Gas or Diesel

[C_B_]

My Son is looking to get a 2015 Ford F-350 CC SB.

He's trying to decide between the 6.2 gas or pay extra for the 6.7 diesel.


He currently has a 6.0 diesel so he knows how the diesel pulls.

Question is how good will the 6.2 gasser do pulling his Cedar Creek 362BBS with a GVWR of 14,000 lbs.


Thanks in advance for your input.

C.B.

[fla-gypsy]

14k is too much for that gas engine

[Vulcaneer]

Hi CB. Definitely, absolutely diesel.

I tow a 14K 5'r with a 2012 F350 Diesel. Previously towed same trailer with 2006 F350 with Gasser V10 30V, 6.8L. I doubt a new 6.2L gasser pulls better than the V10. The diesel is so much better, than my V10. Certainly worth the extra $8 Grand.

Since buying the diesel I have towed for a bit over 10K. Up and down the east coast a few times. On flats (in Florida) and hills of NH, VA., MA. The diesel is sooooo much better.

He will not be happy with a gasser.

[Lantley]

RAS43 wrote:

Road Runners wrote:

I was not aware that the Ford Super Duty trucks were equipped with exhaust brakes. My truck has a braking capability, but it is with the transmission which shifts down and takes advantage of engine compression to slow the truck.

Do the newer Fords actually use the exhaust for braking?

My '06 Ford 6.0l uses the variable vane turbo as an exhaust brake along with the transmission downshifting. Mine works fine in our mountains. Not sure about your '05 but I bet it is the same.

As of 2011 I believe the exhaust brakes were standard equipment on Ford.
I don't believe exhaust brakes were standard in 06.

To the OP if your son is towing 14K I strongly recommend diesel over gas.

[RAS43]

Road Runners wrote:

I was not aware that the Ford Super Duty trucks were equipped with exhaust brakes. My truck has a braking capability, but it is with the transmission which shifts down and takes advantage of engine compression to slow the truck.

Do the newer Fords actually use the exhaust for braking?

My '06 Ford 6.0l uses the variable vane turbo as an exhaust brake along with the transmission downshifting. Mine works fine in our mountains. Not sure about your '05 but I bet it is the same.

[rvrev2]

According to the 2014 Trailer Life Tow Ratings, a 4x4, F350 CC SRW with a 6.2 gas engine has a tow rating of only 12,000 lbs with a 3.73:1 (not big enough to pull your 14,000 lbs trailer; or 15,000 lbs with a 4.30:1 rear end gear ratio. The diesel will have a larger pulling capacity with any of the offered rear end gear ratios. And if you go DRW, the tow rating gets MASSIVE. I could not find the 2015 ratings. I prefer a gasser for many of the reasons mlt22 gives, but with that trailer weight, I would go the diesel.

From http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/

F-350 CC SRW 4WD 6.2L V-8 12,000 (i)
F-350 CC SRW 4WD 6.2L V-8 15,000 (l)
F-350 CC SRW 4WD 6.7L V-8 TD 15,900 (f/h)
F-350 CC DRW 2WD 6.2L V-8 12,400 (i)
F-350 CC DRW 2WD 6.2L V-8 15,400 (l)
F-350 CC DRW 2WD 6.7L V-8 TD 22,600 (i)
F-350 CC DRW 4WD 6.2L V-8 12,100 (i)
F-350 CC DRW 4WD 6.2L V-8 15,000 (l)
F-350 CC DRW 4WD 6.7L V-8 TD 22,800 (i)

[PapPappy]

I think now days, you buy the diesel for the power that it will provide. The fuel economy that we used to look at, is offset by the higher costs for the fuel now.

The longevity thing isn't what it used to be, because both engines will outlast the use of the vehicle in most cases now days....we simply don't keep them as long as we used to.

How much more will that diesel cost than the gasser? Could a year older truck balance the price differences?

Personally, I'd go with the diesel, with that trailer, but then again, it will depend on how much he's actually towing it.....and will it be a daily driver.

[coolbreeze01]

Road Runners wrote:

coolbreeze01 wrote:
If he tows in the mountains, the diesel is nice to have. Have they fixed the exhaust brake on the Ford to work as well as Ram and GM's?

I was not aware that the Ford Super Duty trucks were equipped with exhaust brakes. My truck has a braking capability, but it is with the transmission which shifts down and takes advantage of engine compression to slow the truck.

Do the newer Fords actually use the exhaust for braking?

Yes, at least they did. I don't see an EB mentioned in their 2015 ad.........

[Road_Runners]

coolbreeze01 wrote:
If he tows in the mountains, the diesel is nice to have. Have they fixed the exhaust brake on the Ford to work as well as Ram and GM's?

I was not aware that the Ford Super Duty trucks were equipped with exhaust brakes. My truck has a braking capability, but it is with the transmission which shifts down and takes advantage of engine compression to slow the truck.

Do the newer Fords actually use the exhaust for braking?

[M_GO_BLUE1]

Well I learned one thing here...they actually make that big of a truck with a gas engine...

I'm with Tystevens...if you ae going with that big of a truck it has to be diesel

[Tystevens]

I can't imagine getting a 1 ton pickup w/ a naturally aspirated gas engine, but maybe that's just me ...

[mlts22]

The choice depends on circumstances. The new 2015 Powerstroke has twice the torque that the gasser has.

What it comes to -- what will the truck be used for? For example, I'm looking to buy almost exactly the same configuration of a Ford F-350 pretty soon... but since this is going to be a daily driver dealing with the city with the second worst congestion in the US (and a city council that seems to have little interest in anything changing that... except for adding tollways), I'm going with a gasser, as they are easier to deal with in a metro area.

However, in almost any other circumstance than mine, I'd would recommend the diesel. It costs $7-8k more, but it will definitely be worth it. The gasser will pull the trailer, the diesel will -happily- pull it. When going up steep grades, it doesn't lose power as normally aspirated engines do. Diesels require a bit more upkeep, and require DEF, but the different isn't that significant.

The other reason I'm getting a gasser is that I only have two fuels to worry about when boondocking. Gasoline (which will be used for both the second generator and the truck), and propane (which will be used by the TC's inbuild generator and the other appliances.) I normally carry about 8-10 gallons of gas for the generator, but when done and heading home, the fuel goes into the truck's tank.

To make a long story short, unless you have a specific need for a gasser, get the diesel. The newer Ford diesels don't have the bad reputation the "6.blow" does, and if maintained properly, will last a while.

[Tgalley]

I would recommend diesel for that heavy of an RV. Because of the characteristics of diesel engines vs. gasoline, they generate more torque and continuous power. That is because the fuel burns throughout the piston movement cycle, rather than the instantaneous spark and chamber combustion in a gasoline engine (simplistic explanation).

[coolbreeze01]

If he tows in the mountains, the diesel is nice to have. Have they fixed the exhaust brake on the Ford to work as well as Ram and GM's?

[HappyKayakers]

What do the Ford towing specs say?

[DutchmenSport]

Regardless of size, .. if he's a diesel man now, he'll be disappointed if he goes back to gas.