Ford or Chevy, Gas or Diesel?

[guskmg]

Chevy/GMC HD trucks with the Duramax Diesel have the longest history of body/engine reliability. Dodge has a good engine, but a weak body and Ford has a good body, but their diesel history is troublesome. Your call.
guskmg

[sparkymark]

I’m a Ford fan! F350 all day long! Mine is a 2018 lariat with ultimate tow package-3” receiver, great camera system, lot of space for gear. And it’s gorgeous!!

[Philip woodb]

I chose a diesel for the exhaust option and I can go down a 9% grade for 10 miles and never touch the brakes. Sometimes I even have to touch the accelerator. It feels safe!

[pianolaw]

Ram 2500 Cummins diesel. With tow/haul mode on and exhaust brake those mountains will feel like tiny hills.

[r carl]

Originally Posted by Gibson3798

I’m seriously not wanting to open this can of worms but I’m in need of opinions from a cross section of experienced trailer owners, who may have owned both of these types/makes of TV’s.
I tow a 25 ft. FC FB, successfully with a 2015 Tundra 4x4 with tow package. I have a Blue Ox hitch and I’ve felt comfortable towing it, albeit with my limited experience (3 mos) and short trips under my belt.
However, we’re planning on a CO trip in the fall and from what I gather on the forum, altitude and grades may cause me to wish I had a heavier TV.
So, I could be overthinking it, if so sound off. If I’m on track, please suggest the vehicle you have the most faith in for the task we all enjoy. Thanks!

For me I would buy the 1 that wont rust out, if that's possible.

[CRH]

Living where salt treated roads are common, the one that wont rust was a major deciding factor for me.

[KK4YZ]

Originally Posted by Gibson3798

I’m seriously not wanting to open this can of worms but I’m in need of opinions from a cross section of experienced trailer owners, who may have owned both of these types/makes of TV’s.
I tow a 25 ft. FC FB, successfully with a 2015 Tundra 4x4 with tow package. I have a Blue Ox hitch and I’ve felt comfortable towing it, albeit with my limited experience (3 mos) and short trips under my belt.
However, we’re planning on a CO trip in the fall and from what I gather on the forum, altitude and grades may cause me to wish I had a heavier TV.
So, I could be overthinking it, if so sound off. If I’m on track, please suggest the vehicle you have the most faith in for the task we all enjoy. Thanks!

If you’re mostly concerned with power/towing capacity, the Tundra is fine. On a caravan last year we pulled our 23’ AS over Utah 12 (9000’) with no problem. Another rig on the caravan was a Tundra pulling a 30’ AS... again no problem going up or down (downshift and use engine braking).

1/2 ton trucks like the Tundra are limited mostly by payload capacity. If you don’t pack heavy or carry lots of toys, you might be OK. Go to the CAT scales loaded for camping and find out.

We changed TV’s to get more payload...we carry lots of stuff. It was never a worry about the 5.7 liter engine or drive train. And the Tundra is bulletproof.

[KK4YZ]

Originally Posted by guskmg

Chevy/GMC HD trucks with the Duramax Diesel have the longest history of body/engine reliability. Dodge has a good engine, but a weak body and Ford has a good body, but their diesel history is troublesome. Your call.
guskmg

I beg to differ. The “troublesome” history Ford had with diesel predates 2011 when they outsourced the diesel (6.0 power stroke, etc). The current 6.7 powerstroke has been around for 9 years and has a very good history, with improvements being made along the way. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ford has more 6.7 powerstrokes on the road than GM and RAM combined. Just a guess on my part.

