Gas vs Diesel

JMCX

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Got a friend looking to buy a truck and here's the scenario:

  • She lives in the city and it would be the sole means of transportation
  • Active lifestyle with daily short trips to gym, store, boyfriend's etc

  • Self employed, work involves traveling from gig to gig mostly in the city, a few times a month 300km radius of home

  • 1-2 bigger road trips per year have happened in the past and should in the future

  • Has done up to 50k km/yr

  • Plans to buy a small slide in camper for road trips

  • Has a dog that goes everywhere and very often has to be left in the truck. Lots of idling for heat and AC

  • $50k is budget but 40 would be wiser. So in the used market. Money is generally tight. Unexpected repairs can be a hardship.

She likes big trucks and hangs around with all us guys and our diesels. All the idling and city driving would be trouble for any modern diesel. She's partial to Ram. I think a gas GM would be a wise choice but damn the 6.0 can be thirsty. Very reliable though.

What do you guys think?
 

blubbles

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Id lean towards a gas truck with that. My diesel hates doing too many city runs. Also with 50k a year, the depreciation will be pretty steep, gas trucks are cheaper to start. Also diesel parts if something happens are ridiculous. I'd be leaning towards a 1500, I get she likes big trucks but the moment you go into heavy duty trucks they ride like crap in town and unless you are using them to tow its a waste. Also suspension components in HD trucks are expensive in comparison.

For that many km with not wanting to do maintenance.... Toyota Tundra would get my vote. I know its not going to be the common vote on this site, but its the one of the few trucks you can put high kms on without touching it while still being worth anything at the end.
 

JMCX

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Id lean towards a gas truck with that. My diesel hates doing too many city runs. Also with 50k a year, the depreciation will be pretty steep, gas trucks are cheaper to start. Also diesel parts if something happens are ridiculous. I'd be leaning towards a 1500, I get she likes big trucks but the moment you go into heavy duty trucks they ride like crap in town and unless you are using them to tow its a waste. Also suspension components in HD trucks are expensive in comparison.

For that many km with not wanting to do maintenance.... Toyota Tundra would get my vote. I know its not going to be the common vote on this site, but its the one of the few trucks you can put high kms on without touching it while still being worth anything at the end.

I hear you on the 1500, that's what her last two trucks were. The dream of a camper is a long one though. 1/2 ton campers exist but a limited supply on the used market.

The other not so great thing is that this will involve a 84 month loan. Not an ideal thing when you k up a vehicle so much.
 

blubbles

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You can still get a pretty big trailer used thats half ton towable used. Hell the amount of F150s towing 35+ ft trailers now is silly. I wouldn't do it, not my idea of fun towing (reason why I have a diesel) but it can be done.

Tundra still gets my vote. Even more so if its being financed. At least with the Toyota if **** happens in life and you have to dump it, it will still be worth something. One of the guys in our office just sold a Tundra with 350,000kms and still got 20k for it.

Worst case maybe a 2500 Gas.... I'd bet she will change her mind driving it every day in the city though. Dont expect it to be worth much at the end.
 
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acesup800

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I hear you on the 1500, that's what her last two trucks were. The dream of a camper is a long one though. 1/2 ton campers exist but a limited supply on the used market.

The other not so great thing is that this will involve a 84 month loan. Not an ideal thing when you k up a vehicle so much.
84 months??? Can she really afford it? Me thinks not.
 

Trashy

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2018 Chev High Country, Crew Cab, 6.2L with 15,000Kms,
Factory rubber, winter tires and rims, Super Spring for added 1700+lbs, Tri fold Tonneau Cover.
$64,600.00 left on loan
I took a big pay deduction and can't keep it
79251250_10219090691672019_6568195259870740480_n.jpg 79459269_10219090691872024_7940247456208388096_n.jpg
 

j335

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F-150 can do low 2000lb payload. Titan XD gasser is 2500lb payload.

