classicrockguy
Senior Member
I think the best approach to deciding the diesel vs gas question is to 1) understand your “use case” and 2) understand the advantages/disadvantages of each.
In my case, I tow a relatively large bumper pull throughout the mountain west every summer for 2+ months. The truck gets about 10k miles every year, and about 50% of that is towing as described, about 25% is an occasional road trip w/o the trailer (we still prefer the beast over the other vehicle for these), and the rest is misc local use.
I am retired, and we have another “more practical” vehicle for around town daily use. I don’t have to drive the truck every day to work, and sometimes it sits in the garage for a week or more with no use. I have to admit I still will grab it for Home Depot trips or whatever, as I prefer it over my wife’s car.
My previous tt towing experience was with a very nice 2018 F150 3.5 EB and a modest 6,000lb trailer. Truck had the power but chewed through premium fuel at 8-9mpg, and struggled with overheating on steep mountain grades. Great truck, but not so great towing experience.
When we decided to get a much larger trailer, we knew we needed a heavier truck, and we also decided to go all the way to the diesel to ensure less drama in the more extreme mountain conditions. After 3 seasons, I am convinced it was the right decision. I love the truck. (I also loved the previous F150.)
Other “use cases” will surely be different, and choosing between gas and diesel should be done with your specific needs (and wants and budget) in mind. Both drivetrains can work just fine.
In my case, I tow a relatively large bumper pull throughout the mountain west every summer for 2+ months. The truck gets about 10k miles every year, and about 50% of that is towing as described, about 25% is an occasional road trip w/o the trailer (we still prefer the beast over the other vehicle for these), and the rest is misc local use.
I am retired, and we have another “more practical” vehicle for around town daily use. I don’t have to drive the truck every day to work, and sometimes it sits in the garage for a week or more with no use. I have to admit I still will grab it for Home Depot trips or whatever, as I prefer it over my wife’s car.
My previous tt towing experience was with a very nice 2018 F150 3.5 EB and a modest 6,000lb trailer. Truck had the power but chewed through premium fuel at 8-9mpg, and struggled with overheating on steep mountain grades. Great truck, but not so great towing experience.
When we decided to get a much larger trailer, we knew we needed a heavier truck, and we also decided to go all the way to the diesel to ensure less drama in the more extreme mountain conditions. After 3 seasons, I am convinced it was the right decision. I love the truck. (I also loved the previous F150.)
Other “use cases” will surely be different, and choosing between gas and diesel should be done with your specific needs (and wants and budget) in mind. Both drivetrains can work just fine.
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