Tow Vehicle Diesel or Gas for CC 33 IK

[tedstr]

Had a 3/4 ton gasser when I first got my Silverback. Got an average of 7 to 7.5 mpg. Now with with my diesel I get an average of 11 mpg, only a 50% increase in mileage. Also the diesel is more powerful on hills. Check the math and you will have your answer and comfort feeling.

[Lundy]

FWIW- I would never try and argue that a gasser would pull as well as a diesel, but a gasser in the right application will perform the task needed. I think the real argument is the cost factor gas vs. diesel. Most major fleet buyers, Paramount Pictures, US Marines, SoCal Edison, just a few that I have personal seen are going away from diesels due to the added cost of owning them. I wonder how many modern diesel owners are planning to dump them when the warranty is over because of the potential for a vey expensive out of warranty repair. If you go to the FTE – Ford Truck Enthusiast website you can search and find articles supporting these conclusions. A modern day diesel that has a repair can costs into the thousands of dollars very quickly for things like Turbo’s, Injectors, Fuel Pump, Exhaust Filters. My next-door neighbor’s 2014 Powersroke lost its Turbo at 120,000, out of warranty and it was a $5,500 repair bill. You could replace and entire engine in a gasser for that amount. I always hear the argument that people who by gassers are always trying to justify their purchase because of finances, Yep that is true, I don’t want to pay $8,000 more for a truck that is going to cost me more to maintain over the life of the truck. The argument that the mileage makes up for it is pure BS. My neighbor’s truck gets 3-4 mpg better than mine pulling the same weight trailer. With diesel prices in my area 40cents higher than gas, the better mileage factor is not realistic. Do some reading on the FTE site and see for yourself. The diesel side is a daily deluge of issues, the 6.2 gasser side is actually boring.

[BandJCarm]

If all the aspects of camping are to be reduced to a cost benefit analysis, no one would ever camp.

Just get the absolute best you can afford to get, and roll down the road.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by tedstr

Had a 3/4 ton gasser when I first got my Silverback. Got an average of 7 to 7.5 mpg. Now with with my diesel I get an average of 11 mpg, only a 50% increase in mileage. Also the diesel is more powerful on hills. Check the math and you will have your answer and comfort feeling.

You're pulling a 14,000 lb 5ver with a diesel. I'm pulling a 6,500 lb TT with a gasser.

Did the math - I don't NEED a diesel for what I'm doing.

I COULD mow my 1/2 acre with one of these:


But I think my JD D130 is more appropriate:

[Ejs4029]

The last time I checked a hammer can still crack an egg....My decision to buy a diesel was based on wants not needs....And I have to chuckle when someone tells me or suggests I don't need a diesel to tow my 8K...Buy what makes you a Happy Camper

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

The last time I checked a hammer can still crack an egg....My decision to buy a diesel was based on wants not needs....And I have to chuckle when someone tells me or suggests I don't need a diesel to tow my 8K...Buy what makes you a Happy Camper

I agree, "buy what makes you a Happy Camper "!and what you can easily afford. Just buy a camper that fits your truck. Too many decide on the truck then buy a camper that doesn't or just barely meets the numbers. Then they tell themselves stories about what a great job it does.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

The last time I checked a hammer can still crack an egg....My decision to buy a diesel was based on wants not needs....And I have to chuckle when someone tells me or suggests I don't need a diesel to tow my 8K...Buy what makes you a Happy Camper

So you WANTED a diesel (and presumably you were able to afford a diesel) - that's fine.

What bothers me is when the poster says that someone NEEDS a diesel to pull a 5,000 lb trailer. And it seems to me like most/many (certainly not "all") of the pro-diesel people on this forum do that. Go read the gas vs diesel threads and you see it over and over. We typically know zilch about a posters finances, so now we could be telling some guy with a mortgage on his house, and a new loan on his trailer to go add another $7-10K onto his loan for his TV. Just doesn't seem like a forthright thing to do.

The issue is that, as a minimum, we need to encourage people to match their TV to their towing load and potentially where they're towing. If they want to go over that, it's fine, but we shouldn't go telling people that they have to do it.

I could easily afford a diesel, but I don't WANT one and more importantly, I don't NEED one.

[jacknife]

My point is made. Get whatever you can pull your Trl over Mountains with at a decent speed. I you live and camp in terrain that is not much of a challenge them you don't need that much truck. I live out west and run over some pretty steep grades pulling 14 ,000 . A Diesel and exhaust brake are the best way to go with that type of weight.

[Ejs4029]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

So you WANTED a diesel (and presumably you were able to afford a diesel) - that's fine.

