Contemplating a new Ford

[Baby Zeppelin]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

As close as I can build it to be equipped exactly like my F150, an F250 diesel is $8,880 more than my F150. 15% more.

So do like I did and get a new F250 with the 6.2 liter gas engine instead of the diesel. It's about $8,795 less than the diesel. Doesn't that make it $85 less than your F150?

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Erik

So do like I did and get a new F250 with the 6.2 liter gas engine instead of the diesel. It's about $8,795 less than the diesel. Doesn't that make it $85 less than your F150?

It's not that easy... perhaps things that are included with the diesel cost more on the gasser? A comparable build on the gasser, comparing MSRP to MSRP is about $3k more than my truck (F250 Lariat gasser MSRP equipped essentially like mine is $62,265.) And that's assuming the F250 Lariat includes air-conditioned seats... the website builder doesn't specify but I'd guess it does.

One thing that looks different is that I didn't notice an option for LED headlights on the diesel (likely included), but it's a fairly expensive option on the gasser ($1,080 right there.) One of several things that ruled out the F150 XLT for me was the LED headlights... after 7 years driving behind Ford's awful incandescent headlights I wasn't going to repeat that mistake. Lariat 502A includes those.

Oh and you don't get the much-ballyhooed higher resale value without buying the diesel, I'd expect.

PS: It has to be a packaging thing. Looking back over the F250 gasser build, something I selected changed the build to "Lariat Ultimate (which includes the giant moonroof I wouldn't want, and didn't get on my F150 or the comparison build on the diesel yesterday.) I had initially selected "Lariat Value" because it didn't force the sunroof. Packaging is everything, if I could've had more fine-grained control I probably could've been happy with a less-expensive truck but 3 things I wanted came only w/ the 502A "Luxury" package. It looks like the ONLY thing in the Lariat Ultimate package on the 250 that's not on my 502A F150 is the giant rattling roof leak...er... moon roof.

PPS: Well, I made a hash of that didn't I? My initial comparison was wrong. You can't get the LED headlights on the diesel F250 without the big moonroof either... so to build it as close to mine, the delta for the diesel F250 is $12,105 (21% more). Which makes the difference between the diesel and gasser F250 roughly just the cost of the engine. And I'll still keep my turbo F150.

[xrvr]

I would bet t pickup drivers cause more accidents than their trucks do.

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by Erik

So do like I did and get a new F250 with the 6.2 liter gas engine instead of the diesel. It's about $8,795 less than the diesel. Doesn't that make it $85 less than your F150?

Or buy the same truck, a year or two old, and save even more. The 6.2 pulls my 27' just fine.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

When I pull over to the pump here in town, last week I saw:

Gas is $2.40 a gallon

Diesel is $3.20 a gallon

Yes indeed, they want > 30% more for the diesel. Welcome to the tax laws in PA. That pretty much decided the gas vs diesel argument for me.

Bob

[sbowman]

Having worked in many of our States, I was always in awe w/the wide ranges in Gas/Fuel prices from State to State. Understand each State has different Tax tactics for taking our hard earned monies. WA. State has one of the "highest" Gas/Fuel tax in the union. WA. State tax tactics are a user/ownership tax system. Trust me our so called elected officials have tried for many years to get a State income tax. We the people in WA. have a law on the books, "No State Income Tax". This being said, currently gas prices here average $3.00 for lowest octane, another $0.40 or higher for highest octane. People can do a little better if they have a rewards card w/many of our merchants. The best I have done on Diesel, last week was $2.29, rewards card, Fred Meyer. Typically I pay $2.49-$2.59. All I can say is our 2016 Truck is the first Diesel truck we have owned. It is like sitting in an EZ-boy, pulls like no tomorrow, has more bell and whistles than I will ever use, and the wife and dogs love it! At this point I won't be going back to gas. The beauty of being an American, living in America, is our Constitution, can live where you want, can drive what you want, and the last time I looked you can have your own opinion.

Safe and happy travels.

[kscherzi]

With 375 hp and 470 lb-ft torque there's no reason to doubt a F150 can pull a large Airstream. Pulled my 27FB to Alaska and back this summer. It will accelerate from 60 to 85 mph a 10% grade if needed when trailering
Gets 22 mpg on the highway unloaded. Supercrew fits in most normal parking spots. Weighs about 2,000 lbs less than a diesel F250. Easier to drive.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

When I pull over to the pump here in town, last week I saw:

Gas is $2.40 a gallon

Diesel is $3.20 a gallon

Yes indeed, they want > 30% more for the diesel. Welcome to the tax laws in PA. That pretty much decided the gas vs diesel argument for me.

