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Gas VS Diesel F250

beachbum5
Explorer
Explorer
I am looking at new F250, I have f wheel about 8000lbs. I would like to know gas mileage while towing and not towing, also on diesel. How would gas handle the load?

Thanks
82 REPLIES 82

Veebyes
Explorer II
Explorer II
Agree with others. 8000# is not much so it comes down to how much towing do you do & where do you go? East of the the Appalachans the grades are easy so if you are a weekend warrior with the occasional longer trip IMO spending the extra for a diesel is not worth the $$.

Coming from boating world, the views are similar. If you are not running over 100hrs a season the diesel is really not worth having. Diesels really don't come into their own unless there are hours of hard work to be done.
Boat: 32' 1996 Albin 32+2, single Cummins 315hp
40+ night per year overnighter

2007 Alpenlite 34RLR
2006 Chevy 3500 LT, CC,LB 6.6L Diesel

Ham Radio: VP9KL, IRLP node 7995

goducks10
Explorer
Explorer
Living in Oregon with an abundance of mtns and hills diesel is the best way to go. I tow 9000lbs with a 12 CTD and would never want to tow that with a gasser. I towed 7300lbs of TT here with a 5.4 gasser and that was enough. The 6.2 and Ram 6.4 are way better than the 5.4 for sure, but any gasser is going to be shifting a lot compared to a diesel. IMO it's how often you tow as to how tolerant you would be. All that shifting is what eats into the mpg.

shepstone
Explorer
Explorer
My 6.2 has no problem pulling our fiver up the steeper grades mostly at the speed limit. Comparing a modern 6.2 to a GM 6.0 is apples to oranges and I know I own both. While the 6.0 is a great engine it isnt nearly as capable as the 6.2 . I have also owned a 7.3 and would put the 6.2 as slightly ahead of it capability wise as well. The engine braking is phenomial I hardly have to use the brakes on steep downhills at all they, are stone cold when I get to the bottom. And I have no problem using cruise either.
2017 F350 Ruby Red Super Cab Dually 6.7 3.55 gears. B&W Companion 25K. BackRack. Gatorback mud guards. AUX65FCBRG aux tank. 2021 GD 380fl
2010 GMC Savanna 3500 extended 6.0

DHCamper
Explorer
Explorer
This old, but still relevant articles would make you think the differences between gas and diesel would make occasional high climbers happy enough with their gas motors. 2010 3/4 ton

colliehauler
Explorer III
Explorer III
shadows4 wrote:
You might get a little more info on the 6.2L forum on the FTE site. Here. An F350 6.2 with the 4.30 gears will probably be my next truck, if and when the ol'e 7.3 dies. LOL
You might be waiting awhile.;)

shadows4
Explorer III
Explorer III
You might get a little more info on the 6.2L forum on the FTE site. Here. An F350 6.2 with the 4.30 gears will probably be my next truck, if and when the ol'e 7.3 dies. LOL
2016 4X4 F350,CC,SB,Lariat,6.7L diesel,
2015 Coachmen Chapparal 324 TSRK
B&W Patriot 16K hitch.

krazymatt
Explorer
Explorer
zedd wrote:
Anyone tow with a gasser in the mountains in the West? The hills back east really pale compared to a lot of the stuff out here. A gasser trying to haul up a 7% grade at 8000 or 9000 ft altitude is really straining. Quite a different environment. I've passed lots of gassers laboring up mountain grades at 25mph screaming at near red line.


X10!!! Zedd is absolutely right! The hills out here are savage and in my opinion most gassers are past the verge of abuse engine and transmission wise. #REDLINE
New Mexico
2018 Ram 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4

zedd
Explorer
Explorer
Anyone tow with a gasser in the mountains in the West? The hills back east really pale compared to a lot of the stuff out here. A gasser trying to haul up a 7% grade at 8000 or 9000 ft altitude is really straining. Quite a different environment. I've passed lots of gassers laboring up mountain grades at 25mph screaming at near red line.
2008 Ford F250 Super Duty, Lariat, 6.4l PSD, Super Cab. Long Bed
2006 Jayco Jay Flight 27.5 RLS Fifth Wheel

Dtank
Explorer
Explorer
beachbum5 wrote:
I am looking at new F250, I have f wheel about 8000lbs. I would like to know gas mileage while towing and not towing, also on diesel. How would gas handle the load?