[Melchior]

I have owned either a Chevy or Ford pickup for nearly 40 years now but mostly Fords over the last 15 years. I have towed bumper hitch trailers and gooseneck horse trailers from coast to coast and Florida/Texas/Washington as well as Canada while living in Iowa. As time has evolved I have gone from gas to diesel and as long as I tow I wouldn't go back to gas but that doesn't make it right or wrong. I also am a believer in having more towing capability than needed whenever possible so I have "graduated" over the years through the Fords and from single rear tires to a dually now. I went from the F-350 dually, having had 2 of those, and now am on my 2nd F-450 dually(2020) and all I will say is depending on how often you tow and less on how much you tow the dually is the way to go. It is so much more stable down the road at highway speeds while towing than a single rear axle and therefore safer with less driver fatigue I have found. The F-450 with the wider front end has a much shorter turning radius than the dually F-350 and is a pleasure to drive in towns comparatively. I also use it as my daily driver. Is it more truck than needed 95+% of the time-probably but so what? Fuel mileage on the 2020 with the 10 speed transmission is 14-5-15.5 mpg unloaded and 11-12 mpg with most loads. I cannot even tell I am towing most of the time even in modest grades. I look forward to tougher grades to give it a workout and the engine braking feature on the 2020 is the closest to a semi-truck's (grew up helping dad with 18 wheelers hauling cattle) that I have driven. Braking performance is unmatched. Pricey yes but a true pleasure to drive and look at if you like the truck look. I believe more truck leads to less worries but obviously to each their own. I don't like seeing the F-150s or similar TVs squatting like a dog doing its duty even if it can technically pull it and then I see them motoring down the highway at 70 mph with side to side sway and I just stay the heck out of the way. Decide what you think you need and then go up one level in capabilities and you won't regret it.

[PaulnGina]

Ford, of course...... diesel, of course!


(The first is optional..... the second: you will not regret it!)

[rbs]

It all depends on what you needs and use will be, my advice would be to go with the diesel, the upfront costs are recovered at resell time, the advantages of the pulling power will become obvious, the biggest thing to consider in my opinion is service, who has the best diesel service locally to you, that is/was and always will be my main factor. My truck gets serviced at a dealership 40 miles from where I live, and we have a dealership in my town that I have given up on using. One last thing, I order all my trucks to get exactly what I want and I buy them for dealer's cost, all done over the phone.

[JFRINALDI]

An echo of Moosetags, mine’s an F250 Pulling a Classic, but after upgrading from the Ecoboost F150 there’s just no comparison to what used to be and the present much more enjoyable experience.

[Dexterpix]

Hi,

You need to be comfortable with what YOU drive, not what someone else tells you you should be driving. Nothing anyone can tell you can make you fell comfortable in a vehicle if you don't want it as well. A good, comfortable driver is worth more than even the biggest, badest, most powerful truck.

I am comfortable with MY choice. I actually down graded from 3500 trucks to a 2500 several years ago. After towing horses around the northeast for years. The Airstream is a quite, compliant passenger behind my Ram.

I have made several trips cross country with our 25RB Flying Cloud and our 2009 Ram and now our 2017 Ram 2500 Cummins. I do love the ease of the diesel with its power and engine braking.

What ever you choose be happy with it for yourself, not for other peoples reasons.

Safe travels,

Joe D

[Gibson3798]

I want to thank everyone for the well thought out, and knowledgeable relies. I gained a great deal of understanding from each of them and I appreciate having you all as a resource.

I made a deal with one of our members and we will be swapping pickups this week. He will have my excellent Tundra Limited 4x4 and I’ll have his Ram 2500 Limited 4x4.

I’ll feel a lot more secure and comfortable knowing I have all the truck I’ll ever need, in any towing situation and he will have one of the best 1/2 ton trucks on the road today.

[KK4YZ]

Originally Posted by Gibson3798

I want to thank everyone for the well thought out, and knowledgeable relies. I gained a great deal of understanding from each of them and I appreciate having you all as a resource.

I made a deal with one of our members and we will be swapping pickups this week. He will have my excellent Tundra Limited 4x4 and I’ll have his Ram 2500 Limited 4x4.

I’ll feel a lot more secure and comfortable knowing I have all the truck I’ll ever need, in any towing situation and he will have one of the best 1/2 ton trucks on the road today.

Congrats! Gas or Diesel?😆

[Gibson3798]

Diesel.........