What bothers me is when the poster says that someone NEEDS a diesel to pull a 5,000 lb trailer. And it seems to me like most/many (certainly not "all") of the pro-diesel people on this forum do that. Go read the gas vs diesel threads and you see it over and over. We typically know zilch about a posters finances, so now we could be telling some guy with a mortgage on his house, and a new loan on his trailer to go add another $7-10K onto his loan for his TV. Just doesn't seem like a forthright thing to do.

The issue is that, as a minimum, we need to encourage people to match their TV to their towing load and potentially where they're towing. If they want to go over that, it's fine, but we shouldn't go telling people that they have to do it.

I could easily afford a diesel, but I don't WANT one and more importantly, I don't NEED one.

I agree with what you are saying about matching your TV to their towing load and potentially where you are towing of course everyone has opinions on the subject and that's pretty much where I stop giving any advise.

There can be other factors that go into choosing a TV as well and any poster that asks a question on a public forum like this is going to get a barrage of opinions.

Personally I have enough things going on in my life to worry about other peoples finances or if they can afford to buy a TV yet alone anything else. I think people should try and make the best educated purchase decisions based on their fact findings. Fact is I don't need alot of things that I have in my life but I still have them..Good Bad or In Different there are still more things that I want and I don't need to justify any of them to anyone but myself

[muddyrode]

Spock123 oh just bite the bullet and go for it
or you can have a truck built special for you
such as one of these

[Chuckinca]

Been in our 24' TT and Ram 3500 Diesel for 6 years. Mostly going back and forth from Norcal to Central Fla twice a year. 95% of the time you put that truck in cruise and forget it.

We sold our place in Norcal in March and will not be making that trip but will still want to get out of Fla in the summer. Was looking at 30' Class C Sunseekers but believe they only have 4 forward gears, no tow/haul and no Jake brake. Probably a deal breaker as we really like the mtns and the control that the diesel PU has.

Are there any Class A or Class C rigs that are affordable that compare to the power options of a diesel PU & TT?

Thanks

.

[fanrgs]

Originally Posted by Chuckinca

Are there any Class A or Class C rigs that are affordable that compare to the power options of a diesel PU & TT?

The short answer is "no" if you want an inexpensive 30' diesel with more than 4 gears and an exhaust brake.

I have asked both dealers and manufacturer reps for years why the F-450 chassis used in so many mid-size, front-engine Class A and C motorhomes couldn't substitute the Ford Power Stroke diesel for the ubiquitous V-10 gasser. Since both are available in Super Duty trucks, the diesel should be an option in the Ford coach chassis.. No one has yet come up with a reasonable answer.

A few companies are now building "Super C" front-diesel coaches, but most are built on expensive 35-40' Freightliner chassis. So that still leaves a big gap in the diesel coach lineup between 25' Mercedes Sprinters and 35+' Class A pushers and Super C's.

[Chuckinca]

Thanks for the info.

Guess we get a 30' or so TT and keep the 3500 Ram Diesel.

.

[Lr195]

We have 2018 33IK that we tow with a 2012 Ram 2500 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel, with exhaust brake . I added air bags tows great. Can't imagine a gas having as much towing power.

[prestonj12]

Originally Posted by Lr195

We have 2018 33IK that we tow with a 2012 Ram 2500 6.7-liter Cummins turbo diesel, with exhaust brake . I added air bags tows great. Can't imagine a gas having as much towing power.

I found one fairly close! Bentley Mulsanne Speed. 811 foot pounds of torque! No trailer towing option available though.

[brian372lok]

I had a 2010 1500, i needed bigger truck for my work dump trailer. I went Diesel because i wanted too. Then bought another and then the camper got bigger. I tow almost 15k lbs. I would never do that with a gasser. I would tow my older 6000 lb TT i had tho with a gasser, assuming no mountains regularly. I do like the power of a diesel. I now have a 6.2l F350 for a worker that tows my dump trailer an few times a week. I towed with that when i first bought it and I tried to pull into traffic and i forgot i had didnt have the 6.7l and made someone unhappy pulling out. Both trucks off the line empty are pretty close. After the turbo lag, the 6.2l is still at my doors, well for a little bit. I just bought my 3rd Super Duty, and if i had not have any camper trailer, i might have went back to a loaded F150 with max tow. The gas mileage i get out of the f150 loaners is amazing. Different Strokes for Different folks.

[mwdilday]

Originally Posted by Mtelkman

I think the general consensus is towing hills with a diesel is easier. But that comes at the increased maintenance cost on the newer diesels as well as losing a bit of payload as the diesel engine is heavier than the gas engine. Any of the big 3 newer diesels are all excellent engines. On the older engines you need to be a bit more choosy.

If you plan to tow a lot, I suggest the diesel. If only rarely towing then I would think it might not be worth the extra expense. FWIW, I am glad I have a diesel.

If you are counting the pounds of the engine difference you need a bigger truck and you need a diesel.