Age old question. Gas or diesel

[ronheater70]

Had a 2016 ram 2500 with the 6.4 Hemi.. liked it until I started getting around 9K towing then i started really getting annoyed with it.
Bought a new 3500 with the 6.7 cummins.. Love it.
Get about 2.5 more MPG average in general..
As for Maintenance cost, Closing in on 15K miles it would be the first oil change, however I did swap out the break in pool earlier.. So 1 Oil change for the diesel vs 3 for the Gasser..
IM getting ready to swap in the fuel filters..thats 100 Bucks.. So oddly enough Im about breaking even in maintenance cost in gas vs diesel at this point.. But even if I were paying a tad more, the fact That I can tow my camper at highway speeds on hills in 5th and 6th gear at 1700 rpm, vs 2nd gear at 5300 rpm in the 6.4 HEMI makes it all worth while.

There is really no extra maintenance on a diesel to me anyway, I mean diff service intervals are about the same, tranny service intervals are about the same, Oil changes are actually longer between changes on the diesel, so basically that leaves you with fuel filters every 15K or so and 25 minutes of your time. Def fluid cost next to nothing, I am working on the third gallon 15K miles, so thats like 30 - 40 bucks Or so?
It's just a dang fun truck..

[badger5301]

Rockwood fifth wheel with a 8900 pound dry weight, just over 10,000 ready to go. Traded our 2009 6.4 deleted powerstroke for a 2016 Ram 6.4 Hemi. Will admit the powerstroke did pull with less effort but the Hemi is doing a great job. Only time we use the truck is for pulling maybe 8 to 10 times a year and a few runs to Menards. Just could not justify the diesel for what we used it for. Today, diesel prices are around 50 to 60 cents higher then gasoline in our area.

[Jakieboy]

I wish I could find a station here in California that sells gas for $1.85 per gallon. Today's price for gas here in CA is over $4.00 per gallon. Diesel is well below $4.00 per gallon. The decision to go diesel for me is a "no brainer".

[Oldairmech]

I wish you luck with your choice ours was diesel and while many are loyal to their specific brands.
We have a 2500 HD Silverado that we bought new in 2015 and it can tow our 8,000lb trailer all day long with no issues through all the mountain ranges on the east coast and depending on how fast you go mileage will vary.

I can also say when we are not towing the trailer and on highways we can honestly get more than 20 MPG and we are not driving below the posted speed limits and I know all the gas trucks we owned before that could not achieve that.

[dbark]

I love the Ford diesel, especially the 6.7, I think with a little bit of smart shopping you could get one in the the 20k range. I have driven them for years they have a 20k pulling capacity they get over 20mpg on the highway and the power is unbelievable. But they do cost more to service, they will also last 400k miles.

[USMC0369]

Nissan Titan XD Platinum Reserve Diesel Cummins...Perfect for your camper ...going to need some more money though. Love mine every time we tow the ole camper somewhere.

[Flat_twin]

Originally Posted by mljohns

Hello all,

First of let me say new to the forum and enjoy what I'm seeing so far.

I am in the current debate of getting a new tow vehicle for my camper. I have a 2019 Coachmen Catalina Legacy Edition 323BHDSCK with a maximum weight of 9000lbs, 7500lb dry weight. 950lb tongue weight. It is a 37' long pull behind camper. My current tow vehicle (2008 Nissan Armada) is pulling the camper fine but I don't feel comfortable with it and am looking for something bigger. I have a budget of about 15 to 20k to find a new vehicle. I'm trying to decide on either a 6.2 gasser or a 6.0 power stroke F250. I can't afford a 6.7 and I don't trust a 6.4. This vehicle will be a daily driver of 15 to 30 miles a day round trip to and from work and maybe the occasional groceries outside of towing. For the most part I keep my camping trips local (here in TN) but I do want to start adventuring out and getting some miles on the trip. I have a trip to Disney coming up next year and would like to find a confident vehicle. I'm in no rush at this moment however I do want to go ahead and make a decision so I can start looking. I tow once maybe twice a month as a "weekend warrior." Thanks everyone in advance for the inputs.

