I’ve been a heavy equipment diesel mechanic for 15yrs. The newer diesel equipment will bankrupt a small company when it needs repair. Our old equipment in the fleet hardly ever comes into the shop for anything other than a service check. The new stuff practically lives in the shop. We’ll take one back after a few thousand in parts and grab another and bring that back and start over. If gas is a option in anything, get that. Whatever “economy” you get with a diesel is quickly thrown away when the first repair comes, and it’ll be way sooner than you think.
Buy Alex a Ford 6.7 Power stroke. We use one for our construction company and it can haul the goose neck loaded with our telehandler (30k) and several other pieces of equipment with no problem. It's almost scary how well it pulls with the big loads, it can definitly move the loads down the road quicker than most trailers can safely brake. It averages 14 MPG while towing various trailers and 16-17 MPG empty. Also get the largest fisher plow you can get for it. (Disclaimer- it was DEF deleted at 120,000 miles and now has over 155,000 miles and is also a dually second gen 6.7) The third gen is supposed to be better especially with the new 10 speed auto transmission (Ram does not offer that by the way). The exhaust brake is a huge benefit when hauling large loads. Don't listen to all the comments about the good ole engines, the new technology in these trucks are amazing and mostly proven at this point. These are not the trucks of yester-year, I've owned and driven them all, I know. There isn't anything that I will think twice about hooking to. I also prefer the Ford mirrors, I tow a lot and spend a lot of time looking back and the ford mirrors seem better. I've never had to plug my truck in either, just wait for the glow plug light and start it up even on the coldest mornings.
I have seen three F-350 work trucks over 300k miles, and the interiors were still in great shape and everything worked. A lot of the longevity factor relies on how well the truck is cared for. I think if you regularly pull heavy loads a diesel is the only option, as all the new gas trucks are competing with smaller and smaller engines which have to work harder to do the same job. I'll take a diesel over a twin turbo v6 any day.
Man I really wish you could have had just one 14-20 tundra in your fleet and we could get an update on how it held up. Obviously your equipment is to much weight for a halfton. My vote goes gas. The 10k you save in up front cost is well worth it if your trading them in every 150k miles.
If I had a business in a northern state, I would totally come down south here and buy trucks a year or 2 old and take them north. You lose so much money buying brand new just for them to not last more than a few years.But If you must buy new, I would LOVE to see you buy a gas and diesel version of the exact same truck. Then track them both.
Switched my daily driver/5th wheel tow vehicle from gas to diesel. I dont buy new vehicles and replaced an 89 k1500 with a 99 f350 srw powerstroke. I wish i would have bought a diesel sooner. I get better fuel mileage, more power and easier to add power. Get him a diesel
I love my 2015 power stroke. 20 mpg highway. Pulls my tractors like they aren't there. Sometimes I forget the trailer is back there until I see the tractor in my mirror! 13mpg with the trailer. Much better than my last gas F350.
I would do 2 things. I would buy a modern gasser 7.3l ford or the 6.6l GM truck. Then get a power stroke because he likes ford. Test them and see how they hold up. Great content and will finally answer the age old question. Diesel vs Gas for people that actually use their trucks.
Get Alex the F-350 Super Duty Diesel with a plug in engine heater so in the winter he's able to get out and plow in the middle of the night without having to run the truck for 30 minutes before he needs to leave. And get the extended warrantee that covers everything to at least 100,000 miles. 👍🏻
Stan, small business owner here. Bought 21 f350 dually service truck one year ago. Has the 7.3l gas but is de-tuned because of cab chassis. It weighs 11,000 lbs and after 23,700 miles has averaged 10.5 mpg. That’s 50/50 highway and city with 25%towing 10-12,000 lbs. Completely satisfied with performance.
Just speaking from my own experience, we operate a trash pickup service in Arkansas. We have 2 F350 2016 6.7 Diesel Trucks and 5 F350 2019 Gassers. The gassers are pushing 30-60k miles and the two Diesel's are pushing past the 120k mile marks. All of them have the beds replaced with a much larger boxed cage to hold all the trash in it. It is very much a stop and go environment and each vehicle will average 100-200 miles a day and they are operated 4 days a week on some very rough dirt roads with some pavement driving also. They spend most of the day loaded down with weight. The two diesel's average 8-9 mpg and the 5 gassers average around the 6-7mpg.
I’m in Quebec, Canada… F250 Diesel working hardscaping and would never go back to gaz… Just for the torque when towing… And the price difference between gaz and diesel makes up for the payment of the truck. Diving up hill like crazy. And for DEF that freezes up… Never had that issue. I drive about 30k milles/year
Ford F-350 6.7 we farm and have pulled everything from tractors ,skid loader,Hay bales,and much more with our truck and we got it in 2012 and still going strong
I bought a gas gmc 2500 to haul with and after a year I traded in for the diesel. I have 50k on it and I’ve maintained it very well with no issues so far. Gas vs diesel is night and day, towing a lot and uphill is hard for the gas. With the cost of the Diesel engine being so much more I would say if you’d save money on fuel. I got 4-5miles to the gallon towing the same as my duels getting 11-14 miles a gallon.
Great video valid points. Each engine has there own advantages and disadvantages. For me with my small Hardscape business I find a diesel In a 550 platform fits my needs for hauling and towing. It’s not a daily, I have a gasser for that!
My rule of thumb is 50% or more loaded, get a diesel. 50% less, get a gas. There is a reason you don't see gas semi's.
