New Truck, Talk to me about the newer diesels vs gas 3/4 to 1 ton long bed pickups

[Apparition]

Im starting to put together a plan to buy a new truck, I currently have a 2014 chevy K1500 crew standard bed, I have almost 90,000 on the truck, 2 things I dont like about it are the size of the fuel tank and the room. Seems the older I get the more crap I bring on a hunting/fishing trip. So Im doing the whole diesel vs gas dance, wondering if the diesel is worth the added expense and aggravation. 90 percent of the time Im using my truck on hunting/fishing trips, trips to montana, canada sometimes towing a 21 foot boat or 31 foot camper. If Im not towing, I have the truck packed with equipment. I want the option to put a truck camper in it. I saw that you can get an optional 48 gallon gas tank on the fords which is a huge plus especially with gas for running mountain roads and not having to come into town over the course of a week.

Ive been a chevy man for ages, but if the trucks a better fit, Im open to anything.

 

[Hilltop]

I switched from Chevy to Ford about 7 years ago. I trade every 2-3 years so never really get a ton of miles so I'm not the best guy to discuss long term durability. It really boiled down to 4 things why I switched;

Price- I buy new previous year models when they offer the crazy incentives. I have averaged 10k off of sticker price.
Room- The back seat room was the best available when I switched.
Huge gas tank- I have a 700+ mile range on a full tank.
Key Pad entry- I never take my keys out of my truck. Seems small but it is so nice to never have to carry them.

I buy the gas models as I don't tow anything huge. I have a 20' camper that goes on trips occasionally.

My cost trading every 2-3 years has averaged $3,500.00. I usually only put 10,000 miles or so a year so they hold value very well.

 

[Apparition]

Huge gas tank- I have a 700+ mile range on a full tank

What size tank? and what engine?

 

[JimP]

Technically you want a 1 ton truck. 3/4 ton trucks are really overloaded by the time you put your crap into the bed and a couple of passengers along with their crap. Gas/diesel your choice. A diesel truck is going to cost you $8000-$10,000 more right off the bat. The new diesels will tow your house if you wrap a chain around it, it doesn't matter what manufacture. It will also cost you more in basic maintenance than a gas truck will. DPF fluid, oil changes and the extra cost of diesel over gas are just a few things. When a diesel breaks it will cost you more to fix if it is part of the engine/transmission area.

A plus is that you would be able to tow your boat or camp trailer at the speed limit with a diesel, where the gas truck will start to bog down. Diesels usually get better mileage than a gas but with the extra cost for diesel fuel it really equals out unless you look at distance between stops for fuel.

I have a 96 Ford diesel with the 7.3 and as far as the drive train is concerned you couldn't give me one of the new trucks. But the new trucks are like Cadillac they drive and handle so much better along with creature comforts that I am starting to enjoy more.

 

[mntnguide]

Once you go diesel you'll never go back! But in all reality, for everything you say you use your truck for, there is no reason why you shouldn't get a diesel. Diesels are meant for longevity and being abused. Towing loads and heavy trucks are the whole reason behind having one. Hell, I barely tow much anymore, but ill never get rid of having a diesel. The new diesels really don't struggle in cold temperatures like they used to either with the new motors. I love my 2012 F350, and it has started without being plugged in, in -30 without problem. A couple of my friends have the new 2017 F250/350 and they are amazing. My one buddy left dodge and went ford, and loves the new ford 100%. He also never thought he'd ever drive anything but Chevy or dodge. But all manufactures make good rigs, and in your situation I would strongly consider a diesel

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Hilltop]

2.7L Ecoboost and 36 gallon tank is what my current one has. I'm averaging 20.3MPG with my current truck. I have 11k miles on it. I was a little nervous about power with the smaller engine but it has zero issues pulling a load up the mountain. I feel like it has as much or more power than my last one did with the 5L standard V8.

 

[Fink]

Apparition, is that 48 gallon tank available on gas burners? I just bought a new f150 in January, the biggest tank they had was the 36 gallon.
With the 36 gallon tank, in the 3.5l ecoboost, I can go about 650+ miles on a tank of gas. The truck will pull a bass boat like its not even back there.

 

[Apparition]

Apparition, is that 48 gallon tank available on gas burners? I just bought a new f150 in January, the biggest tank they had was the 36 gallon.
With the 36 gallon tank, in the 3.5l ecoboost, I can go about 650+ miles on a tank of gas. The truck will pull a bass boat like its not even back there.

According to build a ford on the website it is.

 

[Apparition]

Regular Cab Super Cab Crew Cab
Seating 3 6 6
Fuel capacity 6.2L Gas 34 gallon 34 gallon 48 gallon
6.7L Diesel 29 gallon (142" WB) 29 gallon (148" WB), 34 gallon (164" WB) 34 gallon (160" WB), 48 gallon (176" WB)

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Starting in 1983 when I bought my first diesel, I have never owned another gas rig. My 1999 F350 4x4 powerstroke was an absolute beast. I towed up to 15,000#, got great mileage 18 to 20 on the road not towing and 16 t0 18 towing, depending on how fast I would push it and how much I was pulling. I put 300,000 mile on it and never touched the engine or automatic tranny. I now have a 2013 F350 4x4 6.7 diesel that pulls better, but gets a little less mileage. I'll never buy another gas rig! There is just no comparison when towing.