Hi mljohns, For the trailer you describe, the amount of towing you'll be doing and using the truck as a daily driver I say the 6.2 V8 with 4.10 or 4.33 gearing would be a good choice. I would also suggest you consider a F-350 for additional payload. Another engine to consider though it would be found in a 2011 or older truck is the 6.8 V10. It has slightly more torque than the 6.2 but the difference here is the power comes on at lower rpms. Our current tow vehicle is a 2008 F-250, V10, crew cab 4x4. I get 14+ mpg on the road (even more with non ethanol gas when you can find it), less if driven in city traffic of course. Towing a 6500 lb, 30' toy hauler 8-10 mpg though I've seen it drop to 6.5 mpg climbing mountain grades all day.
The ford transmission programming works very well at keeping the truck in the power band and helping with downhill braking.

IF, you were a full time RVer with a heavier travel trailer or 5th wheel my answer might be different.

[JRogers984]

if you are talking 3/4 ton, and my spec's are for Chevy. The load ratings are pretty close. So in that case, it would be more of a choice of gas verses diesel.
This changes when you go to a full ton dually. The diesel can carry 6500lbs more on the hitch and 10000lbs more on the 5th wheel/goose neck.

A full ton srw diesel carries 3000lbs more than a gaser on the 5th wheel, same on the hitch, 14000lbs.

For Chevy, a gaser will pull up to 14000lbs on the hitch both half ton and full ton. Anything more than that will need a diesel srw, which will get you 14000lbs on the hitch, same as a gaser, but 17500lbs on the 5th wheel. DRW will get you 20000lbs on the hitch and 23100lbs on the 5th wheel.
Some hitch numbers are approximations.
Sounds like the only limit you have is choice and not need. Any of these trucks would pull your trailer with not problem.

Myself, go with the dually diesel, and you will be safe, and unlimited as to what you can pull.
There again, it is a longer truck, even the 2500 6' bed is a long truck.
Best of luck.
I paid $5000 less for my 3500 daully, than I paid for my 2500, every thing else the same.

If you are in a hurry, that 2500 duramax would get up and go at 75 mph. The 3500 is not even close!

[Jakieboy]

Originally Posted by Oldairmech

I wish you luck with your choice ours was diesel and while many are loyal to their specific brands.
We have a 2500 HD Silverado that we bought new in 2015 and it can tow our 8,000lb trailer all day long with no issues through all the mountain ranges on the east coast and depending on how fast you go mileage will vary.

I can also say when we are not towing the trailer and on highways we can honestly get more than 20 MPG and we are not driving below the posted speed limits and I know all the gas trucks we owned before that could not achieve that.

Oldairmech - Our experience with our now 11 year old Silverado 2500 Diesel is the same. We now tow a 12,500 pound Cardinal fifth-wheel and routinely get 12.5 - 13 mpg. When not towing, we get an average of about 20 mpg.

[Superdutymike]

Originally Posted by mljohns

So from what I'm gathering I should find a gasser? With my weights a 6.2 shouldn't have any problems.

I have a 6.2 f250 a 2019 model and a 9900 lb 36ft long camper and do just fine towing even mountians used as a daily driver was the reason for the gasser decision i diesel mechanic for a living i average 15 mpg daily and around 12.5 towing but as stated here this is just my 2 cents worth

[woo10-210]

Originally Posted by Jakie-Boy

I wish I could find a station here in California that sells gas for $1.85 per gallon. Today's price for gas here in CA is over $4.00 per gallon. Diesel is well below $4.00 per gallon. The decision to go diesel for me is a "no brainer".

Give it a few weeks and it will be back the other way around. If you live in CA, which you apparently do, you know these spikes are temporary. On average, diesel will be higher than gas in CA.

[Ejs4029]

Originally Posted by timfromma

You can do this one of 2 ways.


1. My way
2. The wrong way.

X2......Just like any other forum

[Cowracer]

Originally Posted by timfromma

You can do this one of 2 ways.


1. My way
2. The wrong way.

Actually, it's:

1. The wrong way
2. My way.

Tim

[Blaster 84]

I am a similar position.
Ford is going to produce a 7.3 gasser next year which I going to take a serious look at.

[Mad Cow]

I am more convinced that the OEM’s saw the EPA crackdown on deletes for diesels arriving soon as it did in September and were listening to their primary customers, commercial, and brought out the bigger more potent gassers as a viable alternative to the diesel offerings.