The next time a person tells me their 1/2 ton gasser tows great..

[NB2K]

Originally Posted by cmb396

One thing I took into consideration before I just bought my 2011 F250 diesel was resale. I had all intentions of buying an 08-09 6.4 Liter, but after searching high and low, the prices were not that much different than new. Not to mention the 6.7 seemed to be a much better engine, and much more efficient that the 6.4.
What I am getting at tho, take two trucks, one diesel, one gas, those trucks optioned the same would only be ~7k difference in price new, let's say 50k for a diesel, and 43k for a gasser. The 08 diesels are still bringing 42-44, and the gassers can be had for as low as 26ish from what I found. so, 6-8k in depreciation on a diesel in 3 years, ~17k in depreciation on a gas truck. And I'm talking 3/4 and 1 ton trucks only.
The sticker on my new Ford was 62xxx, I ended up getting it, after incentives and rebates, for 49 and change. I bet I can sell the truck in 5 years for upper 30's barring nothing major happens.

Great post and full of FACT.

Trucks in general, (Ford and Chevy) hold their value extremely well and diesels more so.

[Cobra4B]

Originally Posted by cmb396

One thing I took into consideration before I just bought my 2011 F250 diesel was resale. I had all intentions of buying an 08-09 6.4 Liter, but after searching high and low, the prices were not that much different than new. Not to mention the 6.7 seemed to be a much better engine, and much more efficient that the 6.4.
What I am getting at tho, take two trucks, one diesel, one gas, those trucks optioned the same would only be ~7k difference in price new, let's say 50k for a diesel, and 43k for a gasser. The 08 diesels are still bringing 42-44, and the gassers can be had for as low as 26ish from what I found. so, 6-8k in depreciation on a diesel in 3 years, ~17k in depreciation on a gas truck. And I'm talking 3/4 and 1 ton trucks only.
The sticker on my new Ford was 62xxx, I ended up getting it, after incentives and rebates, for 49 and change. I bet I can sell the truck in 5 years for upper 30's barring nothing major happens.

That is very true when buying new... I just can't imagine spending $50k on a truck. I tend to buy fully depreciated assets i.e. my 2001 Z06 with 120k miles on it that I turned into this race car for $14k and my '08 truck with < 50k miles for $16k. I can enjoy them both for a few years and loose very little. With the race car I probably increased it's value as a race car vs. a clean high mileage street car that no waxer/hard parker would touch (Over 50k miles = broken crowd)

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

My argument holds just fine. Why pay MORE for a vehicle that serves your needs LESS? It depends on what you use it for. Not sure how this simple concept eludes you. I'm guessing that most people would gladly sacrifice a little bit of towing ability a few times a year for a better ride in the truck that they drive every day if that is how they use it.

Absolutely not. I, and others, buy a diesel truck for the sole purpose of towing. Other uses are just bonuses. Why would I want to sacrifice that ability for a smoother ride? Most of us are towing race cars. We're not afraid of a vehicle with a stiff suspension. Tow a 10klb trailer up the 4 mile hill on the way to Watkins Glen and let me know if you are willing to sacrifice power so your cute little behind can sit comfortably. It's a truck, not a cadillac.

[C5SilverBullet]

Your biggest problem is you have a 3/4 ton suv with a gas engine. That engine can barely move the Suburban around, let alone add weight to it.

You're better off towing with a 1/2 ton than with a 3/4 ton gas.

[Stangkiller]

Having towed with both -- albeit minimal experience with the diesels. I understand what the OP is saying.

While a diesel may be overkill for many of the jobs where a gasser is 'sufficient' tow it with a diesel and you'll realize how much more comfortable towing with a rig that might be considered overkill really is.

Even more so, tow with a gasser with some strong cross winds, uneven roads, and steep inclines/declines, you'll really value that diesel and the heavier truck associated with it.

Is a diesel overkill for what many of you are doing? Maybe, but so is your corvette in nearly every use.

While ya'll are so vigorously defending the use of a gasser truck, you're missing the fact that even with a 'properly' loaded/balanced trailer being so close to the limits of your tow vehicle really changes the dynamics of the whole rig. Towing with 'overkill' makes for a much more comfortable trip.

[Stangkiller]

Originally Posted by TxAg

Well using that logic one of these would be the "best" way to tow stuff.

F'k yah -- if I could afford one of those toterhomes I'd totally do it.

[Cobra4B]

Chris I don't really agree. As someone who towed a car hauler with a GMC Canyon for 3 years I've learned that towing near the limit (or over) of something's rating is all about having the right equipment and some common sense.

