Diesel vs gas......................

RFOneWatt wrote:

Jarlaxle wrote:

If you are going to be using the vehicle as a daily driver, and need to tow (safely) I'd go with a V10 F250. The 5.4 isn't going to cut it at all.

Preposterous. A 5.4 will tow 13,000lbs just as SAFELY as a V10. It won't tow it as fast, but it will tow it. I'd get the 5.4 V8, 6-speed manual, and 4.10 or (if available) 4.30 gears. I'll deal with 5-10MPH slower on hills and burn less gas commuting. I would not own a new diesel if you gave it to me.

Sigh. In the mountains, with that kind of weight a V10 might even have some limitations but I'm sure it would be very capable. (I only say this because I've never driven a V10.) Obviously a diesel will do it effortlessly.

A 5.4 would barely do it, but yeah, you're right - It would probably do it slowly for about 50,000-60,000 miles before it blew up. Of course you'd be going VERY slow, struggling, and stopping often. No doubt about it. Been there, done that. Go ahead and take a look at the videos I posted of my 5.4 in the mountains of Wyoming and Utah. That truck only had 6000 miles on it. Granted it was an Expedition with an automatic transmission but it was properly equipped and loaded. I was only pulling about 7000LB's though.

Apples and rutabegas. Your mall-terrain station wagon (with tall gears and a car transmission) and an F-350 (with 6-speed manual or 5-speed slushbox, 3-valve engine, and deep axle gearing) is no comparison. A 5.4 is an easy 300,000+ miler with even minimal maintainence.

It just depends on how many creature comforts you are willing to give up and how much of a safety margin you feel comfortable with.

Me? I like using my air conditioning and having an automatic transmission when I'm in 90-100+ degree weather trying to negotiate mountain passes and switchbacks with semis & inexperienced RV'ers barelling down behind and around me. I also like (need) my 4WD which you'd also likely have to give up in order to try and make a 5.4 tow that much legally. I like keeping my wife (and eventual children) as comfortable and safe as possible. It pays off in the end.

So run the A/C. So spoil a nice truck with a slushpump. So get a 4x4. (I won't own a 2WD tow hehicle.) So what? If you have to run WOT for a while up some grades...then you do it. So be it, it won't hurt anything.

Of course, a 5.4 truck will have a HIGHER payload than a V10...the GVWR is the same, the engine is lighter.

Sorry, but I like my wiggle room and I don't like pushing my vehicle to its limits (and worrying about it) continuously. When I go on a trip I go on it to RELAX.. Getting there is 1/2 the fun and to spend that time struggling and worrying ISN'T. I like to eliminate as much worry from my life as possible, especially on vacation.

IMO the best vehicle for Tom is something with a V10. If there was no daily commuting involved I would say get the diesel FOR SURE.

If there were no commuting involved, absolutely: go V10. Since there is...go 5.4 and pocket the gas savings.

Or he can do what I do.. I drive an old Focus with 130k on it for daily commuting and just use my truck for towing and long trips. I plan on keeping my truck for a long, long time.

As for your comment about not towing with a newer diesel vehicle -- well, you've obviously never done it. Aside from the emissions BS the new Ford (so far - only time will tell), GM and Chrysler diesel TV's are simply awesome.

The emission junk is EXACTLY the reason. The MPG advantage is pretty much gone, the new urine-injection engines are unproven, and nobody knows what they'll do. I do know (directly from a fleet mechanic) that his are a disaster. Considering that the F-350 offers two proven engines that are easy 300,000+ milers and one totally-new, totally-unproven engine, which is a replacement for two that were disasters...nope, I'll pass on beta-testing the new diesel.