The right tool for the job pulling and pushing make sure you got enough truck to get the job done. There are always going to be issues either way just choose how often you want them by getting a truck that can handle it!
Stop and go, loaded in town use, lots of idol do not buy diesel! Soot is the killer of the emissions. No idol time on new diesel. Gassers crank up every time. Your in flat country . Working man ain't racing
I think totally opposite of that, It's the owner of the company who choses what he is buying since it's his money buying and maintaining. The purchase has to make sense for the business. Then again if your thinking of experimenting get it for him then you can say I told you so if it doesn't work out and if it does you can say i'm glad I bought that one for you.
That is not how business is run. You don’t spend 10/15k extra on a tool just to make a employee happy especially when they may not be with the company as long as the truck.
I would do 2 things. I would buy a modern gasser 7.3l ford or the 6.6l GM truck. Then get a power stroke because he likes ford. Test them and see how they hold up. Great content and will finally answer the age old question. Diesel vs Gas for people that actually use their trucks. But track everything. Oil change costs, fuel, fuel filters, any accessories. This could be a huge draw for the channel
I haven't gone diesel yet. I probably will at some point but I'm hoping they work out DEF issues first. I can honestly tell you the 6.6 gas Chevy sucks. They only offer a 3.73 axle ratio. It has 464lbft of torque but my ram with 429lbft runs circles around the Chevy because of the 8 speed and the 4:10
@@simonbrown4653 I've been driving DEF diesels since they came out, roughly 50k miles a year. I've had one failure on an early one, a reductant(def) pump. Been around fleets of these trucks and they don't seem to have any more issues than they did before DEF. Other than the guys driving them like they stole them, they're fleet trucks, they didn't buy em... Maybe the particulate filters are the canary in the coalmine for aggressive drivers... Which would make sense, hammer down on a pre def truck brings the smoke.
I have seen three F-350 work trucks over 300k miles, and the interiors were still in great shape and everything worked. A lot of the longevity factor relies on how well the truck is cared for. I think if you regularly pull heavy loads a diesel is the only option, as all the new gas trucks are competing with smaller and smaller engines which have to work harder to do the same job. I'll take a diesel over a twin turbo v6 any day.
@@dander0091 Doesn't mean you can't take care of them. The trucks I'm talking about work on farms, hauling hay and horses, so they definitely get put through their paces. Maintenance is key, and it doesn't hurt to clean them once in a while either 😉
@Steven Seagull good points. It probably doesn’t help when you put employees behind the wheel in these types of situations. They’re just trying to get a job done and quickly without much thought as to equipment longevity
I have a 2010 Tundra 5.7, it pulls my lawn care trailer all the time. I'll also buy an F250 for plowing snow next season. The Tundra has enough torque to pull anything all day, and I agree about the Twin turbo V6. I'll never buy one of the new trucks, Ford or Toyota, with that engine. I can't believe the reliability will be there.
Well ford is pumping out 7.3 gas and the new HD 6.2 gas now they say are way better. Something to think of before getting a diesels or V6 Turbo if your towing.
Just don't get caught by the DOT. They are cracking down with hefty fines for that, then you have to have it all put back on and show proof before you can have the truck back on the road. As a personal truck 👍 heck yeah, not for my work truck. I need that thing on the road making money. Another reason I run gas at work. Any engine problems are quicker and less expensive. Every shop has mechanics that work on gas, few have good diesel mechanics. The shop near me only has one diesel mechanic and 30 other mechanics, it takes 2 weeks lo ger to get a diesel in to get fixed on average because of it
Get Alex the F-350 Super Duty Diesel with a plug in engine heater so in the winter he's able to get out and plow in the middle of the night without having to run the truck for 30 minutes before he needs to leave. And get the extended warrantee that covers everything to at least 100,000 miles. 👍🏻
@@Dirtmonkey Alex is gonna be your next Blaine, he's dedicated to your company, help him be successful for you. You need a good towing truck to carry the heavy trailer, loader and excavator. Isn't Christmas coming in just a few months down the road?
Er....Diesel has evolved over the years. They are direct injection and don't need long glow plug cycles. My VW TDI starts at 0F no block heater. Also, diesels actually cool down when idling vs waiting 30 seconds after start up at those temps then driving off. Heat goes out exhaust and not absorbed by engine.
Just speaking from my own experience, we operate a trash pickup service in Arkansas. We have 2 F350 2016 6.7 Diesel Trucks and 5 F350 2019 Gassers. The gassers are pushing 30-60k miles and the two Diesel's are pushing past the 120k mile marks. All of them have the beds replaced with a much larger boxed cage to hold all the trash in it. It is very much a stop and go environment and each vehicle will average 100-200 miles a day and they are operated 4 days a week on some very rough dirt roads with some pavement driving also. They spend most of the day loaded down with weight. The two diesel's average 8-9 mpg and the 5 gassers average around the 6-7mpg. Just from my experience with the Diesels are that they are just a better pulling, hauling truck compared to the 2019 gassers. The transmissions on the Diesels just do not have to work as hard and are way smoother shifting through the gears, where the gassers they struggle. Constant shifting with high rpm revs to try and pull the hills. 2 of the gassers transmission are already starting to slip some because of it. As far as wear and tear goes, they both equally go through front end parts (ball joints, ujoints, ect.) Seems about every 1 1/2 to 2 years they need replacing with what we go through. The only big issues with the Diesels we have run into is one Diesel had to have all the speed sensors replaced in it and at the 121k mile mark the turbo decided to self-destruct and had to be replaced. While we don't have loads of sub zero days we have not ever experienced def freeze, though you do have to keep some extra juice around to dump in to keep the diesel fuel from wanting to gel up at super cold days. For our work and the amount of weight we are hauling around on a daily basis everyone here agrees the Diesels are the best two out of the fleet and next rough of truck buying will be for Diesels across the board. Something to keep in mind is resell / trade in value. Diesels seem to hold that value for a longer period then a normal Gasser does from our experience.
Stan, small business owner here. Bought 21 f350 dually service truck one year ago. Has the 7.3l gas but is de-tuned because of cab chassis. It weighs 11,000 lbs and after 23,700 miles has averaged 10.5 mpg. That’s 50/50 highway and city with 25%towing 10-12,000 lbs. Completely satisfied with performance.
I have an 2020 F350 7.3 Gasser 10 speed transmission with 4.30 gears in the rear end. 430hp with 450 or 475 torque. I pull almost everyday 10,000lb mini excavator or a 10,000lb skid. I'm amazed with this truck it gets the job done.
I bought a gas gmc 2500 to haul with and after a year I traded in for the diesel. I have 50k on it and I’ve maintained it very well with no issues so far. Gas vs diesel is night and day, towing a lot and uphill is hard for the gas. With the cost of the Diesel engine being so much more I would say if you’d save money on fuel. I got 4-5miles to the gallon towing the same as my duels getting 11-14 miles a gallon. Btw you’re awesome and I’ve learned a bunch from your videos, thanks.
I’ve been running diesel (duramax) and hauling plowing since 2008 and wouldn’t go in any 3/4 1 ton without a diesel. Just purrs pushing heavy snow and the torque is too addicting towing!
Great video valid points. Each engine has there own advantages and disadvantages. For me with my small Hardscape business I find a diesel In a 550 platform fits my needs for hauling and towing. It’s not a daily, I have a gasser for that!
Stan, I live here in MN too and never have had any issues with DEF freeze up in our trucks. We run both Gassers and Diesels and actually the gassers are harder to start in the winter. They sit outside year around. In 2023 we will be buying some new trucks and they all will be diesel
I’m in Quebec, Canada… F250 Diesel working hardscaping and would never go back to gaz… Just for the torque when towing… And the price difference between gaz and diesel makes up for the payment of the truck. Diving up hill like crazy. And for DEF that freezes up… Never had that issue. I drive about 30k milles/year
If I had a business in a northern state, I would totally come down south here and buy trucks a year or 2 old and take them north. You lose so much money buying brand new just for them to not last more than a few years.But If you must buy new, I would LOVE to see you buy a gas and diesel version of the exact same truck. Then track them both.
As a mechanic I cringe, cringe, cringe every time the office brings me a Ford project. Electrical gremlins and the useless weak aluminum body so weak the door jams crack. You open the hood and it's just an ungodly mess of hoses and wires and I have to usually remove everything just to get to simple jobs. Bring me a GMC. They are just better designed and less headache to fix if things go bad. But what do I know, I just do this for a living.
@@jaysunkreuze1466 I just couldn't buy a truck with an Aluminum body. I guess I give Ford a little bit of credit for taking a huge gamble and trying to change the game. At the end of the day though it might not be a good application for aluminum.
Bingo! I live/work in Calif where trucks don't rust away and the body out-lasts the engine/trans. Now, I look for older with low(er) miles and lived it's whole life free of snow and ice.
A trick to the DEF in the winter freezing is keep def tank at 1/2 full or less. If the tank is full and freezes the tank will crack eventually. I’ve been running diesels for years and I never have many issues, but I also follow strict maintenance.
Hi Stan,I have a 2000 6.5 4x4 dump with 80,000 miles I bought 8 years ago.Fairly easy to work on ,but constantly fighting the salt in Western Mass.I also do all my own work and there's been plenty of it that Ive done on the little things motor and trans are ok.
Have you ever heard of New Hampshire oil undercoat? It’s a lanolin based undercoat and I have my winter beater 02 4 runner sprayed with it and every year when I go get it applied the guy is swamped with plow trucks as it just keeps the salt and moisture off everything besides exhaust. Not sure where you’re from but my guy is in Upton. I’m quite sure there’s someone who does it closer to you in western MA.
The best thing I did was to get out of a regular pickup(3/4) and switch to hd. I went to a 19 450/v10/12’ scelzi bed first. It got 7mpg. Ran ok, nothing like my diesel 250. Traded it on for almost what I paid for it on a new 20 550/6.7/12’ scelzi bed 16 months later. My 550 gets about 12mpg. It weighs 12k lbs and it gets about 12 mpg consistently. It routinely has 18k lbs behind it. Mileage is about the same. The 6.7 has been rock solid as has the truck. Would never go back to a lighter setup. My 550 has about 25’ of box’s, talk about convenience being a gc and needing lots of tools.
I’m partial to ram for gas trucks, but I spent the last three years running a ford ambulance with the 6.7 power stroke and that thing is like a Cadillac. Smooth, reliable, and plenty of power. We also have an f-550 flatbed brush truck with the 6.7 on some 44” tires and it’s a monster. Goes anywhere. We keep them plugged in 24/7 so that’s a factor but never any issues with their of them.
I have a 2000 F350 7.3. Purchase used...spent over 5-10K to fix frontend, AC, Brakes, etc. I have less than less than 30K in it and it has been a great work truck. I would preferred the duramax but they had lots of injector problems in the beginning.
Buy Alex a Ford 6.7 Power stroke. We use one for our construction company and it can haul the goose neck loaded with our telehandler (30k) and several other pieces of equipment with no problem. It's almost scary how well it pulls with the big loads, it can definitly move the loads down the road quicker than most trailers can safely brake. It averages 14 MPG while towing various trailers and 16-17 MPG empty. Also get the largest fisher plow you can get for it. (Disclaimer- it was DEF deleted at 120,000 miles and now has over 155,000 miles and is also a dually second gen 6.7) The third gen is supposed to be better especially with the new 10 speed auto transmission (Ram does not offer that by the way). The exhaust brake is a huge benefit when hauling large loads. Don't listen to all the comments about the good ole engines, the new technology in these trucks are amazing and mostly proven at this point. These are not the trucks of yester-year, I've owned and driven them all, I know. There isn't anything that I will think twice about hooking to. I also prefer the Ford mirrors, I tow a lot and spend a lot of time looking back and the ford mirrors seem better. I've never had to plug my truck in either, just wait for the glow plug light and start it up even on the coldest mornings.
I’ve been a heavy equipment diesel mechanic for 15yrs. The newer diesel equipment will bankrupt a small company when it needs repair. Our old equipment in the fleet hardly ever comes into the shop for anything other than a service check. The new stuff practically lives in the shop. We’ll take one back after a few thousand in parts and grab another and bring that back and start over. If gas is a option in anything, get that. Whatever “economy” you get with a diesel is quickly thrown away when the first repair comes, and it’ll be way sooner than you think.