I bought this truck when it was 2 years old, had 26,000 on it. It is a Lariat, crew cab, short bed, 4x4 and 6 speed auto trans. I paid $36,000 for it and it looks like new.

 

[sneakypete]

I have a 2016 GMC Denali 2500 he duramax, it is a quad cab 6.6'bed with a 36 gal tank. I would not recommend the GM quad cab to a buyer who plans on having adults ride back there. My son just bought a Dodge mega cab, which are usually discounted, his was by $10,000. The back seat in a mega cab reclines! My thoughts.

 

[Apparition]

Thanks for all the info, gonna take me a month or so to go over everything. Got to make sure Im making the right decision when Im plunking down 30 or 40 grand.

 

[JimP]

So you are looking used?

On the Fords if it is at a dealer get them to give you a Oasis Report. This will tell you everything that has been done on that truck at the dealer. Talk to the dealer about a extended warranty for it, it may save you some bucks.

I'm not sure on the Chevey's or the Dodges

If a private party no matter what brand have a mechanic check it out before buying and it might be best to have a factory mechanic check it out. Have them look at the computer and see if it has had a programmer on it or not. If it has the price might have to go down for you to purchase it. Also with a private party if the exhaust has been modified get the factory equipment that they took off this along with the air intake system. If it has been modified get the factory air box and what ever else they have taken off of the engine.

 

[fackelberry]

I bought my 06 2500HD LBZ Duramax brand new. I have 158,000 miles on it now. I bet i'm about as rough on trucks as most when it comes to hunting. I just replaced the factory AC Delco batteries last November and the factory engine belt. 10 years on them, think i got my moneys worth. I have never had engine or transmission problems with mine. Yep, they do cost more to buy as others say, but they will last longer and look at trade in value. You will get 4-6 grand more than a gasser of equal make just for the diesel. I don't pull nothing heavy very often, but it's reassuring that i CAN if there is a need. Better than needing more and not having it. I test drove a few gassers awhile back and was waiting for them to take off after mashing the gas, i'm still waiting! I will probably never go back like everyone else that has a diesel says. Test drive alot of different make and models, you will know which one is for you.

 

[Apparition]

So you are looking used?
.

If I decide on a gas truck it will most likely be new, if its a diesel Ill try to find something a year or so old.

 

[sneakypete]

I didn't mention that I'm on my 2nd GM. Diesel, the 1st was a 2005 Chevy had quad cab and traded it in with 235,000 with nothing repaired motor or transmission. I did have the transfer case rebuilt only because the case started leaking fluid. If buying new buy at this time of the year when the next year's model comes out and buy this year's model. My 2014 has 96,000 on it with zero issues.

 

[NE69]

Have an 07 chevy duramax, bought with 50k on it. Has 290k, installed exhaust, programmer and air intake within a year of puchase. From my experience I wouldn't have a diesel WITHOUT the added extras, as long as they are done correctly. They all work together to make a heck of a truck out of it that runs cooler, pulls harder and more of a joy to drive. Love it, gets 21 to 22 mpg empty @ 80 on the interstate. Got 16 mpg before added items. Never did anything else but alternator, belt, front wheel bearings and transfer case seal. It's due for brakes, new hoses and a lot of other little items which I would expect at close to 300k. Too good a truck to get rid of it so it's becoming the hunting rig and the 06 duramax which I have had for 7 years has taken over as the work truck. It has 220k. New brakes and alternator is all it has had done. I would have a tough time going back to gas. If you go used, do some research on any problems with the ones your looking at. It's all out there on the internet as far as problems.

 

[Apparition]

Anyone put a camper in a 3/4? If so how did it handle it?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

My first diesel (an 83 Ford, 3/4 ton, 3 speed auto. 6.9 NON TURBO) would pull like crazy, but was slow on hills. I added an after market turbo with an adjustable waste gat and it was like a race car. I had an 8' cab over camper setup for Baja camping. Extra beefy, 50 gallon water tank, big refer/freezer and a queen size cab over bed. I used to tow a small short bed Toyota 4x4 pu for offroading. Spent 10 Christmas' in Cabo back in the day.

If you set the truck up right, you will have no problem with the camper. I would get a 1 ton with all the suspension goodies you can get. I did tow a 24" Shipjack flybridge boat behind the truck/camper rig too, all the way to Cabo many times.

 

[NE69]

I would go 1 ton if pulling a lot, if only ocassionally pulling, then add a few things to 3/4 ton and your fine. If I was pulling over 10k in weight, go 1 ton for sure. Air bag levelers if your load varies in weight keeps the truck sitting level from empty to what ever you put in it.