Gas VS Diesel FORD For Truck Camper

[Basswest1]

Hey all, new to the forum and new to truck campers.

I do not have a camper or a truck yet but have been doing a lot of research and trying to come up with a solution for my specific needs.

The biggest debate seems to be Diesel vs Gas in my decision making.

First off, the truck camper I am looking at is around 3050lbs DRY with no pop outs. I will also be towing a bass boat which will weigh a maximum of 5000lbs soaking wet.

I realize that if cost weren’t a factor, it would probably be a resounding DIESEL due to the overall efficiency aspect of a diesel while towing, however, my research is pointing toward gas for several reasons.

The truck I am looking at is a F-350 (SRW) with the 6.2l gas engine, which properly rigged is rated for 4,500lb payload capacity and more than enough towing capacity after that. The reason I am leaning toward this setup is that #1, I really want to stick with a SRW truck versus a dually because it is going to be my primary vehicle too, and the SRW Diesel offerings dont have that kind of payload capacity due to the added weight of the Diesel engine and I need the cushion in payload for added gear. #2 the up front cost of a diesel is a huge factor, with the cost of fuel also being pretty costly, not to mention maintenance. I dont plan on keeping the truck for more than 200k at most, so longevity of a diesel is not a factor for me.

Now, the reason I am writing this is because after all my research of the pro’s and cons, I have not been able to find any reports from owners of the 6.2l gas engines on how they perform with a truck camper. All my needs seem to be getting met with the 6.2l but it all comes down to real-life performance.

Anyone have experience with this engine? Is gas going to perform ok for my needs, or am I going to be turning around and getting a diesel?

Thanks in advance.

[deserteagle56]

brholt wrote:
My experience and thoughts. Still feel the same with many more miles:

Heavy truck camper and Ford 6.2 L

Your experience with the rolling hills, and the tranny constantly shifting on them, brought back memories! I hated that! Especially after I had to have my tranny rebuilt and was told by the shop that if I was driving in an area where the tranny was constantly shifting, to pull it down into a lower gear and leave it there. And it reminded me why I stay with my old diesel. Up hill or down hill, once at speed it doesn't need to shift again.

[brholt]

My experience and thoughts. Still feel the same with many more miles:

Heavy truck camper and Ford 6.2 L

[JIMNLIN]

No doubt the 6.2 ....4.30 option will handle a 4k lb TC and pull a bazz boat.

However the thing about that 4500 lb payload sticker is its a gvwr based payload which has to be spread over the trucks front and rear axles.
The problem is a TC and a trailers tongue weight will be carried on the trucks rear axle.
Gas or diesel F350 srw rear axle can weigh in the 3200-3400 lb range. Now add that 4500 lb payload = 7700-7900 lbs. The f350srw may have a 6340 or 6780 or 7230 rawr depending on 17" or higher capacity 18"-20" tires. Now the trucks rear tires/wheels or rear spring pack is overloaded.
Lots of F350 srw truck camper owners go with higher rated wheels/tires and air bags or some type of rear suspension help.

Depending on cab selections and wheelbase and the trailer the trucks front axle may or may not carry any payload weight.
Stay tuned as other TC owners with one ton SRW trucks may have the same combo and offer their suggestions or help with suspension mods. Many are very informed on how to safely mod a truck for that purpose.

[Kayteg1]

K_and_I wrote:
I know this is just one person's experience, but I don't think you have to worry about the 6.2 engine. Flatbed Ed is a transporter and frequent contributor to Fort Truck Enthusiasts Forums.

Clicky

This is another rare experience, like that Ford van, who run for almost 1.3 million miles on gasoline engine.
Vehicles who put lot of miles annually tend to last much longer, than average grocery getters and it is quite hard to make comparison.
Question is how much longer they would run on diesel engines?
Lastly the fuel price difference on 400,000 miles makes nice college fund.

[K_and_I]

I know this is just one person's experience, but I don't think you have to worry about the 6.2 engine. Flatbed Ed is a transporter and frequent contributor to Fort Truck Enthusiasts Forums.

Clicky

[rickjo]

Kayteg1 wrote:
30 years ago gas prices in California was 89 cents for Regular and 69 cents for diesel
Even 20 years ago I was filling up 120 gallons into my DP and did not max my CC. :C
This is the right price proportion cost-wise, but we live in country who is speculation-driven.
I still think that once semis become electric, the diesel becomes the cheapest fuel again.

40 years ago, my co=worker in San Diego filled his diesel Oldsmobile (yes I know, what was GM thinking in those days?) in Tijuana for 15 cents per. My opinion is that removing sulfur from diesel during refining adds to some of the cost differential. Then, too, they still burn fuel oil for heat in many east coast states. They can almost charge what they want when folks have to heat their residence and it tightens the supply of diesel and fuel oil.

It is the new normal. Electric semis are a ways off yet. If you think replacement battery packs are expensive for Prius', etc., imagine the size and cost of a pack that can haul a semi 600+ miles per day. More likely UPS and FEDEX trucks will become electric first. Batteries are undergoing incremental improvements, but there is no magic breakthrough that will make batteries light, efficient and instantly rechargeable.

