In a trailer, like a bigger heavier car hauler? Or on a trailer like a 16-18ft flat bed? If it's the latter I'd still vote gasser, a bulkier car hauler then the deisel....do you plan on adding to your collection of haulables anytime soon? Bigger trailer, big 5th wheel, a slide in camper, and dragging the explorer?
I mean it sounds mostly a commuter with once a month towing.....
i hate mpg numbers, but I'm going to make an exception here....2015 models gas and diesels are both going under changes and improvements so we can't count their numbers yet....but we can expect them both to gain about the same....
http://www.fuelly.com/car/ford/f-250%20 ... 0duty/20132013 is the most recent year with a larger pool of vehicles to help judge...These are real world numbers from real world ppl doing real world things... Eliminating the most extremes and looking at the medium, the diesels have a slight edge in mpg over the gassers......nothing stellar in my opinion. Now to get the power stroke you have an extra 8gs initial investment, diesel fuel has been 10-30 cents more(moreorless) then regular unleaded, use 15 cents more as the curb, and i don't think the 2015 will be out from under the thumb of def....there's to many factors on the cost/dosing rate of def so let's just say another 50$ a month.
So I mean study numbers but to me unless diesel fuel prices drop dramatically, fuel costs alone are going to take long awhile to earn back the investment.
What about longevity? If well maintained gassers can run their odometers up just aswell as diesels....just a little more and proper maintenance, but nothing you shouldn't be used too.....meanwhile these arn't the diesel engines of yore where nothing could kill them. They're alot more finicky with common rail, higher pressure fuel systems, and the injectors....The old 12&24 valve cummins could run with gallons of water in the fuel, add a treatment additive and likely be fine...The common rail 5.9 and worse yet higher pressure 6.7 cummins....ur likely looking at injector or injector pump issues no matter the additives you try and save it with....The ford deisels are the same technological progression I've just seen all of it first hand with the cummins.....
If your going to USE it then get the diesel, it's definitely the superior, but if your not utilizing every benefit it brings is it worth it? Especially in a brand new model, and with all the nonsensical hold backs emissions is adding to the mix? Not imo....I'd get the gasser and be happy with the cheaper fuel bill....i don't need the 700+ft lbs of torque everywhere I go every day...or option 2 get a pre emissions diesel of the right genre and time to be the best pick, and a 1986 50mpg Honda crx, now you've got a tow pig, and amazing commuter, and still save enough money to get another 10 explorers......
I can only hope I've made your head hurt...ha! On the bright side your starting early so you got plenty of time to keep researching. There's other sites like fuely for more realistic mpg numbers. Scan the Web for big ticket, and common maintenance issues ppl have had with both engines (until they're out and tested it's only a hope these problems have been corrected with new models).....ur not an idiot, and since we here You've obviously already started down the right track.......lmk ask whatever you want if i can I'll do my best to answer.....I've been around diesels my whole life and we'll b4 they were trendy