Avoid dodge 1500 and Chev 1500 for a camper as lower payloads.
 

catalac

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F-150 with 5.0L (couldn’t pay me to own another eco) get heavy payload and camper package, best payload of any half tons available. 6.5Ft box if a CC. 19s right now you could get a lot of truck for 50K.
 

busted2x

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F-150 can do low 2000lb payload. Titan XD gasser is 2500lb payload.

Avoid dodge 1500 and Chev 1500 for a camper as lower payloads.

Titan xd is a great choice, it’s like a 5/8 ton. Nobody else makes a half ton hd anymore.
 

JMCX

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84 months??? Can she really afford it? Me thinks not.

It's all about the biweekly payment unfortunately. We've had the discussion, I've shared links explaining the pitfalls. Suggested going low key in this economy. Got to leave that one alone now.

2018 Chev High Country, Crew Cab, 6.2L with 15,000Kms,
Factory rubber, winter tires and rims, Super Spring for added 1700+lbs, Tri fold Tonneau Cover.
$64,600.00 left on loan
I took a big pay deduction and can't keep it

Beautiful truck. I hear the 6.2 is good on fuel. A little out of the budget though.

F-150 with 5.0L (couldn’t pay me to own another eco) get heavy payload and camper package, best payload of any half tons available. 6.5Ft box if a CC. 19s right now you could get a lot of truck for 50K.

Does Ford still offer the 7 lug HD 1500s? Last I saw they were only in a few configurations. Even a regular might be a good choice.

There are some crazy incentives rolling out but not on the HDs so far.
 

FernieHawk

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It's all about the biweekly payment unfortunately. We've had the discussion, I've shared links explaining the pitfalls. Suggested going low key in this economy. Got to leave that one alone now.



Beautiful truck. I hear the 6.2 is good on fuel. A little out of the budget though.



Does Ford still offer the 7 lug HD 1500s? Last I saw they were only in a few configurations. Even a regular might be a good choice.

There are some crazy incentives rolling out but not on the HDs so far.


The HD package in the F-150 is still available in the XL and XLT. Super crew 6 1/2 ft box is available. Super Cab with 8 ft box is also avaiable.

I've had my 2011 F-150 HD XLT Reg cab 8 ft box for seven years now and love it. I would definitely carry a small camper in this configuration.
 
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pfi572

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The HD package in the F-150 is still available in the XL and XLT. Super crew 6 1/2 ft box is available. Super Cab with 8 ft box is also avaiable.

I've had my 2011 F-150 HD XLT Reg cab 8 ft box for seven years now and love it. I would definitely carry a small camper in this configuration.

^^^^^^
This is the truck to buy IMO . Haul well and geared well .
Very little trouble with them also . I know a few people with them and haven’t had any problems in years .
 

ABMax24

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I'd be looking at something like this:

For reasons of cost I'd recommend a used half ton for a truck and a trailer instead of a camper. Camper's are pretty pricey for what you get, going to a used trailer can save some money there. Campers are a PITA to use it your daily driver, either you are always pulling them in and out or you drive around with it all summer which is more expensive for fuel and a pain to park in the city. With a trailer 5 minutes your hooked or unhooked and done.

As others have said financing a truck over 84 months is not a good idea.


https://www.windsorford.com/invento...ado 1500/AB/Grande Prairie/3GCUKSEC9FG162983/
 

ABMax24

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The HD package in the F-150 is still available in the XL and XLT. Super crew 6 1/2 ft box is available. Super Cab with 8 ft box is also avaiable.

I've had my 2011 F-150 HD XLT Reg cab 8 ft box for seven years now and love it. I would definitely carry a small camper in this configuration.

The one kicker with the F150 is the payload rating drops significantly if you upgrade from a regular cab to supercab, like in the range of 800 lbs.

https://www.ford.com/cmslibs/conten...neral/pdf/guides/20Towing_Ford_F150_Oct15.pdf
 

deaner

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Have driven diesels all my life. Bought my f150 EcoBoost about four years ago now and couldn't be happier. Awesome mileage, great truck, and pulls really nice. If you don't need something super loaded, mine was just under 40 before taxes
 
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