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Hey guys sorry ive been posting so much topics on here - just trying to be 100% sure what I want to buy for towing a small RV and ATVs
Seems like a dodge dakota is not recommended, yet alone a f150 for a 5000 - 6000 lb total
so I came across a very well priced f250 diesel with 200,000 miles. A lot of people are saying that is nothing compared for a diesel and they usually last 400k+ which i plan to use this truck on trips only (1,000 miles a year)
should I be ok on buying a diesel? would you recommend diesel on a f250 vs gasoline?
Diesels are good if you're pulling heavy trailers or doing lots of hauling. Owning a diesel isn't cheap. if you're using it frequently or pulling a trailer more than 8,000 pounds I'd say get a diesel. Sure, the 200,000 mile diesel might have plenty of life in it or the engine or transmission could gernade in 500 miles. It depends of how well it was cared for during the first 200,000 miles. Is also might require some attention which can get expensive in a hurry.
New emissions regulations in place in 2007 led to many changes in the diesel technology. Many drivers prefer the older technology, while others say the newer stuff is just fine. A trip to a dedicated PowerStroke enthusiast website may be in order, to get a better idea of what you might be getting into.
One very important point to keep in mind, Willc . . .
How was the entire vehicle maintained? 200,000 on the odometer may, or may not be "high mileage" for the Diesel Engine but what about the other major components?
Personally, for your wants / needs, I would keep searching.
Hey guys sorry ive been posting so much topics on here - just trying to be 100% sure what I want to buy for towing a small RV and ATVs
Seems like a dodge dakota is not recommended, yet alone a f150 for a 5000 - 6000 lb total
so I came across a very well priced f250 diesel with 200,000 miles. A lot of people are saying that is nothing compared for a diesel and they usually last 400k+ which i plan to use this truck on trips only (1,000 miles a year)
should I be ok on buying a diesel? would you recommend diesel on a f250 vs gasoline?
are diesels overall better than gas
With 200000, I wouldn't consider it. That 200000 on not only the engine, but the transmission, front end parts, rear end parts, ALL of it. IM snot sure where youre getting a F150 is out?? You getting that from people who don't know what they are talking about, or what?
Yes, IMO, diesel engines are good!
I recently bought a 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Turbo Diesel for what I consider to be a good price. It is perfect for my needs! I often use it as the "daily driver", simply because I enjoy driving it so much. That includes "rowing through the gears" with the 5 speed manual transmission!
Would such a truck be "just what the doctor ordered" for the OP?
I really can't say. It was (and is) for me, even though all I usually tow is a 7X14 enclosed trailer with 2 ATVs in it and rarely haul anything heavy. "Too much truck" really can be a wonderful thing!
The only real negative is, it is too heavy to tow behind the motorhome like I did the Dodge 1500 I used to have! The 2500 weighs a little over 7K, and the hitch on the motorhome is only rated for 5K.
i personally love diesel engines. they are generally long running engines, when properly maintained, and deliver better fuel economy than gas engines do.
on the downside, they are noisier than gas engines, are more expensive to maintain, oil changes for instance older diesels take 10qts of oil, and even more as they get newer. everything is heavier duty and as such costs more to repair or replace than on a gas engine. and if you get a diesel with glow plugs, they are more expensive than spark plugs, and are replaced more often.
so in the end you pay your money, you take your choice. you live with the consequences.
given your relatively light towing load and infrequent use (1,000 miles/year), a diesel F250 is way overkill for your situation.
you didn't mention what year F250 ... a 7.3 powerstroke (1995-98, for example) would typically have a lot of useable miles left in it at 200K on the odometer if the truck was properly maintained. But some of the later year powerstrokes were problematic and far more difficult to work on. You will spend a lot more per mile in maintenance, tires, and upkeep on these trucks than is justified for your use ... and the truck won't be "happy" with so much sitting around time. Just in tires and batteries alone you'll "time out" those items from lack of use ... and they aren't inexpensive to replace on the diesel. As well, you'll not get very far on an oil change which should be done on a time basis at least each year; even doing it yourself is quite expensive per mile of use. Fuel filters may need more frequent replacement due to algae/bacterial growth , especially in warmer climates. You'll also spend more on insurance for the F250 than an F150, and depending upon the state you register it in, may spend more on license fees/ownership taxes. All of these items add up in cost/mile. (as an aside, glow plugs are a long term high mileage item ... I get many years and miles of service out of them and I live in a high altitude/cold climate zone where these are used a lot more than in warmer climes; the current set in my '95 'stroke have well over 100,000 miles on them and no sign of failure at this time. They're only $10 each and I wouldn't replace them as a set if one fails. My F250 is put to serious use hauling a 28' stock trailer or a 30' flatbed that may be loaded with tractor or skidsteer equipment, so it's a working truck ... typical of the use these are put to in my region of the country)
an F150 with mid-range or higher HP gasoline engine will be more than sufficient to do the work you're needing and will cost a lot less to operate for your use. While you won't get the turbo'ed diesel torque curve which is "nice" to have for heavier loads or the better fuel economy of the diesel under load, you don't need it, either. At 1,000 miles/year, there's no way that a turbo diesel pick up will pencil out at an advantage over an F150 towing a reasonable load. If you'll look up the towing capacities of the F150 series, it's more than sufficient with a reasonable margin of safety (ie, not max'ed out for brakes/suspension/tires) for towing a 4,000 lb load.
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