I am looking into purchasing a used truck and getting my first trailer (likely 2+1). I have been searching for a while, and have always been looking for a diesal. However, there is a truck that I am interested in F250 not sure if I can post the link but it down at the bottom. The kilometers are low, but before I follow up with the buyer I am wondering if the gas vs diesal is a deal breaker.

What's your thoughts?

http://novascotia.kijiji.ca/c-ViewAd?AdId=442736438&MessageId=MSG.VIEW_AD.REPLY_TO_AD_SENT&mpname=R2S&mpname=Activity-R2S&mpuid=80010%3B174%3B442736438%3B-2386855869%3B%3B&secev=AQAAATvrrs4AAM0AAAACACIxM2JlZGUyMTQzZi5hMjBiMjZjLjY1MjRmLmZmZmQ1MGFkAAAAABpjnzYBAAAAAgAAAANUWK8AQofUs7b2YUK9osOufRoSTApsfvY*

Hornet,  You are soooooo very correct!  My husband purchased a 2008 Dodge diesel. He had NOTHING but trouble with it UNTIL he ripped out all the ridiculous emmisions crap (EGR, catalytic converter, soot cooker).  His truck now runs like a diesel should!  He will re-install the parts when the truck is due for emissions, pass the test, and take it all off again. 

Kdurling, if you are looking for a reliable OLDER diesel truck, look towards the 99-EARLY 03 Fords.  The 7.3 diesel engine is WONDERFUL!!  I have one, and not once had ANY engine trouble!  You can, on rare occasions, find one for sale.  They are well worth the money - I have had men stop me and ask if I am willing to sell mine as they are kicking themselves for getting rid of their 7.3 truck for the newer models! 

Good luck in your quest! 

If this truck will be primarily used for every day transportation and occasionally as a trailer hauler, I would consider the gas version. In NS and otherwise any cold environment, often starting and stoping a diesel, whilst running short errands, can greatly reduce its life span. If you're running short trips, a diesel will not have time to warm up, and leaving it running all the time can invite problems.

Diesels are the best motors for providing the high torque values desired in towing. If your travels are confined to NS, you will not be pulling the many long grades found in other parts of your country. Your province does not have an abundance of open high speed roads for your travels. An occasional slow trip up the hills, will be tempered by your improved cold weather suitability.

I do own a diesel, and have greatly enjoyed its performance. However my usage of it is only for pulling or hauling, not daily transportation. In addition, it is infrequently used during the winter months. If I were to use used it for daily transportation and occasionally for hauling, I would have purchased the largest gas motor available. The diesel motor costs much more to purchase, maintain and repair than a gas motor. With the current prices of diesel fuel, many diesel owners will watch their trucks rust to oblivion, before they realise a fuel savings profit.

To answer the OP question.  No it's not a deal breaker. It just depends on what makes you happy.

I had a 97 F250 with the gas engine and pulled my 3H trailer with 2 horses all over Utah.  It worked. Sounded like a buzz saw ready to implode when I climbed hills, got worse gas mileage while towing than the diesel trucks. But typically got better mileage empty.

Gas is cheaper than diesel. So even if you get slightly less mileage, You will probably break even on the fuel cost for a trip.  Maintenence is cheaper for the gas engine.  I know several contractors who have 200,000 miles on their Ford F250s with V10 gas engines and no major repairs. And buying a gas engine truck will be cheaper than buying a diesel engine truck.

Now there are reasons why most of us prefer diesel engine for heavy towing. Yes they get better mileage when you are towing. Diesel has more power, able to get big loads moving easier than the gas engines. When you are climbing and working hard. The diesel run at much lower RPM, You don't get the high rev'ing that a gas engine needs to produce horsepower.

As far as the above post about emissions. I have a 2011 F350 with the 6.7L engine, And I would never go back to a 7.3L or 6.0L engine. With 76,000 miles on this engine has been flawless in it's performance. It's new enough we don't know at what point the emission equipment will need to be replaced or repaired. Some where down the road, I'm sure it will. But so were the EGRs, EGR coolers etc on the 2003 and up engines.

As far as ripping out the emission equipment. Thats fast becoming a thing of the past.

The EPA has put considerable pressure and fines on the companies that used to produce the "Delete Kits".  Edge and now H&S have both stopped all production of Delete kits. All their future tuners now keep the emission equipment in places. The EPA has decided that they can not catch every consumer at their annual emission inspection. So it was just easier to stop the production of any product that reprogramed the truck to remove the emissions.

 All production has been terminated. You can still buy some delete kits on ebay and other locations as distributors sell off their inventory. But once inventory is gone, there will be no more.  At least until some new company figures out a way to sneek around the EPA.

Thanks for all the responses!

So I am gathering it probably isn't a dealbreaker but I have to think more lol I am likely not going for the truck but the question is still one which is good as knee deep going through all the ads to try to shortlist some I want to look further at.

To answer some of the above questions: I will not be using everyday during the summer as have my faithfull ole cavalier which I am sure you are all cringing at but have had for 10 years and best thing I ever bought in university. But the truck I likely will be using for the winter months as I live at the bottom of a steep hill which doesn't always get ploughed so will need to drive the truck to get out (right now have a SUV I drive during winter). So for that I would think gas might be better...

However, while NS does not have that many hills we do have many spots which are quite hilly (i.e. I live in the annapolis valley and one show is on the mountain) and so then I am thinking I should have a diesal...oh boy.

Guess I just need to go out and test drive and ask around to see what my other friends are pullin with.

Thanks again!