Community Forums

wwenstad1 · 11-17-2015, 12:03 AM

I pull a 35' Heartland Big Horn. I have a F-250 diesel now and want to move up to a F-350. My question is I am thinking of getting a flex fuel or gasoline. I love diesel but there is a huge price differance. So if I could get some feedback on this subject. Thanks

Rickeoni · 11-17-2015, 12:57 AM

You will probably get good reviews on gas from people that have gassers and good reviews from diesel owners on coal burners. The price difference is also on the back end of ownership.

I have owned both, and am firmly entrenched in the diesel camp.

Rick

birddog2you · 11-17-2015, 01:59 AM

Ditto on the coal burner.

jimcumminsw · 11-17-2015, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwenstad1

I pull a 35' Heartland Big Horn. I have a F-250 diesel now and want to move up to a F-350. My question is I am thinking of getting a flex fuel or gasoline. I love diesel but there is a huge price differance. So if I could get some feedback on this subject. Thanks

Where is the price difference you mention; is it the fuel or the cost of a diesel engine?

If it is fuel; I really do not see that much difference in the price. Right now diesel fuel is running about .20 to .30 cents a gallon more in my area. With that cost difference the mileage improvement when using diesel will more than make up for this. Per the US government research and I quote "1 gallon of diesel has 113% of the energy of one gallon of gasoline." end quote. So you should have better fuel mileage if everything is equal.

Now cost of a diesel engine should not be a factor, since you are trading in a diesel vehicle for another one.

In fact we own two diesel vehicles one my 2008 Ram with the Cummins engine and our 2011 VW Jetta TDI.

SkiSmuggs · 11-17-2015, 09:27 AM

Don't forget that you should be able to get $9-11K of the MSRP. That could make it easier on you.
And I would not want to pull that kind of weight with a gasser. With my Ecoboost and now Powerstroke, I never want to tow without turbo again.

JohnBoyToo · 11-17-2015, 09:37 AM

I too miss my Platinum 'Deezle' 350, but knowing what I know now, I shoulda gone dually for the weight I was carrying ! and you should consider it too

Bushman512003 · 11-18-2015, 12:59 AM

Oil all the way....Just got a new 2015 CTD 2500 with a free Cummins end of Year deal got to love that a loaded Outdoorsman 4x4 in the Max Steel Matalic paint

Bamaman · 11-18-2015, 07:49 AM

I've got a Ford Lariat F250 diesel. But if I was going to tow a full size trailer like a Big Horn, it'd have to be a diesel 1 ton with dual rear wheels.

If I was buying a new truck, I'd be special ordering a F350 dually XLT cab. The price differential between the XLT and the Lariat is about the same cost as the diesel engine--$8,000ish. And the XLT is perfectly decent when equipped properly.

The reason I say order the truck is so you can get exactly what options you use--not too few and not too many options. And very few dealers are stocking XLT's on their lots right now. They're ordering XL work trucks or Lariats and Platinums (in the $60's.)

450Donn · 11-18-2015, 08:08 AM

Will a gasser pull your trailer? Sure in the flat lands just fine. First mountain you come to and your speed drops to 25 and your rpms are 5000 you will wish you had not been so cheap. Get the right tool for the job or dont do the job.

KerrTx · 11-18-2015, 03:21 PM

Pulled all over Colorado and New Mexico this fall, had to keep looking to make sure it was still back there! No DRW Required.

Dogpatch · 11-18-2015, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KerrTx

Pulled all over Colorado and New Mexico this fall, had to keep looking to make sure it was still back there! No DRW Required.

I've got the same truck. It's a beast for power!

raineman · 11-19-2015, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KerrTx

Pulled all over Colorado and New Mexico this fall, had to keep looking to make sure it was still back there! No DRW Required.

A DRW provides significantly more stability not more power. Once you pull a 5th wheel with a DRW you won't want anything else

SkiSmuggs · 11-19-2015, 08:12 AM

After towing my 10K fiver with an F150 Ecoboost and now my F350 Powerstroke, I would never want to tow without turbos again. The low-end power that comes from turbos takes so much drama out of the towing experience.
As previously pointed out, order an F350 XLT instead of one of the higher models and you come close to making up the price difference of the diesel engine. By ordering, you get it how you want it without the add-ons used to drive the price up. I pre-configured mine online repeatedly until I figured out just what I needed/wanted, then went to the dealer and said that I wanted to order an F350 and needed $8000 off MSRP to do it. It was a figure that I knew I could get, but not as much as I could have gotten without a lot of haggling. 15 minutes later I signed the papers and waited for my truck to come in.

Dutch Star David · 11-19-2015, 08:19 AM

I'd suggest you consider F-450 also. The new 6.7 is stout and higher (numerical) rear end will get you up to speed like you won't believe. Also you will really appreciate DRW when it gets windy.

I don't miss my Redwood Fiver but sure miss that F-450 truck.