Its all in good fun Gasser lol. my cousin just gotta dodge 1500 so our facebooks are always raging with dodge vs. ford comments lol

 

Yeah, I've crunched numbers and IMO (strong opinion), a diesel isn't the better deal and doesn't make sense. Not any more. 15-20 years ago when diesels were lower maintenance, got 20+ mpg avg all day long, diesel was dirt cheap, and gas burners got 10 mpg on more expensive gas, they were awesome. Not so today.

I think that gas 250 should be able to handle just towing single vehicles around on a trailer. I agree that a 4.6 with 3.55s must struggle like hell My dad's had some 4x4s in the past and they've always caused him a lot of issues, so he really didn't want me having one either. I kinda wanted one, but not that badly, and I got my 2WD for a great price (4WD costs $4k more and that value never depreciates). My parents are paying for all of my school too, thank God. I wouldn't want that financial burden on me, hell I told them I wouldn't have gone to school at all if I had to pay for it and/or take out a loan haha. Trade school is fine by me! I'd feel better about the 4x4 if it was on a straight axle and had a floor shifter and/or manual hubs.

 

I've got a buddy with a 250 with the 5.4 and a manual trans and he can't get over 10mpg completely empty and pulling any load whatsoever he can get out of his own way. Were as my dad's 6.7 cummins 4x4 doesn't get below 19.6 all city driving with a ton of tools in the bed at all times. And pulling our loaded 16' tool trailer it gets 14 mpg. He's got 193k and the only big thing he's had to replace after warranty was up at 100k was rear main seal. Other than that oil changes and fuel filters is it. If you want a gas get a 7700 f150 or get something with a big v8 like the new 6.2s or a 6.4. The 6.8 v10 or any truck v10s are some of the biggest pieces of crap from experiences with them. You want a fuel efficient reliable powerful truck you can tow anything and get 500k out of easily get an older cummins man hands down.

 

How much did that 6.7 cost? I assume all emissions have been removed and it's tuned if he's getting that good of MPG - more money. I get 11-12 mpg in my non-lifted 2WD 150, so 10 sounds about right and what I'd expect. A new 6.2 would be better, but also $25k or so.

If I were buying a diesel, it would be a MANUAL 02-04 5.9 quad cab, so I agree with you there. New diesels are hit or miss, and if you get a problematic one, you'll be taking out a second mortgage to fix it. It's like a gamble, and isn't a good choice for someone that isn't financially secure and well established. I can put a whole new drivetrain in my truck for just the cost of injectors, fuel pump, and a fuel system flush (buddy has this done on his 5.9 to the tune of $7k)

 

Pre DPF diesels aren't that bad aside from cost of parts and maitenance. The older you get the cheaper the parts.
A buddy of mine has a GM 6.5 diesel, he can do almost do a complete set of injectors for what one would cost for my truck. The more problem causing crap you can get rid of the better, like the EGR.
The older you go the less crap there will be to deal with, but you'll have less power for pulling.

 

^Absolutely.

 

That's why a good ol 7.3 is hard to beat lol it's right in the middle of the two. Super reliable, no emissions BS, not super hard to work on, and decent mileage. it's not the massive powerhouse a 6.4 or 6.7 is, however it's not a pig like an IDI

 

He got it in 07 for 48k it's been paid off for the last 5 yrs and has paid for itself 10x over with all the trouble free work it has done. To get it deleted and tuned was 1600 dollars and that isn't needed it just helps. It is "bulletproofed" from the factory. Lol of course not all of them are trouble free or reliable but no vehicles are now days. Before deletes it wouldn't get over 14 highway or city. With deletes it will get 22 going 85 on the highway and 19.6 all city. It has been hooked up to a trailer atleast 85% of it's 193k half of that was pulling 16k all over the states. It's an automatic and the trans is as strong as day one. But bottom line a 5.4 in a 3/4 ton is about the dumbest thing fords ever done. Besides ridding of the 7.3 and 4.9

 

Nah, deleting is definitely required haha. Cause I knew it wouldn't get mileage like that with the EGR on, and the EGR also shortens engine life, inherently. Cummins are the best of the three, so they don't need to be "bulletproofed" like the damn 6.ohs.

The newer Dodge auto trannies are better, but they older ones are flat-out garbage. Dodge purists will even admit that (I work at a dealership and get into conversations about trucks with customers occasionally). The 6 speeds have been super reliable. Actually (very mildly) surprised your 6.7 has been that good, cause the early 6.7s had some issues, as any new motor does. I agree that the 5.4 is inadequate, but it does get the job done at the end of the day, slowly lol.

 

I am just stating unlike the 6.0 you don't have to do deletes to keep the engine from grenading. And we had the turbo cleaned multiple times and finally replaced cause it was plugged from soot from the dpf and we snapped a rear axle at 60k I think it was. Other than the turbo and axle we have had zero problems. And I would agree that cummins is the best even ford uses them in there severe duty rigs. LOL I was just keeping it modest cause I usually start a full on rioting debate about psd and ctd. My next truck will be an 07-09 mega or quad cab haven't decided yet 4x4 with the 6 speed :drool: and not to mention dodge is the only one that offers the manual anymore!!!!!!!


Edit: just looked at your pics I'm a sooner till I die!!!!!!!!!