. I have the oportunity to get a new tow vehicle and I can't make up my mind. Here are the two choices: an 05 F-350 dually, crewcab,powerstroke,lariat 4x4 with the eight foot bed. And option#2 an 07 F-250 5.4v8 extended cab eight foot bed XLT with an HD tow package and the new Towcommand system. The cost to me will be about the same. But I can't see myself using either of these truck for my daily 60mile commute to work,plus parking at plazas etc. I think the F-350 is a sure winner but my wife feels otherwise. I need an outside objective opinion. Now please when you respond please don't say other trucks besides the two I've listed. I plan on purchasing a large acreage in a few years. I will also be purchasing a 6 ton trailer to haul my JD 3320 around with. I'd eventually plan on getting so draft horses so I'll be hauling them around from time to time. I'd really appreciate all the responses I can get so I can get some clarity on this.

Thanks
Matt Traficante

It should be a no-brainer; wait and get an '07 F350 with the vastly improved 6.4 diesel. First, I have an Expedition with the 5.4. It can't pull itself along a highway that has any hills without constantly downshifting! Hooking up the kind of weight you are talking about behind a 5.4 liter would be a very, very sad situation. If you go up any hills, you'll have bicycles passing you! On the 6.0 Ford diesel...er,...uh,...I can't think of one single positive thing to say about it. If you can't wait for the 6.4 (it should be a hint to you that the 6.0 diesel didn't even have but a 3 year run), buy a used one with the 7.3 diesel.

Myself, since I pull heavy all the time, I had no choice but to go with the Cummins and spend some serious bucks on a bulletproof aftermarket tranny to go with my juiced Cummins.