Truck - Boat Towing Opinions

[nimbus73]

Any 5.x L gas burner will pull a rig your size, but obviously with reduced fuel economy. You have to ask your self just how often will you be towing and how long are the tows. I pull a 25' camper with a F150 5.4L 373rear end, but it is on relatively flat ground (LA, east TX, AR, MS AL). I pull a 30hp tractor and gear as well. You have to realize the pulling power of a gas burner is adequate for occassional pulling and moderately distanced towing as well, you just can't drag race with it or cruise along at 75 or 80 mph. As for the diesels go Ford keeps changing their motors for two reasons. 1: They haven't developed a motor that will give the needed fuel economy along with the required power that will burn low sulfur diesel and more importantly 2: They are a majority owner of Cummings Diesel and Cummings has a lucrative deal with Dodge right now. Until that contract expires, Ford won't make waves with Dodge which would jeopardize the Cummings contract. I've been told the new 2011 6.4L F250/350's will only produce 15-17 mpg hwy not towing. My pops has a 2002 F350 7.3 liter getting 19-22 mpg hwy not towing 15-17 towing. It's just not justifyable for my needs to spend the extra $ on a diesel (purchase price and routine maintenance) to to what I do that a V-8 gas burner can't do. Sorry for the rambling, that's just my $.02 plus $.02 more.

[nimbus73]

One more thing Ford's current Diesel motors are notoriously bad for not liking is biodiesel. Most truckstops are selling a blended diesel with biodiesel added into it. For the big rigs, it isn't a problem because they rarely stay parked for long and burn so much fuel that. A diesel pickup on the otherhand may sometimes sit a few days without being ran, and sometimes a tank of fuel may last a week or two or more. The problem is the injectors. When this diesel sits, especially in colder weather, the biodiesel will jellyfy, so to speak. When the motor is started this jellied fuel then clogs the injectors and whammo, no power. It's actually a problem with a lot of diesel pick up trucks, but Ford seems to be having the most issues with it.