Thanks


Re-word your subject (no duplicates) and ask on the *Tow Vehicle* forum.
More exposure = more replies/info.

Or - you could ask the mods to move your thread.

.

krazymatt
Explorer
Explorer
I've never towed with a F250 6.2 but I wouldn't want to. We have a 2014 F250 4x4 6.2 at work and that thing struggles with it's own weight and gets about 12 mpg empty on the highway. If you MUST own a gas truck stick with the v10. I would buy a diesel and be done with it.
New Mexico
2018 Ram 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4

Old_Days
Explorer II
Explorer II
I own a 2011 Ford F250 gas 6.2 engine. I didn't want a diesel because the winters here are really cold. A guy I work with traded his truck in on a gasser because it would never warm up just going to work and home again. Plus you always have to plug them in. I think both the gas and diesels are great trucks. What I like the most is the 6 speed transmission,you can drop down a gear when you need to, that is nice to have. Good Luck with your decision.

statehoss
Explorer
Explorer
Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
I tow a 8000 lb trailer with the 6.2 and it does a great job in all terrain. In my opinion paying the thousands extra for a diesel plus additional upkeep and fuel cost is overkill for what you are towing. It would take too many years to recover the additional expense. Does not make economic sense to me.


Same for me. I tow 10k loaded and my F250, 6.2l gas does great through the hills of western PA. I personally see no need for the additional cost of the diesel for the weights I'm towing.

Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Explorer II
I am towing right at 10K with a 2012 F250 6.2. I only look at the puter when checking gas mileage for the hey of it. On a run from Myrtle Beach thru the Smokies and to central IL it consistently knocks out 8.7. I tow at 65 on the flat. It has the 4.30 diffy.

I do not know what folks are talking about when it comes to mountains. Around the Saluda area in NC going north on I 26 there is a long 6% grade. I topped that thing at 45 mph with the old 99 psd. With the 6.2 (I don't hammer down) I can top it easily at 45 and could go faster if I put more pressure on the go pedal.

With that diffy, I am hard pressed to knock out 14 when empty and cruising at 75.

I looked at the puter yesterday. Have been spending all the time on short trips and in town and it showed 13.2.

I have been happier than a pig in slop with my switch from the old rattler to the gasser.

Now to get right down to the legend of towing in the mountains. Aren't interstates graded at 6%?

Feel free to PM me for any additional questions you may have.

GPG52_
Explorer II
Explorer II
I recently retired and took my time in upgrading our 5er and factory ordering a new Ford F250. (had been a Dodge man for years)
After much deliberation we opted for:
F250 SUPER DUTY,single rear wheel, 6.2 gasser, 6 speed auto trans, 4.30 ratio, 8ft long box, snow plow package for the beefed up suspension.
Cougar 327 RES, 37'4", 12,600lbs dry.
Our maiden voyage: Toronto, Canada to Nashville, TN to Cherokee, NC to Asheville NC back to Toronto. At one point we got lost and found ourselves on the Blue Ridge Mountain road.
Combo worked excellent with no issues at all.
Mileage was about 10 mpg towing which is what we have experience with a number of other tv/coach combo's.
Totaly agree that a diesel engine is ideal for towing ... but... after considering
i) initial cost
ii) maintenance cost
iii) number of miles being towed...
I just could not justify the COST/BENEFIT of a diesel.
As for dually vs. single rear wheel... again dual would give better stability when towing but being a clean freak I tend to car wash my truck on a regular basis...regular car wash outfits will not take a dually and I did not feel like hand washing my vehicle during the Canadian winters.
To each his own... but this combo works great for us.
GPG
PS: spring run... Toronto to Kissimmee, Fl.
GPG ๐Ÿ™‚
2014 Ford F250, 6.2L, 4.30 Ratio, 6 speed
2014 Cougar (by Keystone) 327 RES

FishOnOne
Nomad
Nomad
My 6.7 PSD Super Duty fuel economy ranges from Towing: 11-13 mpg and City/Hwy mix: 16.4-17 mpg and Hwy: 18-20 mpg.
'12 Ford Super Duty FX4 ELD CC 6.7 PSD 400HP 800ft/lbs "270k Miles"
'16 Sprinter 319MKS "Wide Body"