Ram 1500 EcoDiesel or Ford F-150 EcoBoost?

[utahredrock]

The Tundra could handle my red, small, light new SOB, though not that gracefully. Poking around online 8mpg was reported as fairly common for towing with a Tundra.

My new trailer has much more drag than my Airstream did. Aerodynamics have to be a bigger deal than weight alone.

Drove my new truck around today (not towing) and it's much zippier than the Tundra ever was.

Have also been reading more about the Ecodiesels and the situation with the EPA and a pending settlement. It all sounds like a mess, but I've always liked diesel more than gas, especially for towing, but really for anything. I had the VW TDI and loved it. Had to sell it back though. Hope the whole American light duty and car diesel world gets back on track. They are great engines.

New to me truck: 2015 Ram Ecodiesel

[Boxite]

I guess I'm about to kick over a fireant mound but... I just don't see the diesel attraction. They are more expensive to buy, maintain and run than modern gassers (which easily exceed 250K miles without difficulty these days.) I pull a small Airstream, I admit. It's only about 4,000 lbs loaded and my 1500 Ram CrewCab 4X4 (admittedly purchased before I knew we'd be towing with it) with the smallest V8 Ram offered that year (4.7L) has a 7,000 lb tow capacity and 11,000 GVWR and does a great job at 12 mpg. Meanwhile, the rest of the time it's my regular transporter at 21-22 mpg.

It doesn't "grind and growl" like diesels. It doesn't smoke. It doesn't stink. It doesn't require special fluids. Its oil changes at 8K miles at WalMart and PepBoys is less than $20 instead of the $80-$100 my diesel coworkers pay.

And I don't irritate my late-sleeping neighbors/campers by pretending to be a big-trucker by crankin' 'er up and lettin' 'er rattle for a half-hour before leaving the premises just because it lets me pretend I'm a Big-Boy. (But those guys seem to be the loudest complainers if anyone runs a generator.)

OK... rant off. But, seriously, the diesels are no longer the long-range durability performers they once claimed to be compared to modern gassers (nor do the diesel owners I know ever run them out anyway...they buy another one every 3 years), and they certainly are not inexpensive to buy, refuel or maintain, and they are not friendly to neighbors or environment.

If I had it to do over again...knowing that I'd be towing... I'd still buy a gasser. IMO.

[utahredrock]

Long Live Diesel!

I love them.

[VernDiesel]

Boxie, Then don’t buy a diesel. Both fuels have their virtues. BTW you do know Ford stopped selling the 7.3 a long time ago right. Personally after 396,000 on my lil Ecodiesel I still like it.

[jim6090]

My favorite reason to own a Ecodiesel. Never works hard. 2-3k rpm. Always. Up down all around. It just loves towing 30 ft FC. Add air suspension for the best ride in the industry. That’s enough for me. Those two reasons are enough to keep with Ram for the very long haul. Not a fan of listening to a gas running hard to pull into traffic or climb a Mountain.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Boxite

I guess I'm about to kick over a fireant mound but... I just don't see the diesel attraction. They are more expensive to buy, maintain and run than modern gassers (which easily exceed 250K miles without difficulty these days.) I pull a small Airstream, I admit. It's only about 4,000 lbs loaded and my 1500 Ram CrewCab 4X4 (admittedly purchased before I knew we'd be towing with it) with the smallest V8 Ram offered that year (4.7L) has a 7,000 lb tow capacity and 11,000 GVWR and does a great job at 12 mpg. Meanwhile, the rest of the time it's my regular transporter at 21-22 mpg.

It doesn't "grind and growl" like diesels. It doesn't smoke. It doesn't stink. It doesn't require special fluids. Its oil changes at 8K miles at WalMart and PepBoys is less than $20 instead of the $80-$100 my diesel coworkers pay.

And I don't irritate my late-sleeping neighbors/campers by pretending to be a big-trucker by crankin' 'er up and lettin' 'er rattle for a half-hour before leaving the premises just because it lets me pretend I'm a Big-Boy. (But those guys seem to be the loudest complainers if anyone runs a generator.)

OK... rant off. But, seriously, the diesels are no longer the long-range durability performers they once claimed to be compared to modern gassers (nor do the diesel owners I know ever run them out anyway...they buy another one every 3 years), and they certainly are not inexpensive to buy, refuel or maintain, and they are not friendly to neighbors or environment.

If I had it to do over again...knowing that I'd be towing... I'd still buy a gasser. IMO.

I love the rumble, raw power and torque of a diesel. I even love the smell and I prefer driving it over my car. I love sitting up high in my F-250 looking down on all those puny cars and truck wannabes. And I don't mind the extra cost to purchase or maintain my toy.
And I will not denigrate the gasers just because I prefer a diesel like you just did.

[bono]

Definitely, I am not and will not be truck wannabe... I guess this guy was disguised with my puny car

https://youtu.be/LkdUvmCCMTA

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

(...) I love sitting up high in my F-250 looking down on all those puny cars and truck wannabes.(...)

