Hey guys im lookin into gettin a new truck. something with more room and power. Id like to get a crew cab 4x4 with at least a 6ft bed. I need it to be able to pull a 6500lb boat and a 3-4000lb cargo trailer in the mountains every once in a while but mostly daily driver and weekend wheeler. I know the 7.3 is a great truck with plenty of power but thats all i know. The f150s come with a 5.4l gasser.

what are the pros and cons of each?
mileage
common problems
etc.
im leanin towards an f250 with a 7.3 because a buddy of mine makes biodiesel so i could get fuel cheaper.

let me know your opinions and experience with each
-Jordan

 

7.3 Pros:
Mileage
Power
Reliablility
Bullet proof
The easyness of gettin that power

7.3 Cons:
Bigger tank to fill
I can't think of another con LOL

5.4 Pros:
Decent torque for a stock V8
Good tuning companies for them
Decent after market

5.4 Cons:
Mileage
Not as much power as the 7.3

I know there is a lot more pros and cons for both motors. Those are just some I could come up with off the top of my head.

 

go diesel! ull be happy :P

 

diesel = higher maintenance costs...

i like my 150 for towing, towing 7k lbs isnt bad at all. oh and its a gaser, easier on the wallet.

 

so gasser will be easier on maintenance i could do mostly all myself but the diesel i could use biodiesel at $1.25 a gal.
whats the mileage on each

 

On stock tires I got 15 city and 17-20 on the highway. With 35s I get around 13-15 city and 15-17 highway.

 

I wish I could get 17mpg with stock tires I haven't seen it yet, you must drive like a grandma lol. If I set to cruise on 75mph I get like 15-16....

 

Ah yeah thats with cruise set at 65 when I'm trying to make it home from the mountains with 1/2 a tank lol

 

The maintanence may be a little more for a diesel but you have to do it less than you would a gasser. I highly recommend the diesel if you are going to be pulling a lot.

 

well im in the middle of taking diesel mechanics at my local college and i would not buy a brand new f250 with all the regulations of emisions now on them their milage sucks, i would go for one that is 2006-older

 

that mpg is about the same as the ranger.

i will be getting a 96-03 with 7.3 turbo diesel if i did.

i would be towing the boat every weekend in the summer and the trailer everyonce in a while but all towing is in mountains.

what all maintenance is needed for a diesel compared to a gasser?

 

It's the same as a gasser, only you change the fuel filter more often, and the oil less often from what I've been told. I could be wrong, though.

 

thats what i thought i believe you change the oil every 4-5k mi and fuel filter every 5-7k mi. less when using bio diesel, please tell me if im wrong

 

Easiest way to find out all your diesel questions, join Ford Powerstroke Forum. Good people over there. Answered all of my questions.

 

and if u get diesel at 1.29.. what u save there might even be more than the diference in maintainence... though im not familiar with the F250 PS. thouyg i never liked full sizes gassers...

damn 1.29 gallon... me want biodiesel :(

 

thats why im looking into the diesel...
ive been looking for a used one obiously so i can get the 7.3l but most ive found have over 100k mi id like to get on with less than the ranger(80k) but i do know these engines are known to go up to 700k mi with no problems, but what about the rest of the truck, transmision, transfer case, rearend, what kind of problems do these trucks have after 60-70k mi?

 

Does it get cold where you are at? Im guessing no

I love my 7.3, but the maintenance cost suck. Doing my own oil change I am looking at $20 filter and $45 in oil. Every 3-5k Miles sucks lol.
When its warm out I get 18 MPG stock. With my chip 20MPG, but that is with a crappy tune (at least I think)
In the winter I get 14 MPG and let it warm up 20 mins everyday.
Fuel is also more expensive, but I think it levels its self out getting better MPG.

If you want something you can start everyday and drop into gear and drive without worry I would get the F150.

If you want something that will haul anything up them mountains, and you want to keep for the next 20 years, and don't mind the extra maintence costs I would get the 7.3

I was going to buy a gasser but got a good deal on a 7.3

 

aroung here it only gets to like 20*f but i do go to the mountains and its gets as low as 0degrees, is that an issue? being to cold?
im not worried about the extra maintenance and fuel cost because ill be using biodiesel and i figured i would be saving over $1000 in fuel alone each year so it will almost even out

whats the difference between 250 and 350? im guessing 3/4ton and 1ton. so the 350 would cost more to register?

