Which tow vehicle to buy?

[GreatWhitehunter]

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

 

[Bird]

OK, I'll venture an opinion, but as usual, we'd probably need more information before our opinions are really useful. What percentage of the time do you expect to be pulling a trailer? Is the cost difference between gasoline and diesel going to remain the same as it is right now? The non-dually is handier to park in narrow spaces, less likely for an inexperienced driver to hit curbs, especially on turns to the right, the gas engine is quieter, you only have 4 tires to worry about instead of 6, and maybe a few other little advantages. However, when you hook up a trailer of any size, there's just no comparison to the stability of a dually, or the torque or a diesel. And a 6 ton trailer? The diesel dually would have to be first choice.

 

[Captainding]

GreatWhite... between those 2 choices, it's a no brainer 350 Dually w/PSD. I have a 05 F350 PSD single rear wheel and I pull a 14' hydraulic dump trailer with ease fully loaded. Depending which transmission and gearing you get you should be able to pull your house down the street...LOL!! The 07 w/5.4 isn't up to the task of the pulling you want to do. Just because it has a tow package doesn't mean it will pull like a diesel. Diesel have the torque baby!!

Just my 2 cents...Ding

 

[wushaw]

The F350 with the powerstroke without question givin the choices. The F250 with a 5.4 is just a little too small for my taste in any 3/4 ton truck.

 

[HGM]

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

Matt,
How often do you plan to drive the truck? If it will be spending a good deal of time sitting arround waiting to be driven, then the gas burner would be the better choice because the turbo will stick.. Other than that,if you'll be driving it and using it as intended, I'd say diesel hands down for the same reasons already given... Being an '05(used), I would recomend an impartial dealer tech inspecting it for you before you buy it.. They can be tempermental if neglected and you will need to be regimented about maintenance, but I believe you'll be much happier with the diesel... Hope its an automatic too , nice package..

 

[Birdhunter1]

The F-250 with the 5.4 is rated at best for 8500 lbs, give or take s1000 lbs. since the truck is a supercab longbed.
The 5.4 will physically tow up to 10k but you won't be happy with it pulling your tractor and trailer, it will be underpowered. In fact you will think it doggy driving unloaded!

The dually with the powerstroke sounds like the best choice if you're gonn haul that tractor and your horses. Those draft horses (I assume Belgians?) are BIG, you'll be happier with the powerstroke and dual rears.
Think about it, with horses you'll be hauling hay, feed, etc.

If not either of these two trucks an F-250 with either the V10 or powerstroke will do fine, but I do not recommed the 5.4 for what you are doing. I have one in my F-150 and while it is a great engine it is not meant for heavy towing in a 3/4 ton like you say you will be doing.

 

[gordon21]

The word about the new powerstokes having lots of repair issues keeps coming up every time I ask people about the new Ford diesels. I am a Ford man and have bought almost Fords exclusively for the past 25 years. I have the 5.4 V8 in my new 150 and wish I had more power. I have hauled a 16' trailer loaded with 4500# of furniture three times in the past three months from Miami to North Carolina. Everything is fine until you start hitting hills. Weigh stations showed a total rig weight of 10,500#. The obvious answer for best performance is the 350, but you need to seriously check out the warranty situation first. Ask what is available for an extended warranty. If you plan to keep it beyond 50,000 miles this may be important to you. The biggest issue with the warranty repairs is the downtime. You might lose your truck for a week or two at a time.

Dealers will now sell ANY truck on the X-plan (if you qualify) even the King Ranches. 250/350 truck sales are really bad right now. Bargain hard and you can get out the door for barely over invoice.

 

[GreatWhitehunter]

Wow, so many replies so quickly. I'll be driving the truck daily.I only plan on trailering occasionally. But I really like the idea of be able to tow any trailer I want. The 350 is an automatic with a full warranty. I currently have the 5.4 in my 150 and it's quite powerful but I suspect it will be quite doggy. I just don't want to have too much truck for my daily life. My 150 is perfect for my need at present but not really good for the very near future. So from the replies the general concences is the F-350 PSD DRW. Can you guys post pics of your dually and trialer pics. As for the 12gvw trailer I highly doubt I'll be towing even close to that. I suspect the Belgians and fifth wheel wil be up there in weight.

Matt

 

[Birdhunter1]

I'd get the F-350 DRW PSD and then try to find a ranger as a daily driver. Those rangers will do alot of work and still get good mileage.

 

[InlineDieselFan]

With the future needs at hand, get the diesel.

Are you sure you do not want to hear about other trucks?

steve