Turns out I need a real truck. Kindly help me choose one!

[tacollie]

This might be the toughest decision of all of them, So far I can establish two facts:

1. Diesel Engine is $12+K more expensive and heavier.
2. Diesel Engine has way more torque at low RPM which comes in handy where I live. But even this needs to be tested, hopefully dealers let me take it to a very steep and rocky climb and "feel" the damn thing.

All the other claims about fuel efficiency/cost, reliability, maintenance, availability are subjective depending on ones particular needs. I'm biased to like diesel, but my wife has me in check, asking me for real reasons and solid evidence, so we have that going for us.

If you're not pulling a trailer there's no need for the diesel. My F250 is over 9,700lbs fully loaded and the gas motor does fine in Colorado. The trucks you're looking at have even more gears in the transmission so they'll do even better.

2 other considerations. Diesels don't like short drives. Is your day-to-day use going to be hard on the emission system? Are you keeping it in the garage? If not you may want to consider plugging it in during the colder part of the winter.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

The way my research is going, it seems that the Tremor for around ~$85k & the RAM 3500 Tradesman with AEV Prospector Package for ~$90k are the top contenders. It's just insane how I went from trying to keep it under 60k in the Tundra, to now considering these insane prices. All of this exclusive of the AluCab build.

How many weeks a year you going to use this? A VRBO close to your outdoor exploration area might be a better deal..?

 

[plainjaneFJC]

If you're not pulling a trailer there's no need for the diesel. My F250 is over 9,700lbs fully loaded and the gas motor does fine in Colorado. The trucks you're looking at have even more gears in the transmission so they'll do even better.

2 other considerations. Diesels don't like short drives. Is your day-to-day use going to be hard on the emission system? Are you keeping it in the garage? If not you may want to consider plugging it in during the colder part of the winter.

Don’t forget that every diesel pump in America it seems the diesel Gods sneezed on the pump handles…😆

 

[phsycle]

XLT is only available with the 7.3 or 6.7. There’s no up charge for the 7.3 on the XLTs as it’s already factored into the base price. Personally I’d take a STX XL with the sport appearance package over a base XLT. The STX with sport pack includes the LED headlights, which are a massive upgrade from the basic halogens than come on the XL and XLT base trucks.

That’s a good option as well. But man, I just priced out an STX with 7.3. It came in a little over $1k over the XLT w Tremor.
But those LED’s are really nice! Halogens are truly terrible.

 

[Jurfie]

I'm no Ford fanboy - I have considered both the RAM Rebel and GM HD twins and would go Ford if I were buying today.

'23+ F-350 XLT; 7.3 w/Tremor package and SAP or BAP to eliminate the chrome. Done.

You get rear e-locker, 4.30s, 35s from the factory, and higher payload than the F-250 by ~1k lbs+/-. Trail Turn Assist will help with u-turns (on the dirt, at least). Ford gives you a flat rear floor so you don't need to fork out for a Goose Gear or DIY platform. Delete the carpet or get the all-weather rubber mats.

Go Lariat Ultimate if you really want all the bells and whistles without the chrome of a Platinum (SAP/BAP doesn't get rid of all of it on a Platinum), but ask yourself if you really need those luxuries on a truck that is going to get beat up offroad.

Also, know that if you get the higher GVWR option on the F-250 (and why wouldn't you?), the rear end and suspension is identical to the F-350, so ride will be the same. No reason that I can see to go F-250 in this scenario.

 

[nickw]

I'm no Ford fanboy - I have considered both the RAM Rebel and GM HD twins and would go Ford if I were buying today.

'23+ F-350 XLT; 7.3 w/Tremor package and SAP or BAP to eliminate the chrome. Done.

You get rear e-locker, 4.30s, 35s from the factory, and higher payload than the F-250 by ~1k lbs+/-. Trail Turn Assist will help with u-turns (on the dirt, at least). Ford gives you a flat rear floor so you don't need to fork out for a Goose Gear or DIY platform. Delete the carpet or get the all-weather rubber mats.

Go Lariat Ultimate if you really want all the bells and whistles without the chrome of a Platinum (SAP/BAP doesn't get rid of all of it on a Platinum), but ask yourself if you really need those luxuries on a truck that is going to get beat up offroad.