I'm also a mechanic and agree. Diesels we're meant to run 24/7. Short runs and cold starts is bad for modern diesels. For the guy who hauls cars and campers cross country, diesel all the way. But if you are just cranking up 10 times a day and making grocery runs, that diesel is going to drain your wallet. GMC makes, in my opinion, the best gasser work truck with the 6.6. That thing is absolutely a beast!
I’ve been running a brand new duramax and have not had one issue I put 45k in one year live northern NH never had a freezing issue and cost lest than it did to run my Chevy Silverado gas. Def does not suck it sucks if you do not understand how it works. Also getting over 20mpg with a enclosed car trailer
diesel. I have 2 dodges. one 08 3500 deleted with the 6.7 cummins, i also have a 14 deleted with the 6.7 cummins and they pull like no other, do really well on fuel, power all day. I will never leave the emissions on because of all the issues it causes, the harm it does to the motor.
Yes, the emissions are the reason diesels suk these days. I'd rather put those 6.7's in older body trucks. I have a 6.7 Cummins, and a 70 Chevy. I dont have to worry about emissions.
Comes down to maintenance costs and time for me, I personally drive a f350 SRW diesel while the work crew get gassers. I plug in over winter, use anti-gel for those below freezing temps, fuel filters changed religiously, water separator drained monthly & etc. Plan on buying a 7.3 Godzilla gasser next for the guys, might get one myself if it passes the test. But for Alex, if he’s constantly towing >10k lbs diesel or 7.3 Godzilla looks to be the way. Deciding factor is if he’s going to keep up with maintenance or not. The powerstrokes do come with a 100k warranty.
As an HVAC service tech in the Northeast I've had both gas and diesel trucks. I've found that based on the loads I carry and the mileage I do a diesel is best. I tow a trailer full time and travel about 30K miles a year, total weight on my F-450 is about 14K lbs. With good maintenance any truck/engine pairing will do you well. Good luck with your decision.
Alex is the man! And a critical piece of the Dirt Monkey Force. I’ve always enjoyed him and his input - he’s always been one of my favs. He’s young and always takes care of his vehicles - he deserves the diesel Ford that he wants. Come on, Stan! 😃 I have lots of friends running Ford diesels, personally and commercially - majority have great luck with their trucks up to 100K+ miles. If you run into too many issues, sell it and get another. There are plenty of good trucks out there on the road. Not worth the time and money to get buried in a lemon. Keep up the great work gentlemen! 👍🍻
I have a ford F-350 diesel and I love it never had a problem with the DEF. Alex definitely needs a 350 it’s great to tow with and the diesel has plenty of power to get out of your own way when towing a trailer
Stan with 7.3 F350 super duty.i would wait probably 5 years before trying one. Why let them get the short coming out of them. If they do have any. That's why I waited on buying a 6.2 F350. Course cost of diesel now is another factor. The 350 would be better plow truck for you. They have the Dana solid front an rear axles. I do like the full locker system on my 2016 350. Makes heck of difference in snow mud ice when locked in. No more kicking side ways on rear end. Well not near as much. Way more traction. Looking at putting full locker on rear end of my 02 350 now too.
My 2015 f250(Gas) crew cab with fully loaded 9 ft utility box gas pulls my 14 k trailer with Avant 640 and cmc60Ap lift daily with ease. More than enough power. I also have an 08 f450 diesel I dump money into which pulls even better but is pre def so cant speak for that. I was raised all GM and Chevy then when I grew up to be a man, I found Ford. I own a tree business and need solid work truck(stiff front and rear end for plowing and hauling), not a comfortable cruiser. Go Ford gas fyi (I get about 7-9 mpg's on both trucks loaded city driving). Stanley thanks for all the work and gear knowledge and fun content
Yup, it's all about making an informed decision based on what you will be using the vehicle for, what the vehicle's capabilities are, and what the feedback from other owners is. IMO, the biggest mistake is buying "good enough" to save a little up-front money because almost invariably you'll be paying a lot more down the road. It's why I try and up-spec' when I can, to give a bit more over-head when I'm really pushing things harder than I should. Remember, the manufacturers of the trucks are building to a budget and will trade of a higher warrantly claim rate for a small number of customers against greater profits for all the rest. Sure, some of the diesel environmental BS is a PITA, but when you check out the problems with fine carbon particulates, it makes sense. I'm a little surprised the people that do block heaters haven't, apparently, come up with a DEF heater - oh, and what about transmission heaters? I don't recall the last time I even saw a frost, so a bit ignorant of what you guys in the north deal with... If there's a known problem with, say, the front axle assembly having numerous failure points, spend the money and bullet proof it are the start, or at least after the first failure, with proven parts - sure, it's more expensive but it isn't just the direct costs, it's the cost of having the vehicle in the shop and not earning it's keep.
Great info. Im going to try and sell our trucks after 4-5 years and just rotate. Weve had a horrible 2 years with repairs on EVERYTHING. mowers, blowers, trimmers, chainsaws, skid steers, plows, aerators ect. I think they are making equipment cheaper and/or rushing everything out to public. Ford gas 7.3 L
I'm a diesel tech at Ford... Keep in mind GVWR of the diesel f250. You'll be overloading that truck way more easily as the diesel takes around1000lbs off the payload. Ford Diesels have issues with rads leaking, oil pans leaking, DEF heaters, engine lights for many sensors. Fuel filters. Maintenance and repairs is 3x more. 10x the sensors to fail too. Diesels only shine when you tow heavy. Idle time kills the emissions systems. The starting ahead of time 30 mins is nonsense I've never heard that one lol. DEF isn't really used when the engine is cold. DEF reduces NOX, no NOX on a cold engine. it'll thaw well before the system needs it. Buy him a 7.3 f250. Been a good engine so far. Better on gas than the 6.2 it seems to. For your use plowing you don't need or want a diesel. And if you buy a diesel. Get rid of it before 3yrs/36k mile basic warranty is up.
Got a 2016 Cummins. As soon as it was out of warranty (100,000 miles) the emission system crapped out. Now my old exhaust is sitting behind my shed and my truck runs better than ever. I am keeping my fingers crossed on the rest of the truck but no promises there! My truck now gets 22 mpg with no load.
I have a 2017 f250 6.7. Diesel I have found it works great for me. Since I am always towing. And I do commercial snow for the winter As far as emissions go. It’s best to get rid of it. You don’t need to pay for DEF nor worry about re gen, etc. I found the EGTS tend to stay cooler as well.
Do you have issues registering your truck if you delete it, where you live? Where I'm at, if you have one Arkansas side, you're probably fine, but Texas side, more of a risk.
I didn't have much experience with diesel trucks until this past year. Being a lifetime Wisconsin resident and having just seen a very long, cold winter, I wouldn't buy a modern diesel unless I absolutely needed the extra pulling power. Our company trucks were down constantly from DEF related issues, as we have to store them outside. Our literally brand new Ram bucket truck was down for over a month because one cold night froze up the DEF pump. I got a '22 Silverado with the 6.6 gasser, and so far its been pretty impressive. 30,000 miles in 5 months with some intermittent heavy towing and its holding up well, I've seen it get high as 19 mpg as well, but it usually settles around 16 on the highway with no trailer.
A little late to the party but something to consider. I have the f-550 2013. It's been a great truck. The biggest problem I have is the maintenance that we run is expensive although reliable. It's also difficult when you do have a problem finding a good diesel mechanic and turn around time to get it back. It's also far more expensive to maintain our diesel trucks as opposed to the gassers. Even the dealership lead times are weeks out for repairs. Call around and find out what an oil change and with a fuel filter cost is versus a gas or also call around and ask how long it takes to get it in for service in general.
My vote. Ford F-350 STX with the 7.3 Gas Godzilla, front and rear fender liners, snowplow prep package, tow package, locking rear diff, cab roof lights, box lights, and dual batteries. I’m driving a ‘12 F250 6.7 and it was far more reliable than my gas GMC HD’s. However, my next truck will be a gas 7.3. Both engines will handle almost all towing needs. However the $/mile for the gas engine is lower given the 100K mile life here in the salt belt. The diesel is $8K more than the 7.3, diesel fuel is almost $1 more than gas here in VT, and at best I only get 3 - 4 mpg better than the gas engines. And yes you may get more $ for a diesel when you sell it but you still don’t break even. Add to that the increased complexity of the diesel. Gas engines don’t have turbos, intercoolers, very high pressure fuel pumps, expensive oil and fuel filter changes, DEF tank assemblies that include a temperature sensor, a heater, a DEF quality sensor, and a level (full or empty) sensor, exhaust filters that needs to regenerate, etc. The more complex the machine, the higher probability of failure.
I went with a 7.3Ls in my new 350 Ford's. Absolutely love them. I have one dually and one SRW. Going forward I'll be buying the 7.3s to replace all the older trucks.
Ram 3500 Cummins single rear wheel with Aisin transmission! Great combination for what you do. I personally like the dually and would never own anything else. My truck is all original 211,000 miles and runs great! I use Rotella T-6 synthetic 5-40 change it at 7,000 miles and fuel filters at 10,000 . Remember maintenance is critical and it will definitely make the truck last!
I have run all the diesel brands. 6.7 Cummins is power wise is hands down my favorite. Pulling my skid and attachments I have gotten 14mpg traveling empty I have gotten 22mpg. Be religious about the details filters oil tires. Rinse the salt off as often as possible they will serve you well. Having an exhaust break and heavier trans/ torque converter from the factory will save a ton on your breaks and suspension parts. Go diesel. Also air bags in the back of a 3/4 rock. Go get em have a blessed day thanks for the content Stan.
Regarding the DEF freezing up, I have never seen this issue, and we have many days below zero here in Ohio. It is possible, but I don't think it's a rampant issue. Get the man his diesel truck! Great video Stan
@@braun11 I believe it, you guys get -40 in the winter, that is really hard on machines. They always say park inside, but what about after its been sitting on the job all day? Thanks for the reply
@@timorjeanetteplante785 they should make a heater kit with insulation for the tank or something. If only there were some way to delete that system entirely...😉
Last january here in Alberta Canada, 3 weeks of -30, my dealer had over 40 trucks sitting waiting for DEF system repairs from freezing damage. Took them 4 weeks to get my truck back to me. Dealers up here are honest and say the best solution is to delete! It is a safety issue for crews too. Imagine being 300 miles from the nearest town and your truck limiting you to 8 Km per hour because the DEF is frozen. I don't that liability.
The utility company I work for has a gas f250. We don't tow often but it certainly has more pros than cons. I'd continue to buy gassers. They are cheaper, will likely last just as long mechanically (engine aside) and the money saved will go towards the purchase of newer trucks purchased more frequently.
Of course it will last as long for the body parts. BUT THE WHOLE POINT is that the engine and transmission will last longer on a diesel. F250 is cheaper but how much is an engine and tranny? Ever see an HGV Mack, Kenworth with petrol engines???? Ever guessed why?? I do not see why countries use def. Its only used because ultra low sulphur diesel is not being used. ULSD is becoming very common, even merchant ships use it. My diesels in Thailand and the UK dont it. Use clean diesel and the DPF will keep things clean.
I have an 89 F350 Diesel and a 92 F350 gas. I love them both. They don't have all the computer crap on them and I have an old backyard mechanic that will fix anything on them. Alex is amazing and he deserves whatever truck he wants.
I love my 2015 power stroke. 20 mpg highway. Pulls my tractors like they aren't there. Sometimes I forget the trailer is back there until I see the tractor in my mirror! 13mpg with the trailer. Much better than my last gas F350.
The 2016 F350 by the way has 82000 on it no problems with it I'm 3rd owner now. Only thing it has ever done is pull 5th wheel camper trailer 40 ft 14000 lb . previous 2 owners had no problems with it. Yes 6.2 gas.i still love my 2002 F350 super duty 361000 miles on him and 9 foot 6 inch western mvp3 on him. Just put new pion gears and bearings seals in rear end. That was my fault. Hanger bearing went out and I drove it home. $2400 at shop out the door. Now as preventative maintenance .I'm also doing front seals bearings u joints. But at 361000 miles that ain't bad. Truck still books at $25000 here in north central north Dakota.
