Quote:
Originally Posted by E.J.
Agree w/ everything SvilleKid had to say, including my Dodge having barely adequate leg room for a good sized adult in the back. I am 6'2" as well and would not be comfortable sitting behind myself in the truck.... That said, the women and children are fine back there, even 6'ers if you are not talking extended road trip.....
I have to say it, because for me, it was eye opening.... If you are going to do a lot of towing, a diesel is where it is at....regardless of the truck. Yes, a gasser can do the job most places....as can a 100 count humidor...
I went from 8MPG towing with my 2002 Dodge 1500 5.9 360 gasser to double that with my 2007 3500 5.9 CTD. Of course I live in a place that I drag my boat over mountain passes almost ever time we go out....sometimes multiple passes. I don't have to watch the temp gauge....I can use the air conditioning....
Of course if you are towing 15 miles each way on flat ground, obviously a gasser is good as gold...
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E.J. is correct on the diesel, IF you will be towing heavy loads, and for long distances. Boats, and ATV trailers, even small and medium tractors, a gas engine will suffice. I get around 10 mpg on my 97 F-150 (5.4 L gas) when hauling my tractor, with a bush-hog, and an ATV in the bed. But, that is also humming down the interstate at 70-75 mph! With a standard rear end, it's either 75 mph (with seldom kick-downs to 3rd from OD), or back it down to 55-60 to stay mostly in OD. 60-70 equals lots of kick-down, lower gas mileage. Just not a good power range in OD at that speed under heavy (at least 4000 lbs). Unloaded, I get around 15 mpg in mixed driving. (this is a 2WD truck).
My wife's 2008 F-150 has same engine, but is 4WD, and newer. She gets very close to 17mpg on that truck. Haven't used it for hauling, so don't know how it is under load. My 2004 F-150 4WD (now Ninja's ride) got 12 mpg hauling a Nissan Pathfinder back from Charleston SC on a (heavy) U-Haul car hauler. 16-17 without a load.
If, as E.J. questions, you will be pulling heavy loads, and pulling them often, you are already behind the eight-ball considering ANY of the trucks that have already been discussed. I have a Class V hitch system on my 97 F-150, which means I can haul up to 10,000 lbs. However, without electric brake hook-up, that's on the heavy side of safe! Heavy hauling really requires a truck at least equal to a F-250, and the diesel engine is the only way to go! In the case of a heavy duty truck with a diesel engine, you can expect to get almost the same mileage loaded as pulling empty. The torque of the diesel make all the difference. And, Ford has a new, larger diesel engine for 2011 models that is supposed to be stronger, more efficient, and more reliable. In heavy duty trucks, you 100% want to go with a truck with a complete, closed beam truck frame, NOT a channel beam with plates added so often. anything less than a full box-beam frame just isn't strong enough for a heavy-duty truck. Mostly, a heavy-duty would be needed for RV and work-trailer type pulling.
But, for most folks, a standard duty truck, with a gas engine is sufficient.
Good luck on what you end up with!