Hey all! I’ve been considering getting a new pickup. Currently, I have a 2013 F150 3.5L with about 220k miles on it. Grew up on a ranch, so I’m a big fan of diesel trucks, and we mainly used them for ranch work. Right now, I’m working on my CFI for flight instruction, which is about an hour and a half from my family’s ranch.
I’m torn between the F150 with the 3.0L Powerstroke (since I can use the bulk On-road fuel we have) and the F250 with the 6.7 Powerstroke, which could be used as a ranch truck down the road. I like the idea of something manageable in the city but that still has good power.
Do you tow or haul heavy loads more than half the time? And of those times, are you hauling over 1k lbs or towing over 8k lbs?
If yes, diesel is the way to go. If not, the F150 should do the job just fine.
For ranch work, though, an 8’ box would be best. Those are mostly available on HD trucks now, unless you want a single cab or an extended cab with the long bed.
@Thorn
You’re right; for ranch work, the 8’ box on HD trucks is ideal. The F150 doesn’t come with an 8’ box in extended cabs anymore either, unfortunately.
Also, the 3.0L ‘baby Powerstroke’ wasn’t a common choice; it was only available on certain trims.
@Fielder
Correct, the diesel was only available on crew cab with 5.5 or 6.5 boxes. And now, the 8’ box only comes in the single cab with the XL V8 option.
Thorn said: @Fielder
Correct, the diesel was only available on crew cab with 5.5 or 6.5 boxes. And now, the 8’ box only comes in the single cab with the XL V8 option.
@Fielder
In my years at Ford, the diesel was only available on crew cabs from 2018-2021, and mostly on higher trims like the Lariat. XLTs started offering it in 2019. Fleet buyers could get it in XLs, though.
Yep, XLTs in the regular market could get the 3.0 in 2019. It didn’t sell well, though, because folks wanting a diesel half-ton without the high trim cost went to Ram.
If you’re towing heavy and often, go with the F250. But if not, the F150 will be cheaper to run and still has a great ride. My F150 XLT has a payload of 2k lbs and can tow up to 10,100 lbs, which is solid.
If you need a bit more from it, you could add a PPE transmission pan for better cooling, Power Stop towing pads, and maybe even supercharge the 5.0L if you want a boost.
Biggest advantages of the F250 are payload and the option for Crew Cab with an 8’ bed. If you’ll be hauling and towing a lot, I’d say go with the F250.
But keep in mind, modern diesels are pricey up front and more complex, especially with the emissions systems. The F150 diesel is sort of a niche engine—it’s the most expensive, but doesn’t really stand out in any one area. The 5.0 is faster, the 3.5 tows more, and the 2.7 gets nearly the same MPG. It’s really best for folks who tow a small trailer frequently.
I wouldn’t go for a bigger truck unless you’re using it mainly for heavy hauling. If you see yourself doing a lot of ranch work down the line, maybe get the F250 then. For now, stick with the F150 to save on fuel. Could make upgrading easier in the future!
I recently traded my 2022 F150 3.5 for a 2022 F250 with the 7.3 gas engine. Here’s my take:
Diesel is great, but there are extra costs for maintenance, DEF, and emissions systems. The 6.7 diesel is a beast, but I went with gas because I didn’t want the extra hassle and I don’t tow super heavy loads often. Plus, I’m in a cold climate, and the gas engine works better for me when parked for a while.
I moved to the F250 for payload, as I’m hauling a lot of gear and towing around 5k-6k lbs. The F150 could tow it, but I was exceeding payload. Now, with the F250, I’ve got 2700 lbs of payload and a longer bed. It’s stiffer than the F150, but I feel safer, and I love my 2022 Tremor F250.
@Shan
Sounds similar to why I’m looking to go up to a 3/4 ton. My trailer’s tongue weight alone is 1,000 lbs, and with my F150’s payload at 1644 lbs, I’m easily over capacity when you add in family, the dog, and some gear. So it’s either go barebones on a half-ton or get a 3/4-ton with more options.
Thanks for the advice, everyone! Just to clarify: if I went with the F150, I’d prefer the crew cab with a 6.5’ box. For the F250, I’d get the 8’ box so I could eventually put a flatbed on it. We already have a 6.7 Cummins and a 7.3 Powerstroke for cattle hauling, so my truck would mainly be for hauling fencing supplies and feed.
My big concern is fuel economy since I’ll be commuting between the city and the ranch every weekend. I’m not sure if the 3.0 diesel would save more on fuel than the 3.5 or 5.0, but I’m leaning towards diesel for efficiency.
Just something to keep in mind—maintenance costs for diesel are higher, and in some places, registration and insurance costs could be more too. DEF fluid is an extra cost as well.
Diesel is efficient and powerful, but repairs can be pricier. I looked at the 6.7 F250 but ultimately couldn’t justify the cost. Good luck deciding!
