Community Forums

SmokeyWren · 08-27-2013, 09:29 AM

I ordered a new '99.5 F-250 with 7.3L diesel engine, and took delivery at the end of the '99 model year. Outstanding tow vehicle for my 8,000-pound 5er. I kept it and the 5er for 12 years. About 15 MPG unloaded at 73 MPH and 12 MPG when dragging the 5er at 62 MPH. I put 200,000 miles on the pickup, including about 100,000 miles towing over a 12-year period. I wanted to replace it with a half-ton diesel, but none were available.

Soon there will be. GM, Ram, Toyota and Nisson have all announced half-ton or even smaller diesels for the near future. Ford is still saying no.

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...225D2600801F1X

That link is to an article in yesterday's Autonews online. I don't have a subscription, but I could read the article, so I hope you can too.

monkey · 08-27-2013, 09:52 AM

Diesels have been the work horse for ever seems like... Now days they get great fuel mileage ! I used to hate the clatter banging noise of the first pickup diesels.. Haveing to shut them off at a drive through .. But now days, things are different. So quiet and smooth, even our newer 400-500 Cummins at work are very quiet.. Can't wait till I can get a pickup again...

jamesrxx951 · 08-27-2013, 09:54 AM

The strange thing is, Ford has been testing a small diesel for the F150 for a very long time. There has been rumors about it in 2004 and some talks about it. It may have been international based then. Im sure there is still something (likely Ford built) and hopefully there will be a option for it. Or, they may just see how the others prove in sales before spending the money on production. That may prove bad though if they wait to long and don't get into the market with the others.

Skip426 · 08-27-2013, 10:15 AM

Years back Dodge , was toying with the 4 cly, version of the ISB, for 1/2 tons and the B vans. ( pre Sprinter days)
The story we heard in the shop was, that by the time the extra weight of the engine , and all the required chassis , driveline, suspension & frame upgrades were done. What you had was a 3/4 ton with a 4cly engine.
Slightly better economy , but no pulling power.

Are diesel 1/2 tons coming , probably, would I be the first in line to buy one. NO.

Like the diesel P/Us of the late 70's early 80's, they will be a marketing ploy, will they use an engine currently in production , probably not, too heavy. New engine in a new truck , new problems.

RustyJC · 08-27-2013, 10:26 AM

The 3.0l turbodiesel in the 2014 Ram is rated 240 BHP/420 lb-ft torque and a 9,200 lb tow rating. It uses the same basic 8-speed TorqueFlite automatic (ZF) that's currently used behind the Pentastar V-6 and the Hemi.

For comparison, the standard (non-HO) Cummins 5.9L diesel fitted to the Ram 2500 and 3500 in the late 1990s and early 2000s was rated 235 BHP/460 lb-ft torque, so the smaller, lighter 3.0L V-6 turbodiesel isn't giving much away to the previous diesel powerplant in the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks of a decade ago.

Not everyone needs the capabilities of a 385 BHP/850 lb-ft diesel with a 37,000 lb GCWR as found in the 2014 Ram 3500 dually, but I hope that the people that buy them understand the limitations of a 1/2 ton truck and understand that's what they're buying.

Rusty

schrederman · 08-27-2013, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

Years back Dodge , was toying with the 4 cly, version of the ISB, for 1/2 tons and the B vans. ( pre Sprinter days)
The story we heard in the shop was, that by the time the extra weight of the engine , and all the required chassis , driveline, suspension & frame upgrades were done. What you had was a 3/4 ton with a 4cly engine.
Slightly better economy , but no pulling power.

Are diesel 1/2 tons coming , probably, would I be the first in line to buy one. NO.

Like the diesel P/Us of the late 70's early 80's, they will be a marketing ploy, will they use an engine currently in production , probably not, too heavy. New engine in a new truck , new problems.

Well said... I'm in a "wait-and-see" mode, myself. However, Nissan seems to me that they are taking the best approach with the 5.0 liter diesel V-8. The smaller displacement engines might not have the power I would be looking for. Unfortunately, I am not a Nissan fan, so I'll wait for the others to get a clue...

sc3283 · 08-27-2013, 10:32 AM

Hopefully the manufacturers will NOT put big HP engines in the 1/2 tons...we all have enough idiots trying to pull/tow trailers/loads with half tons that are not safe due to overload situations

tuffr2 · 08-27-2013, 10:37 AM

Half-Ton and diesel in the same sentence? It should be interesting to see what happens when I look back in 10 years. I was wrong with bottled water (said it would never sell) and cell phones (said 1 phone per family was good).

Diesel fuel has 20% more btu's than gasoline. So the new Chevy 1500 getting 22 mpg highway with cylinder deactivation vs a diesel getting 25 or 26mpg highway.

It depends on the cost of the diesel half ton truck to see if it catches on or not. Also the towing/hauling capability of the diesel should be more than the gasoline version.

It will be interesting.

Skip426 · 08-27-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyJC

The 3.0l turbodiesel in the 2014 Ram is rated 240 BHP/420 lb-ft torque and a 9,200 lb tow rating.
Rusty

And through continued / repeated posts here in the forums , we all know what kind of problems that , the high tow ratings; and how they are calculated; on P/Us , 1/2 tons, in particular, can cause.

sc3283, and I , are on the same train of thought here, I just type slower.

RustyJC · 08-27-2013, 10:54 AM

Which is why I also stated in post #5:

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyJC

....but I hope that the people that buy them understand the limitations of a 1/2 ton truck and understand that's what they're buying.

Rusty

CampDaven · 08-27-2013, 11:15 AM

Coming to a thread near you:

The salesman said I would have no problems towing my 38 ft 5-er with my 1/2 ton diesel pickup. Why is it so slow on hills and accelleration?

laurier · 08-27-2013, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sc3283

Hopefully the manufacturers will NOT put big HP engines in the 1/2 tons...we all have enough idiots trying to pull/tow trailers/loads with half tons that are not safe due to overload situations

This is well said..............Some believe because they can pull it, it is the right truck

wait until they have to brake in heavy traffic

sc3283 · 08-27-2013, 11:40 AM

Laurier...braking is only a small part of the issue if the trailer brakes are working properly...my thoughts always are...its raining....and an evasive maneuver is required to avoid an accident....OOPS.....tail waggin the dog!!! Hopefully before these idiots crash they tell themselves..."I should have bought a REAL truck!"

Anyone who has driven has had at least 1 moment as I described above

I recently saw some idiot with a half ton short bed "hemi".....so he knows he has the world by the tail with his truck! He was towing what had to be a 32'+ fiver....the rear bumper of the truck had to hit the ground on big bumps....it is ridiculous what some will do when it comes to towing!

schrederman · 08-27-2013, 03:05 PM

I agree with the sentiment expressed in post #5, #7, and #13... That being said, a 1/2 ton will pull most TTs under 30' or so just fine, especially if the driver is not trying to make the posted speed between Junction and Fort Stocton, Texas (85 mph). Mine is 29' total length and weighs about 6200# loaded. I've had no problems. As to displacement, a smaller engine putting out huge torque is working very hard. A larger engine putting out the same torque, is not working as hard, and will last longer and probably consume less fuel doing so... or that seems to be my experience. I've been wrong before...

... and will be again before it's over...