Ford F-350 6.7 we farm and have pulled everything from tractors ,skid loader,Hay bales,and much more with our truck and we got it in 2012 and still going strong
@@Dirtmonkey I have currently to gas GMC‘s and two diesel‘s we plow every winter in upstate New York almost every given day one of the trucks has a trailer with either a skid steer track hoe or a 20 foot enclosed I’ve had the Fords I’ve had the Dodge’s But it’s like you say as far as work trucks they’re all disposable
Not always about engine... rear axle ratio makes a big difference. Here in north jersey all we do are hills and may I say higher gear ratios are what we need here
I have a 2018 Duramax and love it. Gets 18 to 20 mpg empty and 12 to 14 pulling my 16 ft dump. No problems yet knock on wood . As for def I only add about every oil change around 5000 miles . There are coolant lines in the def tank to thaw it out while you drive . No need to let it sit and run to thaw.
DEF freezes, but the truck doesn't use any until it warms up enough to pump it. After you shut the engine off, the system pumps all the DEF out of the lines so it doesn't freeze them up. I would say the dealer that told you there was a problem with them freezing up really has no idea how the system works. All the manufacturers pretty much have the emissions systems figured out now. Much less chance of issues with DEF systems now.
For diesel it is short drives that don’t let the exhaust system generate enough heat and that leads to problems. I’m learning as now I have both a gasser and a diesel. Alex deserves a diesel, he put all that work on that ford gasser.
It’s not the engines. These truck now a days are just not as work tough as they used to be. Too many people driving them for fun so to speak. That’s fine. But should make a true work truck, stiff heavy springs, and no frills electrical. We would have so many less head aches when trying to get the job done.
@@Dirtmonkey This is 100% the case, I had a 6.7 powerstroke and on long trips the DEF system was not much of an issue, also the coldest I remember was around -15 F or so and mine never froze up. The biggest problem I had is when you go short trips and idle it clogs the filter more often and then it wants to do a clean cycle which requires you drive on the highway (50-60mph) for 20-30 minutes. My shorts trips caused my system to go bad because I didn't want to take the time out of my day to drive for 30 minutes and then that was a expensive repair. Another thing to be aware of is the CP4 injection pump on the 6.7 which has a tendency to fail, regular fuel filer changes every 8,000-10,000 miles will help protect this pump as well as adding a fuel additive for extra lubrication. The Ram with the Cummins went to this Pump in 2019 and went back the the CP3 in 2020 or 2021 because of all the pump failure issues. I switched to a Ram with the Hemi and really like it for what I do, I doubt I will go back to diesel. I usually don't tow any more than 10,000lbs though. average load I tow is 6,000-8000lbs.
@@Dirtmonkey Hi Stan, I have a 2016 Silverado 3500HD pickup single rear wheel with the Duramax and Allison Transmission that I have had since new. I have 46,000 on it and the engine and emission system has been rock solid, no problems. Its whole life has been mostly short trips. I do lots of plowing with it also. I have never had DEF freeze up and I live in New England. The key to keeping the DPF happy and reliable has been the additive I use in the diesel fuel. Hot Shot Secret EDT additive. 3 ounces in my tank each fill up its whole life. Lots of testing has been done on the additive and it shows a tremendous reduction of DPF regeneration cycles because it makes the engine burn so efficiently. Fuel economy goes up and it has lubricity to keep the high pressure fuel pump (CP4) happy and well lubricated. I have mostly owned diesels, tried one gas and could not wait to go back to a Duramax Diesel (I had a 2001 Duramax also). The truck it self has been rock solid also. I think you should buy a 3500HD Silverado with a Duramax to compare it to your other trucks. Great job on your videos!
Switched my daily driver/5th wheel tow vehicle from gas to diesel. I dont buy new vehicles and replaced an 89 k1500 with a 99 f350 srw powerstroke. I wish i would have bought a diesel sooner. I get better fuel mileage, more power and easier to add power. Get him a diesel
my last f-250 i put 113k miles in 5 years before i turned it in. even with firestone not changing the air filter for almost 100k miles the only problem with it was the brakes where gone (the pads were totally worn out.) not a single breakdown at all with a fleet maintenance program followed regularly.
I’ve got a 21 F350 with the 7.3 just shy of 28k miles in Michigan. The 10 speed will give better mileage than the 6.2 or even the ram. I get 9.5mpg pulling a 44 foot toy hauler 15k pounds at 65mph.
Love my 19 Ford Powerstroke, in the winter storm last year here in TX (yes I know it’s not what y’all have up there but it was a big deal here) it ran for 4 days straight without shutting off it was the only guaranteed heat we had because of the blackouts so I didn’t chance shutting it off in case I needed the heat for the family. I also don’t have def anymore though!
Went from 2009 2500HD Silverado 6.0L gas had 361,000 or so. Got a 2014 Ram 2500 with Cummins used and it had check engine when I bought for cheap. Had to replace the injectors as I assume it got bad fuel from a slip tank in the oil field. I bought it with 180,000 or so and now have almost 190,000 since December. I really like towing with it and I am in North Dakota and salt is way less of an issue than when I was down there. My emissions were just fine on this Ram when cold out and the def is frozen it doesn’t use the def at least on mine. Cummins is the best diesel for reliability and ease of repair that is why I got one. The front end on mine is original minus the track bar recall. Ford will have more power driving around town but hook up a trailer and such and the Ram is a beast for that. I am not brand loyal at all but hate paying others to work on my stuff so Cummins it is for me. You should get him a diesel and try it but I think it won’t pay off for your use as all the other stuff breaks just the same. Just remember the way you guys use trucks is very extreme. I would multiply your miles by 3 and that is probably mileage others would be at with your kind of wear and tear that is the nature of it.
If Alex has proven to be loyal to your company and stands out from other employees as someone who earns a $10k engine upgrade as well as takes care of equipment as if he was the owner then I may consider throwing him a bone. But all that said I would hope Alex would realize the added cost to the business without any actual ROI other than rewarding an employee. The same could be said about enclosed cab equipment and AC or radio. It's hard to argue added productivity.
Highly recommend NH Oil Undercoating for all the salt and crap. Will make your rig last so much longer and longer intervals between wearable item repairs due to rust.
@@Dirtmonkey Anytime! You certainly have helped me with great tips and great content man! The least I can do. If you do decide to check it out you can have a tech do it for you on site or do it yourself with their kits. Would be interested in seeing your results with the amount of equipment you have and use during the winter! Keep on keepin on! 🤘
We can thank the California EPA for the diesel problems out there. I own the last year, pre-emissions 7.3 powerstroke and I will not upgrade to a new diesel. If anything, I'll get the 7.3 Godzilla.
I have a 2001 F350 4x4 reg cab auto with 97k on it Dad has a 96 F250 7.3 SC with 150k, 5 SPD. Brother has a 2001 F250 4x4 std reg cab 150k. First two are for sale. Not sure about #3.
I had a 2015 1500 Silverado with the 5.3 for personal use .At 100k miles It started consuming oil so I quickly sold it to a dealer. I decided to start a welding company and purchased a 97 dodge 2500 with a 12v Cummins for $3k and I have about $5k into it now after some repairs. Im gonna see how it does. If I was buying brand new I would of definitely bought a 2500 with the gas motor.
Stan, I personally own a 2020 F350 Diesel. It is far and away the best truck I’ve owned. It lives with a trailer behind it and gets 14mpg. I’ve gotten 22 empty on a highway trip. Mileage aside let’s talk about hard winter work. I’ve had the truck plowing 36 hours straight in rough rough storms with the thing running non stop and it didn’t flinch. No problems. Weeks of below zero temps fires right up weather it’s plugged in or not. Funny story of how I thought I was plugging in the truck for a week straight but realized the extension cord was unplugged at the other end . Here’s what I’ll say - the ford is undoubtedly more expensive but imo there’s a reason for that and you will make the money on the back end. I have 80k on my 2020 and have had two problems (one only really counts) I did have the beginnings of the death wobble - took it into the dealer- I forget what they replaced but that was early at like 15k and haven’t had it happen since. I also had something fly off on a truck on the highway that put a hole in the radiator. That needed to be replaced but that was due to debris. I have friends that have all three brands of diesels. Mine seems to be the most fuel efficient but is the least efficient when it comes to def. I have not had any problems with def freezing even at -25° f. In winter plowing season though you will need to refill every couple thousand miles. Personally I wouldnt get any employee whatever truck they wanted but just from what I see in the videos Alex more than deserves a new truck and I think a new powerstroke is calling his name. Also i would note that price difference is negligible going from 250 to 350 I know some guys like to go the 250 route for gvwr reasons depending on their state etc. With that being said- one knock I’d give the new fords is they seem to squat more that they did even in the 350 srw. Just a note that I’d bump it up if you could. For content purposes I’d like to see a 550 with a switch and go or similar system but it’s easy to say when it’s not my money lol
its easy to want something more expensive when you aren't he one paying for it, just saying. when the injection pump goes out for no reason and costs 10k to replace boss is going to be the one paying up for the employee's bad decision.
First I will say that I don't have much experience with US pickups because I live in Sweden. But I think you should try a diesel again because in my opinion diesel is the best thing too have if you're pulling a lot of trailer. The modern diesel engine is nothing like the older ones and the problems whit the freezing AdBlue/DEF is not a big problem just make chore that there is a heating element in the tank, don't know if RAM or FORD has that as original in the tank but I know that every heavy truck here in Sweden is having a element in the tank and we can drive in -30°C whit out any problems whit the AdBlue/DEF.
My dad has a 2013 Chevy duramax and my grandpa has a 2019 Chevy gas 2500. Both haul livestock trailers and my dad will outperform his gas pickup every time we haul cattle. Caveat, my dad has had to replace his DEF tank pump three times and his glows plugs once. We live in Iowa and has never stored it indoors in the winter and it has never once not started in the middle the night because due to cold. He is a volunteer fireman so he gets in and goes in the middle of night. Side note, no matter what you buy nothing is made to last anymore.
The new 7.3 gas Ford is suppose to be a good engine. But resale value is a huge plus for diesels. I would sell anything now a days before the warranty runs outs
I switched from diesel to gas... I'll have to let you know in a year or 2 once I see if this godzilla works out well. So far so good. When I hear about these costs and mechanical failures I'm so happy with my choice.
I am switching from diesel to gas for my fleet of trucks. Towing 24’ landscape trailer with newer diesel we are getting about 10mpg and with gas 8-9. As far as brand you need to try a Chevy/ gmc 3500 single rear wheel I use all brands and they just seem to hold up the best.
Got a 6.2 2017 f350 with 4:30 rear end, it tows great. Last truck I had was a 2002 7.3 liter f250. I tow a 7k construction trailer everyday, ger about 8.5 mpg all city driving.
I have a deleted 2016 6.7 power stroke. I’m in landscaping and plowing in the southwest metro and have almost 100k miles on it and have never had an issue. I tow 10k pounds daily with it as well. Def fluid does not freeze until -30. And warming the truck up 30 min before will not unfreeze def. My dad still has def and has never had an issue either (113k miles). For plowing heavy piles of snow and hauling heavy loads the diesel is a no brainer in my opinion. Get Alex a diesel!
I still run Ford for all my crew trucks, which were all diesel, but 3 years ago gave up on Diesel. Only have 2 diesels left. All have been replaced with gas. They all break, but diesel are a nightmare to fix. Unfortunately 95 percent of the repairs are DEALER ONLY, and CAB OFF.
In the last 8 years in the company I work at I've driven them all. Started with a2012? F350 6.7 Power stroke (no DEF. It was ok, can't remember the fuel economy on it. Pulled 7K lb loads daily. Next was a 2012 Ram 3500 dually. 410 rear end so Lot's of pulling power, but fuel economy was crap. Next on my list was and is my current 2016 Ram 3500, with a 6.7 Cummings (DEF). also occasionally drove a 2012 GMC 2500 with a 6.7 Duramax (no DEF) pulling a 30' gooseneck, until I could lift it as the neck was too low for my Ram. With a 10000lb Skid steer on the trailer the Duramax I could accelerate to 60 about 5 seconds faster than the Ram. Pulling or not pulling a load the Duramax fuel had close to the same fuel economy. Way better than every other truck. I'm in central Alberta, so deal with -30 to -40 at times in the winter. Haven't had any issues with the DEF freezing up (yet). No major driveline/ steering issues. Driving on the major roads around town, I average (sorry from Canada) 10-11L/ 100km (~23mpg). Pulling a skid steer it goes to about 16-20L/ 100km (~15-10 mpg). Truck currently close to 105000miles (168000km).
it is literally a scientific fact you def is freezing at sub 29 degrees so either you are lying or you dont realize your def is freezing and only melts when you start the truck or you park it indoors with a temp above sub 29 outside
@@pewmcgrew5226 not saying it doesn't freeze, I just don't have issues with it. I do let my truck warm up about 15min in the super cold. I generally don't move my truck until the transmission is about 10°C.
