Is a F250 Diesel Necessary?

[DadsHemi]

Originally Posted by Dirvin0500

My DW and I have owned Flagstaff 31RLSS for 15 years pulling it with our F150. It has been a great TT with very few problems. As we are very near retirement we decided to get a new truck and an RV to spend 2-3 months at a time on the road. I asked a very simple question hoping for honest answers concerning a TW (as I normally experience on these forums). Although I received some helpful honest answers, it seems I've received many demeaning, condescending, and patronizing responses. When someone asks an honest question, they don't expect to be put down by the very people they're asking help from.

I read all through the this thread and did not see any of what your claiming to be demeaning, condescending and patronizing. Looks like honest answers.

In 2016 I bought a new ram 2500 4x4 MegaCab short bed in the Laramie longhorn package, 6.4 Hemi, 4:10 gears and the whole works with the intensions of pulling a 5th wheel. We bought our Montana 3160RL which is 35.5’ has a 4000lb carry capacity and Gross’ out at 16,000. Loaded to 15,540 my pin weight is 3,885...that’s 25% of my 15,540 and I weighed on the cat scale. My 2500 was over weight in every capacity...it towed the hell out of our 5th and gas mpg was anywhere from 3.5 to 8 depending on head winds, hills, mountains etc but did a good job at it. It did stop ok but a little pre-planning was a good thing, never the less I sold the truck in 18 and bought a 2018 3500 Ram Dually 4x4 short bed Cummings with 4:10 gears and there is no comparison at all in anyway shape or form.

This is statement from personal experience, even a SRW 1 ton will be pushing the pin weight of the 5th your looking at.

[beeje]

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink

[Daryles]

Trailer life towing guide lists all the tow vehicles weight limits. Makes shopping for a new truck easier.
https://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/

We rented a 36' uhaul and towed a car half way across the country. The uhaul was a gasser.
WE HAD A HARD TIME FINDING GAS STATIONS WE COULD FIT THROUGH.
Yesterday I was reminded of this when we pulled over to take a break. There was a 5er ahead of us. When he pulled into the gas station he cut it so tight the 5er went over the curb. He was after the end gas pump. I then realized he has a gas TV. He could not use the big truck stops. At least I've never seen one with a gas pump.
Just food for thought.

[steiny93]

Originally Posted by Dirvin0500

My DW and I are preparing to retire in the next couple of years. We will be refreshing our current truck with a new one the first of Nov. We've decided on the 373RD or the 3791RD. If we were to buy an F250, would we absolutely have to buy a diesel? Have been looking at the new 7.3 L gasser with a 4.30 gearbox. It looks to be good. We had a diesel before and didn't like it as well as a gas model. Any suggestions are very welcome.

To the question of is a diesel is necessary; my thoughts

I've towed with both gas and diesel; there are definitely pros/cons to both.

In my opinion the gassers are a fine option to a certain size of trailer. Once you get say over 12k lbs of trailer in my opinion the gassers run out of gas so to speak. Pulling torque and engine braking being the biggest effects upon drivability (mileage is nice but it can be overcome).

Where you operate (plains / mountains / ???) as well as frequency (everyday / once a year) will play into how big of a deal it is.

[Dean A Van Peursem]

Don't know how heavy the 373RD or the 3791RD are but we have pulled a 38' Montana with an F250 with 7.3L Diesel for years. No Gasser would have ever been able to do and we have a 3.7 rear end. Average mileage while pulling on a 1600 mile trip was in the 12 to 13 mpg region. Including mountain passes and 600 miles of flat. I'm not up to date on the new big gas engines but I sincerely doubt they would provide the torgue and pulling power for mountain passes. Compare the torque values. Disel has occasionally been lower priced than gas recently. A diesel engine will probably go for 400,000 miles. Gas maybe 200,000. Now have 200,000 miles on ours and runs great with really good power. The front end needs some work but not the engine or drive train. Diesel may cost more up front but pays it all back later.
If I were to buy again for our load it would be a F350 Diesel SRW

[c2itcliff]

Consider the F350 diesel DRW! Go and test drive it. Way different than your 2005 F250! Consider also the engine brake.

