Guess what I found out about the '17 Ford Super Duties.

[Happyjax]

Diesels add significant cost to the purchase, take hundreds of pounds of payload away, need DEF in addition to fuel and cost more to maintain and repair..... If I'm not towing a horse trailer full of horses I don't see the advantage at all.......

 

[Bad Habit]

And yet how many threads are here on the wonders of the Ram Eco-Diesel or the Chevy Colorado?

 

[Happyjax]

They are ALLLLLL wrong!!!! lmao

 

[Bad Habit]

I'm tending to agree with you. Absolutely love the the way my 6.7l F350 drives, the smooth effortless power, decent mileage, just an overall comfortable driving experience with the camper on (and towing the Jeep), but...always have that impending sense of doom that with all the complexity, the possibility of damage from bad fuel... Next truck probably won't be a diesel, but that's a long ways away...

 

[Happyjax]

I really wanted to give diesel a try but between bulletproofing scenarios on the older ones and the newer ones needing DEF for emissions I just decided gas was probably better for me.....
Dad had a used Mercedes diesel because he had always wanted one. He was so proud of that car, and a couple months after he bought it diesel gas started going up. It had been lots cheaper before (Talking 70's here) and then they pushed up the price til it was a lot higher that gas. He was not a happy camper but he still loved his Mercedes

 

[UHAULER]

Stock Super Dutys come with anywhere from ~31" to 35" tires. I have 33" tires on one truck, 2016 F350 6.2L V8 gas (work). I have 34" tires on the other, a 2005 F250 with 6.8L V10 (personal). I think if you're going to have anything over 33" tires, you should get 4.30, IF you're going to use it off road or towing much. I like the torque that the 4.30 provides, but I know it diminishes my mileage when traveling on the Interstate. As long as you know that, then 4.30 could be better for you.

The other thing to consider is tire width. The larger the tire, taller and wider, the heavier and harder to get started turning. Lower gears are obviously better for that. I try to get the narrowest, tallest, tire I can.

So, I guess I'm not really answering your question. For me, I got 4.30 because I knew I'd have at least 33" tires. I would probably even go lower if I could have (stock), but I built my (personal) rig specifically for off road, most people drive a lot more Interstate than I do. I'm literally unconcerned with mileage. The work rig is used for towing 10k lbs. at least once a week, therefore I wanted the 4.30 for in town towing.

What engine do you prefer ? My old work truck was a 2013 F350 supercab, shortbed,4wd, AT,service bed, probably at gvw ~ 9,000#
and it was kind of gutless, not sure what gears it had. My personal truck is an 02 f350 7.3
I was thinking about getting rid of my nice 02 and getting a cheaper v10 with a 5 or 6 speed manual, more of a work truck.

 

[Ace!]

First, they are both good, but I like the V10. Seat of the pants dyno says the 11 year old V10 with close to 100,000 miles has more power than the 6.2L V8 with 2,500 miles. The V10 (with the Hawk and other gear) is 9,000 lbs. and I drive it that way, every day. We just weighed the 6.2L F350 and I don't remember for sure, but think it was close to 7,000 lbs.

 

[Rusty]

If you sell that 02-250 with the 7.3.....don't give it away...many are asking if I want to sell mine....(03)

they are, after all...the last reliable diesel ford had......in a land far, far away....just had mine serviced and tuned....best 1000 spent ever

 

[UHAULER]

My truck, weighed 9,400# fully loaded, lots of water, camping gear, tools, 2 people, 1 dog
2 people, 1 dog is about 350#

It was close front to rear balance 4,650- 4750

 

[dharte]

A bullet-proofed 6.0 is not a throw away 150-200K engine. The basic International built long block was designed to go 500K, but the emissions related equipment (EGR, etc.) Ford was forced to add to it for non-commercial use compromised the reliability. There are many with over 300K miles, including my friend's. He laughs at me because my 05' just hit 100K. I know I will have some future repairs (things like sensors, injectors, maybe a new turbo) to get to 300K miles, but I can live with that because I love the truck and the engine has amazing power (mine is bullet-proofed and tuned). I've had zero issues with this truck other than having the admittedly expensive bulletproofing done.