Two basic additions make towing so much easier:

1. Air springs

2. A good weight distributing hitch with sway control... the biggie being sway control.

With the truck properly level and the trailer setup with the correct tongue weight and the distributions bars all set correctly a 1/2 ton gasser will tow beautifully. I can tow up to 100 w/o the arse end so much as wiggling.

I normally tow in the lower 70s, but coming home from RA some guy got overly mad that I was going 75 in a 65 in the left lane passing some folks. He comes up along side me and flicks me off while motioning for me to get out of the left lane.... then he zooms off. I'm sorry... I didn't realize that 10 over and passing folks was insufficent for the left lane.

He thought he'd get away from me so I ran him down and got up next to him... the look on his face was priceless when my GF and I both told him he was #1. I then resumed my leisurly 75 cruise-control.

[Stangkiller]

Originally Posted by Cobra4B

Chris I don't really agree. As someone who towed a car hauler with a GMC Canyon for 3 years I've learned that towing near the limit (or over) of something's rating is all about having the right equipment and some common sense.

Two basic additions make towing so much easier:

1. Air springs

2. A good weight distributing hitch with sway control... the biggie being sway control.

With the truck properly level and the trailer setup with the correct tongue weight and the distributions bars all set correctly a 1/2 ton gasser will tow beautifully. I can tow up to 100 w/o the arse end so much as wiggling.

I normally tow in the lower 70s, but coming home from RA some guy got overly mad that I was going 75 in a 65 in the left lane passing some folks. He comes up along side me and flicks me off while motioning for me to get out of the left lane.... then he zooms off. I'm sorry... I didn't realize that 10 over and passing folks was insufficent for the left lane.

He thought he'd get away from me so I ran him down and got up next to him... the look on his face was priceless when my GF and I both told him he was #1. I then resumed my leisurly 75 cruise-control.

So basically you're refusing to admit that a heavier more powerful truck would make the tow even the slightest bit better?

[Gozar]

Originally Posted by TxAg

Sounds more like those w/a diesel trying to justify their purchase/use.

I could say the same thing about the gassers. Then again, that doesn't work for me since I have purchased and currently own both.

If you enjoy it and get your $$$ worth out of it, more power to you.

The difference is night and day between the two vehicles for towing.

But don't get upset when you make a general statement of "The next time a person tells me their 1/2 ton gasser tows great.." proves your statement inaccurate.

Who said I was upset? What exactly proves my statement inaccurate?

Your biggest problem is you have a 3/4 ton suv with a gas engine. That engine can barely move the Suburban around, let alone add weight to it.

You're better off towing with a 1/2 ton than with a 3/4 ton gas.

Braking, weight, suspension all are better for towing with a 3/4 ton. The 6 liter does fine without the trailer.

I will point out to everyone again and Polar Bear caught on to it, flat ground towing is a completely different animal than towing in the hills/mountains.

[GRN ENVY]

Originally Posted by Gozar

flat ground towing is a completely different animal than towing in the hills/mountains.

If I lived int the hills I would own a diesel, but I live in florida, the only hill I have to deal with is the boat ramp, and that really not an issue at this point

[War Eagle ZO6]

Originally Posted by Gozar

I am gonna tell them bullshit to their face. I towed our boat with our 3/4 ton 6 liter Suburban today and it felt pathetic compared to my Duramax truck. Sure it trailed fine and braking was more than adequate but there is no freaking comparing the two. They don't even belong in the same sentence.

Originally Posted by Gozar

The Duramax will pull my boat (about 6k lbs) with ease and get 14mpg doing it. (less in the hills)

It gets up to speed with ease. Not a little easier, A LOT easier. It also rides just fine as my daily driver and I have owned 5 different 1/2 ton trucks in my day.

I guess my point is that so many people think their trucks pull fine really haven't experienced a real towing vehicle.

I have just got to 1st page of this thread and I don't know much about boats, but I really have doubts about your boat/rig weighing 6000 pounds. We have a 24 footer that is 5700 on a tandem with tanks full. We both have the same length tow vehicles to put it in perspective.


Do you have 4 fat chicks under the cover?

[Gozar]

Originally Posted by War Eagle ZO6

I have just got to 1st page of this thread and I don't know much about boats, but I really have doubts about your boat/rig weighing 6000 pounds. We have a 24 footer that is 5700 on a tandem with tanks full. We both have the same length tow vehicles to put it in perspective.


