New F250

[Sacmaster]

I currently have a 2000 Land Cruiser with almost 210k that's been a great vehicle. BUT, I whitewater kayak a lot, as well as living in the country, and I often find myself wishing for a truck bed. I love Tacomas but don't see the point in paying full size prices for a small truck. This led me to the Tundra, but for the same money I can get an F250 XL crew cab 4wd with the 6.2l V8. From what I can tell, the F250 will basically get the same gas mileage as the Tundra but with greater capacity. Plus, the Ford comes with a locking rear diff!

I used to have a 99 silverado z71 that needed a new trans and transfer case before it hit 125k miles. The interior was also falling apart at that point. When I got rid of it, I decided if I ever got another truck, I'd skip the half ton and go straight to a heavy duty. However, my experience with the Chevy, compared with my Land Cruiser's almost faultless performance and built quality, gives me pause about going with another domestic.

So, does anyone have experience with the newer F250s with the gas motor? It will be for weekend use, so I'm not interested in the diesel. How do the trucks hold up? My Silverado always had rattles and U joints going out, etc. just don't want to regret straying from Toyota.

 

[BBsound]

I just picked up a 2012 with the 6.2 a few weeks ago. I love it so far. My best trip mileage was 17.6 with my around the town being 14.6.
Mine is the XLT crew cab. Just got some 285/70/17 BFG all terrains put on a few days ago, looks pretty good.

 

[surlydiesel]

I'm a huge Ford guy and often dream of driving around in a full sized truck again. The F250 will not get anywhere near the same gas milage as a Tundra. You will see mid to high teens out of a stock Tundra. An F250 will get prob an average 10-12 all the time. A Tundra will not have the towing and load capacity but that is how you make up for it in fuel. There are a lot of posts about comparing the components on the Tundra to the F250 and front wheel bearings are similar in size and more... I'm a nut and think about trucks a lot, too much really. I spent the day towing with my 4 cylinder truck and I was wishing for a Tundra or a Diesel Ford but I made due just fine, slow but fine. I like shifting my own gears or I'd already be in a Tundra. I just can't stomach such horrible fuel milage for the amount I drive and I get everything I need to get done with the mini truck but I'd rather be in a full sized truck. The interiors of the Domestics are getting better every year, they still feel clunky to me but they don't seem to make much noise in the ford as they age. The drivelines I've not heard of problems but I don't have firsthand experience. I've just test driven a few. I don't like the dash on the older Tundras but they fixed that for 2014. Drive them both back to back and decide what "feels" better. Might just be that preference that makes the choice for you.

Best of luck,
jorge

 

[Sacmaster]

I've done a lot of reading on forums for both the Tundra and the 250. People seem to be averaging around 15 mpg with the Fords. I've read lots of folks post they only get 13 or 14 with 4wd Tundras that have the 5.7.

 

[FordGuy1]

I would expect around 13-14 hwy on the Superduty, this is what we see here at the Ford dealership. When you consider what you get with the Superduty in regards to room, overall capacity, etc. its tough to compare. The Tundra will only beat the Ford by less than 2mpg.

 

[Mountainhound]

Can't comment on the 6.2 but I have and 11 f250 4x4 xcab short bed with the 6.7 and it is a nice truck. The ride is nice considering it is solid axle unlike the tundra. I am running 285/75/18's (35/12.5/18) toyo at2 stock with stock wheels, has the rear locker. Not a real standard but the tranny has auto and manual and the manual works pretty dang good the tow hual works much better than the one on my 04 350 that I use all the time (which by the way has a hundred # more gvw than the 350 had). The cabin is spaces and well laid out. I bought it used with 7,931 miles last oct and have 33k on it now.

 

[daveyboy]

I have a 2008 Tundra and love it. I have a buddy that has an F250. He gets worse MPG than I do, but as others have said, I don't think it is extremely worse. One thing that is extremely apparant between the two pickups is the "pep" when driving. That may not matter to you.

I have thousands and thousands of miles running my Tundra at 8000 GVW--which is over spec (axle weights are pretty close) and it has performed flawlessly. If you really need the F250 payload, that may be a deciding factor.

 

[Buliwyf]

Yeah, I wanted a Tundra as well before I started looking at fullsize trucks. But the F250 doesn't need excuses when it comes to the random weekend trailers I pick up. For a little lost speed and fuel economy (I average 15.5) you gain a lot of towing hauling and a front axle that can withstand a locker. And I'd put a F250 up against a Tundra offroad anyday. Get the 4.30 gears and floor transfer case shifter if you can.
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Im getting one of those half-ladder racks that mount on posts and is removable leaving just the post in the bed, looks normal from outside the bed. That way my Kayaks are up and away from my cooler, toolboxes, and camping gear that slides around the bed. Especially handy, because the kayak I'm getting this spring is a 20' long Epic V10s.

 

[Flys Lo]

If you are looking at a gas engined F250 - look at a used one, if you can find one that meets your needs. Gas engine full-size trucks seem to drop off a depreciation cliff once they are driven off the lot - which either you can take, or let someone else take it for you and you get the savings :ylsmoke: . The used market seems to be only interested in diesels (which given the ownership costs for a 6.0l or even worse... a 6.4l engined truck makes no sense). Also, if you go pre '11, the old 5.4 and 6.8 gas engines are well proven, and won't get much worse gas milage than the 6.2.

 

[Sacmaster]

I was thinking about used, but I like how the '11+ trucks come with the factory locker, and I haven't seen many used CC 4wds that new. The ones I do find are only a few k cheaper than a new one. Used prices are pretty crazy right now. Also concerned about the 5.4 spark plug issues, not to mention its supposed to be pretty low on power. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[surlydiesel]

Between the 5.4 and the new 6.2, I'd lean towards the 6.2. They had sorted out all of the issues with the 5.4 by 2007 from what I've read and experienced but you still hear about problems in the new trucks. I feel like the 6.2 is the middle ground between the 5.4 and the 6.8 that you could have gotten up till 2010. I have driven a 2009 5.4, 4X4, crew cab long bed with a welder/generator and full toolboxes permanently mounted in the bed for quite a few miles and the truck is still peppy even with all that weight in it. That truck rarely sees a highway and averages 10-11mpg heavily loaded all the time. Loose the weight and I'm sure you could see 3 more mpg with that truck. I like being over prepared which is why I lean toward 3/4 to 1 ton trucks. Like I said, very little seat time in a 2011+ truck but I like the styling and I've heard good things.

Best,
Jorge