2026 Super Duty Gas vs Diesel: Which Should You Choose?

Blue Ford Super Duty Crew Cab kicking up dust on a grassy dirt trail

Close-up of a Ford Super Duty front wheel and tire on muddy ground

Choose a 2026 Ford Super Duty gas or diesel pickup based on the specific truck’s towing and payload ratings, not just its engine. A properly configured 7.3L gas truck can be rated to tow more than a differently configured 6.7L diesel. With the required F-250 High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package, a diesel F-250 can offer substantially more conventional towing capacity.

At Ed Martin Ford, we recommend starting with your loaded trailer weight and towing method. Then compare the truck configurations that meet your needs, including payload, purchase price and expected operating costs. This guide covers 2026 Super Duty pickups, not other model years or chassis-cab models.

Choosing Gas or Diesel

The main comparison is the 7.3L gas V8 versus the standard-output 6.7L Power Stroke diesel. The lineup also includes a 6.8L gas V8 with 405 horsepower and 445 lb-ft of torque, and a high-output diesel with 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb-ft. All four use ten-speed automatic transmissions.

Blue Ford Super Duty Crew Cab parked on a dirt lot beside brick buildings

7.3L Gas V8

The naturally aspirated 7.3L produces 430 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 485 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Ford specifies 87-octane gasoline; it is not E85 compatible.

Choose a gas truck whose towing and payload ratings cover your load. Consider diesel when the gas trucks you are comparing are not rated to tow your loaded trailer.

Front view of a tan Ford Super Duty grille on a farm with fenced pasture

6.7L Power Stroke Diesel

The turbocharged, standard-output 6.7L produces 475 horsepower at 2,600 rpm and 1,050 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm. Ford lists “Ultra-low sulfur diesel/B20” as the recommended fuel. B20 is a petroleum-diesel blend containing 6% to 20% biodiesel.

Choose a diesel configuration when its ratings meet your load requirements and the gas trucks you are considering fall short. On an F-250, confirm that the axle upgrade package is included if the rating requires it. Keep gas in the comparison when its towing and payload ratings also cover your load.

Towing Configurations

Towing capacity depends on the truck’s configuration and whether you use conventional, fifth-wheel or gooseneck towing. Compare your trailer’s loaded weight with the rating for the way you will tow.

Each row below lists a 2026 F-250 Super Duty SRW Crew Cab 4x4 with a 175.9-inch wheelbase and 8-foot box. SRW means single rear wheels. These trucks share that body configuration, but their axle ratios vary.

Engine and Package Condition	Axle Ratio	Maximum Loaded Conventional Trailer Rating
7.3L gas V8	3.73	16,400 lb
7.3L gas V8	4.30	18,200 lb
6.7L standard-output diesel, without the axle upgrade package	3.31	15,500 lb
6.7L standard-output diesel; F-250 High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package required	3.31 or 3.55	21,900 lb
6.7L high-output diesel; F-250 High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package required	3.31 or 3.55	22,000 lb

These are Ford’s maximum available loaded conventional trailer ratings for the specified configurations. They are not guaranteed capacities for inventory vehicles and do not apply to fifth-wheel or gooseneck towing.

In this comparison, both gas configurations are rated to tow more than the standard-output diesel without the axle upgrade package. With the required package, the listed diesel configurations are rated to tow more than either gas configuration.

Check Payload Separately

Payload covers what the truck carries, not the trailer’s entire weight. Add the weight of passengers, cargo and trailer load carried through the hitch, then compare the total with the limit on the specific vehicle’s door-jamb carrying-capacity label.

Configuration, trim and options affect carrying capacity, so check the label on each truck you are considering. Use that truck-specific limit alongside the towing rating to see whether the truck meets both your carrying and towing needs.

Ownership Costs

Compare actual purchase quotes for trucks that meet your towing and carrying needs. Then estimate fuel costs using your planned usage, fuel prices and fuel-consumption assumptions for each truck.

The 2026 Super Duty pickups covered here are exempt from federal fuel-economy testing requirements, so use fuel-consumption assumptions that reflect your expected driving and towing.

Review our new Ford specials for applicable offers, and confirm the terms before including an offer in your budget.

Compare Trucks in Anderson

Start with our new F-250, F-350 and F-550 inventory. This inventory includes other model years and powertrains, as well as chassis cabs.

Our dealership is on Scatterfield Road in Anderson, Indiana. Tell us about your trailer and how you plan to use the truck, including any I-69 travel or local stops.

Then contact us about actual truck configurations. Share your preferred engine, cab and box, along with your loaded trailer weight, towing method, and passenger and cargo needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a 7.3L gas Super Duty tow more than a 6.7L diesel?

Yes. For conventional towing with a 2026 F-250 SRW Crew Cab 4x4, 175.9-inch wheelbase and 8-foot box, the 7.3L gas versions with 3.73 or 4.30 axle ratios are rated to tow more than the standard-output 6.7L diesel with a 3.31 axle ratio and without the F-250 High-Capacity Axle Upgrade Package.

Can I use these ratings for fifth-wheel or gooseneck towing?

No. The 2026 F-250 figures in this guide are maximum available loaded conventional trailer ratings. For fifth-wheel or gooseneck towing, compare your trailer’s loaded weight against the rating for the actual truck configuration and towing method.

Will diesel pay for itself?

Compare actual gas and diesel purchase quotes, then estimate each truck’s fuel costs over the same planned ownership period. Base those estimates on your intended driving and towing, fuel prices and fuel-consumption assumptions for each truck. Compare the purchase-price difference with the expected fuel-cost difference over that period.

Although every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, and all information and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Price does not include applicable tax, title, and license charges. ‡Vehicles shown at different locations are not currently in our inventory (Not in Stock) but can be made available to you at our location within a reasonable date from the time of your request, not to exceed one week.

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