To super duty or not super duty....that is my question..

[kmcoop7]

People always forget to mention that resale on a diesel is MUCH higher and often ofsets the initial purchase price or more. Overall I dont think maintenance is much more expensive if DIY.

The one big expense that shocked me when moving to big diesel trucks was tires. I regularly got 60k miles out of AT tires on my half tons. I have yet to get more than 30k out of a set on a diesel and I usually run 37s vs 35s on the diesels so tires are more than 2x as much.

But diesels are more fun to drive, easier to modify for heavy off road use and take a beating much better than a half ton. I say go big or go home if you have the cash

 

[TXscout]

Companies like toyo are putting 55k to 65k tread warranties on some of their tires now which is great for diesel owners. It is more important to stay on top of tire rotation and suspension health in relation to tire longevity in a diesel as well due to the weight of the trucks.

 

[smlobx]

That better be a big family. I wouldn't say a super duty is built better but it is heavier and stronger. Though a brand new f150 has gain a lot of payload and towing capacity.

Well let's just look at the published facts...

According to Ford
http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/specifications/payload/
The max F-150 4x4 ( when specially configured) is up to 3050# but you will probably have to order it to gain that capacity. Most are in the 1700# capacity range.


The F-350 CC 4x4 srw has a capacity of 5720#'s, over a ton and a half more!
http://www.ford.com/trucks/superduty/specifications/payload/


We all know that the actual weights of or trucks are more than the listed weights in the brochures so the actual capacity in both trucks is probably less. By the time you put your family of 4 and your stuff (like a pop up camper) you will probably be over your GVW in an F-150. I know that there is a penchant in the overlanding community to ignore the GVW but I refuse to do so. My family's well being is not worth compromising.

 

[Baja_Traveler]

310,500 miles on my 2001 F250 Superduty and still going strong. The 7.3 liters were the best engines ever put in a Ford, and my next truck will be the one I already have - I'll spend the bucks to restore mine with a new 7.3 liter crate engine some day.

After the first few years of 3000 mile oil changes I started sending oil samples out to Blackstone and for the past 250,000 miles have been doing my own oil changes every 10,000 miles. Using Shell Rotella from Wallyworld and a Fram filter it costs about $70 to do.

For years here in California diesel fuel cost more than regular gas, but recently that has changed - and with the huge jump in gas prices this past week, diesel is a relative bargain. Put in a canister fuel filter/water separator on the frame rail between the tank and the fuel pump and avoid issues with high pressure fuel pumps grinding to a halt.

Put a 60 gallon Transfer Flow midship replacement tank in and enjoy a nearly 1000 mile range like I do - I can head south from San Diego and not have to pull into a gas station until La Paz...