Bob

You guys are getting ripped big time. On gas anyway.
We spend a good many months around Chicago, land of political corruption and taxes galore, gas is at $ 2.29 to 2.30 and diesel $ 2.49. ( However hey get you on realestate tax )
The last two days traveling south to FL the most expensive diesel was at the truck stops in all states. TA, Loves, Pilot $ 2.89 to $ 2.99. At all other places I was filling up for 2.59 to 2.69.

[pappy19]

I'll say it again and again, any diesel is a choice where you Want a diesel, not you Need a diesel. So spend an additional $8-9,000 for a diesel with the theory that that the resale is better. So what, unless you keep it for 200k, it won't make up the difference if you bought a gas rig when you include the intial cost, maintenance, and fuel costs. So you get 2-3 more mpg, big deal. How many times has your wife complained about that diesel stink? Really, a Ford 6.2 gas engine with 385 hp? Right.

[sncnidaho]

The F150 is good for one thing................getting groceries.

[J. Morgan]

The fact is, I can buy a new engine for any of the three of my tow vehicles for the price of a new set of injectors for any newer light diesel. I was done with light diesels after the two I bought in 05.

Newer emission controls have made them too much of a pain in the ass for me. 300 or 400 horsepower is more than enough grunt to move my 7,500 pound trailer to my satisfaction. #JustSayin

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by sncnidaho

The F150 is good for one thing................getting groceries.

Because god knows no one ever got groceries in a 3/4 ton! I guess you caught me, I couldn't possibly have towed my Airstream to and through 12 different states, from sea level to 10,000 feet without missing a beat since March in an F150. I'm a total fraud and I pay someone to tow it where I want to camp with an F450 and just park in front of it for the photo ops.

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Because god knows no one ever got groceries in a 3/4 ton! I guess you caught me, I couldn't possibly have towed my Airstream to and through 12 different states, from sea level to 10,000 feet without missing a beat since March in an F150. I'm a total fraud and I pay someone to tow it where I want to camp with an F450 and just park in front of it for the photo ops.

The fact is, a half ton is enough truck for any Airstream ever made except arguably the rare and discontinued double slide out model.

[Luigi123]

3/4 ton and the 6.2, no compromise in the long run, plus exhaust brake. Compared to years ago, any choice is a great choice, take your time and compare.

[SilverCabin]

I have a 2018 F-150 Platinum on order. I chose the V8 over the Eco Boost based on a Ford diesel mechanic’s recommendation who is a family member. There are some YouTube videos of Ford mechanics who also recommend the V8 over the V6. Basically, they’re saying the naturally aspirated V8 doesn’t require the additional plumbing to generate the power, and that it’s a proven reliable engine that’s cheaper to repair.

Another advantage of the V8 is the payload rating is higher than the V6. The V6 has a higher tow weight rating because of the higher torque, but the V8 provides a higher payload. Payload has been my problem with my 06 Lincoln Mark LT, which is an F-150 Platinum before they started making them.

With my 06, I’ve had no towing problems at all. I pulled our 6,300 lb Airstream up the Priest Grade to Groveland, CA into Yosemite, up a 17% grade just outside Piercé, QC, and safely descended these grades too. My 2018 on order will have 1,500 lbs more tow weight and 500 lbs more payload capacity than my 06, so I expect to be happier with its performance, and am looking forward to the technology upgrade.

I didn’t order the moonroof to save weight, but the deployable running boards are standard on the Platinum. I did order the HD tow package, 36 gal fuel tank, 3.55 locking rear axle, and tow mirrors. All the other goodies are included.

Randy

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Because god knows no one ever got groceries in a 3/4 ton! .....

Hi

Not true ....

Around here, I'm not even the only one in my row in the lot. If there isn't at least one F-350 dually in the row, that's unusual. Welcome to Pennsylvania ....

Like it or not, these "big trucks" do get used for daily driving. They get used that way a lot. I don't have to be outside town to make that observation. Indeed if I *am* outside town, all I see are big trucks. Some are bright and shiny. Most are obviously getting used and abused. Should we all drive a Civic? Maybe so. We most certainly don't all do that.