[Boxite]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

I love the rumble, raw power and torque of a diesel. I even love the smell and I prefer driving it over my car. I love sitting up high in my F-250 looking down on all those puny cars and truck wannabes. And I don't mind the extra cost to purchase or maintain my toy.
And I will not denigrate the gasers just because I prefer a diesel like you just did.

Sorry if the truth offends. Just sayin....

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

I love the rumble, raw power and torque of a diesel. I even love the smell and I prefer driving it over my car. I love sitting up high in my F-250 looking down on all those puny cars and truck wannabes. And I don't mind the extra cost to purchase or maintain my toy.
And I will not denigrate the gasers just because I prefer a diesel like you just did.

Yep, all true. I love sitting up high, plenty of power with the 6.2 but the new 6.7 powerstroke has 70 more horsepower than mine does! I get it...

[gypsydad]

Your point about pulling a 22' is indeed important. With our firs 25' AS, we enjoyed our Tahoe until we were pulling up a 7% grade and my buddy passed us with his F150 EB like we were standing still...we were floored going 62 and he left us; literally! So, I got my own new EB F150 Platinum 4x4 and it worked great for 2 newer AS's over 5.5 years. Only minor concern was proper braking, but nothing a little attention while driving could not handle. Fast forward-- Last year we moved up to the 28'FC and wife wanted something larger for the extra length and weight of the 28' and more payload for generator, kayaks, etc. The F250 6.7L has all the power, torque, and capability I need. Sure, it is a diesel with all that costly stuff needed. But I cruise up/down the Rockies at around 1500 RPM at 62-65 all day and hardly have to step on the brakes with the engine brake and cruise features of this rig. Also, don't have the payload issues the 1/2T had. Back to the diesel...would I consider a gas 3/4T for same application; yes, if I had the same braking features. I'm happy I made the switch for now...may change my mind down the road...never know. That's why this forum is so great! Aside from some die hard know it alls...

[Boxite]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

I love the rumble, raw power and torque of a diesel. I even love the smell and I prefer driving it over my car. I love sitting up high in my F-250 looking down on all those puny cars and truck wannabes. And I don't mind the extra cost to purchase or maintain my toy.
And I will not denigrate the gasers just because I prefer a diesel like you just did.

Originally Posted by Countryboy59

Yep, all true. I love sitting up high, plenty of power with the 6.2 but the new 6.7 powerstroke has 70 more horsepower than mine does! I get it...

"Do ya suppose he's compensatin' for something...??" , Shrek

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by Boxite

"Do ya suppose he's compensatin' for something...??" , Shrek

Yep. I’m compensating for idiot Detroit drivers. Not much else I need to compensate for 😎

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Boxite

Sorry if the truth offends. Just sayin....

I am not offended at all. Quite to the contrary.
I did not go of on a rant against gasers to justify my preference for diesels.
As the saying goes "whatever floats your boat".

[BLeppo]

Originally Posted by Mergatroyd

I need a new tow vehicle for my 28. Of course I want a 3/4 ton with a giant diesel engine, but the wife thinks it's too big for her to drive. I got her to agree to a 1/2 ton pick-up. So now I'm looking at the Ram EcoDiesel and the Ford EcoBoost. Does anyone have experience towing a 27 to 30 with either of these two vehicles?

Yes, I tow an 2016 27' Classic with a 2012 F150 3.6L Eco-boost. I have been extremely pleased with the F150 Eco-boost as the tow vehicle. More than enough torque for steep grades and up-hill passing at speeds at over 70 MPH. I highly recommend the Ford.

[Daquenzer]

I have a 2017 Ecoboost XLT supercrew cab. and it pulls my 28’ with no problems. Great truck for everyday driving. 1700 payload. The eco diesel runs at low rpms because diesels aren’t designed to go higher than 5000 rpms. The key is the horsepower at the Rpms. Horsepower equals (torque x rpms)/5252. Run the numbers and compare ecoboost and eco diesel. Eco boost wins hands down.

[grunt98311]

Originally Posted by RamRider

From the 2017 Ram specification (in this years sales booklet)
Eco D Crewcab with 3.92 8,870 Tow Cap and 1530 payload
However last month our dealer had no Eco D and did not expect any until summer while Ram worked on the emission issue.

Ram 1500 crew cab with 5.7 Hemi and 3.92
Tow cap 10,220 and haul capacity of 1,680

The Hemi 1500 is better suited for your trailer and will handle it My 1500 Hemi with 3.92 is very good pulling our 25 FB Flying Cloud with exceptional power

Also it is possible to get the 5.7 Hemi in a 2500 vs the larger 6.4 Hemi that uses premium fuel. I suggest that you and your wife drive a 2500 before making a decision, it may not be as big as you think. Bigger is always better and safer for towing. For certain do not go smaller then a 1/2 ton and make sure that it has pulling power to spare.

Happy travels to you

Ram lists the '18 Eco D as rated to tow 9290 (*properly equipped).