re: Anybody go from half ton to three quarter ton truck and regret it?

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On the gas vs diesel issue that always comes up, diesel is no longer cheaper, now longer more reliable (thanks EPA) and they don't last any longer than gas engines. Diesels didn't suddenly start lasting a shorter amount of time, gas engines just developed longevity over the past couple of decades that brings them up to diesel longevity timelines.

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This is perfectly accurate

When I bought my 3/4 ton gas GMC, I compared the initial truck costs, fuel costs at the time and estimated fuel economy. I think the break even point was around 185,000 miles. If the Diesel engine was around a 2-3k option instead of 9-10k, I would have considered it.

Cons: My truck rides tougher than my previous 1/2 ton and doesn’t have quite the same acceleration.

Pros: It rides and sits exactly the same with my foreman in the bed or not. It doesn’t get pushed around by anything I’ve towed with it so far. It’s a crew cab with the full size bed. My dad had a 2500HD with the 6.0 from 2001 to 2017 then traded it in for a new one after I bought mine. I’m pleased with it so far.

I went from a 1500 to a 2500 dodge and loved it. I bought it new in 06 and currently have 185,000 miles on it. I bought a new 1500 in 14 and I love it but tend to drive the 06 2500 more than the 1500. Like has been said everything is more expensive on the diesel but it’s because most things last longer on a 3/4 ton so I think it kinda evens out over time. I had a control board of some type go out on my 1500 and it would have cost me about 1500 to replace had I not had an extended warranty. I don’t even have a board like that on my 2500 lol. Anyway, it’s a matter of preference but if you are not hauling or towing heavy shite then a 1500 is all you need.

I went to an F250 from a 150 couple years ago. I thought it was big when I first got it but got used to it very quickly. It’s much nicer for driving longer trips on the interstate with 16’-18’ trailers loaded up with sxs’s, 4wheelers, etc. I hated having the short bed in the 150. I don’t use it all the time but when I do I need the full size bed. Won’t have another truck without it. I’m lucky that my company pays for it though so I don’t put as much thought into all the misc expenses as I would have back when.

I love the 250, don’t even know my bay boat is back there and cruise at 75 mph pulling my 33 Invincible.

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pulling weight on grades, nothing beats that diesel exhaust brake

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Its a damn nice thing to have. These days though the stability and trailer sway control is sooooooo good you kinda don't need it unless you're pulling really heavy shite

preach it, the diesel gets over 12 mpg pulling a 15000# load.

I've had the 7.3, 6.7 now, a bunch of gas half tons in between. The bigger trucks have always received more compliments.

I’m in between as well. I get Ford pricing on the AZ plan and a lariat f-150 with 5.0 4wd is within $500 of a lariat F-250 with 7.3 4wd. I wish Chevy offered their gas 6.6 with the 10spd. Updated interior 2022 Chevy with 6.2 might be just right but who knows when those are going to be available.

I could use the 3/4 ton for towing and payload but swore I wouldn’t again because of the length and ride. Does anyone have experience with new 7.3?

My '18 cummins with highway gears averaged 10 mpg on a 1400 mile cannonball run to northwest Colorado pulling somewhere around 8k lbs. We averaged 63 mph over the whole 21 hour trip. Thats incredible and it was fat dumb and happy the whole time doing it. Lots of noise and pulling all the hard grades in 5th but we just had it in the corner the whole time and never had so much as a blip of discomfort doing it. You just aint doing that with a gasser. Way more fuel stops, way more noise, 95% of the way to an oil change when you get home etc etc. Did we HAVE to have it? No. We would have gotten there with a half ton truck just fine. It would have been much slower, and its not like we do that every day.

A diesel is very much worth it on those trips and it'll do it for as long as you're willing to pay the fuel bill. I've had a few gas burner 3/4 tons and was very happy with all of them, but I dont think I can go back. There's ALWAYS more power available than I can use.

I’ve got a 2008 Duramax I bought about 3 years ago. I haul boats and a tractor do I wanted something with a good transmission first and foremost. The diesel is nice when pulling a load, but the transmission is what Sold me on the truck.