• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Talk me out of a diesel or help me pick!

If you only tow 3-4 times a year I would stay gas....04-05 v10. Ford is there number 1 selling truck for 40+years for a reason.
The 5.4 that I assume is in your other trucks has a bad rap but don't believe everything you read. The 6.8 was made on the same assembly line as the 5.4 with the same tooling.....modular motor.

I had a 2000 7.3 and it was an awesome truck but just to dang expensive to maintain. Even doing all the work myself...a new clutch was 1k and every oil change is 150-200 bucks.

Or throw all caution to the wind and go for the new pushrod gasser 7.3..... It will be a beast
I've got a Ford F350 dually with a V10 which I love (except for gas milage) but pulling a trailer in the mountains was embarrassing.:rolleyes: If you're doing a lot of towing, get a diesel if you can stomach the extra cost.
 
I've got a Ford F350 dually with a V10 which I love (except for gas milage) but pulling a trailer in the mountains was embarrassing.:rolleyes: If you're doing a lot of towing, get a diesel if you can stomach the extra cost.
That's what I'm trying to avoid, even if only twice a year or so. We go out West for family vacations often and my Expedition could barely pull my popup over the mountains. Very embarrassing.
 
I did a ton of research on the 1/2 ton and 3/4 tons....read a lot of truck mags that compared the Titan to 3/4 tons, and it came up a bit short. This negative spin hurt the Titan, but if you consider the target market, it hits the mark. It’s not a true 3/4 ton, although built like one, but rides much better. Nissan targeted the weekend toyhauler. It’s not a 3/4 ton Ford, Dodge or Chevy. But it’s built like a tank. I had to look at it for myself. As mentioned above, brakes, bilstien shocks, huge box frame, transmission the same as a 3/4 ton, and the Cummins diesel. Not as powerful as some of the other diesels, but plenty adequate. I tow a 7500lb boat on cruise control. Literally. If buying used, you can remove the def/exhaust system (simple delete kit available) and your horsepower and torque goes up significantly. Again, it’s an option. Maybe not for everyone, but I bought a 2018 and it’s been rock solid.
 
I wrestled with this earlier in the year & was between a new gas f150 or diesel f250 & my scenario is similar to yours for the cost difference & the limited towing it would see annually. I saved the money & got an f150 crew cab eco boost, I can replace the engine & or transmission in 10 years at 250k miles & still be ahead of the curve factoring overall initial & annual operating cost....... but in the end no real wrong answer just find a great deal!
 
Some good points here. Unless you have a true need for a diesel, it may be overkill. Gas engines are smooth and simple. Diesels are more expensive to maintain, and newer ones have the DEF tank....which is more cost. A good gas truck is hard to beat. Some people just love diesel, and wouldn’t have anything else. I like mine, but wouldn’t hesitate to go back to gas, as long as it was one of the newer more fuel efficient models. But based on your budget, that might not be possible.
 
I've got a Ford F350 dually with a V10 which I love (except for gas milage) but pulling a trailer in the mountains was embarrassing.:rolleyes: If you're doing a lot of towing, get a diesel if you can stomach the extra cost.
Surprising to hear.... Automatic transmission?
 
Surprising to hear.... Automatic transmission?
Yes, automatic. I was pulling a 3500 trailer in the mountains and was embarrassed by its performance. On flat land, no problem but when the air gets thin at elevation there was just no power. If I towed a lot, I'd want a manual transmission, that way I could control when it shifted.
 
Yes, automatic. I was pulling a 3500 trailer in the mountains and was embarrassed by its performance. On flat land, no problem but when the air gets thin at elevation there was just no power. If I towed a lot, I'd want a manual transmission, that way I could control when it shifted.
I didn't think of the altitude.....i drove a f450 wrecker with 6.8 with zf6 speed and it felt much stronger than my 7.3...
 
I wrestled with this earlier in the year & was between a new gas f150 or diesel f250 & my scenario is similar to yours for the cost difference & the limited towing it would see annually. I saved the money & got an f150 crew cab eco boost, I can replace the engine & or transmission in 10 years at 250k miles & still be ahead of the curve factoring overall initial & annual operating cost....... but in the end no real wrong answer just find a great deal!

