Ford F-250?

If it was me, I'd go ahead and get the diesel. If you're getting a truck as big as a Super Duty, might as well make it worth it.

I forgot to mention in my last post that we also have a couple of gas-powered Super Duty trucks at work (an F-350 flatbed with the V10, and an F-250 with the V8), and both feel like they're lacking/struggling when they have a decent amount of cargo in the back (or towing for that matter). If you're gonna be doing "truck stuff" with it at any point, might as well have the diesel. It's one of those things I feel is better to have and not need, than need and not have.

 

Only reason i say not to get a gas 250 is because if you're gonna get a truck that size you might as well get the diesel. I don't know why everybody is saying to stay away from the later(6.4-6.7) Ford diesels. They're good motors.

 

It's because of the old 6.0 L. Ever since then people have just assumed the newer powerstrokes are terrible when there isn't the data to support that.

I don't find the gas job 6.2 L underpowered at all IHMO. Compared to a Diesel maybe but a lot of what you feel in the Diesel is that pull at extremely low speeds.

 

What kind of tedious/expensive maintenance issues do the diesel engines tend to have, and why do they happen?

 

Had a 7.3 for a while .



Fuel filters every 15k, oil every 3k.

Injectors can go out, various sensors, transmission which is pricey, tires that aren't cheap, etc....

Owning a diesel isn't cheap, let alone a newer one.

 

None. They just take several gallons of oil which is not as cheap as 6 quarts the average engine takes.

 

Negative......, injectors 1500-3500 , transmission 1500-5000, head gaskets /studs 3000-5000.


They all have their issues , duramaxes crack Pistons/have injector issues and they're IFS fronts, cummins lift the head and have transmission woes . Ford: The 7.3 is great , injectors around 300k usually. Same with Trans.

The 6.0 and 6.4 can be great motors once you properly fix them( ficm issues, coolant filter, head studs, egr delete) .

 

The vast majority of owners have none of these issues. It's when you add a fueling box like The Edge is when you start having issues pushing the systems well beyond what they were designed for. I've heard of no issues with the Cummins and transmissions although I'm sure there's been failures just like every car sold. Not sure how the Chevy's IFS is a maintenance issue. I also prefer a solid front axle for a HD truck but that's only preference. If it was an actual issue, Chevy would have dropped it years ago.

 

For normal duty use the head studs will be fine and other stuff will be fine. Most of the guys destroying their diesels young had them chipped and worked them hard in the oil field, agriculture, or contstruction. Most guys get rid of the EGR if they can legally on any motor. The only thing OP should care about is the larger volume of oil and the potentially higher repair costs should something go wrong. Diesel uses an extremely high pressure fuel system which is usually the source of any failure and the cost is extremely high to work on the fuel system. Run even a single batch of bad fuel and you may need new injectors. That just happened to one of our Cummins 3 tons.

 

The ifs isn't a maintenance issue, just being Chevy issue LOL ... My bad didn't read the maintenance issues part.

They all have their issues. Regardless you're still going to have the usual maintenance, drivetrain, steering, engine and trans. But you may also have other odd issues... Like what I mentioned above. I had a 6.0 where I had to stud it, delete it, and went through 3 ficms.

Injectors were next but I sold the thing.

The 7.3 needed new injectors at 200k, along with a Trans at 80k.

The edge tuner is bad bad bad....

 

I mean really unless your going to haul some weight or pull a trailer pretty often I would go with a gas engine.

I went with a 7.3 to pull my trailer hauling things at least a few hundred miles..

Not to jump in go 5 miles stop start and 5 miles .

I get in a go a couple hours other then checking the load.

Servicing the truck with all the filters and oil is about $100.00

 

Owned two 250's.
They are more maintinence but all American trucks are like that. I like Fords for reliability more than Chevy and GMC (you couldn't pay me to own one).
I love my trucks. Great for hauling and towing. The only thing that really blows is gas milage. I'm getting 12 on my 02'.
I'm rolling over 200K and no real major issues yet. Just standard maintinence and new power steering pump. Although I'm waiting for a disaster here soon.

Don't buy more truck than you need if you don't have the free floating money to do so. Diesels especially. They cost more day 1 and have a lot higher maintinence costs.

 

Makes no sense to have huge truck like the F250 if it's not going to be used for its intended purpose. IMO

 

I'm looking at one only because 4 doors and an 8 foot bed. I work construction and the tacomas just not meeting my demands anymore plus the frame is rusted. And I will occasionally tow a bobcat, but the f 150 can do that aswell.

 

I thought Toyota offered to replace rested frames?

If it is what you want, and you can afford it, buy what you want.
In your case I wouldn't go with a diesel unless you just want to piss away money. If you aren't doing a lot of towing, you don't need it.
If you do a lot of heavy bed hauling, then a 250 may be better than a 150 depending on how much you use it.
Really what it comes down to between the 150 and 250 is cost. Cost of the vehicle, and then cost of lost MPGs as you get lower gas mileage with the bigger engines.

I don't remember if I said it but I'm getting about 12 on my 250 right now. And not city, that's pretty much average.
If you fill up once a week that's about $300 in gas every month. If that is going to make you cry or die of a stroke from stress. Go 150.

 

Gas mileage would be nice but not a deciding factor its a work truck not a grocery getter. Probably going to the 150 and a trailer at this point and if I pick up more equipment a few years later than pick up a 250. The price tag of a 250 is just ridiculous.

And toyota is supposed to take care of the frames but mines lifted and they want me to return it to stock first. Also they only loan out camrys.

 

And I fill the tacoma up every 6 days.

 

get yourself an old body style 7.3L 5 speed 4wd with the dana 60 (f350) then you can also keep the taco for a DD... easier to fix then most of the newer diesels

 

Diesel, the 7.3 is the only way to go unless you have deep pockets to fix the 6.0 issues. The 6.0 can be a great engine too if you have about 5k to bulletproof it. The 6.0 truck has better suspension and more creature comforts than 7.3's. But the 7.3 is easy and simple to work on with minimal issues to worry about. The HPOP leaves a lot to be desired, and they tend to be hard starters in cold weather, but other than that, you can't go wrong with a 7.3! Here's my 1997 OBS 7.3, best towing vehicle I have ever owned. Has the 5 speed manual and sits at 181k on the odometer at the moment. Rides like a hay wagon and isn't very user friendly for daily driving, but it hails from an era when trucks were still workhorses, not grocery getters. I only use her for work, and she sits the rest of the time while I drive the cushy Tacoma around.