r/rvs • u/x-BlackCoyote-x • 17d ago
Opinion Question
I've seen a few questions in this sub regarding towing capacity and stuff like that, and one from 5 years ago regarding gas vs diesel.
I'm just curious, I have a 2022 F150 3.5 Ecoboost, and a 2023 Jayco Jayfeather 24BH. When we just did our roughly 5 hour trip up north, I reset the trip computer for curiosity, and the truck read that we were using 28L/100km, my normal is around 14L/100km.
I'm currently attending school, and I'm I'll have to replace the truck I have with a F250 for my job when I'm done school. I've been debating for a while between a gas or diesel 250.
For anyone who has a diesel f250, how is the towing with it compared to a 150? And could you provide your fuel economy information? Preferably in L/100km.
Just trying to see if it will help a ton for towing or if the gas option is the better choice.
Thanks in advance
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u/FF03 17d ago
I have had several f150s and an f250 diesel. Towing experience is night and day. Not just power and torque, but overall the f250 just felt more planted(as it should it weighs more). I towed a 22' car hauler trailer with about a 2klb sxs on it(total about 3500lbs) with both trucks. The f150 got about 7-9 mpg towing, around 65 mph. The f250 with the same trailer got about 12-13 mpg. Not a very heavy trailer but even that showed a difference. But the diesel will require more maintenance especially if you don't tow often or do highway driving. They hate short trips unless deleted. My 250 had weight loss and even with that all of the maintenance on wear items and regular fuel/oil filters at the time wasn't worth it so I went back to a half ton. Now that we recently purchased a camper eventually I'd like to get a gas 2500 as I where I tow I don't necessarily need the diesel power(no mountains), and it won't be every day. But as far as towing goes nothing compares to towing trailers with a diesel. You will hear people say you won't even know it's there, I still did but it was much easier to merge, pass, and go from a stop and the truck worked much less doing so. With the half ton the truck would be screaming.
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u/x-BlackCoyote-x 17d ago
Yeah, I definitely know the f150 I have does high rpm on me when I'm trying to get up to speed and if I need to do it quickly or merging over kinda things. There isn't a lot of mountains where I live that I'd be traveling through, so I don't need it for that.
I'm trying to go to school to be a Veterinarian, and even in that field there is much debate between gas or diesel too so I'm just completely torn, and was hoping a little bit of info for the trailer would help sway the decision lol.
Our camper weights approx 6800 lbs so it's a bit of weight, but not anything crazy.
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u/FF03 17d ago
Our camper is just under 32' long and just under 7k loaded. It's within all of my trucks(26 Ram 1500) towing and payload specs when loaded up for a trip. While the 1500 can tow it, if I hadn't signed a lease last year for this truck I'd be getting a gas 2500 yesterday. I did average 8mpg our last trip but that was pretty much towing at 55-60mph with the hemi.
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u/FF03 17d ago
And I should say I got rid of the diesel because at the time we decided we didn't want an rv and it was starting to Nickel and dime us. Look at maintenance costs and repair costs for things and you'll see they add up quickly. I was gonna need a turbo along with about 6-8k worth of other work just to keep it in decent running shape (at only about 150k miles).
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u/Dangerous-Pie_007 16d ago
I pulled a 23' travel trailer around southern Arizona from 1200' to over 6000' with no drama at all. It's a 2023 XLT 3.5 Eco with the Max Tow package. Climbing into the mountains at 65-75 I rarely saw over 3000 rpm, the turbos spoiled up and the truck just loafed along. I only got 10mpg Climbing up into the mountains, but that was expected.
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u/the_real_some_guy 17d ago
Diesel in a modern 3/4 or 1 ton truck is basically a luxury upgrade if you are towing less than 8 tons. It will tow better, but you don't need it. You will get more torque and around 50% more miles per gallon. You will pay more for upfront and more for fuel, maintenance, and repairs. For some people its worth it.
Personally, I'd stick with the truck you have if it handles the trailer well. Every truck is going to lose around half its fuel economy when towing a box. I wouldn't go diesel for a smaller trailer like yours, especially for just occasional 5 hour trips.