We’re making solid plans to replace my Jeep commander before next hunting season. In the running are:

-Toyota Tundra
-F150 V8
-F250

All options must have 4WD.

Mt current Jeep gets 15 MPG average. What mileage should I expect out of the F250?

Looking to buy 2018 or newer. $35k-$55k budget.

Thanks,
Tony

quote:

What mileage should I expect out of the F250?

Diesel, 14.

Looking on Fuelly:

2018 F250 6.7 Diesel: 14.25MPG from 47 users
2018 F250 6.2 Gas: 12.00MPG from 22 users

2018 F150 2.7 Gas: 18.51MPG from 280 users
2018 F150 3.5 Gas: 16.40MPG from 444 users
2018 F150 5.0 Gas: 16.51MPG from 196 users
2018 F150 3.0 Diesel: 20.91MPG from 53 users

2018 Tundra 5.7 Gas: 13.83MPG from 107 users
2018 Tundra 4.6 Gas: 15.26MPG from 7 users

Unless you run it all day, pulling heavy loads gas is probably better than diesel, it's going to cost less to run a gas vehicle when you add in the higher cost of diesel, DEF, oil changes etc.

Unless you are hauling or towing massive load, skip the F250 and get an F150 5.0 V8, or the 3.5 EcoBoost. I preferred the instantaneous grunt of the V8 over the higher torque of the 3.5 boost and don't need the additional towing capacity for which the higher torque motor is rated. The 5.0 also tends to be about $2k cheaper. While the turbos have proven to be reliable, they are expensive if they fail.

I have a 2018 XLT 4x4 FX4 Offroad package 5.0 King Cab with touch screen nav. 10 speed auto trans. This is the only auto I have ever owned that I consider to be superior to a manual.

I love it. Pulls 9,000+ with confidence as I have fully loaded it (maybe overloaded it...), is quiet and smooth on the highway, is impressively fast when you ask for it, and will deliver 18+ average MPG if you are gentle.

The 4wd is capable, and with this package comes with rear locker, factory skid plates, hill descent control, and skid control. I usually turn that off, as my particular poison is sugar sand and some spin is needed.

Available with either 18 or 20 factory aluminum wheels. I have 18s for greater air volume in the tires and cheaper tire replacement. Ground clearance is the same.

It also has a bunch of nice features that are surprisingly useful, such as LED lights mounted under the mirrors that can be turned on under 10 mph and give you good visibility to the sides when you are moving down a dark trail, or through a campground, a built in step in the tailgate, and 120v internal power for a laptop, etc. I have the 5 passenger front console, but the truck is available with column shifter and 6 passenger seating.

I can't speak highly enough of this vehicle. I looked at an F250, and am glad that I passed.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ArtieS,

I agree with what HRK says 100% and I have a 2015 F350 diesel with 100,000 miles.

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I have 18s for greater air volume in the tires and cheaper tire replacement

Not just a little cheaper either. The difference on my truck is $100 or more per tire.

quote:

What mileage should I expect out of the F250?

Doing what? towing? running down the highway?
In any case let's get one item out of the way, you do NOT want a modern EPA diesel unless the mfg makes you buy it do get the towing you want. And given what you are looking at for choices, that won't be true. So cross that off your list. ASAP. bad idea.
I currently have two 2018 F250's (CC as that adds a bit of weight). No issue getting 15+ in average driving. Towing max weight that number drops in the 12's. But unless you have some ungodly mileage use none of your choices will affect your fuel costs too much.
Unless you are towing I can't see any reason for F250 in your list. Get the 150 or the Tundra and be happy.

I didn't think diesels were available in the F150 and Tundra. In any event, I can't recommend any post-2011 diesel. I've seen and heard about too many reliability problems with them, including a member here whose fuel pump grenaded and spread metal shavings through the whole fuel system.

^^^^^^. Sigolicious. I think the repair cost was in excess of Ten Grand, and he’s spring a good chunk of money on aftermarket filtration.

No diesel for me, especially with the Bosch fuel pump.
.

^^Insurance paid for the repairs and the bypass kit is $360 plus installation.

You can get a diesel in either of the fords currently. No for the Tundra. I am not 100% sure if you could actually find one in a 2018 F150 as I'm guessing its beyond rare. The 6.7 in the 250 is a decent engine, but you pay nearly $10K to get it and its more expensive over the long run in every way but fuel. Towing big loads you get it back with enough miles. One persons bad experience is not the reason for a purchase decision. But in any case in the class of trucks in the OP question for sure you do not need a diesel.

What are you planning to do with the truck? Are you towing? If so, what, how heavy, and how far?

No towing. I will use it as a daily commuter and to go camping, fishing and hunting. My Jeep Commander was loaded full and I had a soft luggage carrier strapped to the roof that was full as well. My Commander only has the V6 and was blowing blue smoke climbing up a 6% grade for probably 10 miles. It started blowing blue smoke about half way up the hill, but stopped as soon as we reached the top. I lost a quart of oil over a 7 hour road trip to northeastern Oregon.

