The short trips are hard on a gas or a deisel engine. so no real difference there. but if once a week or so, you drive more, then it will be fine, just needs to get up to full operating temperatures for a while.
the deisel will get a lot better mileage then the V10 probably close to double. so the fuel will be cheaper overall, even though deisel cost more per gallon. it doesn't cost twice as much.
A king size bed sure beats tent camping, not as young as I used to be, that ground sure got hard
2005 Cardinal 312BH with king size bed
2001 F250 Supercrew Longbed 7.3l diesel with banks power kit
I did not see if the rig is a TT or a 5th ??? If it is a TT and your truck has the 5.4L and trailer tow package, I would check the hitch weight of the TT if it is under a 1000 lbs. I would use the truck. No way you can pay for a new diesel rig with no more towing then you menshion. I have towed a 28' TT all over the country with an ol 351v/8 and the new 5.4l v/8. I use a 5.4L now.
It SOUNDS like your question should be "Do I WANT a diesel" and only you can answer that. It's pretty obvious that towing such a small amount you don't NEED one. Good luck with your decision.
txninva wrote: Recently acquired a new North Trail 831, 34 ft in lenght and looking to replace my 1/2 ton with a new F350 for towing confort on my part. The problem is I only tow 6 -8 times a year and only a couple of those are more than 50 miles away. This would also be my daily driver and I live 3 miles away from work and do mostly short hops around town. I was only considering a diesel if we moved up to a heavier trailer in a couple/few years. Does it harm a diesel doing only short trips around town and such.
Thanks,
J
Go to dieselplace.com and read and read and read and read some more.
Here is what happened to me, these are my Experiences .......Yours may be different.
When I was towing with a gasser, I got 7.5 mpg......
When I am towing with my Cummins , I get 13-14.mpg
This works out to Double the fuel mileage, with the benefit of more power.
Now , by figuring this out, Diesel would have to cost TWICE the price of gas, till that part of the equation works out to be a wash (i.e. same cost for same duty)
I would look for a used diesel truck, for your needs.
Now, do you need a diesel, most likely not, do you WANT ???? a diesel.
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After towing with a diesel I can't see ever going back to gas. Don't forget to look around at other than the Ford. Many people have made that mistake!! Just teasing but the Duramax is bulletproof and tows our rig extremely well...
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If you are running a diesel pu empty and have to slow down to get off the road and then rattle a little bit getting parked, who says it needs further cooling down? not me. I turn the beasst off. Been doing that for 9 years now on the same 7.3.
Anyhoo, If I had a V10, it would be getting 5 mpg according to the doubling up on mileage when you get a diesel.
As I said before, I might get 14 if someone towed me.
I pull a 10K 5th wheel.
If there is something wrong with my 7.3, it is not apparent, it has rattled along with the same tunes and same mileage for 9 years now.
Personally, I wish someone would come along with a comparable V10, we could work a badaceously fast swap.
The wife is getting tired of fighting me over the toyota now for running around.
bfast54 wrote: When I am towing with my Cummins , I get 13-14.mpg
If you are talking about the truck in your signature you are comparing apples to oranges. The OP is talking about a new diesel which has to meet the new EPA standards in 2008. Those requirements have seriously hurt the MPG. Additionally in your numbers you left out the fact that the Diesel is a $7,000 option while the V-10 is a $600.00 option.
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txninva wrote: Recently acquired a new North Trail 831, 34 ft in lenght and looking to replace my 1/2 ton with a new F350 for towing confort on my part. The problem is I only tow 6 -8 times a year and only a couple of those are more than 50 miles away. This would also be my daily driver and I live 3 miles away from work and do mostly short hops around town. I was only considering a diesel if we moved up to a heavier trailer in a couple/few years. Does it harm a diesel doing only short trips around town and such.
Thanks,
J
Get a new F350 with V10, the 2008 diesels cost alot more than diesels five years ago and get worse fuel mileage not to mention diesel fuel prices .
Any 3/4 ton gas or diesel would tow any of these trailers anywhere in the country one wanted to go. If one bursts into tears at the thought of his TV shifting from O/D on the uphills, then yes, a diesel is justified to tow the smallest and lightest trailers.
Shorts trips cause sludge in any engine but gas engines tend to warm up to operating temps faster. Not getting the engine up to operating temps allows condensation to accumulate in the oil. Warming the oil to over 180*F allows the condensation to burn off if driven enough. Water is a bi-product of combustion. No way to get around it except with proper operating temps. Even with the gasser.
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Go to dieselplace.com and read and read and read and read some more.
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