@@StephenWolver lol your def freezes you dont have issues cause you let it warm up wait until your def heater quits then youll have issues with freezing def also you are warming up your vehicle for 15 minutes wasting time fuel, and engine life i can go start my truck wait 2 seconds until my wipers clear my windshield drive off and never worry about freezing fluids i can get in it and go within a minute takes less than 5 minutes to heat the cab while driving
@@pewmcgrew5226 I wouldn't buy anything you have owned if you don't warm it up in sub zero temps , that truck will have a short life , but hey its your dollar .
I'm glad I sprung for the 250 over a 150. I went with the 6.2 gas over the power stroke. Although my mileage is a few mpg less I really do not need the torque of the diesel. My alum trailer doesn't weigh enough to need to the diesel but it does help to go for the 3/4 ton so the trailer is kept in check by the truck.
Stan I do mostly hardscaping, ive had 2nd gen dodges both gas and diesel, and over the years now i made the switch to ford. I have a diesel f350 and a gas f450 dump truck. The dump truck doesnt put on the mileage so i went the gas route there and the diesel i use everyday, biggest thing with the diesel is the towing and also the towing mode on it makes stopping easier. Fords to me have been so much easier to work on.I would say in your case i would upgrade to a f350 whether gas or diesel going from 3/4 to 1 ton makes a big difference, even with single rear wheel. Im not in the snow plowing game anymore it just hammers equipment more than its worth in my area, and id say that is whats doing it to your trucks more than landscaping. If your going to buy new trucks i look for a way to do snow removal with just your skid loaders and wheel loaders, they built to take more abuse.
The ambulance I drive at work has the 7.3 Godzilla engine and it’s a beast. 150k miles on it and it’s going strong. No major issues per the mechanics. It’s sounds nasty bone stock. 7.8 miles per gallon though
I would have to say 7.8 MPG in an ambulance is damn good because I believe a ambulance application is about the worst platform for fuel mileage that you could possibly have. You're either doing a lot of idling or when you're on call a lot of hard running speeding up that happened to slow down for stoplights and speed up again and slow down for stoplights and curves and obstacles and traffic plus not to mention an ambulance body isn't really built for aerodynamics and it is heavy with all the supplies and everything you all have to carry on board
Stan I think I would go for another Ford. I hear good things about the aluminum bodies. Engine wise, hard to say. The new 7.3 gasser is a beast. I think like most people are saying diesel is good for long hauls. I know many people at work who have had so many issues with newer diesels. I vote for the gas motor. Hope you can find something. Slim pickings out there.
The ranchers here mostly dried GMC and Ford diesel one tons, they say they perform better than Dodge. For cold weather, just put the fuel and block heaters on the diesels. That's always worked for me, granted, but I drive old junk. With vehicle prices so high, restoring a truck may now be cheaper than buying new. I just restored drivetrain in my van and everything attached to it for under twenty thousand. Just a thought :-) thanks for all the videos, very informative. Curt
Chevy Express Van guy here. They have been around forever, parts are easy to source. I can tow 10k no problem along with my tools in the van. If you don't need 4wd the express is a great work platform and the 6.0 or 6.6 gasser is a work horse. It's all about maintenance. I plan to get 400k out of the van with a new transmission around 200k.
Been in -40 never had my def freeze. Diesel is king when it comes to hauling 40+ mins away. Theirs also no point of a gas 6-7 yard dump truck that also hauls equipment.
Def freezes at like 14 degrees. It’s 66% water and 33% urea. You just don’t know it freezes because as soon as you start the truck the heater kicks on And starts to melt it.
I’ve personally owned 2 7.3 idis, 8 7.3 Powerstrokes, 3 6.0 Powerstrokes, 2 6.4 Powerstrokes, 3 6.7 Powerstrokes, a 5.9 cummins, a 6.6 duramax and a chevy 6.5 turbo diesel. I personally think the best factory diesel is the 6.7 Powerstroke. Go with that would be my suggestion
@@jason_l5p the emissions systems have come a long way since 2008. I have a 96 7.3 and a 2012 6.7 PSD, and I’d take the 2012 any day. The issue with pre-emissions trucks is that they’re all at least 10 years old at this point and regardless of mileage, they’ll have issues purely due to age.
@@anthonyv9699 they have come along way for sure. But they are still the biggest issue with modern diesel trucks. The sole reason fleets choose gas trucks over diesel is because of the failure prone and expensive parts involved with diesel trucks emission systems.Ask any diesel mechanic, the most common failure is the emissions systems. They leave people stranded, and costs companies thousands. With no support from the manufacturer or government, the consumer is left with the issues. Which is why many people choose gas trucks or risk deleting emissions. But frankly those days are gone. The biggest problem is the government forces these regulations, but do not reimburse the consumer for lost time or money due to mechanical failure. The manufacturers are also at risk. They are forced to engineer these systems in a very short period of time and meet very stringent regulations to appease the EPA.Which in turn creates a high risk of failure. Yet the government lends the consumer no support when failure occurs due to their overreaching regulations. Sorry this is long but just my two cents.
I've had great luck with my 2019 f350 xl with the 6speed. I only tow no plowing. My enclosed trailer weighs around 12k loaded and I get 10-12mpg on the highway at 70mph. My equipment and dump very in weight but with around 9-10k on I'm getting 12-14 mpg. Max I've ever told is around 15K. In tow haul mode with the exhaust brake I could hardly tell the trailer was there. Stopping or starting. Would probably be a little bit better with the new 10 speed fuel economy and braking.
I just bought my first Chevy 2500 gasser. I have always run the super duty’s but couldn’t get one. So far the Chevy seems like a good truck. I’ll know better after I push some snow with it.
Based on what he said I’d say diesel but I would suggest, have you guys looked at GMC or Chevy diesels? Food for thought too, chevy and gmc offer a 2.7L turbo gas engine that makes 5 hp and 10 ft lb of torque less than their 6.2L V-8 in exchange for about 2 mpg better fuel economy if I remember the numbers right. Base models were starting at $35k and well equipped ones were going for $65k when I looked at them last year. One thing to note, all their new models, gas and diesel have a sealed intake meaning the wading depth of the vehicle without a snorkel is up to the top of the hood. Not that you dunk your trucks but that sealed intake could help prevent corrosion in the engine by limiting moisture from getting into the engine. Just a thought Stan
a 4 cylinder turbo wont survive moving any sort of equipment around. It will live at over 5k rpm and eventually destroy itself. Good for commuting and occasional towing, but not for constantly plowing or towing lawn equipment.
So back in the day i always wanted turbo diesels for the torque, but after watching gov change the fuel & all the older diesels had injector pump issues cause of it, then they added DEF requirements. It was too much hassle & I feared future fuel changes again. I just started to stay with gas and spent less overall. The engine power on gas has gotten a lot better than back in the day and a bit of mpg difference is lost on fuel cost difference and DEF. I still would prefer diesel, but only if someone else was paying for it.
I work as a fleet mechanic and all the plow trucks' suspension gets rebuilt probably every other year. As far as those manifolds go they crack all the time, it's even better when the studs break in there and you have to extract them. On the Ram have you had the codes pulled on vehicle?
The only problems I see with modern diesels are the added emissions nonsense, most of wich doesn't help with emissions in the slightest and only shorten the engine lifespan and reduce fuel economy and increase overall operating costs.
Worse, as you can add that the system actually increases fuel usage by up to 50%. While it only filters out barely 10% of the exhaust pollutants, most of which would just settle to the ground and would not remain airborne and be a health hazard unless they were standing behind the vehicle and breathing the exhaust... It's just nuts!
@@ZeoCyberG Oh it’s worse than that, DEF, or AdBlue as we call it here in Europe, is actually just a mix of water and piss (urea). The politicians are literally taking the piss out of vehicle owners!
@@chrisryan3770 Yes, aware of that part. Reason also why you have to worry about it freezing and need to let the vehicle heat up in cold weather and it's the part you have to re-fill every so often to add to the ongoing costs, along with the up to 50% more fuel the whole system uses to clean that at most 10% of the exhaust... But somehow ignore that big increase in carbon emission... Like I said, just nuts! We can go on for hours with all the details on why it's nuts...
Diesel all day and ford all day. My dad has the 2017 f 250 diesel. That’s the first year of the newer body style. Has about 100k miles on it never had a problem. No he doesn’t pull or haul trailers daily like you guys but for a truck with tons of power it has it all.
whats the point of owning a truck with power if you dont tow or work with it sounds like your dad got suckered into buying something he didnt need for a price he didnt need to pay for a truck that costs more to operate than regular gas
Thanks for doing this video Stan👍👍 I've had 2 pre-admission diesels trucks. One Duramax and one Cummins. Now I'm driving gas trucks. With Diesels You're paying more for a diesel up front and the fuel is lot higher + the repairs cost twice as much! I'm done with them! Gas trucks all the way !
We went from a gas Ram to a diesel Ram mainly for the fuel economy. We tow a lot and the diesel tows better with at least 50% better mileage driving over 50k miles per year. We're in southern Texas so corrosion and def freeze is not an issue. Oh, and we dont do any plowing 😁
My rule of thumb is 50% or more loaded, get a diesel. 50% less, get a gas. There is a reason you don't see gas semi's.
Good motto
@@Dirtmonkeylllll I
True
The right tool for the job pulling and pushing make sure you got enough truck to get the job done. There are always going to be issues either way just choose how often you want them by getting a truck that can handle it!
Stop and go, loaded in town use, lots of idol
do not buy diesel! Soot is the killer of the emissions. No idol time on new diesel.
Gassers crank up every time. Your in flat country . Working man ain't racing
By the man what he wants. If it’s his work wagon and you trust him then in my opinion it’s a no brainer
😅👌
I think totally opposite of that, It's the owner of the company who choses what he is buying since it's his money buying and maintaining. The purchase has to make sense for the business. Then again if your thinking of experimenting get it for him then you can say I told you so if it doesn't work out and if it does you can say i'm glad I bought that one for you.
That is not how business is run. You don’t spend 10/15k extra on a tool just to make a employee happy especially when they may not be with the company as long as the truck.
I would do 2 things. I would buy a modern gasser 7.3l ford or the 6.6l GM truck. Then get a power stroke because he likes ford. Test them and see how they hold up. Great content and will finally answer the age old question. Diesel vs Gas for people that actually use their trucks.
But track everything. Oil change costs, fuel, fuel filters, any accessories. This could be a huge draw for the channel
I'd love to see a head to head comparison of that kinda "equipment"
Good thinking 👌
I haven't gone diesel yet. I probably will at some point but I'm hoping they work out DEF issues first. I can honestly tell you the 6.6 gas Chevy sucks. They only offer a 3.73 axle ratio. It has 464lbft of torque but my ram with 429lbft runs circles around the Chevy because of the 8 speed and the 4:10
@@simonbrown4653 I've been driving DEF diesels since they came out, roughly 50k miles a year. I've had one failure on an early one, a reductant(def) pump. Been around fleets of these trucks and they don't seem to have any more issues than they did before DEF. Other than the guys driving them like they stole them, they're fleet trucks, they didn't buy em... Maybe the particulate filters are the canary in the coalmine for aggressive drivers... Which would make sense, hammer down on a pre def truck brings the smoke.
Yeah get rid of this bs epa and the diesel would win hands down. It’s more energy efficient then gasoline.
I have seen three F-350 work trucks over 300k miles, and the interiors were still in great shape and everything worked. A lot of the longevity factor relies on how well the truck is cared for. I think if you regularly pull heavy loads a diesel is the only option, as all the new gas trucks are competing with smaller and smaller engines which have to work harder to do the same job. I'll take a diesel over a twin turbo v6 any day.
These guys are using their trucks as plow and landscape trucks though. It’s the roughest life you can have for a truck probably
@@dander0091 Doesn't mean you can't take care of them. The trucks I'm talking about work on farms, hauling hay and horses, so they definitely get put through their paces. Maintenance is key, and it doesn't hurt to clean them once in a while either 😉
@Steven Seagull good points. It probably doesn’t help when you put employees behind the wheel in these types of situations. They’re just trying to get a job done and quickly without much thought as to equipment longevity
I have a 2010 Tundra 5.7, it pulls my lawn care trailer all the time. I'll also buy an F250 for plowing snow next season. The Tundra has enough torque to pull anything all day, and I agree about the Twin turbo V6. I'll never buy one of the new trucks, Ford or Toyota, with that engine. I can't believe the reliability will be there.