The final hour and a half is all dirt roads and forestry/logging roads. We camped for four nights at a spring. I haul an 80 pound canvas tent, a folding banquet table, two ice chests, rifles, camping gear, cast-iron skillets and pots, a camp stove, hunting gear and I'd like to make sure I have some tools in there too.

Between the whole hunting party, we had five trucks/SUV's. Almost every time, someone broke down and needed a tow. This last trip, a Chevy Silverado broke down on the mountain and we couldn't get it started. My uncle had to use his new-to-him 2015 Chevy Silverado to tow his friend off the mountain to get a tow truck to come get him. Ended up being a bad crank sensor.

The trip before that, my uncle's 2000 F-150 started leaking tranny fluid on the mountain. We had load all his stuff between my Jeep and his friend's pickup. We were loaded to the max.

Since we do forestry roads, I'd like an off-road package. Some of the roads get a little rough but nothing that a stock 2000 Ranger couldn't handle.

Tony.

I've had both the 5.0 V-8 and 3.5 Ecoboost in F-150's and prefer the Ecoboost. I liked the idea of the simplicity of the 5.0, then I drove the Eoboost and got addicted to the greater low end torque that it has.

I get around 17.5mpg going back and forth to work in my 2019. Keep in mind it's also leveled with E rated 33" BFG All-Terrains on it. The FX-4 option package gets you skid plates and an electronic locking rear differential. The 36.5 gallon gas tank is a must have option for me. The max trailer tow package also buys extra cooling, lower gearing, a reinforced rear bumper and the 36.5 gallon gas tank. The 10 speed transmission in the newer F-150's is nice as well. If nothing else for the different drive modes that it offers. Winter actually works and Sport encourages juvenile delinquent behavior.

This might be the time to look for a new one as well. 2021 is a revision year so there are big incentives for the 2020's. I think I just saw a tv commercial where it's $8,500 in incentives on XLT's. My 2019 stickered at $52k and I paid $39k for it.

Gas, not diesel. I find the odor of diesel extremely offensive and somehow I manage to get some on my hands every time I touch the darn diesel pump. YMMV.

My Ford dealer's web site indicates that Ford is dealing on the new 2020 F150 XLT with almost $10k off MSRP.

I have a 2016 F150 with the V8 and the 36 gallon gas tank. I regularly get 22-23 MPG on the highway, but I drive 55 MPH. Over 700 miles between fill ups. Nice.

Go with the Ford 1/2 ton, gas engine. You won't be disappointed.

I’m a diesel guy but for what you described I agree get the F-150 with a gas engine. My son has the 2.7 Ecoboost and loves it. It is surprisingly quick and all he’s done is put gas in it and oil changes over about 60,000 miles.

Gas, definitely.

Drive both the Ford and Toyota. Feel the ride and look at the visibility to make sure you will enjoy driving it. Look at the electronic features and make sure what has what you want - and doesn't have electronic gizmos that are just making up for deficiencies of the vehicle.

I finally left Silverados (which I know you aren't considering --- #goodmove). I got tired of driving what felt like a 1977 Cadillac with fat A-pillars that several times caused near-problems with pedestrians and other vehicles at intersections and used its tech to overcome deficiencies of the design.

Loving the Tundra.

I'll add my 2 cents and also recommend the 1/2 ton gas for your needs. My preference would be for the 5.0 V8 (like Z said, less complications) but for your purposes I wouldn't recommend a diesel.

I have a 2005 Dodge 2500 with the Cummins and while I like it a lot, if I had to do it over again I would go with a V8 F-150. I got the truck used (and was it ever) and, through the years of repairs, have found that almost everything about a diesel truck costs more than a gas engine. I get 12mpg in town and, if I'm going the speed limit, 15mpg on the highway. If I take the state roads on a long trip and keep the speed just under 2k rpms (around 60mph) I can get 18mpg consistently, and even touch 20mpg on occasion. That's running empty, though. I've never really towed heavy, just a car every now and again, and have made 10-12mpg on those few and far between trips.

I got the diesel because I had never had one before and thought it would be neat to have (not a good reason) and, because I wanted a basic truck with as few frills as possible, it was a work truck with 6-speed manual, roll-down windows, manual locks, and vinyl floor. Having had it for the past 15 years I have to say I wish I would have gotten a new, or newer, 1/2 ton gas engine with auto. trans. Even with the extra bells and whistles that I'm not keen on, for my uses of a truck it would've been a lot less to maintain/repair, and also much easier to drive in city traffic.

Gas. Diesel is more expensive upfront and is more expensive to maintain (especially with today's emissions on diesels). Unless you are pulling heavy loads daily (which you say you aren't) then Gas is the way to go.

Tunda will get you terrible mileage but is probably the most reliable.

F-150, I'm a fan of the 5.0 V8 but not the 3.5 Ecoboost. The 3.5 has the water pump driven by the timing chains. When your water pump goes bad you are looking at a $2000 bill for repair vs $350 (at a repair shop) on a 5.0 V8.