 

F350 Is Just bigger

The only problem I have with mine is starting in the cold. If its 25 degree or below it does not want to start if it was not plugged in.

This is what I have found out.

25 degrees and up - Does not need plugged in if its still 0-24 hours. If its going to sit a weekend it needs plugged in for at least 4 hours.

15 - 25 degrees - It needs plugged in if its sitting more then 8 hours.

15 and down - It needs plugged in if its going to sit more then 4 hours.

 

ok i could deal with that the longest it would sit is like 8hr in below 25 but otherwise im good do they come with the block heater or is that an extra

 

The differences between a F250 and F350 are small when looking at the Super Duty model. I'll break down the differences the best I can.

- F250 4x4 has a 2" rear block, F350 has a 4" rear block

- F350 comes standard with rear overload springs (the highly arched spring ontop of the rear leaf pack that contacts a pad outside of the frame rail). The F250 may have the overload springs if the "Camper Package" or "Heavy Service Suspension" and possibly the "Stabilizer Packages" were added.

- F250 and F350 single rear wheel trucks have the Sterling 10.5" full floating rear axle. The F350 dual rear wheel trucks have a Dana80 rear axle.

- 1999-2002 (?) F250 have the Dana50 front axle, possibly even the SRW F350 as well. DRW F350 has a Dana60. In 2003, Ford began to equip both F250 and F350 with SRW have the Dana60 front axle after the Dana50 inventory was depleted. With the advent of the 3-valve V10 and the diesel trucks with the "Tow Boss Package", a "Super Dana60" became available. This is just a general guide to front axles; you'll have to check the truck to verify.

- F250 and F350 use the same brakes. Early Super Dutys with the XL or XLT option package got rear drums. Lariat got rear disc brakes.

- F250 and F350 have spring packs chosen by options and not by model. For example, an F250 with the "Heavy Service Suspension" package and diesel engine may have heavier front springs than a F350 with a gasoline engine. The same goes for GVWR. F250 and F350 can have very similar GVWR depending on option packages.


This is simply a generalization to paint a broad picture. When it coms to insurance and registration, that will depend on your state. In Texas, for example, it doesn't make much difference at all. All the registration says is "vehicle less than or equal to 1 ton.... Fee $75"

 

I went back and forth a bunch of times.. Finally landed on the Gasser because I know how to work on them, not so much on Diesels. Also *when* the trucks break its cheaper to fix a gas truck, And i couldn't really afford a decent 7.3 with low miles at the time.

My 5.3 hauled my ranger with all my wheelin gear and a ton of extra tools just fine.. You know its there and you won't be winning any races but I didn't have a problem with it.

Basically if you can afford a diesel, (partially for the coolness factor) get it.. If you don't *need* one i wouldn't get it. 6500 lbs is well within the limits of a gas truck.


If you get serious about getting a Diesel I would seriously look into getting a Cummins though. the 7.3 is a tank but I've heard people that have owned both saying they like the 5.9 much better, more power and better fuel mileage. On the other hand the interior of the Ford is going to be much nicer.

and it takes almost 3 times as much oil every time..

 

they come with a block heater - Just make sure you always have a extension cord.

 

Last weekend snowmobiling it was a mess trying to find a place to plugin at the hotel with the 29 foot enclosed, when the hotel was full, we ended up just letting the truck run, but that wasn't cheap and pissed somebody off at the hotel cause it was to noisy. My F150 will start at -15F after sitting out all night. When I get a real job ill buy a diesel forsure, but for now its not practical for me anyways, but they sure pull nicely, can run 85mph with the enclosed trailer where in the F150 it would be 65mph. As for a diesel getting better gas mileage I wouldn't say its that much better, with the F150 it was like 9mpg and the Cummins was 11mpg. I know alot of people that own diesels and they could get by with a four door ranger cause they never pull anything, they just own one cause they can justify the $50,000 of buying a new vehicle...

 

It sucks when you go somewhere for the night and you wonder if your truck will start the next morning lol. I had that problem new years day lol.

I only bought mine because I got a good deal.