if you were buying a truck...
- Thread starter Snowmark
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Good to Go
Banned
Everyone has ideas on this one no doubt. Here's some food for thought.
With diesel, the actual mileage doesn't change much, whether your loaded, running around light, fighting a head wind. Example: my work truck averages about 9.3 mpg. I've snuck out 9.8, and on the worst day, 8.3. The truck runs around at 16-17k, maxed out at 33k. My worst mileage is when I'm slightly loaded, trying to make time on the freeway (high rpm's). The end result: big deal.
If it was a gasser, for one, it couldn't do it, and it would wear out along with mileage ratings all over the chart.
So, how often your going to tow with the camper..? how far?? terrain?? I'd be looking at all that stuff. But not the price of diesel. That would wash out just because of the increased mileage while heavy.
We tow a four place, with four, and have a camper. With diesel. I personally can't imagine going back, but can understand why some do use gassers.
With diesel, the actual mileage doesn't change much, whether your loaded, running around light, fighting a head wind. Example: my work truck averages about 9.3 mpg. I've snuck out 9.8, and on the worst day, 8.3. The truck runs around at 16-17k, maxed out at 33k. My worst mileage is when I'm slightly loaded, trying to make time on the freeway (high rpm's). The end result: big deal.
If it was a gasser, for one, it couldn't do it, and it would wear out along with mileage ratings all over the chart.
So, how often your going to tow with the camper..? how far?? terrain?? I'd be looking at all that stuff. But not the price of diesel. That would wash out just because of the increased mileage while heavy.
We tow a four place, with four, and have a camper. With diesel. I personally can't imagine going back, but can understand why some do use gassers.
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oregunrmk
Active member
It comes down to cost per mile. Diesel is 4.63 here, unleaded is 3.99. 16% diff. If you average 14 mpg on diesel and 8 on gas thats a 75% increase in mpg. Its def. a buyers market on used diesels right now. Not to mention the power difference. I drive a 7.3PS and wouldnt trade for anything when pulling.
Oil changes though are twice as much, fuel filter maintenence is a must.
So you do have some extra exp. over a gas burner.
Oil changes though are twice as much, fuel filter maintenence is a must.
So you do have some extra exp. over a gas burner.
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SilverGriz
Well-known member
Gasser for me...I couldn't justify the extra $6000 grand up front for the Duramax and the $1 per gallon more at the jump...not to mention the additional maintenance costs. Don't get me wrong, diesels are awesome for mileage and towing but for my personal choice it was gas.
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Macattack
Member
I asked myself that very same question when I bought mine 4 years ago.
I don't pull a 4 place trailer and don't absolutely need it, but the power and mpg (I get 16-17mpg) of a diesel is wonderful.
Yeah, the cost of owning a diesel has its low points (cost of maintenance and fuel) but if I could go back I wouldn't change my decision.
BTW, from one snowester to another ... avoid the 6.0 PS. Its left me stranded on the road twice.
I don't pull a 4 place trailer and don't absolutely need it, but the power and mpg (I get 16-17mpg) of a diesel is wonderful.
Yeah, the cost of owning a diesel has its low points (cost of maintenance and fuel) but if I could go back I wouldn't change my decision. BTW, from one snowester to another ... avoid the 6.0 PS. Its left me stranded on the road twice.
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Wyoming T/A
ACCOUNT CLOSED
i use to hate diesels till i got one--had a 2001 8.1 chev and got 14 mpg empty and 6.5 MPG towing the horse trailer up the bighorns---my 06 d max does 20 MPG empty and 12 mpg with the same trailer. the d max does the pull 2 times as easy and should be way easier on transmission---to me, the difference in the price of fuel is still well worth it.... 8.1 went over the top at 25 mph and the dmax is at 57 mph with 10,000# load
8.1 went over the top at 25 mph and the dmax is at 57 mph with 10,000# load
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sledskiing
Well-known member
At our altitude it's nice having a Turbo Diesel. If it's a light small camper and a 2 place trailer the benifit is you can drive up I70 at 70mph at 2k rpms.
My friend was considering the same thing. At the end he is gonna try to find a used turbo diesel. In his case the truck is pretty much only going to be used for trips to the mts of which light towing will be involved as well as a pop up truck camper. I would say if you are towing a lot (even light loads) go with the diesel.
My friend was considering the same thing. At the end he is gonna try to find a used turbo diesel. In his case the truck is pretty much only going to be used for trips to the mts of which light towing will be involved as well as a pop up truck camper. I would say if you are towing a lot (even light loads) go with the diesel.
yeah, the diesels just tow so much better, and dont do that much worse for milage when towing. 4 place enclosed trailer with 4 horses, and the thing tows great still, has the power to keep that thing going up and down all day, 7.3 powerstroke.
towing a 16' enclosed with 3 sleds in it down to cooke last winter, the only time you could even feel the trailer was when the wind hit it, other than that, it ran at about 100rpm high er down the highway to tow sqaure front traler. still able to pass people going uphill with quite a few pounds behind us.
towing a 16' enclosed with 3 sleds in it down to cooke last winter, the only time you could even feel the trailer was when the wind hit it, other than that, it ran at about 100rpm high er down the highway to tow sqaure front traler. still able to pass people going uphill with quite a few pounds behind us.