[jarnold60]

I bought a 3790RD last year and my F350 SRW diesel could not legally pull the unit at full load. I just bought a new Ram 3500 DRW 6.7 diesel and will have no problem now. Newer diesel trucks are very quiet, especially inside the cab, and don't smell much at all. Definetly will last longer than a gasser. How long do you plan to have your truck? If it's the last one you are going to buy, you might want to go with a one ton DRW diesel.

Keep in mind it's what you can legally pull, not what the truck is capable of pulling. We all know there are many folks with 3/4 ton trucks pulling trailers that are too heavy. In case of accident your insurance may be void.

[Camp CA]

Originally Posted by Dirvin0500

..........We will be refreshing our current truck with a new one........We've decided on the 373RD or the 3791RD. If we were to buy an F250............Any suggestions are very welcome..............

The GVWR/hitch weight of the 373RD and 3791RD is 16,000/2530 and 16,600/2620 lbs, respectively. I towed fifth wheels with up to 15,000 lb GVWR with a 2002 F-250 SRW diesel, which I purchased BEFORE, I bough the fifth wheel trailers, for 15+ years but was never happy about the truck's stability and driving comfort. Our new 3780RD has a GVWR/hitch weight of 16,600/2695 lb, we tow it with a F-350 diesel DRW and extremely happy with the truck's stability and driving comfort. When I replace this truck it will be with an F-350 or 450 diesel DRW. Never go back to anything smaller than a F350 and SRW.

[Goodrich3600]

You got a lot of good comments, however the most important is what does your total unit, trailer, loaded to travel, truck weight with passengers and load to what you believe will be maximum weight. Then check Fords total allowable weight by manufacturer limits, as a unit if you go thru a scale . You would be surprised how many units are not legally road approved based on DOT standards. If you tow illegally it could impact your insurance coverage. I keep good records and scale tickets on every road trip. You are right to know what RV you want first then buy the appropriate vehicle to tow it!!!!!!!

[DaveK]

The empty hitch weight for the 353RD is 2530#. The other model is even heavier. I believe you'll be well over payload when loaded, gasser has greater payload. A different brand truck won't matter.

So, you're in F-350 territory. Loaded, you're pushing a pin weight probably 3200#.

I'm towing with a 6.2, 4:30. I've been all over the US. The 6.2 does very well in flat to mildly rolling terrain. A diesel would be far better in the mountains. Nevertheless, my gasser is adequate in the mountains. On steep mountains, I go up in 3rd holding 3500 to 3800 RPMs (optimum torque), and I keep it in 3rd going down, holding speed to approximately 55 MPH. I get approx.8.5 MPG in the steepest mountains, 9.5 in flat. I definitely would like a 10 speed.

Definitely like engine braking of diesel. Gasser requires that you really use your driving skills.

If money is no object, get diesel, Platinum, F-450, with every option known to mankind, and build a huge garage. DW will understand. 😊

[akawolf]

Buy the diesel -- you won't be sorry. We have a 3791rd and a F350 King Ranch and it pulls 16,500 lbs like it's not even back there (and through the mountain passes.) I also have mine equipped win Fox Shocks and Air Lifter 5000 air bags and it rides like a dream. Also have a SideWinder pin box and can take it about 94 degrees which is a true plus when turning in tight spots (Next model will be a F450 dually)

[Anatnom]

After looking at all the comments I agree with the majority that you should re consider a new diesel. However there is something In would like to add. Consider an F 350 with the camper package and get the extra lead spring in the back end. This will keep your truck level with the extra weight. F250 does not come with the extra leaf spring. That spring makes a world of difference and a diesel is the way to go for towing. Gasoline may be nice at the typical gas station but diesel pumps are getting easier to find and to use. I would strongly recommend you get a diesel F 350

[Bill M]

Lazydays RV, located throughout the country, will not sell you a unit if your vehicle is not rated for it. I have a 2019 3855BR Anniversary model. Grosses out at 16,000 lbs. That company only ok'ed the sale after checking my 2017 Ford F350 SRW diesel door sticker. Your RV is close, if not the same, as my specs. By the way, Campers World did not care what vehicle I had, would have sold me anything. A friend bought from CW with a F250 diesel, wishes now he had a 350 because of weight.