Well ford is pumping out 7.3 gas and the new HD 6.2 gas now they say are way better. Something to think of before getting a diesels or V6 Turbo if your towing.
If the EPA stuff accidentally falls off, you’re golden…diesel ftw
Yeah the epa needs to go now.
Free this diesel from the oppressive shackles of the epa
👌
@@benjaminleslie3155 Yes!!! 😆
Just don't get caught by the DOT. They are cracking down with hefty fines for that, then you have to have it all put back on and show proof before you can have the truck back on the road. As a personal truck 👍 heck yeah, not for my work truck. I need that thing on the road making money. Another reason I run gas at work. Any engine problems are quicker and less expensive. Every shop has mechanics that work on gas, few have good diesel mechanics. The shop near me only has one diesel mechanic and 30 other mechanics, it takes 2 weeks lo ger to get a diesel in to get fixed on average because of it
Get Alex the F-350 Super Duty Diesel with a plug in engine heater so in the winter he's able to get out and plow in the middle of the night without having to run the truck for 30 minutes before he needs to leave. And get the extended warrantee that covers everything to at least 100,000 miles. 👍🏻
go big or go home your saying
Warranties don't keep the trucks on the road. Business want reliability not promises to fix problems.
@@Dirtmonkey Alex is gonna be your next Blaine, he's dedicated to your company, help him be successful for you. You need a good towing truck to carry the heavy trailer, loader and excavator. Isn't Christmas coming in just a few months down the road?
Er....Diesel has evolved over the years. They are direct injection and don't need long glow plug cycles.
My VW TDI starts at 0F no block heater.
Also, diesels actually cool down when idling vs waiting 30 seconds after start up at those temps then driving off. Heat goes out exhaust and not absorbed by engine.
@@Dirtmonkey forget the plug in heater get a parking heater webasto diesel heater pre heat you engine before you turn it on and the cab can be warm
Just speaking from my own experience, we operate a trash pickup service in Arkansas. We have 2 F350 2016 6.7 Diesel Trucks and 5 F350 2019 Gassers. The gassers are pushing 30-60k miles and the two Diesel's are pushing past the 120k mile marks. All of them have the beds replaced with a much larger boxed cage to hold all the trash in it. It is very much a stop and go environment and each vehicle will average 100-200 miles a day and they are operated 4 days a week on some very rough dirt roads with some pavement driving also. They spend most of the day loaded down with weight. The two diesel's average 8-9 mpg and the 5 gassers average around the 6-7mpg.
Just from my experience with the Diesels are that they are just a better pulling, hauling truck compared to the 2019 gassers. The transmissions on the Diesels just do not have to work as hard and are way smoother shifting through the gears, where the gassers they struggle. Constant shifting with high rpm revs to try and pull the hills. 2 of the gassers transmission are already starting to slip some because of it.
As far as wear and tear goes, they both equally go through front end parts (ball joints, ujoints, ect.) Seems about every 1 1/2 to 2 years they need replacing with what we go through. The only big issues with the Diesels we have run into is one Diesel had to have all the speed sensors replaced in it and at the 121k mile mark the turbo decided to self-destruct and had to be replaced.
While we don't have loads of sub zero days we have not ever experienced def freeze, though you do have to keep some extra juice around to dump in to keep the diesel fuel from wanting to gel up at super cold days.
For our work and the amount of weight we are hauling around on a daily basis everyone here agrees the Diesels are the best two out of the fleet and next rough of truck buying will be for Diesels across the board.
Something to keep in mind is resell / trade in value. Diesels seem to hold that value for a longer period then a normal Gasser does from our experience.
Stan, small business owner here. Bought 21 f350 dually service truck one year ago. Has the 7.3l gas but is de-tuned because of cab chassis. It weighs 11,000 lbs and after 23,700 miles has averaged 10.5 mpg. That’s 50/50 highway and city with 25%towing 10-12,000 lbs. Completely satisfied with performance.
Love to hear it! Thanks
I have an 2020 F350 7.3 Gasser 10 speed transmission with 4.30 gears in the rear end. 430hp with 450 or 475 torque.
I pull almost everyday 10,000lb mini excavator or a 10,000lb skid. I'm amazed with this truck it gets the job done.
Sweeeet 👌
Same here, best truck I've owned
what kind of mpg do you get?
@@sawyerdonnel6985 I'm getting 15-16 mpg I've heard some getting better and some worse. All in how you drive I guess.
Empty, You're not getting 15-16mpg pulling 10,000lbs
I bought a gas gmc 2500 to haul with and after a year I traded in for the diesel. I have 50k on it and I’ve maintained it very well with no issues so far. Gas vs diesel is night and day, towing a lot and uphill is hard for the gas. With the cost of the Diesel engine being so much more I would say if you’d save money on fuel. I got 4-5miles to the gallon towing the same as my duels getting 11-14 miles a gallon.
Btw you’re awesome and I’ve learned a bunch from your videos, thanks.
Thanks for sharing! & for caring 😊👍
I’ve been running diesel (duramax) and hauling plowing since 2008 and wouldn’t go in any 3/4 1 ton without a diesel. Just purrs pushing heavy snow and the torque is too addicting towing!
Great video valid points. Each engine has there own advantages and disadvantages. For me with my small Hardscape business I find a diesel In a 550 platform fits my needs for hauling and towing. It’s not a daily, I have a gasser for that!
Stan, I live here in MN too and never have had any issues with DEF freeze up in our trucks. We run both Gassers and Diesels and actually the gassers are harder to start in the winter. They sit outside year around. In 2023 we will be buying some new trucks and they all will be diesel
I’m in Quebec, Canada… F250 Diesel working hardscaping and would never go back to gaz… Just for the torque when towing… And the price difference between gaz and diesel makes up for the payment of the truck. Diving up hill like crazy. And for DEF that freezes up… Never had that issue. I drive about 30k milles/year
Awesome info thanks!
If I had a business in a northern state, I would totally come down south here and buy trucks a year or 2 old and take them north. You lose so much money buying brand new just for them to not last more than a few years.But If you must buy new, I would LOVE to see you buy a gas and diesel version of the exact same truck. Then track them both.
That’s a cool idea 👍
As a mechanic I cringe, cringe, cringe every time the office brings me a Ford project. Electrical gremlins and the useless weak aluminum body so weak the door jams crack. You open the hood and it's just an ungodly mess of hoses and wires and I have to usually remove everything just to get to simple jobs.
Bring me a GMC. They are just better designed and less headache to fix if things go bad.
But what do I know, I just do this for a living.
@@jaysunkreuze1466 I just couldn't buy a truck with an Aluminum body. I guess I give Ford a little bit of credit for taking a huge gamble and trying to change the game. At the end of the day though it might not be a good application for aluminum.
Bingo! I live/work in Calif where trucks don't rust away and the body out-lasts the engine/trans. Now, I look for older with low(er) miles and lived it's whole life free of snow and ice.
A trick to the DEF in the winter freezing is keep def tank at 1/2 full or less. If the tank is full and freezes the tank will crack eventually. I’ve been running diesels for years and I never have many issues, but I also follow strict maintenance.
Thank you for the advice
Hi Stan,I have a 2000 6.5 4x4 dump with 80,000 miles I bought 8 years ago.Fairly easy to work on ,but constantly fighting the salt in Western Mass.I also do all my own work and there's been plenty of it that Ive done on the little things motor and trans are ok.
Have you ever heard of New Hampshire oil undercoat? It’s a lanolin based undercoat and I have my winter beater 02 4 runner sprayed with it and every year when I go get it applied the guy is swamped with plow trucks as it just keeps the salt and moisture off everything besides exhaust. Not sure where you’re from but my guy is in Upton. I’m quite sure there’s someone who does it closer to you in western MA.
The best thing I did was to get out of a regular pickup(3/4) and switch to hd. I went to a 19 450/v10/12’ scelzi bed first. It got 7mpg. Ran ok, nothing like my diesel 250. Traded it on for almost what I paid for it on a new 20 550/6.7/12’ scelzi bed 16 months later. My 550 gets about 12mpg. It weighs 12k lbs and it gets about 12 mpg consistently. It routinely has 18k lbs behind it. Mileage is about the same. The 6.7 has been rock solid as has the truck. Would never go back to a lighter setup. My 550 has about 25’ of box’s, talk about convenience being a gc and needing lots of tools.
Absolutely correct. Stan's fleet is undersized for the application. Hey Stan.....gotta go bigger!
Cool beans thanks for the info I’ll keep that in mind
@@Dozz70 I disagree
I’m partial to ram for gas trucks, but I spent the last three years running a ford ambulance with the 6.7 power stroke and that thing is like a Cadillac. Smooth, reliable, and plenty of power. We also have an f-550 flatbed brush truck with the 6.7 on some 44” tires and it’s a monster. Goes anywhere. We keep them plugged in 24/7 so that’s a factor but never any issues with their of them.
Sweet 👌
I have a 2000 F350 7.3. Purchase used...spent over 5-10K to fix frontend, AC, Brakes, etc. I have less than less than 30K in it and it has been a great work truck. I would preferred the duramax but they had lots of injector problems in the beginning.
Buy Alex a Ford 6.7 Power stroke. We use one for our construction company and it can haul the goose neck loaded with our telehandler (30k) and several other pieces of equipment with no problem. It's almost scary how well it pulls with the big loads, it can definitly move the loads down the road quicker than most trailers can safely brake. It averages 14 MPG while towing various trailers and 16-17 MPG empty. Also get the largest fisher plow you can get for it. (Disclaimer- it was DEF deleted at 120,000 miles and now has over 155,000 miles and is also a dually second gen 6.7) The third gen is supposed to be better especially with the new 10 speed auto transmission (Ram does not offer that by the way). The exhaust brake is a huge benefit when hauling large loads. Don't listen to all the comments about the good ole engines, the new technology in these trucks are amazing and mostly proven at this point. These are not the trucks of yester-year, I've owned and driven them all, I know. There isn't anything that I will think twice about hooking to. I also prefer the Ford mirrors, I tow a lot and spend a lot of time looking back and the ford mirrors seem better. I've never had to plug my truck in either, just wait for the glow plug light and start it up even on the coldest mornings.
Wow good stuff thank you very much for sharing!
I’ve been a heavy equipment diesel mechanic for 15yrs. The newer diesel equipment will bankrupt a small company when it needs repair. Our old equipment in the fleet hardly ever comes into the shop for anything other than a service check. The new stuff practically lives in the shop. We’ll take one back after a few thousand in parts and grab another and bring that back and start over. If gas is a option in anything, get that. Whatever “economy” you get with a diesel is quickly thrown away when the first repair comes, and it’ll be way sooner than you think.
This ^^^
I'm also a mechanic and agree. Diesels we're meant to run 24/7. Short runs and cold starts is bad for modern diesels. For the guy who hauls cars and campers cross country, diesel all the way. But if you are just cranking up 10 times a day and making grocery runs, that diesel is going to drain your wallet.
GMC makes, in my opinion, the best gasser work truck with the 6.6. That thing is absolutely a beast!
Legit comment right here.
I’ve been running a brand new duramax and have not had one issue I put 45k in one year live northern NH never had a freezing issue and cost lest than it did to run my Chevy Silverado gas. Def does not suck it sucks if you do not understand how it works. Also getting over 20mpg with a enclosed car trailer
I work on a rental fleet with both! I would do the happy dance I'd we sold off all the diesels!
diesel. I have 2 dodges. one 08 3500 deleted with the 6.7 cummins, i also have a 14 deleted with the 6.7 cummins and they pull like no other, do really well on fuel, power all day. I will never leave the emissions on because of all the issues it causes, the harm it does to the motor.
Yes, the emissions are the reason diesels suk these days.
I'd rather put those 6.7's in older body trucks.
I have a 6.7 Cummins, and a 70 Chevy.
I dont have to worry about emissions.
Comes down to maintenance costs and time for me, I personally drive a f350 SRW diesel while the work crew get gassers. I plug in over winter, use anti-gel for those below freezing temps, fuel filters changed religiously, water separator drained monthly & etc. Plan on buying a 7.3 Godzilla gasser next for the guys, might get one myself if it passes the test.
