6.2 Gas F-250

The diesel F250 is heavier than the gas model. The engine option alone adds about 7-800 lbs to the truck.

He said if you want a work truck to get the F350 because they're the same truck, one is just rated to tow and haul more. If you're buying one specifically for work, you get the one that's rated higher because the F250 and F350 can usually be bought within a few hundred $ of each other, one is just rated to do more.

 

Ah, got it.

I guess people just aren't aware that as you said, they aren't just sticking half ton engines into 3/4th ton trucks now. The 6.2 makes more sense than the 6.7 to 90% of people. More than half of the diesel owners I know have a massive payment, don't tow shit and constantly have them break down outside of warranty because they deleted/tuned them.

 

If I could delete and tune, I'd get a diesel in a heartbeat, that puts them right back to the old, reliable dinosaurs they were in the past. If people are deleted and tuned and still having a lot of expensive repairs, a lot of that is from irresponsible tuning or beating on the truck, treating it like a civic rather than a workhorse. If you can delete all the emissions garbage and run a responsible tune (which will still put out some serious power and torque), a diesel should run forever without any issues. What you're describing sounds like people running high HP tunes or smoke tunes in their deleted diesels and things are going wrong as a result.

 

Irresponsible tuning, beating on the truck, and wear on stock components from the increased power. If only that wasn't another huge chunk of cash on top of the diesel tax.

Oh, and some just seem to have issues from the get go. We have one '15 F-550 6.7 4x4 ambulance in our fleet and it's literally been down for the past two months with injector/engine and electrical issues. (Electrical issues were the upfitter's fault.)

 

The EPA does actively prosecute companies and individuals who delete all of their emissions equipment. If the truck isn't worth keeping the stock emissions equipment then it's just not worth it...

 

You have a separate tax for purchasing a diesel vehicle? What state do you live in?

 

Noooooo, haha. I mean diesel tax as in the 8-10k premium diesel trucks carry.

 

You could always wait for the 7.3L to come out...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FtNlfAbc2w

 

I can’t wait to see what that new engine is all about! The 6.2 is a beast, that 7.3 I bet will be fun to drive.

 

I owned a 2011 F-350 6.7L Powerstroke. I will never own another modern diesel truck. There were a lot of bugs with that early gen 6.7L Scorpion and mine had all of them. The too-complicated-for-its-own-good emissions system was the culprit for 90% of those problems. It was a beautiful truck and probably was great off the lot, but the long term reliability of those components made for a terrible (and stupid expensive) second owner experience, especially when you're used to the long-term (and cheap to own and operate) reliability of a Toyota. They're not even in the same universe.

And as someone else said, if you're not towing a dump trailer, a 5th wheel, a horse trailer or a yacht, no need to go for anything more than a half ton truck (which are way more heavy duty with better brakes, payload and towing capacity than they've ever been).

 

I have a side business that requires a high payload bed, and a lot of space both inside/outside. I don't like the look of longbed 1/2 ton trucks, but the F-250 looks badass.

 

Careful with that last statement because that’s ultimately why I bought a 3/4 ton over a half ton truck. The standard payload and towing of a half ton truck isn’t great. For a crew cab, 4wd half ton, the payload is in the 1,400 lb range. Now put 2 adults, 2 kids a dog in the cab, a little bit of gear in the bed and see what’s left for tongue weight of a trailer, it’s not much. The way around that is to buy a half tongue with the heavy payload package and then get the max tow package and all the accessories that come along with it. It adds up in a hurry and they are very hard to find second hand. For the price of all the add ons I needed to make a half ton work for towing and hauling, i was planted squarely in 3/4 ton territory. Half ton trucks claim to be able to tow well over 10k lbs but, unless you buy the correct payload package, they can’t support the tongue weight associated with a trailer that heavy. The half ton trucks are capable, but no where near as confident when towing as their 3/4 ton counterparts. The components of a half ton are much lighter and less robust so unless you’re towing a short, flat trailer, they just end up getting pushed around by the trailer. Just my opinion, but if you’re going to regularly tow over 5k lbs, you should be looking at a 3/4 ton. If you’re towing all day, every day, you should give some serious consideration to a diesel.

Sorry for the rant, this is turning into a much different discussion. Your comment about payload just triggered my experience and frustration from searching for a capable 1/2 ton truck. Manufacturer’s numbers and claims can be very misleading.

 

From the spec comparison sheet I made yesterday:

The Tacoma payload is 1,305 DCSB 4x4

A Silverado 1500 5.3 ECSB is 1,840

The F250 is 3,370.

That is really a really considerable difference. It's also worth mentioning a 1/2 ton having to work harder to carry a heavier payload.

 

I was between a corvette and the platinum f250 (both with low mile, 500 on the f250 and like 2-3K on the corvette) and was planning on having it as a weekend vehicle. I decided for the f250 because 1. badass, more than corvette if you ask me. 2. When it floods down here it floods enough to where those f250s drive around like nothing and cars can leave their garage. 3. I used to hunt a lot and well you can drive around a ranch in a car. 4. If I ever needed to tow/haul I had a truck. It was fine until my jetta crapped out on me. Then the f250 was my daily. Since I drive around a lot for work it was just killing me. Now Im not saying my tacoma is fuel efficient, but its no where near that monstrosity of an f250.

 

To clarify my suggestion, if you're buying a heavy duty truck on looks and size alone, you might be in for a heavy duty surprise when it comes to cost of ownership. Unless capacities are the basis of your purchase, a half ton truck is plenty capable for most.

My own experience is unique and doesn't mirror the OP's needs but, for the sake of ranting, I'll share it anyway. I wanted/needed a truck with a 12,000 GVWR to haul a camper and thought I needed something bigger for work. I thought I knew what I was getting in to (like 12 gallon oil changes, crazy insurance and registration costs) but was surprised with a hundred other things like turbo leaks, rear main leaks, coolant bypass leaks, failing emissions sensors, clogged this and clogged that; it never ended. To add insult to injury, I'd researched these great fuel economy numbers from the Scorpion (Remember Ford's beaker of fuel comparo between the Cummins and Duramax?), but I averaged 12-13 MPG even when completely unloaded with a feather-light right foot. Where were the diesel fuel cost savings I'd read about?

At the end of the day I had this big, cool looking, capable truck I couldn't afford to own or operate. Now when I need a capable tow rig, I just borrow my boss's Cummins truck and happily drive home in my cheap, little Toyota.

 

Well, to be fair most of those issues are specifically related to having a diesel 3/4th ton.

Bed payload, size and capability are my main reasons for wanting one. I struggle to get above 12-13 city in my Tacoma and above 16 on the highway, so there's no shock there lol.

That's an awesome looking truck though, love the utility bed, bumper and wheels.

 

Not sure if they're diesel related issues or just early model year Ford issues. Your results may vary!

If I had to do it again, a big, simple gas motor would be my preference.

 

I'm guessing it was a 2011?

The 6.2 is a pretty bulletproof gas engine, I don't think I've heard a single bad thing about it.

 

Yup...a 2010 built 6.7L labeled 2011. One of the first...

 

At least you missed the 6.4, hah. Or the 6.0.

Ford made some pretty bad diesels, if only the 7.3 stuck around.