I'm new here, and new to even thinking about getting a truck. Don't want "Government Motors" and while Dodges look great, I haven't heard too much good about them. So I'm on a Ford Forum for a reason. My trouble is, I don't even know what questions to pose....

Not wanting to go to a dealership and have someone "convince" me what to get, I'm hoping y'all can help. I live on some property in the Colorado high country. My Subaru Legacy ain't a work vehicle.

I know I want four doors. (Is that Crew or Extended? I don't even know.)
I THNK I want diesel -- which means 250. But I'm not opposed to learning a 150 can do what I want.
I regularly need to haul slash or logs in my 15ft trailer. (My Polaris Ranger can handle this, but not for any trips over a few miles on the road.) I pile-on a LOT of slash each trip, as the slash site charges per load.
Often I need to haul dirt, gravel or rocks. (It will be a work truck AND my personal vehicle. It won't be a Garage Queen.)
I coach for a high school, so I could use it for hauling sports gear, too.
Oh! I don't want the truck jacked up high. My wife isn't tall and cannot climb out of our son's GMC beast with any ease. I won't do that to her.
Most importantly, I have three grandsons who will be going on adventures with me!

If I didn't mention something which would help you help me, let me know. Thanks, in advance.

 

4 doors is crew cab.

You should be able to do the job with a F-150 with a 3.5 Ecoboost gas engine. I don't see the need to get a F-250 unless you will be towing over 8000# or putting more than 1500# in the bed.

 

Yup, glc is right. I'd go with his suggestion.

 

Thanks! I've heard Ecoboost is a must if I go with a 150.

Another member, Roadie, told me, "There are some F150 engines to avoid, such as the 04 thru 10 5.4L 3V." I have heard there were some problems of "some sort" with a major component in Ford truck engines. But I didn't know details. Is Roadie referencing the issue we have been hearing about?

 

I'm not one to buy NEW. Do the 150s wear well? (I mean are they comparable in durability as many diesels?)

 

If you buy a used F150, go with 2011 or newer and get the Ecoboost.

No gas engine is going to be as durable as a diesel, but the 2004-2010 Ford diesels had some issues, some of which were major.

A 2010 or earlier F250 with the gas V10 would be a strong truck.

 

The 5.0 V8 would do the job maybe with more reliability than the ecoboost?

 

Maybe, but the turbocharger has a BIG advantage at his high altitude.

 

I live at 7,400 ft. And we have lots of UP above us.

 

My son, who has a 2015 GMC 2500 all terrain Duramax, leveled, makes a compelling argument that going diesel is good because they hold their resale value better than gas. He says, yes, I'd pay more up front. And it's really more truck than I need. But when I sold it I'd be much happier.

(Don't be impressed by how I described his truck. I copy / pasted....)

 

As I said, if you go diesel, get 2011 or newer. Also, normal regular maintenance on a diesel is considerably more expensive than on a gasser.

 

If you like diesel, and got the money to spend, then it shouldn't be a problem.

Where diesels die, is when people buy them, thinking they don't have to do much to them, and run them into the ground. Then come back and complain that they have to spend $$$ on parts.

 

I'd love to have glc and my son have a cup of coffee. I'd just be a spectator...!

The trouble is, you each make great points. Thanks!

 

Unless you do some really heavy towing, a diesel just makes no sense to me. I sometimes think its just a "manly" thing in many guy's minds. Fuel costs more, maintenance cost is ridiculous including oil changes. They last a long time, yes, but so do gassers now. My son in law has a diesel Excursion with a 180,000 on it but he has a gas pickup with 280,000 and still going.

 

I owned a 2011 EcoBoost and drive the wheels off it for 7 years. It was a fantastic truck.

I traded it in for a 2017 F250 with the PowerStroke. The 250 is definitely a different class of truck as far as size and power but if you're not going to use it, it's a bit of a waste.

As for getting more back on the diesel, your accountant would disagree with you. The diesel is an $8600 option on the 17s and $9500 on the 18s. You pay a whole lot up front for it and get back a chunk when you get rid of it but not everything. Plus the maintenance costs are higher. That money could be used better elsewhere if you want to be smart about your $$$.

Now, the 2018s have a diesel in the F150...