[QKnot]

I'm the oddball in that I tow my 330RL (14k GVW 13k as weighed) with a Ram 3500 SRW gasser. I'm within all my limits partly because I do have a gas truck and more payload. I've also re-geared to a 4.56, something a truck with the 8 speed would not have to do. In my experience, I do fine up and down the Cascade mountains keeping up with the speed limit and controlling the trailer downhill. I also don't mind revving the truck because that's what it's designed to do.

However, in your case, I'd absolutely go diesel because of 2 things:

1. You're going to likely end up in dually territory with that pin weight. My payload is 3900 and the pin on my 330RL as weighed plus everything loaded puts me pretty close to my payload limit. I don't believe that as weighed you would be able to make a 250 work with that trailer. I could be wrong, but I have a gut feeling I'm correct.

2. Gas dually trucks are unicorns. You pretty much have to order them. You'll have a much easier time finding a dually if you go diesel. I've been shopping and there's some very good deals out there right now. You can probably pick one up for almost 10k off.

I mean everything I've said with the utmost respect. Sometimes it's hard to get the tone of things on the internet. But I view this place mostly as a bunch of friends just trying to help a buddy out. These are good people. I wish you luck with your search.

My final piece of advice is that if you do want to stay with gas, find a trailer that is a little better fit. I personally love my 330RL and it tows quite nice with my 3500 6.4.

[Alan & Jan]

you have 3 pages of the same thing. As a fairly new RVer, and diesel, and DRW owner but pickup owner for 45 years, its safe to say you cant have too much truck. Look at my signature for my rig, near same as yours. I felt a bit foolish for buying the DRW Ram and thought who needs 1000 #/ft of torque but that power is sure appreciated when you have to hustle onto a highway access fully loaded and the stability relieves the pucker factor when you catch a high crosswind on a wide bridge. My truck rides as quiet as any vehicle I have ever owned and is by far the most comfortable highway cruiser lve had.

Before buying the Montana 5ver necessitating the bigger truck, the bumper pull we borrowed had my normally a hotrod Ford Raptor had to scream its guts out every hill and you hung on for dear life when an 18 wheeler went by. Nobody wants to live in cramped quarters because their truck wont cut it. Buy the 1 ton dually diesel and big Montana and dont look back, you will truly be a happy camper.

[laverdur]

Cadman KS comments that the diesel smell if gone with the new diesels. While I mostly agree, if stopped at a light with a tail wind, the diesel exhaust smell gets blown into the cabin through the cabin ventilation system It doesn't happen often but it does happen. IMHO, not a reason not to buy a diesel.

[Lin & Sylvia]

Forget about the wonderful Diesel power for a moment, and consider your weights.If you run the numbers correctly, you're more than likely going to be over gross weight on the truck and the rear axle with that size of fifth wheel. the only choice at that point is a dually, and while you're at it you might as well get the diesel you'll be glad you did! we've got a 2019 f350 single rear wheel Diesel, and that truck weighs 9000 lb with fuel and the two of us in it no cargo. That only gives you slightly less than 2500 lb of pin weight to put in the bed of the truck before you're overweight. if you plan on carrying any cargo at all either in the truck or the fifth wheel you'll definitely be overweight and God forbid you have an accident!

[saber707]

Originally Posted by Dirvin0500

My DW and I are preparing to retire in the next couple of years. We will be refreshing our current truck with a new one the first of Nov. We've decided on the 373RD or the 3791RD. If we were to buy an F250, would we absolutely have to buy a diesel? Have been looking at the new 7.3 L gasser with a 4.30 gearbox. It looks to be good. We had a diesel before and didn't like it as well as a gas model. Any suggestions are very welcome.

You will sorely regret it if you do not get the diesel. In fact, an F350 if you can. Flat hiway fine, slight grade, no fun.

[dfb]

Been doing this since 1992.. you do need a dually, like it or not.. pin weight is the reason. Your wife is not the one towing. F350,450,550... or a used fl60 or 70. Our choice is a 17 ram 3500..4:10, aisin auto, auto level rear suspension. It is longhorn and very quiet inside..NO road noise at all. 385 hp, 900 lb ft torque.. i had my 04 for 12 years and never replaced the batteries. Oil changes 69.00 at walmart..

[Montana Man]

I personally enjoy reading the opinions. However, it appears the OP took his ball and went home.