I currently have a 04 Super Crew Lariat 4X4 with all the options and low miles 17,500. We do some camping; we have a 1995 26ft travel trailer. We would like to upgrade the camper to a 5th wheel. Most of our camping that we do is near by, 20-30 miles from home. We have three kids that are in a lot of activities so we are always running back and forth from camp ground to soccer fields. We do adventure out further a time or two a year. I know my truck could pull a lite weight 5th wheel with a special slider hitch. A friend of mine does it, but it works the truck. I can稚 afford a new ｾ ton plus a new camper. Looking around for 02-04 diesel, crew cab. I think I could get into one if it was a plain xlt for pretty much the same money. From what I致e heard and read I should go with the 7.3 over the new 6.0 liter. Just wondering what your thoughts are.

 

If you looking at 02-04 modle year your right about going with the 7.3. The first year of the 6.0 they had a few problems. I had a 02 crew cab with the 7.3, getting around 20 mpg unloaded, and around 18-19 pulling a 30' travel trailer. But if your going with a powerstroke you really cant go wrong.

 

18-19 pulling a 30foot travel trailer? miss print? at the farm we have a 02 7.3 4x4 ext. cab....lucky to pull 17 unloaded, and around 11-14 loaded... doesn't really matter on the load size

 

I'll bet you were looking at your overhead gauge weren't you. I call BS on the 18-19mpg loaded. The only times I've heard those kind of claims they have never been able to back them up. The only way is to hand calculate it by fueling all the way up until you see liquid diesel, not foam, in the filler neck. We have a fleet of PSDs from 99-03 at work in different configurations. None get over 16-17mpg unloaded. Loaded the best is around 12-14mpg with some going as low as 7-8mpg (F550 service body 14k GVW).

 

on the overhead guage. i had a buddy that ran out of fuel. when it said 0miles till empty, he went .4miles and she shut down...

 

The mpg readings on the overhead console are notorious for not even being remotely close. Throw a programmer or chip on there and they go WAY WAY out of whack. I've seen them read 20-25mpg after a chip. Usually they read much higher than what you really get. Tell you what, hand calculate about 3 tanks how I said to do in the last post and I'll bet your mileage doesn't coincide with that junk Ford puts in there.

 

So has this turned into a fuel moleage post or what?

I am in the same boat as you looking to upgrade from a f150 screw to a f250 maybe used and in teh same layout.

 

MJC, For as few of miles as you put on a year, I would strongly consider a v-10 gasser. I have a 6.0l PS. I think there are only a few good reasons to get a diesel. 1. you drive alot of miles. 2. you tow alot. 3. you just want a diesel. Unless you fall in the 3rd catagory, you will not fall into any catagory.

By the way, a used gasser should cost about $5k less than a diesel. Further, the gasser can actually to slightly more (because the truck weights less) than a diesel.

 

Just want to say don't discount the V10. Mine has been 100% quality since I bought it new almost 4 years ago. Powerful, smooth and easy to maintain. I've done nothing except oil/filter and air filter changes since I've had it and not one problem.

Not going to badmouth diesels any way here but you would be selling yourself short if you didn't at least test drive a V10, especailly a new 3 valve model. I have the 2003 310HP 2V V10 with only 3.73 and it never lets me down. The new 3V V10 with the 4.30s is a towing beast and really lays the torque onto the pavement quick. Instant throttle response and no lag at all. Find one and drive it before you make a decision.

 

what type of fuel mileage do you see with a V10. I have a buddy that has one and tows a 37 ft fith wheel and he gets about 6 8 miles to the gallon.

 

have a buddy with the v-10 not sure on the year, 03-04 unloaded he does 13-15 mixed driving and the worst he's seen was 8.5pulling heavy... that's a 4door 4x4 not sure on the gears...
to me i think the diesel is starting to get overkill... imean if you want one and can afford one fine get one... but a v-10 or heck even a f150 does the job... my 02 f150 still does 95% of the work around the farm. i can pull every thing we need to pull with very little trouble... and like posted before, the diesel opt. is what 5k??? that's alot of gas money right there.

 

I am not knocking the gassers at all, I had a f150 for years. I am stepping into an f250 for one simple reason, I need more power and fuel mileage then my current f150.

I have a Ragen SS2400 toy box trailer. Its at 7400 dry. I towed it out to Needles a few weeks back and got a whopping 6 mpg. With my F150 I had to stop and get gas when I left and half there. Total mileage was just under 300 miles, I could not beleive it.

The Trailer has a 150 Gallon fresh tank a 50 Gallon fuel station. I would like to be able to use them, I could not see doing trips in my f150 with much confidence that is.

The wife and I are looking to take trips to YellowStone, Oregon, etc. Not going to happen at 6 miles per gallon. So I have decieded to step into a diesel. The reason is......----->I have towed it with a buddies f250 diesel with fuel and freash tank full and got 18 mpg. Now that is do able, again I have not heard much better with the V10 then what your quoting. I am not looking for a farm truck I am looking for a truck that I can tow long range. I hope that is.

Thanks for the input and I apperciate the perspective, but I still would say the Diesel is a much better choice for me.

 

don't get me wrong a diesel is a nice way to go, but i just talked to a guy who traded in his screw for a duty to just pull his 17foot lund to the lake 1hour away, and he's complaining about the payments... if your pulling long distance and often it's the way to go... i wouldn't count on that 18mpg everytrip. the people i'm talking to with the 6.0 are having a tough time getting that unloaded more so around 12-14 depending on the load... just a question what is everyone paying for diesel?? i think here in NW MN it was 289 and unleaded 89oct was 269 last time i looked

 

Yeah well its time to move to NW MN then, lol. I live in SoCal and its about 3.50 a gallom here, and this about on par for both.

Most of my pulling will be 250 miles one way or more. That is just the way we play out here.

 

I'm not going to argue the obvious point that diesels get better mileage than gas engines, especially towing. So don't take this the wrong way but I really doubt a diesel got 18mpg towing anything unless it was a very light load in the 2000lb range. Most of the folks with stock diesels that tow in the 6000 to 8000lb range get in the 11 to 13 mpg range, which is still quite a nice advantage over a gasser. Most of the 6.0L PSD owners I know locally get 16/17 unloaded and anywhere from 11 to 15 towing depending on the load.

My own V10 F250 will do about 9/10mpg highway towing my trailer at 7000lbs and I average between 11 to 12 unloaded for mixed driving. Unloaded highway I can get a little over 14 quite easily if I stay around 65/70mph. I have the 3.73 rear axle. Since I only put 15K miles a year on the truck a diesel would never pay for itself before 9 years and after that the truck will be near worthless whichever engine is in it.

Would I like to have a new diesel...?? Yes! Could I afford the extra $95 a month in payments? Yes. Did it make good sense since I don't have cash to burn? Nope. The only benefit I'd see was the satisfaction of knowing I have the "most expensice engine option". Like it or not the V10 can do any job the diesel can do-it just costs a little more to do it but then again I paid less to start with.

In my own case it's a wash. If I had the extra $$, I'd have a diesel. For now the V10 keeps takin' what I throw at it and laughs at me!!