Anyone regret going from 3500/2500 series to a 1500 series?

[velvet muley]

Bought a brand new duramax in 05 2500, it was a fantastic truck. I put that thing through the ringer off road and towed like crazy with it.

Fast forward to this year, I finally decided to buy a new truck. I test drove the f 150's and trail bosses, also drove around my buddy's F-150.

I just did not like them, they felt like I was in a toy truck for some reason. Don't get me wrong, they had decent power and a nice ride but when I drove the new Power stroke Tremor that's all she wrote. The ride in that thing is amazing too, as well as crazy power.

I hope it's as reliable as my Duramax was.

 

[PredatorX]

One of the problems with half tons is that you can't get a crew cab with an 8' box.

This right here. No long bed and the engines on the 1/2 tons generally suck. Don’t want a modern diesel and I don’t want a turbo’d out small engine.

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

Not really towing much at all I decided to go to a 1/2 ton with the 3L diesel. I've had it for 6 months now and Im really liking this truck. Ride is great, mileage is nice, easier to drive and park all around. Ill probably keep this truck for a while. I only tow a few times a year when I take my SXS someplace.

Yes, if I wasn't towing over 7k lbs every week then the 3.0 duramax 1/2 ton is sweet !

 

[lifeisgoodsteve]

This right here. No long bed and the engines on the 1/2 tons generally suck. Don’t want a modern diesel and I don’t want a turbo’d out small engine.

I do miss my long bed, but nowadays it's actually darn hard to find a new 3/4 ton gas long bed.

 

[bigeyedfish]

I just bought a 2026 F250 with the 6.8 gasser. It's down on power compared to the Cummins it is replacing, but it is so much more comfortable, and I just got the XL spec. It's quiet, comfortable, turning radius is good for its size. I haven't owned a half ton newer than maybe 2004, but the F250 is more comfortable than any half ton I have owned.

 

[IdahoBeav]

I just bought a 2026 F250 with the 6.8 gasser. It's down on power compared to the Cummins it is replacing, but it is so much more comfortable, and I just got the XL spec. It's quiet, comfortable, turning radius is good for its size. I haven't owned a half ton newer than maybe 2004, but the F250 is more comfortable than any half ton I have owned.

How good is the fuel economy with that motor? I don't hear much about it. It seems that everyone is only talking about the 7.3 and 6.7.

 

[Headwaters]

How good is the fuel economy with that motor? I don't hear much about it. It seems that everyone is only talking about the 7.3 and 6.7.

IdahoBeav,
My '23 with the 6.8 gets 13+ around town, 15+ mixed city/highway and 17+ highway unloaded or lightly loaded. I did a 389 mile trip and used 20 gallons of fuel, 19.2 mpg. Also so did trips to Wyoming from VA. and N.D. from VA. loaded with people, hunting and camping gear and averaged 16.8 mpg. Those two trips had a lot of low speed driving in and out of 4wd.

 

[bigeyedfish]

How good is the fuel economy with that motor? I don't hear much about it. It seems that everyone is only talking about the 7.3 and 6.7.

I don't even have 1,000 miles on it yet, so I expect it to break in a little bit. Currently sitting in the high 13's.

 

[RedbeardMetalworks]

Man this is the same boat I am in. Looking to get a new truck and probably gonna go from a 6.8L F250 to the 5.0L F150.

Hoping down the road i dont regret it. But gas will be alot better and hoping to build it out to more what I need for various trips and such

 

[Stinky Coyote]

I got a new 250 crew long bed 6.8, 3.73, xl and tremorized it and about 3500 miles on it now, also have a 22.5 chev 1500 2.7t also lifted to Zr2 status. They both pull my 3000lb adventure cargo trailer to same mpg, empty though they are miles apart lol. Turbo motors more efficient empty and v8’s more efficient under load. Going back and forth now my 1500 feels toy like lol but I love it too, it has about 60k miles no and no issues. I will daily and empty roll the chev most and use the 250 most when trailer on and doing these hunting and fishing trips. If only to have one the long bed 150 with 5.0 would be where I land. The 5.0 kicks my chev’s arse in towing mpgs. The turbos can make big block power but suck fuel from garden hose doing it. I only have half ton needs but this 48 gal tank in f250 was big draw also and it should prove the better total trailer hunt/fish adventure rig. And hardly need anything but oil changes for ages. In the tight stuff I’ll likely miss the stubby little half ton but I’m adjusting to the 22’ submarine pretty well. Amazing that much more and Heaver truck loaded gets same tow mpg, poor chev turbo doesn’t feel it but definitely works the fuel down at the speeds I like to tow. I think best I’ve seen on this f250 at controlled 67 mph range run empty was 13.5 mpg in this lifted configuration. My chev on that empty range run would have been 22 mpg lol. So half tons have more dynamic range mpg wise and turbos the most dynamic, but if you tow a lot then in half ton go 5.0 for longevity and mpgs as they just more efficient under load.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

How good is the fuel economy with that motor? I don't hear much about it. It seems that everyone is only talking about the 7.3 and 6.7.

They are on off switches. Haul azz and suck gas. 6.8 and 7.3 same thing. Same block, same bore, hair different stroke and compression ratio. The 6.8 is just what I like to call an updated and improved 7.3 since it came along 3 years after the 7.3 and to be the base fleet motor to replace the old 6.2. Transmission differences can be found, happy researching the 10r100 and 10r140. But there is a nothing from any gas hd truck that will match half tons for economy empty. Towing then the gap narrows considerably. As a daily the hd gas prepare for ~12 mpg ave...with 35x11.5’s.

 

[Stinky Coyote]

My mpg numbers hand calculated. The f250 is a lie o meter so far. ~1mpg average liar so far. Seems to be getting closer as miles go up and it learns. Closest it’s been is 0.5 mpg

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

I either want something smaller/more nimble/better off road than a 1/2 ton that still has a pickup bed on it (for hauling trash to the dump, deer or elk home from the woods, my camping/hunting gear, or that sort of thing), or I want a serious truck that can tow a mother loving house if I hook it up right. I'm not sure what the point of a truck that's too big and heavy to off road very well, but too small and underpowered to load the s**t out of is (which is what I consider 1/2 ton trucks).

All IMHO, of course.

 

[HilltopHitman]

Don’t do it. Always nice to have a 3/4 or 1 ton if you end up needing power and the ability to tow heavy.