But for Alex, if he’s constantly towing >10k lbs diesel or 7.3 Godzilla looks to be the way. Deciding factor is if he’s going to keep up with maintenance or not. The powerstrokes do come with a 100k warranty.
As an HVAC service tech in the Northeast I've had both gas and diesel trucks. I've found that based on the loads I carry and the mileage I do a diesel is best. I tow a trailer full time and travel about 30K miles a year, total weight on my F-450 is about 14K lbs. With good maintenance any truck/engine pairing will do you well. Good luck with your decision.
Thanks for sharing! Good to know your diesel was worth it
Alex is the man! And a critical piece of the Dirt Monkey Force. I’ve always enjoyed him and his input - he’s always been one of my favs.
He’s young and always takes care of his vehicles - he deserves the diesel Ford that he wants. Come on, Stan! 😃
I have lots of friends running Ford diesels, personally and commercially - majority have great luck with their trucks up to 100K+ miles. If you run into too many issues, sell it and get another. There are plenty of good trucks out there on the road. Not worth the time and money to get buried in a lemon.
Keep up the great work gentlemen! 👍🍻
Haha I hear ya there. Definitely don’t want any lemons!
I have a ford F-350 diesel and I love it never had a problem with the DEF. Alex definitely needs a 350 it’s great to tow with and the diesel has plenty of power to get out of your own way when towing a trailer
Facts 👌
Mine doesnt have def(made before the requirements) runs like a dream
Stan with 7.3 F350 super duty.i would wait probably 5 years before trying one. Why let them get the short coming out of them. If they do have any. That's why I waited on buying a 6.2 F350. Course cost of diesel now is another factor. The 350 would be better plow truck for you. They have the Dana solid front an rear axles. I do like the full locker system on my 2016 350. Makes heck of difference in snow mud ice when locked in. No more kicking side ways on rear end. Well not near as much. Way more traction. Looking at putting full locker on rear end of my 02 350 now too.
My 2015 f250(Gas) crew cab with fully loaded 9 ft utility box gas pulls my 14 k trailer with Avant 640 and cmc60Ap lift daily with ease. More than enough power. I also have an 08 f450 diesel I dump money into which pulls even better but is pre def so cant speak for that. I was raised all GM and Chevy then when I grew up to be a man, I found Ford. I own a tree business and need solid work truck(stiff front and rear end for plowing and hauling), not a comfortable cruiser. Go Ford gas fyi (I get about 7-9 mpg's on both trucks loaded city driving).
Stanley thanks for all the work and gear knowledge and fun content
Thanks for letting me know & for being here! 😁
Yup, it's all about making an informed decision based on what you will be using the vehicle for, what the vehicle's capabilities are, and what the feedback from other owners is.
IMO, the biggest mistake is buying "good enough" to save a little up-front money because almost invariably you'll be paying a lot more down the road. It's why I try and up-spec' when I can, to give a bit more over-head when I'm really pushing things harder than I should.
Remember, the manufacturers of the trucks are building to a budget and will trade of a higher warrantly claim rate for a small number of customers against greater profits for all the rest.
Sure, some of the diesel environmental BS is a PITA, but when you check out the problems with fine carbon particulates, it makes sense.
I'm a little surprised the people that do block heaters haven't, apparently, come up with a DEF heater - oh, and what about transmission heaters? I don't recall the last time I even saw a frost, so a bit ignorant of what you guys in the north deal with...
If there's a known problem with, say, the front axle assembly having numerous failure points, spend the money and bullet proof it are the start, or at least after the first failure, with proven parts - sure, it's more expensive but it isn't just the direct costs, it's the cost of having the vehicle in the shop and not earning it's keep.
Great info. Im going to try and sell our trucks after 4-5 years and just rotate. Weve had a horrible 2 years with repairs on EVERYTHING. mowers, blowers, trimmers, chainsaws, skid steers, plows, aerators ect. I think they are making equipment cheaper and/or rushing everything out to public. Ford gas 7.3 L
Man I’m sorry to hear that. Hope ya get better luck asap
I'm a diesel tech at Ford...
Keep in mind GVWR of the diesel f250. You'll be overloading that truck way more easily as the diesel takes around1000lbs off the payload.
Ford Diesels have issues with rads leaking, oil pans leaking, DEF heaters, engine lights for many sensors. Fuel filters. Maintenance and repairs is 3x more. 10x the sensors to fail too.
Diesels only shine when you tow heavy. Idle time kills the emissions systems. The starting ahead of time 30 mins is nonsense I've never heard that one lol.
DEF isn't really used when the engine is cold. DEF reduces NOX, no NOX on a cold engine. it'll thaw well before the system needs it.
Buy him a 7.3 f250. Been a good engine so far. Better on gas than the 6.2 it seems to. For your use plowing you don't need or want a diesel. And if you buy a diesel. Get rid of it before 3yrs/36k mile basic warranty is up.
Well said. Thanks for sharing 🙌
Got a 2016 Cummins. As soon as it was out of warranty (100,000 miles) the emission system crapped out. Now my old exhaust is sitting behind my shed and my truck runs better than ever. I am keeping my fingers crossed on the rest of the truck but no promises there! My truck now gets 22 mpg with no load.
I have a 2017 f250 6.7. Diesel I have found it works great for me. Since I am always towing. And I do commercial snow for the winter As far as emissions go. It’s best to get rid of it. You don’t need to pay for DEF nor worry about re gen, etc. I found the EGTS tend to stay cooler as well.
Makes sense 👌
Do you have issues registering your truck if you delete it, where you live? Where I'm at, if you have one Arkansas side, you're probably fine, but Texas side, more of a risk.
Alex knows his stuff! Buy him whatever he wants haha
If only 🤣
I didn't have much experience with diesel trucks until this past year. Being a lifetime Wisconsin resident and having just seen a very long, cold winter, I wouldn't buy a modern diesel unless I absolutely needed the extra pulling power. Our company trucks were down constantly from DEF related issues, as we have to store them outside. Our literally brand new Ram bucket truck was down for over a month because one cold night froze up the DEF pump. I got a '22 Silverado with the 6.6 gasser, and so far its been pretty impressive. 30,000 miles in 5 months with some intermittent heavy towing and its holding up well, I've seen it get high as 19 mpg as well, but it usually settles around 16 on the highway with no trailer.
A little late to the party but something to consider. I have the f-550 2013. It's been a great truck. The biggest problem I have is the maintenance that we run is expensive although reliable. It's also difficult when you do have a problem finding a good diesel mechanic and turn around time to get it back. It's also far more expensive to maintain our diesel trucks as opposed to the gassers. Even the dealership lead times are weeks out for repairs. Call around and find out what an oil change and with a fuel filter cost is versus a gas or also call around and ask how long it takes to get it in for service in general.
My vote. Ford F-350 STX with the 7.3 Gas Godzilla, front and rear fender liners, snowplow prep package, tow package, locking rear diff, cab roof lights, box lights, and dual batteries.
I’m driving a ‘12 F250 6.7 and it was far more reliable than my gas GMC HD’s. However, my next truck will be a gas 7.3. Both engines will handle almost all towing needs. However the $/mile for the gas engine is lower given the 100K mile life here in the salt belt. The diesel is $8K more than the 7.3, diesel fuel is almost $1 more than gas here in VT, and at best I only get 3 - 4 mpg better than the gas engines. And yes you may get more $ for a diesel when you sell it but you still don’t break even.
Add to that the increased complexity of the diesel. Gas engines don’t have turbos, intercoolers, very high pressure fuel pumps, expensive oil and fuel filter changes, DEF tank assemblies that include a temperature sensor, a heater, a DEF quality sensor, and a level (full or empty) sensor, exhaust filters that needs to regenerate, etc.
The more complex the machine, the higher probability of failure.
I went with a 7.3Ls in my new 350 Ford's.
Absolutely love them. I have one dually and one SRW.
Going forward I'll be buying the 7.3s to replace all the older trucks.
Good to know thanks 👊
Ram 3500 Cummins single rear wheel with Aisin transmission! Great combination for what you do. I personally like the dually and would never own anything else. My truck is all original 211,000 miles and runs great! I use Rotella T-6 synthetic 5-40 change it at 7,000 miles and fuel filters at 10,000 . Remember maintenance is critical and it will definitely make the truck last!
Facts 👏
I have run all the diesel brands. 6.7 Cummins is power wise is hands down my favorite. Pulling my skid and attachments I have gotten 14mpg traveling empty I have gotten 22mpg. Be religious about the details filters oil tires. Rinse the salt off as often as possible they will serve you well. Having an exhaust break and heavier trans/ torque converter from the factory will save a ton on your breaks and suspension parts. Go diesel.
Also air bags in the back of a 3/4 rock. Go get em have a blessed day thanks for the content Stan.
Regarding the DEF freezing up, I have never seen this issue, and we have many days below zero here in Ohio. It is possible, but I don't think it's a rampant issue. Get the man his diesel truck! Great video Stan
We have weeks at a time weather is below zero in Wisconsin and Minnesota common problem here in the north
@@braun11 I believe it, you guys get -40 in the winter, that is really hard on machines. They always say park inside, but what about after its been sitting on the job all day? Thanks for the reply
It is a big issue in Canada. Wintertime constantly
@@timorjeanetteplante785 they should make a heater kit with insulation for the tank or something. If only there were some way to delete that system entirely...😉
Last january here in Alberta Canada, 3 weeks of -30, my dealer had over 40 trucks sitting waiting for DEF system repairs from freezing damage. Took them 4 weeks to get my truck back to me. Dealers up here are honest and say the best solution is to delete! It is a safety issue for crews too. Imagine being 300 miles from the nearest town and your truck limiting you to 8 Km per hour because the DEF is frozen. I don't that liability.
The utility company I work for has a gas f250. We don't tow often but it certainly has more pros than cons. I'd continue to buy gassers. They are cheaper, will likely last just as long mechanically (engine aside) and the money saved will go towards the purchase of newer trucks purchased more frequently.
Ya got some good pointers there
Of course it will last as long for the body parts. BUT THE WHOLE POINT is that the engine and transmission will last longer on a diesel. F250 is cheaper but how much is an engine and tranny? Ever see an HGV Mack, Kenworth with petrol engines???? Ever guessed why??
I do not see why countries use def. Its only used because ultra low sulphur diesel is not being used. ULSD is becoming very common, even merchant ships use it. My diesels in Thailand and the UK dont it. Use clean diesel and the DPF will keep things clean.
I have an 89 F350 Diesel and a 92 F350 gas. I love them both. They don't have all the computer crap on them and I have an old backyard mechanic that will fix anything on them.
Alex is amazing and he deserves whatever truck he wants.
Haha we’ll see about that 😂👍
I also like the trucks with less “computer crap” on them
Seems like you’re mixing fun & work! Trying to keep mall truck, but need the work truck! Good luck 🍀👍🏻
I love my 2015 power stroke. 20 mpg highway. Pulls my tractors like they aren't there. Sometimes I forget the trailer is back there until I see the tractor in my mirror! 13mpg with the trailer. Much better than my last gas F350.
Hahah that is awesome and sounds like a breeze
The 2016 F350 by the way has 82000 on it no problems with it I'm 3rd owner now. Only thing it has ever done is pull 5th wheel camper trailer 40 ft 14000 lb . previous 2 owners had no problems with it. Yes 6.2 gas.i still love my 2002 F350 super duty 361000 miles on him and 9 foot 6 inch western mvp3 on him. Just put new pion gears and bearings seals in rear end. That was my fault. Hanger bearing went out and I drove it home. $2400 at shop out the door. Now as preventative maintenance .I'm also doing front seals bearings u joints. But at 361000 miles that ain't bad. Truck still books at $25000 here in north central north Dakota.
Nice one Stan. 👍👍🏴🏴
Ford F-350 6.7 we farm and have pulled everything from tractors ,skid loader,Hay bales,and much more with our truck and we got it in 2012 and still going strong
That’s a shocker to me! Thanks for sharing though
GMC Duramax diesel is what I run. Never had a problem. I run own construction company and I’ve got 275000 on it as of today
Never had a problem? Whatta blessing
@@Dirtmonkey I have currently to gas GMC‘s and two diesel‘s we plow every winter in upstate New York almost every given day one of the trucks has a trailer with either a skid steer track hoe or a 20 foot enclosed I’ve had the Fords I’ve had the Dodge’s But it’s like you say as far as work trucks they’re all disposable
Not always about engine... rear axle ratio makes a big difference. Here in north jersey all we do are hills and may I say higher gear ratios are what we need here
Man that seems totally backwards seems you would want a lower gear for hills and higher gear for flathighways?
