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Towing with 6.0 Engine? Or Do I Really Need A Diesel?


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I'm starting to think about my next truck purchase, probably within the next year or so. (Although I know when I start thinking I'm in trouble)

I'm currently driving a Ford F150 EcoBoost. Specs on that engine are 365 hp and 420 torque. Looking at the GM 6.0 gas I'm seeing 360hp and 380 torque - led than the little 3.5 6 cyl Ford.

We tow a travel trailer a fair amount of time (25% or so of total miles driven per year). Our current trailer is a load for the F150, just barely under the max. payload recommendation when fully loaded. The engine pulls fine with normal highway stuff, although the mpg's certainly suffer. But we just returned from a couple of weeks in the mountains of the west, and those high elevation passes sure make it grunt.

So I've been thinking (there we go again) a 3/4 ton truck would make sense for me. But to do so with a gas engine means I'd have slightly less power?

Sure, the Chev 2500 would have a more suitable axle ratio. And I like the idea of having a bigger cushion on my payload capacity. But I could buy a new F150 with a better axle ratio, max tow package, and max payload package. That would be an improvement over my current set up, and be fairly well under the recommended payload limits.

A 3/4 ton truck is going to weigh more than my current rig. And the engine has less pulling power. Aren't I going to be awfully disappointed the next time I try to pull over Eisenhower Pass? I'm also not crazy about giving up 5 or 6 MPG during the 75% of the time when I'm not pulling the trailer.

Yes, I know that a diesel would solve all my problems. Except the additional drain of many thousands of dollars from my bank account. And for towing our medium sized 27' travel trailer, a diesel just seems like over kill.

What am I missing?

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What does the eco boost economy? The diesel will pull around 20 mpg highway empty +/- depending on how you drive. That size trailer I would say over 11 mpg average.

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My current truck will do about 18 mpg highway when empty, drops to 8-9 while towing. The newer F150's might be a touch better with the aluminum body.

 

A diesel may be a bit better, especially when towing. But the normally higher cost of diesel fuel probably makes it a wash. The initial high cost and the added maintenance are bigger concerns with a diesel.

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Any 3/4 ton will tow better than your half, doesn't matter the engine, it's a matter of capacity and size. A diesel however will make that truck much more fun to drive and tow with. If you can afford the diesel get it, end of story because if you are disappointed with the gas engine it will cost you more in the end.

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I understand the benefits of capacity and size on the 3/4 ton versus the 1/2 ton truck and that is why I would consider upgrading. But I still wonder about the pulling power of the 3/4 versus what I currently have. If the 3/4 weighs more, but has a little less hp and quite a bit less torque, won't it struggle more up the hills?

Thanks!

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And I also understand that diesel is the best. But at $8-9,000 more cash upfront that is a huge jump in the cost of a truck. I know that people with much larger trailers almost have to go with a diesel. But I sure see plenty of gas burners towing reasonable sized trailers.

Isn't a gas burning 3/4 truck a reasonable alternative as a tow vehicle? I know the payload will be better - no question about that. And it will handle better on the road. But is the 6.0 gas engine not a capable towing engine for anything but a small trailer?

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The 6.0L can handle plenty I have two 2007s in my work fleet, I understand this is the older chassis and 6.0L but they handle skidsteers just fine around town, they do leave something to be desired on the hwy but from what I have read there is a big change from the old to the new, plus the drw one ton gas engine is now a power house.

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Very happy with my '15 2500 6.0. I've used a '05 Dmax LLY as well. Both work great. No doubt the diesel does better on the highway. But the 6.0 has really surprised me all around.

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Let me ask it another way:

An F150 Has 365 HP and 420 # torque with a 3.55 rear end.

The Chev. 3/4 has 360 HP and 380 # torque with a 4.10 rear end. (the truck itself also weighs substantially more than the Ford)

 

Ignore payload and spring capacity - both trucks have more than enough rated payload and towing capacity to tow my trailer well within limits.

Which one will pull better up over the top of mountain passes?

 

I am trying to get my head wrapped around what I could expect from a 3/4 ton Chevy as compared to what I already know the Ford will do and how well it pulls.

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Everyone has their own opinion but the 6.0 is really outdated and it is a dog to drive around, you said it yourself, the ecoboost has more power then the 6.0. The only thing to do is to drive both.

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I bought the 6.0 because I have a 10,000lb travel trailer that I normally only tow 4-6 days out of the year, the rest of the time the truck is my daily driver. If I were towing 25% of the time like you stated you do, I would have went with the duramax.

 

It's hard to say if the 6.0 would be slower towing than your Ecoboost, a lot of it has to do with transmission programming, gear ratios etc. When you figure the truck weighs probably 1000lbs more, and has lower peak HP/torque, it likely will be a little slower pulling your trailer. Then again it might outperform it, like it does the higher HP/torque rated Ram with the 6.4 Hemi.

 

I haven't towed with mine yet, but I'm not worried about it for as often as I do it. My last truck was a 2012 Ram 3500 with 6.7 Cummins and I know this truck is not going to tow anything like my Dodge did but I don't have to very often. If I were doing it 25% like you, I'm sure I would have bought a Duramax.

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The Ecoboost with the 3.55 rear will out pull the Vortec with 4.10s.

 

Pulling power is only part of the equation, 3/4 ton will be much better planted, brake and handle better than the half ton.

 

If I were in your shoes I would seriously consider a DRW 1 ton. Yeah they suck for every day driving, but when your towing that extra set of wheels in the back makes a world of difference, especially in cross winds or dealing with turbulent air off of 18 wheelers.

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I tow a lot with my 6.0 and it does it fine no issue at all. My trailer and skid steer weigh 12000 on Pinole hook and it takes it no problem. Don't listen to people that don't know a thing about hauling ok bud :) go gas u won't be disappointed

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