I’ve been a heavy equipment diesel mechanic for 15yrs. The newer diesel equipment will bankrupt a small company when it needs repair. Our old equipment in the fleet hardly ever comes into the shop for anything other than a service check. The new stuff practically lives in the shop. We’ll take one back after a few thousand in parts and grab another and bring that back and start over. If gas is a option in anything, get that. Whatever “economy” you get with a diesel is quickly thrown away when the first repair comes, and it’ll be way sooner than you think.
Buy Alex a Ford 6.7 Power stroke. We use one for our construction company and it can haul the goose neck loaded with our telehandler (30k) and several other pieces of equipment with no problem. It's almost scary how well it pulls with the big loads, it can definitly move the loads down the road quicker than most trailers can safely brake. It averages 14 MPG while towing various trailers and 16-17 MPG empty. Also get the largest fisher plow you can get for it. (Disclaimer- it was DEF deleted at 120,000 miles and now has over 155,000 miles and is also a dually second gen 6.7) The third gen is supposed to be better especially with the new 10 speed auto transmission (Ram does not offer that by the way). The exhaust brake is a huge benefit when hauling large loads. Don't listen to all the comments about the good ole engines, the new technology in these trucks are amazing and mostly proven at this point. These are not the trucks of yester-year, I've owned and driven them all, I know. There isn't anything that I will think twice about hooking to. I also prefer the Ford mirrors, I tow a lot and spend a lot of time looking back and the ford mirrors seem better. I've never had to plug my truck in either, just wait for the glow plug light and start it up even on the coldest mornings.
I have seen three F-350 work trucks over 300k miles, and the interiors were still in great shape and everything worked. A lot of the longevity factor relies on how well the truck is cared for. I think if you regularly pull heavy loads a diesel is the only option, as all the new gas trucks are competing with smaller and smaller engines which have to work harder to do the same job. I'll take a diesel over a twin turbo v6 any day.
Man I really wish you could have had just one 14-20 tundra in your fleet and we could get an update on how it held up. Obviously your equipment is to much weight for a halfton. My vote goes gas. The 10k you save in up front cost is well worth it if your trading them in every 150k miles.
If I had a business in a northern state, I would totally come down south here and buy trucks a year or 2 old and take them north. You lose so much money buying brand new just for them to not last more than a few years.But If you must buy new, I would LOVE to see you buy a gas and diesel version of the exact same truck. Then track them both.
Switched my daily driver/5th wheel tow vehicle from gas to diesel. I dont buy new vehicles and replaced an 89 k1500 with a 99 f350 srw powerstroke. I wish i would have bought a diesel sooner. I get better fuel mileage, more power and easier to add power. Get him a diesel
By the man what he wants. If it’s his work wagon and you trust him then in my opinion it’s a no brainer
If the EPA stuff accidentally falls off, you’re golden…diesel ftw
I love my 2015 power stroke. 20 mpg highway. Pulls my tractors like they aren't there. Sometimes I forget the trailer is back there until I see the tractor in my mirror! 13mpg with the trailer. Much better than my last gas F350.
I would do 2 things. I would buy a modern gasser 7.3l ford or the 6.6l GM truck. Then get a power stroke because he likes ford. Test them and see how they hold up. Great content and will finally answer the age old question. Diesel vs Gas for people that actually use their trucks.
Get Alex the F-350 Super Duty Diesel with a plug in engine heater so in the winter he's able to get out and plow in the middle of the night without having to run the truck for 30 minutes before he needs to leave. And get the extended warrantee that covers everything to at least 100,000 miles. 👍🏻
Stan, small business owner here. Bought 21 f350 dually service truck one year ago. Has the 7.3l gas but is de-tuned because of cab chassis. It weighs 11,000 lbs and after 23,700 miles has averaged 10.5 mpg. That’s 50/50 highway and city with 25%towing 10-12,000 lbs. Completely satisfied with performance.
Just speaking from my own experience, we operate a trash pickup service in Arkansas. We have 2 F350 2016 6.7 Diesel Trucks and 5 F350 2019 Gassers. The gassers are pushing 30-60k miles and the two Diesel's are pushing past the 120k mile marks. All of them have the beds replaced with a much larger boxed cage to hold all the trash in it. It is very much a stop and go environment and each vehicle will average 100-200 miles a day and they are operated 4 days a week on some very rough dirt roads with some pavement driving also. They spend most of the day loaded down with weight. The two diesel's average 8-9 mpg and the 5 gassers average around the 6-7mpg.
I have an 2020 F350 7.3 Gasser 10 speed transmission with 4.30 gears in the rear end. 430hp with 450 or 475 torque.
I’m in Quebec, Canada… F250 Diesel working hardscaping and would never go back to gaz… Just for the torque when towing… And the price difference between gaz and diesel makes up for the payment of the truck. Diving up hill like crazy. And for DEF that freezes up… Never had that issue. I drive about 30k milles/year
I'm a diesel tech at Ford...
Ford F-350 6.7 we farm and have pulled everything from tractors ,skid loader,Hay bales,and much more with our truck and we got it in 2012 and still going strong
I bought a gas gmc 2500 to haul with and after a year I traded in for the diesel. I have 50k on it and I’ve maintained it very well with no issues so far. Gas vs diesel is night and day, towing a lot and uphill is hard for the gas. With the cost of the Diesel engine being so much more I would say if you’d save money on fuel. I got 4-5miles to the gallon towing the same as my duels getting 11-14 miles a gallon.
Great video valid points. Each engine has there own advantages and disadvantages. For me with my small Hardscape business I find a diesel In a 550 platform fits my needs for hauling and towing. It’s not a daily, I have a gasser for that!