gas or diesel

[illapah]

This has been touched on before but I am wondering if the gas version of the new 2011 Ford will tow my 3295 OK. I have no experience with other than my 6.o diesel.

[JimF]

yes it will, but not well. no comparison.

[steves]

Lot of towing - go for the diesel. better MPG, more power and longevity. Resale is better too.
Little towing - gas will suffice but expect lower MPG and less power especially on hills.

[TLightning]

quote:Originally posted by JimF

yes it will, but not well. no comparison.

Agree, and it will not be a pleasant driving experience.

[boylanag]

We just changed from a gasser to a diesel a couple of months ago. The gasser did tow well but lousy mileage and really slow on the hills. Had the 4.10 rear on the gasser and that helped. We were happy with the gasser and we only traded because we got such a good deal on the transaction and now we are very happy that we made the change.

[clarkandsheila]

Again, no experience side by side.
Looking at the current diesel and gas engines which are similar ??? power outputs.
However if you can find a torque curve for the two engines that will give you some idea. It's not just that both have the same torque and HP levels, it's how and when they produce it that make the difference.
A gas engine generally has a peakier torque curve, rises slowly to a high peak at high revs than the diesel meaning it will pull hard over a narrower rpm band. Also means the engine must have the s+++ run out of it, gotta wind it up, to keep up with a similar diesel model.

The diesels show a much steeper rise in torque and then plateau more, maintaining that flatter high torque over a wide rev range. They will pull harder, sooner and will maintain that hard pull over a wider rev range.

Some of that difference can be gotten back through different gearing at the rear axle but not all because I believe the same transmissions are used in both with the same trans gearing. So at startup and up a hill the diesel is better at getting things moving and keeping them moving in a heavy slog.

At high altitudes the diesel, because of the turbo will not lose as much power at the gas engine. Most diesels these days have turbos that have more capacity to pump air than the engine needs so boost levels at sea level must be controlled - variable vanes or waste gates.
Of course waste gates have been around for a long time. Means that even in the thinner, higher air that excess pumping capacity doesn't have to be dumped or reduced and therefore can still feed the engine all the air it needs. Not so with a gas engine , unless it too is turboed or blower fed.
So if you tow mountain passes or the high plateau the diesel will maintain its power better where the gas engine will lose some.

Of course I'm ignoring the fact that diesel fuel itself has a higher energy content than gasoline, so gallon for gallon there is more power from diesel.

Depending on where and how much you tow the price premium between them may make the gas a better deal for you.
This is more personal opinion but if the truck is used as an occasional TV and mostly just as a get round town truck with occasional load hauling the gas may be better financially and easier on the maintenance bill. Frequent, longer,tough, heavier tows and the shift is to the diesel.
Or get a light weight trailer as many have done.

And let the barbs fly.

[Art-n-Marge]

I've got to agree with clarkandsheila. For the longest time I was not wanting a diesels because they were loud and stunk. But then our rigs and loads were getting heavier. When we got our first 9,000 lb trailer I hated that our large SUV struggled with the load even though it was not out of spec. And the travel range plummeted to about 200 miles. A diesel truck more than doubled that and it only had 3 more gallons in the tank.

The first day we shopped for a diesel truck I complained they were loud and stunk. The salesman immediately responded with "then keep your windows closed". Fortunately, this was about the time when new diesel engines improved both the smoke and the noise and after seeing how the torque/RPMs/HP numbers between them compared it was a no-brainer ('ouch' on the cost but over time it appeared we would get this back).

No regrets here and when DW says, "We need to keep a diesel in our lives", then even she see has realized the benefits, especially at the pump. Even if diesel fuel is more expensive, the better fuel economy easily beats that. We love our truck and so do many of our friends and family who like to borrow its services for towing, transporting and moving. I've even been across the country (California to Maryland and back) because of it.

Gee after all this, I must add that apparently the new 2011 gasoline engines numbers have been improved but I don't know how this translates to being a workhorse like towing the Monty for a bunch of miles.

[grampachet]

No regrets here going from a DIESEL TO A GASSER, yes it was a 93 Dodge verses and 04 Ford, but for us we are very happy with our decision with over 10,000 miles of pulling the Monty. OK don't shoot me, OK?

[rotti]

Diesel all the way!

[ols1932]

If you're going to be towing a lot, full time, long time, etc., then by all means you should go to a diesel. In the long run, they will pull better and last longer. But if you're just casually going out, once every couple of months, go with the gas engine.

Orv

[bjj5633]

I love mine but I only tow about 700 miles a year. I average about 8 towing and 11 not.

[mhs4771]

Bjj5633, OUCH. Sort of makes a case for Diesel. We just put a little of 700 miles on a Chevy hauling the Monty from Western NY to Mansfield, OH and back and averaged about 11 1/2 and we've taken the Chevy solo to New England and got just under 20, just around town averages 15 to 17 and it's a 2005 so it only has the 5 speed Allison not the 6 speed with the double overdrive. The initial expense of the Diesel hurt the pocket book, but I've probably recouped most of that cost with the improved fuel mileage. Of course if Diesel prices sky rocket again, who knows.

[timandsusan]

I talked to a fellow MOCer with a gasser -- at F350. He made an interesting comment--when he needs fuel (GASOLINE) and has the Monty in tow, it is tough finding enough space around most service stations. There is always alot of room around the diesel pumps to a get the BIG RIGS into to buy 100's of gallon of diesel. Just another reason to get a diesel along with all the other reasons state above. I never realized this because I drive a diesel!

[bjj5633]

I am just giving the poster my opinion on my truck. I still work so 95% of the time we don't have the monty with us and alot of the stations around me don't even have diesel. When i bought the truck I could have purchased the xlt diesel for the same price as the v10 lariat. I went with the lariat leather etc. because I tow very little and put less than 10,000 miles a year on it.

[Clemson1881]

I get around 11 MPG towing. I used to get 7 to 8 with my previous truck. It was a 6 liter GMC 2500 gasser. That's around 100 miles more out of every tank! With today's fuel prices that's saving about $40 per tank. So money wise it's up to how much you drive. If you can spend the extra cash I would go Diesel anyway.

[grooving grandpa]

O.K. I am convinced about diesel, but do you go with a 6 speed stick or automatic?

Lou

[Clemson1881]

The GM trucks have the Allison auto trannys, so if you want an auto I would get a GM truck. If you prefer another Dodge I would get the manual transmission.

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by grooving grandpa

O.K. I am convinced about diesel, but do you go with a 6 speed stick or automatic?

Lou

I prefer the auto trans. because it's easier for my wife to drive. Plus it helps when stopped on an uphill stop sign.

Orv

[HughM]

The allison knows when to shift better than a unattentive driver. After owning a allison I would never go back to a stick shift, those days are in the past.
Hugh

[PapaBeav]

If you are going with a GM product you can't beat the Allison.