I have a 2018 Duramax and love it. Gets 18 to 20 mpg empty and 12 to 14 pulling my 16 ft dump. No problems yet knock on wood . As for def I only add about every oil change around 5000 miles . There are coolant lines in the def tank to thaw it out while you drive . No need to let it sit and run to thaw.
DEF freezes, but the truck doesn't use any until it warms up enough to pump it. After you shut the engine off, the system pumps all the DEF out of the lines so it doesn't freeze them up. I would say the dealer that told you there was a problem with them freezing up really has no idea how the system works. All the manufacturers pretty much have the emissions systems figured out now. Much less chance of issues with DEF systems now.
Always funny (but not surprising) when someone commenting seems to know more than the actual dealers out here 😂
For diesel it is short drives that don’t let the exhaust system generate enough heat and that leads to problems. I’m learning as now I have both a gasser and a diesel.
Alex deserves a diesel, he put all that work on that ford gasser.
Interesting 🤔
It’s not the engines. These truck now a days are just not as work tough as they used to be. Too many people driving them for fun so to speak. That’s fine. But should make a true work truck, stiff heavy springs, and no frills electrical. We would have so many less head aches when trying to get the job done.
@@Dirtmonkey This is 100% the case, I had a 6.7 powerstroke and on long trips the DEF system was not much of an issue, also the coldest I remember was around -15 F or so and mine never froze up. The biggest problem I had is when you go short trips and idle it clogs the filter more often and then it wants to do a clean cycle which requires you drive on the highway (50-60mph) for 20-30 minutes. My shorts trips caused my system to go bad because I didn't want to take the time out of my day to drive for 30 minutes and then that was a expensive repair. Another thing to be aware of is the CP4 injection pump on the 6.7 which has a tendency to fail, regular fuel filer changes every 8,000-10,000 miles will help protect this pump as well as adding a fuel additive for extra lubrication. The Ram with the Cummins went to this Pump in 2019 and went back the the CP3 in 2020 or 2021 because of all the pump failure issues. I switched to a Ram with the Hemi and really like it for what I do, I doubt I will go back to diesel. I usually don't tow any more than 10,000lbs though. average load I tow is 6,000-8000lbs.
@@Dirtmonkey Hi Stan, I have a 2016 Silverado 3500HD pickup single rear wheel with the Duramax and Allison Transmission that I have had since new. I have 46,000 on it and the engine and emission system has been rock solid, no problems. Its whole life has been mostly short trips. I do lots of plowing with it also. I have never had DEF freeze up and I live in New England. The key to keeping the DPF happy and reliable has been the additive I use in the diesel fuel. Hot Shot Secret EDT additive. 3 ounces in my tank each fill up its whole life. Lots of testing has been done on the additive and it shows a tremendous reduction of DPF regeneration cycles because it makes the engine burn so efficiently. Fuel economy goes up and it has lubricity to keep the high pressure fuel pump (CP4) happy and well lubricated. I have mostly owned diesels, tried one gas and could not wait to go back to a Duramax Diesel (I had a 2001 Duramax also). The truck it self has been rock solid also. I think you should buy a 3500HD Silverado with a Duramax to compare it to your other trucks. Great job on your videos!
Switched my daily driver/5th wheel tow vehicle from gas to diesel. I dont buy new vehicles and replaced an 89 k1500 with a 99 f350 srw powerstroke. I wish i would have bought a diesel sooner. I get better fuel mileage, more power and easier to add power. Get him a diesel
You even get better fuel mileage? Wow
I bought a 2012 F-150 Ecoboost to tow my 10K RV trailer. When I hit the mountains in AZ I thought it would struggle but didn't break a sweat.
my last f-250 i put 113k miles in 5 years before i turned it in. even with firestone not changing the air filter for almost 100k miles the only problem with it was the brakes where gone (the pads were totally worn out.) not a single breakdown at all with a fleet maintenance program followed regularly.
I’ve got a 21 F350 with the 7.3 just shy of 28k miles in Michigan. The 10 speed will give better mileage than the 6.2 or even the ram. I get 9.5mpg pulling a 44 foot toy hauler 15k pounds at 65mph.
Sweet 👍
If year isn’t an issue the 2007-2012 Ram doesn’t have DEF if memory serves. Still has DPF but no exhaust fluid to worry about.
Love my 19 Ford Powerstroke, in the winter storm last year here in TX (yes I know it’s not what y’all have up there but it was a big deal here) it ran for 4 days straight without shutting off it was the only guaranteed heat we had because of the blackouts so I didn’t chance shutting it off in case I needed the heat for the family. I also don’t have def anymore though!
Went from 2009 2500HD Silverado 6.0L gas had 361,000 or so. Got a 2014 Ram 2500 with Cummins used and it had check engine when I bought for cheap. Had to replace the injectors as I assume it got bad fuel from a slip tank in the oil field. I bought it with 180,000 or so and now have almost 190,000 since December. I really like towing with it and I am in North Dakota and salt is way less of an issue than when I was down there. My emissions were just fine on this Ram when cold out and the def is frozen it doesn’t use the def at least on mine. Cummins is the best diesel for reliability and ease of repair that is why I got one. The front end on mine is original minus the track bar recall. Ford will have more power driving around town but hook up a trailer and such and the Ram is a beast for that. I am not brand loyal at all but hate paying others to work on my stuff so Cummins it is for me. You should get him a diesel and try it but I think it won’t pay off for your use as all the other stuff breaks just the same. Just remember the way you guys use trucks is very extreme. I would multiply your miles by 3 and that is probably mileage others would be at with your kind of wear and tear that is the nature of it.
Stan my biggest concern is what are we going to do when they start pushing battery?
If Alex has proven to be loyal to your company and stands out from other employees as someone who earns a $10k engine upgrade as well as takes care of equipment as if he was the owner then I may consider throwing him a bone. But all that said I would hope Alex would realize the added cost to the business without any actual ROI other than rewarding an employee. The same could be said about enclosed cab equipment and AC or radio. It's hard to argue added productivity.
Switched from gas to diesel for my plumbing company and it works out great. Better towing. Less issues
✌👍like your videos, I saw you on victory outdoor 👍
Highly recommend NH Oil Undercoating for all the salt and crap. Will make your rig last so much longer and longer intervals between wearable item repairs due to rust.
Appreciate the tip 🙏
@@Dirtmonkey Anytime! You certainly have helped me with great tips and great content man! The least I can do. If you do decide to check it out you can have a tech do it for you on site or do it yourself with their kits. Would be interested in seeing your results with the amount of equipment you have and use during the winter! Keep on keepin on! 🤘
We can thank the California EPA for the diesel problems out there. I own the last year, pre-emissions 7.3 powerstroke and I will not upgrade to a new diesel. If anything, I'll get the 7.3 Godzilla.
Feel it 👍
I have a 2001 F350 4x4 reg cab auto with 97k on it Dad has a 96 F250 7.3 SC with 150k, 5 SPD. Brother has a 2001 F250 4x4 std reg cab 150k. First two are for sale. Not sure about #3.
@@ridgerunner106 Nice trucks. If they were CC Long beds, I'd make an offer.
I had a 2015 1500 Silverado with the 5.3 for personal use .At 100k miles It started consuming oil so I quickly sold it to a dealer. I decided to start a welding company and purchased a 97 dodge 2500 with a 12v Cummins for $3k and I have about $5k into it now after some repairs. Im gonna see how it does. If I was buying brand new I would of definitely bought a 2500 with the gas motor.
Stan,
I personally own a 2020 F350 Diesel. It is far and away the best truck I’ve owned. It lives with a trailer behind it and gets 14mpg. I’ve gotten 22 empty on a highway trip. Mileage aside let’s talk about hard winter work.
I’ve had the truck plowing 36 hours straight in rough rough storms with the thing running non stop and it didn’t flinch. No problems. Weeks of below zero temps fires right up weather it’s plugged in or not.
Funny story of how I thought I was plugging in the truck for a week straight but realized the extension cord was unplugged at the other end .
Here’s what I’ll say - the ford is undoubtedly more expensive but imo there’s a reason for that and you will make the money on the back end.
I have 80k on my 2020 and have had two problems (one only really counts)
I did have the beginnings of the death wobble - took it into the dealer- I forget what they replaced but that was early at like 15k and haven’t had it happen since. I also had something fly off on a truck on the highway that put a hole in the radiator. That needed to be replaced but that was due to debris.
I have friends that have all three brands of diesels. Mine seems to be the most fuel efficient but is the least efficient when it comes to def. I have not had any problems with def freezing even at -25° f. In winter plowing season though you will need to refill every couple thousand miles.
Personally I wouldnt get any employee whatever truck they wanted but just from what I see in the videos Alex more than deserves a new truck and I think a new powerstroke is calling his name.
Also i would note that price difference is negligible going from 250 to 350
I know some guys like to go the 250 route for gvwr reasons depending on their state etc. With that being said- one knock I’d give the new fords is they seem to squat more that they did even in the 350 srw. Just a note that I’d bump it up if you could.
For content purposes I’d like to see a 550 with a switch and go or similar system but it’s easy to say when it’s not my money lol
Alex seems like a good guy, I say get him what he wants. 😁
He’s a good kid but idk about THAT good haha
its easy to want something more expensive when you aren't he one paying for it, just saying. when the injection pump goes out for no reason and costs 10k to replace boss is going to be the one paying up for the employee's bad decision.
@@85square um, I actually meant that as a joke.
@@jeffreywatts94 that makes more sense lol
@@85square 👍
First I will say that I don't have much experience with US pickups because I live in Sweden. But I think you should try a diesel again because in my opinion diesel is the best thing too have if you're pulling a lot of trailer. The modern diesel engine is nothing like the older ones and the problems whit the freezing AdBlue/DEF is not a big problem just make chore that there is a heating element in the tank, don't know if RAM or FORD has that as original in the tank but I know that every heavy truck here in Sweden is having a element in the tank and we can drive in -30°C whit out any problems whit the AdBlue/DEF.
My dad has a 2013 Chevy duramax and my grandpa has a 2019 Chevy gas 2500. Both haul livestock trailers and my dad will outperform his gas pickup every time we haul cattle. Caveat, my dad has had to replace his DEF tank pump three times and his glows plugs once. We live in Iowa and has never stored it indoors in the winter and it has never once not started in the middle the night because due to cold. He is a volunteer fireman so he gets in and goes in the middle of night.
Side note, no matter what you buy nothing is made to last anymore.
We got our diesel back and had issues with the def. But the low end torque is what I need it for. Off road rescue makes stuff interesting.
The new 7.3 gas Ford is suppose to be a good engine. But resale value is a huge plus for diesels. I would sell anything now a days before the warranty runs outs
Smart move for sure!
I switched from diesel to gas... I'll have to let you know in a year or 2 once I see if this godzilla works out well. So far so good. When I hear about these costs and mechanical failures I'm so happy with my choice.
Agreed!
I am switching from diesel to gas for my fleet of trucks. Towing 24’ landscape trailer with newer diesel we are getting about 10mpg and with gas 8-9. As far as brand you need to try a Chevy/ gmc 3500 single rear wheel I use all brands and they just seem to hold up the best.
Got a 6.2 2017 f350 with 4:30 rear end, it tows great. Last truck I had was a 2002 7.3 liter f250. I tow a 7k construction trailer everyday, ger about 8.5 mpg all city driving.
I have a deleted 2016 6.7 power stroke. I’m in landscaping and plowing in the southwest metro and have almost 100k miles on it and have never had an issue. I tow 10k pounds daily with it as well. Def fluid does not freeze until -30. And warming the truck up 30 min before will not unfreeze def. My dad still has def and has never had an issue either (113k miles). For plowing heavy piles of snow and hauling heavy loads the diesel is a no brainer in my opinion. Get Alex a diesel!
Yeah the 6.7L diesel is the only way to go.
Don't get caught by the DOT with a deleted truck. They are cracking down on that with some huge fines
@@tbird5530499 Put those engines in older bodies. np
No idea why states are going after delete systems
Won’t be be deleted much longer 😃
I still run Ford for all my crew trucks, which were all diesel, but 3 years ago gave up on Diesel. Only have 2 diesels left. All have been replaced with gas. They all break, but diesel are a nightmare to fix. Unfortunately 95 percent of the repairs are DEALER ONLY, and CAB OFF.