There in lies another problem: ultra fast recharging. We are used to loading energy in our fuel tanks in mere minutes. IF one could recharge a battery pack in similar time frames, the average power plant, whatever its energy source, could only charge 2 or 3 vehicles simultaneously with nothing left over for the rest of the grid. Practicalities like this will ultimately cost the greenies their utopian vision. But be sure to burn the fuel remotely so LA can escape from the smog.

Rick

[Kayteg1]

30 years ago gas prices in California was 89 cents for Regular and 69 cents for diesel
Even 20 years ago I was filling up 120 gallons into my DP and did not max my CC. :C
This is the right price proportion cost-wise, but we live in country who is speculation-driven.
I still think that once semis become electric, the diesel becomes the cheapest fuel again.

[rickjo]

Kayteg1 wrote:
New Mexico is exception with high diesel prices, since diesel is about 10% higher in most of the country.
Still comparing NM $2 for gas at 9 mpg it cost you $22 for 100 miles.
$2.7 for diesel at 13 mpg (my records) the cost is $20.7
For Las Vegas it is $29 for gas or $21.5 for diesel fuel.
Can't beat pen and paper.
That is still subjective as driving long distance I usually fill B20 at truck stops and then it is cheaper than Regular.
Takes some homework to find low priced diesel as brand name truck stops add price of showers and overnight parking to fuel prices, but my favorite truck fueling station on I-5/198 in California had B20 for $2.83, when cheapest Regular in the area was $3.50
Last week prices.

Everything is an exception. Nationwide gas prices are nowhere near $3.50 per gallon for Regular gas that you pay in CA. AAA gas prices ( gas prices nationwide and by state) show different data than your personal experience provides. For example, NM average gas is $2.12 and diesel is $2.85. CA average gas is $3.27 and diesel is $3.76.

Personally, my mileage dropped from 10 to 9, old diesel to new gas (my records). I don't believe the new Ford diesel would get anywhere near 13 with my HEAVY rig. From what I gather on other forums, maybe 11 on a good day. When traveling, I use gas buddy for some choice on where to fill up. That is enough homework for me when venturing into uncharted territory. Visiting the grandkids allows the absolute cheapest fuel stops on the way. I've done it over a hundred times.

So 100 miles in NM theoretically costs me $23.55. At 11 MPG estimate and for current diesel prices, it would be $25.90.

CA numbers would be $36.33 vs $34.18. Noteworthy. I moved from CA 40 years ago for a reason, but at the time, fuel prices were not a consideration. Enough said.

Rick

[Kayteg1]

New Mexico is exception with high diesel prices, since diesel is about 10% higher in most of the country.
Still comparing NM $2 for gas at 9 mpg it cost you $22 for 100 miles.
$2.7 for diesel at 13 mpg (my records) the cost is $20.7
For Las Vegas it is $29 for gas or $21.5 for diesel fuel.
Can't beat pen and paper.
That is still subjective as driving long distance I usually fill B20 at truck stops and then it is cheaper than Regular.
Takes some homework to find low priced diesel as brand name truck stops add price of showers and overnight parking to fuel prices, but my favorite truck fueling station on I-5/198 in California had B20 for $2.83, when cheapest Regular in the area was $3.50
Last week prices.

[rickjo]

I recently "upgraded" my truck to the 6.2 l for the bed capacity. So here is my opinion which you didn't find elsewhere.

The engine is a solid performer. It matches the HP of the 6.0 diesel that I left behind, albeit at higher RPMs. Torque is less. I toured all over Colorado in September with no regrets. My camper weighs about 5500 lbs loaded.

The gas mileage is beneath the current diesel mileage according to other's reports. I get around 9 with camper and 13 without. Given the current premium price of diesel over gas (38% higher in my town), the mileage just does not bother me. I have the 3.73 rear end and so my 5th gear is about the same as the 4.30 rear end in 6th. That is a bonus IMHO when I drive without the camper. About 1/2 of my current 4000 miles is without the camper. It is winter after all.

Hope this opinion is helpful. That is all it is. An opinion.

Rick

[joerg68]

Another vote for DRW - twice the number of tires to carry the load on the rear axle.
Unless you have a very good reason to go SRW. Then you need to know the limitations of the truck and load it accordingly.

In my case, the wide rear track of a DRW is prohibitive where I live. In the US, that is usually not a problem.

The 6.2 is a good engine. More power is always better, I guess. But for me, it does the job just fine.

[BradW]

Wharfcat wrote:
I'm in the "bought a SRW truck now I have a DRW truck camp".

Me too, except I would add that I was fine with the 4,000 lb Lance on an F-350 DRW ............. until I also started towing a 7,500 lb jeep/car hauler trailer on a 2' extension. THAT is when I quickly went to a DRW.

bradw

[Wharfcat]

I'm in the "bought a SRW gas truck now I have a DRW diesel truck camp". I put air bags and shocks on the Chevy and it still didn't perform like I wanted. My camper is about 3300 wet and my boat weighed about 2K. Same camper the other day on my new F-350 bone stock I can drive like I stole it. Nothing anywhere close that resembles a mountain here, but I bet when I'm headed to Colorado I'm going to be much happier.

[TxGearhead]

4 trucks in 8 years. Get a dually.