ok I am going to rant a litle
the TT engines have one purpose. Marketing. Yes they can tow a trailer. Yes they will DRINK fuel while doing so. And if you drive like a maniac like most people do nowadays, they're gonna drink fuel like that too.
The EPA among others, wants to know all about new vehicles. Basically if it meets certain criteria, the manufacturer can get in on incentives, breaks, etc.
So for example, if a vehicle has a 'mandated' 20 mpg, and the v8's EPA estimated MPG is 19, they are missing out. Getting a 5.0 to achieve the estimated mpg or emissions for that threshold, using the testing methods set forth by government, can't happen (whatever the threshold is), thus the EU pays more because Ford (and all other manufacturers who do business here in the usa) can't enjoy the incentives and such.
So way back when, they found out that if they can work on the aero improvements, drag improvements, and go to a V6 from a V8, but add a pair of hair dryers, and then test the exact same way that they've had to test for years prior, the V6 can get those incentives-lower emissions, better mpg, etc.
But remember these testing methods don't necessarily duplicate real-world driving. From what I know of (which isn't all that much), they test by going to x rpm and maintaining that rpm and measuring fuel flow and exhaust emissions among other things. That means on the 55mph highway they can get decent mpg, as advertised. But most freeways are 75mph, which increases the load on the truck via aerodynamic and mechanical drag, so generally speaking you're going to use more fuel at 75mph than at 55--which is one reason states have passed laws to allow an increased speed limit (more fuel sold=more tax income....)
these incentives and breaks are significant, and the markets are significantly more competitive than they were not 5 years ago. Competition means pricing needs to stay as low as possible to entice buyers to buy their product. Ain't that many people running out to by ram trx, at over 100 grand. But you see new standard rams all over the place ($50k?).
back in the day if you had a turbocharged car/truck they were known as unreliable. The main deal breaker with anything forced induction (gas burning) is control over the fuel and ignition mapping. If the fuel mixture goes a little lean and for a short time, the engine will fail. So way back then, EFI systems were crude by comparison, relying on mass air sensors that didn't necessarily accurately measure the correct air mass (temp changes the mass). Also those systems had a system of inlet piping that was prone to leakage at the joints which caused a rich condition, turbocharger overspeeding, among many other things-eventually leading to engine issues. As technology progressed, we ditched the mass air sensors primary measurement (and thus control) over fueling and moved that mostly to manifold pressure which is a little more accurate, and gives a better idea of what's actually happening. Higher pressure=higher load=more fuel (to an extent) and less ignition timing. Then the conrol system is leaps and bounds better, CPU is faster, more and better sensor data coming in, etc. Turbochargers also got better. Exhaust systems got better. Intake systems got better. They aren't unreliable anymore and commonly will go 200,000 miles + if you take care of them. Something worth noting about turbocharged gas burners is that after you get the turbo hot, say after coming to work parking lot, after getting in a road rage full throttle blast down the highway headed to work, you want to let the engine idle in neutral or park for a while before shutting it off--helps keep oil from "coking" in the turbocharger itself. Coking will close up the small clearances inside, and once they get blocked, the turbo WILL fail. But beyond that and keeping the air filter clean, it's no big deal to own/drive them. I mean, bigger trucks commonly run a million miles on a original turbo, so they are not unreliable by themselves; rather the owners who treat them wrong is usually what kills them.
Seen reference to buying a 3/4 ton diesel just to have the MPG. Trust me, it's not worth it. You pay more for the fuel, more for the truck, more for def, more for maintenance, more for repairs, and in most states more for the taxes on it. So what you saved in fuel costs you ate up elsewhere. Speaking from experience. Our shop has a 18 duramax 2500 and a 2020 ram 2500 6.4. The 6.4 pulls fine but doesn't have the torque down low. Towing the same trailer, the ram averaged 9.7 mpg. The duramax 11.3. Figuring fuel costs, maintenance, repairs, and insurance (and def) it was LESS EXPENSIVE to tow that same trailer to Indy with the ram gas burner than it was the duramax, by about $60. Go figure. Nowadays buying diesel powered pickup trucks for a regular homeowner (non commercial use), it's not much more than an excercise in compensation for other areas....
I own one, didn't want it but ended up with it (diesel 2003 f250 7.3L). I can't replace it, as a new one like it woudl be $80,000 or so which is ridiculous. So I'll just keep it as long as I can.