Bob

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Not true ....

Around here, I'm not even the only one in my row in the lot. If there isn't at least one F-350 dually in the row, that's unusual. Welcome to Pennsylvania ....

Like it or not, these "big trucks" do get used for daily driving. They get used that way a lot. I don't have to be outside town to make that observation. Indeed if I *am* outside town, all I see are big trucks. Some are bright and shiny. Most are obviously getting used and abused. Should we all drive a Civic? Maybe so. We most certainly don't all do that.

Bob

Perhaps you missed the sarcasm? Or just wanted to reiterate... I'm in Texas, duallies at the grocery store (and Starbucks) is a normal thing, I was commenting on the ill-informed disinformation "alternative facts" that "all an F150 is good for is getting groceries."

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

The fact is, a half ton is enough truck for any Airstream ever made except arguably the rare and discontinued double slide out model.

The fact is for pulling a 30' AS just barely.
I towed a 30' for 4 years with a 2012 3.5 EB full HD tow short bed F-150 SC. Power was never an issue however the tail wagging the dog was. It is simply lacks the heft of the 250 to hold the trailer in place safely on many challenging roadways. Narrow, no shoulder, twisting, turning up and down poorly banked.
I finally got tired of it and traded it in for and F-250 , with the big honking diesel and went to a 6.5' bed. That was also another issue since I was always pushing the limits of the payload and the 5' bed just was't big enough.
The difference in performance is day and night. I can cruise all day and not be stressed. And I do pick up groceries, go out to a fancy restaurant or make a two day 1,250 mile run down to FL without missing a beat. I have yet to be frustrated about parking the thing and frankly speaking its one of the biggest red herrings constantly thrown out there about these 3/4 tons.
IMHO a 1/2 ton is great for most AS under 30'. I loved my F-150 EB Platinum. Initially I bought it to pull a 28' AS. However after trading that for a 30' unit I immediately realized that it was marginal.
You desire to buy an F-150 go ahead and do it. Don't disparage the F-250 to justify your decision. There are many of us who went through the same process that I did for the same reason.
At this point I would hang on to my sure footed F-250 "with the big honking diesel" even if we downsized to a smaller AS.

[Bigventure]

I am 100% agreement with you.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

The fact is for pulling a 30' AS just barely.
I towed a 30' for 4 years with a 2012 3.5 EB full HD tow short bed F-150 SC. Power was never an issue however the tail wagging the dog was. It is simply lacks the heft of the 250 to hold the trailer in place safely on many challenging roadways. Narrow, no shoulder, twisting, turning up and down poorly banked.
I finally got tired of it and traded it in for and F-250 , with the big honking diesel and went to a 6.5' bed. That was also another issue since I was always pushing the limits of the payload and the 5' bed just was't big enough.
The difference in performance is day and night. I can cruise all day and not be stressed. And I do pick up groceries, go out to a fancy restaurant or make a two day 1,250 mile run down to FL without missing a beat. I have yet to be frustrated about parking the thing and frankly speaking its one of the biggest red herrings constantly thrown out there about these 3/4 tons.
IMHO a 1/2 ton is great for most AS under 30'. I loved my F-150 EB Platinum. Initially I bought it to pull a 28' AS. However after trading that for a 30' unit I immediately realized that it was marginal.
You desire to buy an F-150 go ahead and do it. Don't disparage the F-250 to justify your decision. There are many of us who went through the same process that I did for the same reason.
At this point I would hang on to my sure footed F-250 "with the big honking diesel" even if we downsized to a smaller AS.

My experience is totally different with a 2015 Silverado MaxTow, 6.2L 1500. I have been towing for 42 years and am an automotive industry career professional. I chose the 1500 setup after trying various 1500 and 2500 combinations. I have a 30' Classic weighing in at 9205 (worst case scenario, although I rarely tow at this scenario). In that worst case scenario, I am just a bit over payload and GVWR capacity, but well within axle, tire, GCWR ratings.

It is a very pleasant towing and solo experience and I have NEVER had any uncomfortableness at all with "tail wagging", braking, available power, etc at all.

Maybe there is a tire difference or suspension engineering difference between F150 and Chev 1500, but I can say with my own side to side comparisons between 1500 and 2500, for me, 1500 Maxtow won, with all variables considered. I would like to have a couple hundred pounds more payload though. I do run a PPP hitch though, and did with the 2500s too.