95 Chevy 454 vs. 94-97 F350 PSD
 

Hi guys, and gals,

I'm looking for opinions on these two trucks. I currently tow with the Chevy, 4x4 dually, but the 454 is brutal when it comes to fuel. We do quite a bit of highway towing, and 7-9 MPG gets old fast. I have been considering trading for a 94-97 Powerstroke dually.

Has anyone towed with both? I love the 454, but I know a lot of people that swear by the PSD. What things should I look for? How do the transmissions hold up? Stick vs Auto, does it matter? (I prefer a stick)

Just looking for some insight, as I've never towed with a Ford.

Thanks!

MY BIL tows with an F350 PSD and he's always complaining about mileage. Probly not as bad as your gasser, but if I were you I would look for a 1st gen 12 valve or 2nd gen 24 valve Cummins. They are the mileage masters of the 90s diesels.

I LOVE the cummins motor, I've pulled quite a few 10K+ loads on long trips for work with a 24 valve, but I just don't think I could be sold on a dodge truck. The biggest issue is the lack of a crew cab, that is extremely important, and the QuadCab just doesn't cut it.

I'm not really looking to "mega mile," but anything is better than the 7mpg per tank I typically see, loaded, empty, winter, summer, it doesn't seem to matter. She is Thirsty!

The honest truth, your better off sticking with your 95 Chevy than looking to buy something in the 94-97 range. Your basically looking for a tow rig 13-15 years old. The only thing your going to get is somebodies well used problem. You might luck up and find a low mileage truck that was hardly used. Most trucks that have diesels in them between the years you listed have already been raped pulling heavy stuff and waiting for a sucker to buy. A truck that old is worn out

Your gas mileage my suck in your Chevy but at least you know where your truck stands.

i have a 96 psd & it does decent pulling our cafe. we only tow 3-4x year, 4 hrs max way. the mileage i like, but it does have some issues of maintaining highway speeds up long inclines. my uncles 00 psd doesnt have these issues when i towed w/ his. his has higher miles, so not sure if its just mine or if ford made improvements over the years. i plan on keeping it for another couple years & then hopefully upgrade to a 01-04 model.

If your truck is sound, keep it. You will only get 10mpg or so towing with that vintage PSD.

I have a 02 PSD and towing 3500-4000 I get 17mpg.

Why not stay chevy...4wd, turbo diesel

$8500 in new parts - pay me back on the parts and the truck is free :drink:

Actually $7500 would work - no room on the drive for 2 trucks.

Lots of good coments guys, I think most of you have reinforced what I was thinking in my head all along. I would hate to take on someone elses problems, and end up with a worn out POS. My truck is in excellent shape, so I hate to give it up. That being said...

I think I might stay chevy, and go diesel. Looks like a super nice truck you have fantastix! But here's what I'm thinking. The motor in my truck is fresh, (10k miles), 4 bolt, forged bottom end, Merlin heads, roller rockers, etc, etc. I have a line on a 12v 6BT cummins locally that I could trade some other misc. parts for. Then I can re-fresh the truck motor and keep it around as a spare for the boat, or maybe start a blower motor build... I don't want to give up my crew cab, or 4x4, or manual trans. That combo is almost impossible to find in other brands with in my price range.

If you can't tell I LOVE projects; or maybe I'm just completely crazy :lolhit:

"Your mileage may vary." :D

Not sure what you have, but an F250 2WD extended cab short bed will get much better mileage than an F350 4WD crew cab dually.

I have a factory visor on my truck, and I'll bet that robs 1mpg it self; not to mention other variables like lift, gears, tires, etc. etc.

Just tossing out mileage is irrelevant on these types of trucks.

Also, the mid-late 90s 7.3L PSDs were not as efficient or powerful as the 99.5-2003 7.3L PSDs.