I have an f150 3.5 eco boost with the ten speed tranny. I pulled a 5000 pound fifth wheel trailer through the ROCKIES this summer. Up the mountains. Lots of power. Down the steepest grades I hardly used the brakes. The tyranny did all the braking.
It suits my situation perfect. I drove 10 mph over the posted speed limited
Averaged 12-14 mph depending on the grades and speed from Ontario to BC And back Oh. Canadian gallons are 10 % bigger than US gallons
Light trailer and occasionally pulling under 10000 pounds you don’t need a diesel. Pulling a heavy load frequently you need a diesel.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
Last edited:
As you can see Dan O this will go all different ways

It comes down to this

Diesel will have more power no matter what
You can get it done possibly with gas but diesel will do it for sure
If you’re not opposed to shifting you will save urself tranny issues and control ur shifts
Up to you but this will go on forever

Remember,
Opinions are like a-holes
We all have one and they all stink


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Around here, diesel is nearly $1.00 per gallon more than gas. I don't know how they can justify it but that's what it is. If the truck is your daily driver, you have to add the additional cost of fuel into the equation. If you're primarily using it for towing then it really doesn't matter but if 90% of your driving is not towing a trailer, you may want to give the fuel cost more consideration. It might be better to give up a little on the 10% usage towing than to pay a premium for fuel on the 90% of your driving. Everything is a trade off.
 
Just checked and diesel is $0.53 more per gallon here. Always a moving target, just seems like diesel is more steady and doesn't jump around as much as gas prices. Slower to go up in price but also slower to come down in price.
Not a daily driver, so I would put the towing at about 20% of the time. Real heavy towing or long distance towing only 2-3 times a year unless I start going to trade shows, etc.
 
Just researched some used Nissan Titan XD trucks and there are a bunch out there with very low miles. Is that a red flag? I searched in the Texas area and quite a few with 5,000-10,000 miles.
EDIT: Just read that Nissan is discontinuing the Titan XD diesel. Cross that off the list.
 
Last edited:
On the used market it’s just up to you. On a new one the diesel would be a tough sell. With higher maintenance and original cost you’ll never save enough to justify a diesel on fuel savings. If it’s what you want there is no justification necessary. The owner of the company I work for has an excursion diesel 4x4. It’s been a great vehicle and overkill for what they needed. They bought it because they owned a condo on the beach about 2.5 hours from home. They wanted something they could drive to the beach with friends, spend the weekend and drive back without stopping for fuel. It’s 4x4 because they ride on the beach. It’s been used as a bus on many occasions also. They stopped making them but if you want one look in South Georgia. They are around. A turbo diesel will preform better at high altitudes. They will all suffer some loss.
 
I think it really depends on what you will use it for. I can not imagine needing one for general use and light hauling. If you are pulling a trailer full of cattle or stacked with alfalfa it might be worth it. If you were hauling a really big travel trailer and hitting the mountains frequently it might be a consideration. I do think the long term maintenance cost of diesel engines at some point overtake the maintenance costs for gas engines - but most do not hold onto a vehicle long enough these days for extended maintenance costs to become a tipping factor. Gas cost have to be factored in also.

I like GMC but just have sworn off them since they pulled their crap last year. My next truck will be a Toyota.
 
Just checked and diesel is $0.53 more per gallon here. Always a moving target, just seems like diesel is more steady and doesn't jump around as much as gas prices. Slower to go up in price but also slower to come down in price.
Not a daily driver, so I would put the towing at about 20% of the time. Real heavy towing or long distance towing only 2-3 times a year unless I start going to trade shows, etc.
I know you mentioned it, but since this sounds like a work vehicle ( sounds like eastern woods outdoors is gonna foot the bill) not saying overburden your business w/ any unnecessary expense but your gonna give it up in taxes........ my 2 cents
 
Get a tundra. Only downfall is fuel mileage. Literally that is the only downfall. I’m on my second. Sold my first to pay for time off work (injury). I couldn’t replace that truck fast enough! Bought another as soon as I could. Several worry free and comfortable trips out west (4,000mi round trips). Never an issue.
 
Great discussion so far and not as many emotions involved like I thought might happen. I know quite a few guys are brand loyal and I am to a degree. Ford would be my first choice but I'm not against purchasing any brand if its the right truck for the job. Leaning slightly away from diesel at this point, but could still be pulled back into one. Hmmm.
 
If Nissan is cancelling the diesel platform, I suspect they didn’t get enough market share for its intended audience. And I’m sure reviews had something to do with it. Like all models, early ones had some problems, but I believe most items were corrected. It’s not for everybody, just an option.
 
Back
Top