Is that a local mechanic experience issue? Why would Diesel be more difficult to fix that Gas?
The constant shifting in the gas trucks what made me switch to diesel. With the amount of equipment your hauling you wont look back.
Noted 👌
Plowing snow beats the piss out of everything especially when you have a ramrod operator.
In the last 8 years in the company I work at I've driven them all. Started with a2012? F350 6.7 Power stroke (no DEF. It was ok, can't remember the fuel economy on it. Pulled 7K lb loads daily. Next was a 2012 Ram 3500 dually. 410 rear end so Lot's of pulling power, but fuel economy was crap. Next on my list was and is my current 2016 Ram 3500, with a 6.7 Cummings (DEF). also occasionally drove a 2012 GMC 2500 with a 6.7 Duramax (no DEF) pulling a 30' gooseneck, until I could lift it as the neck was too low for my Ram. With a 10000lb Skid steer on the trailer the Duramax I could accelerate to 60 about 5 seconds faster than the Ram. Pulling or not pulling a load the Duramax fuel had close to the same fuel economy. Way better than every other truck. I'm in central Alberta, so deal with -30 to -40 at times in the winter. Haven't had any issues with the DEF freezing up (yet). No major driveline/ steering issues. Driving on the major roads around town, I average (sorry from Canada) 10-11L/ 100km (~23mpg). Pulling a skid steer it goes to about 16-20L/ 100km (~15-10 mpg). Truck currently close to 105000miles (168000km).
it is literally a scientific fact you def is freezing at sub 29 degrees so either you are lying or you dont realize your def is freezing and only melts when you start the truck or you park it indoors with a temp above sub 29 outside
@@pewmcgrew5226 not saying it doesn't freeze, I just don't have issues with it. I do let my truck warm up about 15min in the super cold. I generally don't move my truck until the transmission is about 10°C.
@@StephenWolver lol your def freezes you dont have issues cause you let it warm up wait until your def heater quits then youll have issues with freezing def also you are warming up your vehicle for 15 minutes wasting time fuel, and engine life i can go start my truck wait 2 seconds until my wipers clear my windshield drive off and never worry about freezing fluids i can get in it and go within a minute takes less than 5 minutes to heat the cab while driving
@@pewmcgrew5226 I wouldn't buy anything you have owned if you don't warm it up in sub zero temps , that truck will have a short life , but hey its your dollar .
@@jeffhaayema9400 no kidding. Hell when it's below zero I even let my commuter Corolla warm up at least 5-10 minutes. All fluids thicken up.
the only problem i have with diesel is what the getting away with charging people at the pumps. it costs under a buck a gallon to make it.
Wow. Pretty nuts
I'm glad I sprung for the 250 over a 150. I went with the 6.2 gas over the power stroke. Although my mileage is a few mpg less I really do not need the torque of the diesel. My alum trailer doesn't weigh enough to need to the diesel but it does help to go for the 3/4 ton so the trailer is kept in check by the truck.
Stan I do mostly hardscaping, ive had 2nd gen dodges both gas and diesel, and over the years now i made the switch to ford. I have a diesel f350 and a gas f450 dump truck. The dump truck doesnt put on the mileage so i went the gas route there and the diesel i use everyday, biggest thing with the diesel is the towing and also the towing mode on it makes stopping easier. Fords to me have been so much easier to work on.I would say in your case i would upgrade to a f350 whether gas or diesel going from 3/4 to 1 ton makes a big difference, even with single rear wheel. Im not in the snow plowing game anymore it just hammers equipment more than its worth in my area, and id say that is whats doing it to your trucks more than landscaping. If your going to buy new trucks i look for a way to do snow removal with just your skid loaders and wheel loaders, they built to take more abuse.
The ambulance I drive at work has the 7.3 Godzilla engine and it’s a beast. 150k miles on it and it’s going strong. No major issues per the mechanics. It’s sounds nasty bone stock. 7.8 miles per gallon though
That’s pretty neat 👊
7.3L Diesel was also a million mile engine if properly maintained.
I would have to say 7.8 MPG in an ambulance is damn good because I believe a ambulance application is about the worst platform for fuel mileage that you could possibly have. You're either doing a lot of idling or when you're on call a lot of hard running speeding up that happened to slow down for stoplights and speed up again and slow down for stoplights and curves and obstacles and traffic plus not to mention an ambulance body isn't really built for aerodynamics and it is heavy with all the supplies and everything you all have to carry on board
Stan I think I would go for another Ford. I hear good things about the aluminum bodies. Engine wise, hard to say. The new 7.3 gasser is a beast. I think like most people are saying diesel is good for long hauls. I know many people at work who have had so many issues with newer diesels. I vote for the gas motor. Hope you can find something. Slim pickings out there.
Slim pickings indeed 😅
The ranchers here mostly dried GMC and Ford diesel one tons, they say they perform better than Dodge. For cold weather, just put the fuel and block heaters on the diesels. That's always worked for me, granted, but I drive old junk. With vehicle prices so high, restoring a truck may now be cheaper than buying new. I just restored drivetrain in my van and everything attached to it for under twenty thousand. Just a thought :-) thanks for all the videos, very informative. Curt
Chevy Express Van guy here. They have been around forever, parts are easy to source. I can tow 10k no problem along with my tools in the van. If you don't need 4wd the express is a great work platform and the 6.0 or 6.6 gasser is a work horse. It's all about maintenance. I plan to get 400k out of the van with a new transmission around 200k.
Been in -40 never had my def freeze. Diesel is king when it comes to hauling 40+ mins away. Theirs also no point of a gas 6-7 yard dump truck that also hauls equipment.
Def freezes at like 14 degrees. It’s 66% water and 33% urea. You just don’t know it freezes because as soon as you start the truck the heater kicks on
And starts to melt it.
@@aleininger4987 he doesnt own a diesel hes just talkin out his butt to try to look cool
I’ve personally owned 2 7.3 idis, 8 7.3 Powerstrokes, 3 6.0 Powerstrokes, 2 6.4 Powerstrokes, 3 6.7 Powerstrokes, a 5.9 cummins, a 6.6 duramax and a chevy 6.5 turbo diesel. I personally think the best factory diesel is the 6.7 Powerstroke. Go with that would be my suggestion
Thanks for the info 🙏👊
Any pre emissions diesel is better. I’d take a 7.3, early duramaxs or 5.9 over anything else
@@jason_l5p the emissions systems have come a long way since 2008. I have a 96 7.3 and a 2012 6.7 PSD, and I’d take the 2012 any day. The issue with pre-emissions trucks is that they’re all at least 10 years old at this point and regardless of mileage, they’ll have issues purely due to age.
@@anthonyv9699 they have come along way for sure. But they are still the biggest issue with modern diesel trucks. The sole reason fleets choose gas trucks over diesel is because of the failure prone and expensive parts involved with diesel trucks emission systems.Ask any diesel mechanic, the most common failure is the emissions systems. They leave people stranded, and costs companies thousands. With no support from the manufacturer or government, the consumer is left with the issues. Which is why many people choose gas trucks or risk deleting emissions. But frankly those days are gone. The biggest problem is the government forces these regulations, but do not reimburse the consumer for lost time or money due to mechanical failure. The manufacturers are also at risk. They are forced to engineer these systems in a very short period of time and meet very stringent regulations to appease the EPA.Which in turn creates a high risk of failure. Yet the government lends the consumer no support when failure occurs due to their overreaching regulations. Sorry this is long but just my two cents.
I've had great luck with my 2019 f350 xl with the 6speed. I only tow no plowing. My enclosed trailer weighs around 12k loaded and I get 10-12mpg on the highway at 70mph. My equipment and dump very in weight but with around 9-10k on I'm getting 12-14 mpg. Max I've ever told is around 15K. In tow haul mode with the exhaust brake I could hardly tell the trailer was there. Stopping or starting. Would probably be a little bit better with the new 10 speed fuel economy and braking.
I just bought my first Chevy 2500 gasser. I have always run the super duty’s but couldn’t get one. So far the Chevy seems like a good truck. I’ll know better after I push some snow with it.
Based on what he said I’d say diesel but I would suggest, have you guys looked at GMC or Chevy diesels? Food for thought too, chevy and gmc offer a 2.7L turbo gas engine that makes 5 hp and 10 ft lb of torque less than their 6.2L V-8 in exchange for about 2 mpg better fuel economy if I remember the numbers right. Base models were starting at $35k and well equipped ones were going for $65k when I looked at them last year. One thing to note, all their new models, gas and diesel have a sealed intake meaning the wading depth of the vehicle without a snorkel is up to the top of the hood. Not that you dunk your trucks but that sealed intake could help prevent corrosion in the engine by limiting moisture from getting into the engine. Just a thought Stan
a 4 cylinder turbo wont survive moving any sort of equipment around. It will live at over 5k rpm and eventually destroy itself. Good for commuting and occasional towing, but not for constantly plowing or towing lawn equipment.
Chevys are junk I use a work truck 2020 Chevy 2500hd nothing but problems has 28k on it
175,000 on my duramax and love it!
That little engine is only in a half ton. Half ton trucks don't make great work trucks for pushing snow or hauling loads.
I like your thinking
So back in the day i always wanted turbo diesels for the torque, but after watching gov change the fuel & all the older diesels had injector pump issues cause of it, then they added DEF requirements. It was too much hassle & I feared future fuel changes again. I just started to stay with gas and spent less overall. The engine power on gas has gotten a lot better than back in the day and a bit of mpg difference is lost on fuel cost difference and DEF. I still would prefer diesel, but only if someone else was paying for it.
Right. Except I’m the someone else paying for it and that doesn’t sound fun for me lol
@@Dirtmonkey lol don't blame ya there.
Injector pump issues is the low sulfur diesel. You add additives to your fuel and noise and wear really decrease.
@@HuckThis1971 yeah it was just upsetting at the time. As it took out so many old diesels that were still on the road and very expensive to fix.
I work as a fleet mechanic and all the plow trucks' suspension gets rebuilt probably every other year. As far as those manifolds go they crack all the time, it's even better when the studs break in there and you have to extract them. On the Ram have you had the codes pulled on vehicle?
The new ram front ends are much improved. I vote Diesel. I would imagine you can plug in the diesels to heat the def. Cold weather prep group
The only problems I see with modern diesels are the added emissions nonsense, most of wich doesn't help with emissions in the slightest and only shorten the engine lifespan and reduce fuel economy and increase overall operating costs.
Worse, as you can add that the system actually increases fuel usage by up to 50%. While it only filters out barely 10% of the exhaust pollutants, most of which would just settle to the ground and would not remain airborne and be a health hazard unless they were standing behind the vehicle and breathing the exhaust... It's just nuts!
You said it 🙌
@@ZeoCyberG Oh it’s worse than that, DEF, or AdBlue as we call it here in Europe, is actually just a mix of water and piss (urea). The politicians are literally taking the piss out of vehicle owners!
@@chrisryan3770 Yes, aware of that part. Reason also why you have to worry about it freezing and need to let the vehicle heat up in cold weather and it's the part you have to re-fill every so often to add to the ongoing costs, along with the up to 50% more fuel the whole system uses to clean that at most 10% of the exhaust... But somehow ignore that big increase in carbon emission... Like I said, just nuts! We can go on for hours with all the details on why it's nuts...
Diesel all day and ford all day. My dad has the 2017 f 250 diesel. That’s the first year of the newer body style. Has about 100k miles on it never had a problem. No he doesn’t pull or haul trailers daily like you guys but for a truck with tons of power it has it all.
whats the point of owning a truck with power if you dont tow or work with it sounds like your dad got suckered into buying something he didnt need for a price he didnt need to pay for a truck that costs more to operate than regular gas
I’ve never had much luck with fords myself
Thanks for doing this video Stan👍👍 I've had 2 pre-admission diesels trucks. One Duramax and one Cummins. Now I'm driving gas trucks. With Diesels You're paying more for a diesel up front and the fuel is lot higher + the repairs cost twice as much! I'm done with them! Gas trucks all the way !
We went from a gas Ram to a diesel Ram mainly for the fuel economy. We tow a lot and the diesel tows better with at least 50% better mileage driving over 50k miles per year. We're in southern Texas so corrosion and def freeze is not an issue. Oh, and we dont do any plowing 😁