Do you have 4 fat chicks under the cover?

Boat - 3700lbs dry weight.
Fuel - 45 gallons @6lbs per gallon = 270lbs
Trailer - Approximately 1550lbs (per tag)
Gear & Sacks - Approximately 300lbs

= 5820lbs.

I also have a weight ticket showing it at 5930 when I had it scaled.

(also we are tending to fill ballast up from the hose rather than at the lakes due to mussel problems which adds over 700lbs.)

I rounded up.

(also the X15 is 21.8' not including the swim deck of course and has 100" beam. It is bigger than it looks in the pic)

[Gozar]

Originally Posted by TxAg

So far, the consensus is pretty much along the lines of a diesel being better suited for more "hefty" towing.

For towing a boat on a trailer to/from where it stored, a "gasser" will do a fine job. I've seen it done first hand many times using a 1/2 and a 3/4 ton truck.

Again, I pointed out that the difference in opinions here must be flat land vs hills/mountains.

Plenty people here posted first hand evidence their "gasser" tows great, for them. That proves your assertion they do not "tow great" to be false.

An opinion isn't evidence. I have both and towed the same loads with both.

[RedLS1GTO]

My argument holds just fine. Why pay MORE for a vehicle that serves your needs LESS? It depends on what you use it for. Not sure how this simple concept eludes you. I'm guessing that most people would gladly sacrifice a little bit of towing ability a few times a year for a better ride in the truck that they drive every day if that is how they use it.

Originally Posted by Drew M

Absolutely not. I, and others, buy a diesel truck for the sole purpose of towing.

Pretty sure you missed the part in bold. If you buy a truck for the sole purpose of towing, you don't really fall into that category of people that I was talking about.

If you buy a truck with the sole purpose of towing, yea, buy a diesel. It isn't too hard to figure out. That doesn't mean that the guy who chooses to drive a truck as a DD and tows something once or twice a year should go spend $50k on a 1 ton diesel.

[War Eagle ZO6]

Originally Posted by Gozar

Boat - 3700lbs dry weight.
Fuel - 45 gallons @6lbs per gallon = 270lbs
Trailer - Approximately 1550lbs (per tag)
Gear & Sacks - Approximately 300lbs

= 5820lbs.

I also have a weight ticket showing it at 5930 when I had it scaled.

(also we are tending to fill ballast up from the hose rather than at the lakes due to mussel problems which adds over 700lbs.)

I rounded up.

Well alrighty then.


I did pull the Sea Ray to Naples from Athens and back in the Silverado with a 5.3......effortlessly. Mostly flat......but it did a pretty good job. 10MPG.

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by RedLS1GTO

Pretty sure you missed the part in bold. If you buy a truck for the sole purpose of towing, you don't really fall into that category of people that I was talking about.

If you buy a truck with the sole purpose of towing, yea, buy a diesel. It isn't too hard to figure out. That doesn't mean that the guy who chooses to drive a truck as a DD and tows something once or twice a year should go spend $50k on a 1 ton diesel.

I did not miss your point. I do drive my truck nearly everyday and I wish it had more power and less luxury.

[C5SilverBullet]

YouTube - &#x202a;Ford F-150 EcoBoost Torture Test Episode 3: 24 Hours of NASCAR Track Testing&#x202c;&rlm;

[The_Dude]

I love truck threads almost as much as Mustang threads.

[The_Dude]

Originally Posted by TxAg

But I'm sure you'll come back with something else just to make yourself feel better about your "diesel is superior to gas" mentality. So knock yourself out, diesel fanboy.

You've been gone from CFOT for too long. You must have missed the memo.

[C5Nate]

Originally Posted by Stangkiller

Having towed with both -- albeit minimal experience with the diesels. I understand what the OP is saying.

While a diesel may be overkill for many of the jobs where a gasser is 'sufficient' tow it with a diesel and you'll realize how much more comfortable towing with a rig that might be considered overkill really is.

Even more so, tow with a gasser with some strong cross winds, uneven roads, and steep inclines/declines, you'll really value that diesel and the heavier truck associated with it.

Is a diesel overkill for what many of you are doing? Maybe, but so is your corvette in nearly every use.

While ya'll are so vigorously defending the use of a gasser truck, you're missing the fact that even with a 'properly' loaded/balanced trailer being so close to the limits of your tow vehicle really changes the dynamics of the whole rig. Towing with 'overkill' makes for a much more comfortable trip.

Pretty much sums it up right there.