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SilverGriz
Well-known member
i use to hate diesels till i got one--had a 2001 8.1 chev and got 14 mpg empty and 6.5 MPG towing the horse trailer up the bighorns---my 06 d max does 20 MPG empty and 12 mpg with the same trailer. the d max does the pull 2 times as easy and should be way easier on transmission---to me, the difference in the price of fuel is still well worth it....
T/A...there must have been something wrong with your 8.1. I have several buddies with that exact truck. Those things are hard on gas but will tow as fast as you want to pull.
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dragon12
Well-known member
If you are thinking new, do your homework. The 6.4 fords don't do so well pulling (I get about 9 mpg). Power is unreal, but I think the truck has a sensor that automatically decreases fuel mileage when you plug in trailer lights. If I had it to do over again, I would look for a truck a couple of years old that didn't have all the new pollution control parts.
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Lucias
Member
Were were left crusing at 35 in limp mode in an 08 Duramax because the charcoal filter wouldn't burn out or what ever it does.. I got rid of 7.3, I miss it somedays mostly just the sound of the turbo but I bought a gas truck this round.. the tundra with the sled deck beats pulling a trailer...
buy yourself a 03-04 ford, chev, dodge diesel. all the brands are pretty good trucks and the price of diesel has shot the resale way down. If you buy the older one you don't have a particulate filter to worry about and will get better mileage to boot. my cummins compared to my hemi is about equal cost per mile when i'm empty but is much better when loaded with the cummins.
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Sledneck9
Member
X2, the newer turbo diesels are great! but come with alot of sensors and pollution control items. I went a couple years old because of these reasons and cost. Someone previously stated not a 6.0l psd, I disagree dont buy a 03/04 6.0l psd but anything after that and your golden. I love mine. Nice think about the 3/4 and 1 tons is you get a big cab and big box. My mileage never changes on the hwy, i dont pull a trailer though just a sled deck. If i was thinking about changing trucks i would probably look at the tundra double cab though.
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WYO312
Well-known member
I got a diesel a few years ago. I love it. Of course I just put a half a tank of fuel in it which was $86. I pull an enclosed trailer all winter and a 5th wheel camper all summer, so I needed, ok just wanted more power. You used to have the advantage of higher re-sell with a diesel, but that may not be the case right now. I do get better fuel economy with the diesel, pulling or not. I do my own oil changes, still costs around $50. Fuel filters are around $40. I can say that I have 166,000 miles on my diesel and it runs great. So far I have had to put a clutch in it, rebuilt the front end, and rebuilt the rear drive line (that was at 155,000 miles). The only problem I ever had was a glow plug relay. Hard to get that many miles on a gas truck using it hard all the time without a lot more issues. The other downfall of a diesel is the parts are more expensive. It really comes down to what you need and personnel preference.
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Cyle
Well-known member
Having a diesel I would never go back to a gasser. I really like that I can hook up a 13k trailer to my 04 Cummins and go, no worrying about stabilizar bar, air bags blah blah blah, and the truck pulls it like nothing. If you plan to keep the diesel for a long time it's the only way to go, a gasser won't go 300k+ miles. If you keep the diesel that long, it's going to end up costing you a lot less then a gasser. Also, in MANY places a 1500 with a sled deck with 2 sleds is overloaded, heck a 2500 can be getting pretty close. Maintaince and fuel cost is about the same if you work it out higher mileage equals out for the extra fuel cost.
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Wyoming T/A
ACCOUNT CLOSED
i'm not saying it wouldnt pull--you just have to run the crap out of it just to come close to the way the dmax pulls--hook up to 10000+ and pull the lovell side of the horns---my 8.1 would pull it fine ar 4500 rpms but the dmax kills it at 1/2 the rpms---dont get me wrong, i loved the 8.1 with the allison but the diesel just kicks arss---i have 31000 miles on my 2006 dmax and about 29000 of it is hooked to a trailer---
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Wyoming T/A
ACCOUNT CLOSED
04 1/2 and early 05 dmax had overheating problems pulling the mountains with big loads----speaking from experience---Chevy bought my 05 back and gave me the 06
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Seeder
New member
If you are looking into a 2500/3500 truck then a diesel is the only way to go. You cannot find a gas truck in that category that is economical to drive daily unlodaed, the fuel mileage will kill you. If you do not need a heavy duty truck then go with a 1/2 gasser, the mileage is decent and the price is cheaper to buy than a HD counterpart.
I have a Cummins and the best part about a diesel is with a few dollars in mods they can go like he!! and still get good mileage.
-Seeder
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