F250 or Chevy2500

[Crossroad]

I test drove both a F250 gas and diesel and a chevy 2500 gas. I really like the F250 and can't decide if I want to pay the extra money for a diesel. I pull a TT 5600 dry weight, probably load it to 7000 lbs. We generally don't go much further then 300 miles to camp and only camp 6-8 times a year. Diesel is much more expensive, so that is playing into my decision. Does anybody have any suggestions?
Thanks

[TandW]

4800 miles a year is not justification to go diesel.

[DriVer]

Go gas! You will be glad you did. √

[TXiceman]

Welcome to iRV2 Crossroad. I am partial to diesels for working hard. The 5.4L V-8 in just not enough engine in an F250 in my opinion. The fuel economy when towing is around 7 to 8 mpg and worse in the hills. If you can get a V-10, 6.8L gas engine it would do fine...just uses a lot of gas.

If you do decide to go with the 5.4L, be sure and get the 4.10 axle.

One thing to do is to look at the price of a comparable large gas engine truck as compared to a diesel truck for resale on a 5 year old truck. You will recover a lot of the cost of the diesel at resale time..except for the case of the 6.0L ford diesels.

Good luck and happy hunting.
Ken

[Randy the sly old fox]

I have an 07 2500HD with the gasser, 6 sp, and 4.10 gears - it handles my 5600 lb AF 22H with no problems - hardly now its back there. I get 15-16 hy (empty) 12 in town and 9-12 towing. These 6.0 L engines when coupled to the 6sp really run sweet. The flat torque curve is the reason - find the new gmpowertrain website for the curves. What you will find is the torque comes on quick and runs flat between 2000 and 4000 RPM and peaks at 4400 RPMs - note that the peak torque is only a few lb-ft higher than the flat area. Couple that with the wide range 6sp and you really have a sweet pulling combo. I reach 6th gear on the open road and usually don't drop below 4th on hills - (I can do 55 in 4th pulling 3500 RPMx), Tow/Haul mode works great - love the downshiifting - esp when coupled with the integrated trailer brakes. I think Ford was ahead of the game for many years when it came to towing - mirrors, brakes, transmissions etc. now I think GM has caught and passed them.

[SuperGewl]

I myself will tell you go Diesel no matter what. Most diesel will get about 15mpg around town upwards of 18-22 on the highway empty. As far as towing around 10-13mpg. When towing and pulling the long grades the diesel will settle in and leave the gassers behind without even thnking about it. Yes they may cost more Upfront but the trade-in value is well worth it. Also the overall mpg's are better than a gasser and price per mile is on par if not less than the same epuiped gasser.
You could also hedge the bet by running BioDiesel as I do. (100% BioDiesel saves the most)

[pthomann]

For whatever it's worth, we just "upgraded" our TV to a Chevy 2500HD Duramax 6.6L Diesel from a Chevy 1500 Gas rig. We just got back from an 800 mile pull to northern Wisconsin and back. We are pulling a Terry TT Model 829T that is rated at 4,350lbs dry weight with about 2,000lbs loaded, including (4) passengers, bikes, gear, food, etc., etc....! On this trip, we averaged 12.5mpg on the way up and 11.9 on the return trip with a headwind. The difference this rig made was astronomical. I was never a diesel fan after a terrible experience with the old 6.2L GM engine many yrs ago, but I have to tell you that this rig and engine combo works great for me so far. The TT pulled easily with this TV and when you do the math, we saved considerably on fuel $, even at $2.99 diesel as compared to $2.80 gas. With my old vehicle, I would have been over the GVWR and totally unsafe, not to mention that I got only 9.0mpg with the gas engine in the 1/2ton truck. I would give a strong recommendation to both the 2500HD and the Diesel set-up based on my limited experience.

[jrstout89]

At that weight and for that amount of towing I wouldn't even come close to considering the diesel. I couldn't stomach shelling out the price difference for the 5000 miles per year I put on my truck. If you need the power for a big rig then go for a big noisey stinky but if that kind of power is not needed I'd look at a Ford with a V10. I'm towing around 9.5 to 10K and going up the long climb to Mammoth Ca, I slowed to maybe 50 mph. I typically drive around 63 anyway so no great loss going 13 mph slower for 20 minutes at the most. With my typical driving speed, which would be the same whether I owned a diesel instead of my gasser, I would reach the top of a 15 mile climb a whole 48 seconds sooner with a diesel that didn't slow to 50.
For smaller rigs this whole diesel/gas thing is like what I found out with while I was boating. My friends all hung 250-300hp off thier sterns while I had 135hp. We both made it to the islands at the same time because our boats could only go as fast as the seas would let us. Bottom line, look at what you need for your use and buy accordingly.

[94-Newmar]

You didn't say if you drove new or used trucks. If you are still considering a diesel I would recommend a 2-3yr old Diesel truck, pre 2007. Keeps you out of the new emissions garbage which ruined the fuel mileage on anything running on diesel. The major Depreciation was paid by someone else and hopefully worked all the 'bugs' out already.

[Crossroad]

Thanks to everybody who posted. I ended up buying a 2008 F250 diesel.

[94-Newmar]

Good choice! I had one but turned it back in when the lease was up. If you want to increase your mileage from 9mpg to 15mpg or better get ahold of the people at Spartan Diesel Technologies they have 'tuners' that do not void the factory warranty. I purchased one of theirs for my 08 at the time and my power went up substantially and almost doubled my fuel mileage. I loved my 08 but the mpg was horrible compared to my other trucks.