Also, know that if you get the higher GVWR option on the F-250 (and why wouldn't you?), the rear end and suspension is identical to the F-350, so ride will be the same. No reason that I can see to go F-250 in this scenario.

SAP or BAP? Got a decoder?

 

[ramblinChet]

A short note on torque and diesel versus gas engines - when I selected my gas engine one of the calculations I used to compare the engines used published engine torque x 1st gear x axle ratio which equaled a value I called calculated torque. Now this did not include the transfer case since the high and low range numbers were identical, and this also considered the trucks were running identical sized tires.

Of course the diesel has a much broader torque curve compared to the gas but this is just a snapshot of some real values that paint a slightly different picture. If only considering engine torque we can say the diesel produces 88% more torque but if we include gearing then the diesel powertrain is only producing an additional 17% torque.

	engine torque​	transmission 1st gear​	axle ratio​	calculated torque​
6.4L Hemi​	429 lb.-ft.​	4.71​	4.10​	8,284​
6.7L Cummins​	805 lb.-ft.​	3.23​	3.73​	9,699​

 

[GeorgeHayduke]

SAP or BAP? Got a decoder?

Sport Appearance Package/Black Appearance Package perhaps?

 

[hdas]

Diesels don't like short drives. Is your day-to-day use going to be hard on the emission system?

Not intended to be a daily driver.

How many weeks a year you going to use this? A VRBO close to your outdoor exploration area might be a better deal..?

probably 1 4day trip per month from April to November. And 1 or 2 weekend trips per month in the same period.

Are you keeping it in the garage? If not you may want to consider plugging it in during the colder part of the winter.

Say more about this please

Of course the diesel has a much broader torque curve compared to the gas but this is just a snapshot of some real values that paint a slightly different picture. If only considering engine torque we can say the diesel produces 88% more torque but if we include gearing then the diesel powertrain is only producing an additional 17% torque.

Very interesting. I think you can get the high output Cummins in 3.73. I also read, but now I can't find it, that AEV can increase the gear ratio somehow?....I could be mistaken.

 

[phsycle]

Check out this thread as well. I know he’s got a 7.3 but not sure in the gear ratio. Loaded heavier than what you’re running, I believe. I’m sure he’s done some steep trails, being in Moab.

2021 Ford F250 Tremor Adventure Rig

I'm now the very stoked owner of a 2021 Ford F250 Tremor that will be the base of my family's upcoming adventure/overland rig. My wife, son and I live in Moab. We're mountain bikers, hikers, backpackers, occasional canyoneers, avid road trippers and overlanders. I'm a professional adventure and...

forum.expeditionportal.com

 

[Buddha.]

The last time I drove a diesel work truck was over ten years ago. They were 2007-8 ford powerstrokes. If it was colder than say -20f they wouldn’t start without two running trucks jumping the dead truck at the same time. We were also adding something called diesel 911 fuel additive to the fuel tank because the fuel was gelling up.

Lots of freezing your butt off and wasting time on those cold mornings.

Not sure if the newer diesels are any better.

 

[hdas]

updated the payload calculations.

 

[phsycle]

I’d put in a 20% contingency. Especially traveling with a toddler!

 

[Jurfie]

SAP or BAP? Got a decoder?

Sport Appearance Package/Black Appearance Package perhaps?

Indeed.

 

[IdaSHO]

One more thing to toss out there, especially with a young family involved…. Up to the current 6.2 gasser superduty, we have run diesels. Amazing torque, great MPG, and hauling a heavy camper was great. But they STINK. Old diesel, new diesel, doesnt matter. They STINK, especially during cold start when temps are low.

I didnt realize just how much they stunk until this gasser. What a remarkable change.

We have always had the ability to tie camper bank to truck bank (batteries) and especially during winter camping Id start the truck before fully ready, just to warm the engine and cab. Such a toxic stank when we had a diesel. Even with all windows shut it seemed to find its way into the camper. Nothing to worry about with the gasser. Remote start to warm the truck up, or even just added some charge back to the camper battery bank.