Diesel Pro’s and Con’s

[SQROOT]

Had both, 6.0 in gas then bought 2500 diesel in 06 kept until 19 and moved to class c. short answer is diesel is really expensive out on the road usually $1.00 higher the gas. I did not have to use DEF so I cannot relate to that area. Short answer buy big enough gas or diesel for the what ever you get, TT or 5vr. But Look to the future.

[clarkbre]

I'm happy with my gasser. Simple, low cost and let 'er rev (which isn't bad for a gas engine).

I tow a 7500 pound trailer and the diesel equivalent would be costly, overkill and I wouldn't have gained much payload over my F150.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by clarkbre

I'm happy with my gasser. Simple, low cost and let 'er rev (which isn't bad for a gas engine).

I tow a 7500 pound trailer and the diesel equivalent would be costly, overkill and I wouldn't have gained much payload over my F150.

That's what we all say BEFORE we bought a diesel in a bigger truck

[clarkbre]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

That's what we all say BEFORE we bought a diesel in a bigger truck

Yep, and after I get to listen to all those guys piss and moan about Duramax injector issues, blown RAM tranny's and a plethora of Ford 6.X problems.

While the gassers cost more at the pump and don't win the race up Ike's Gauntlet towing a 10k pound trailer, they have do have their place.

IMO, 3/4 ton diesel's are worthless with their tiny payload and huge towing ability. Why bother?....buy a 1 ton.

And, the gas 1/2 ton Ecoboost "towing machines" work great until the turbos puke and wreck the engine. 3.5L exhaust manifolds, turbos and vacuum pump replacement costs about $6k through Ford (thank God for extended warranties).....ask me how I know at 71K miles. Talk about disappointment!

Whoever said that there's no replacement for displacement had a few thoughts right. They are simple, tried and true machines. Less parts are less likely to fail. Turbos, intricate fuel systems and emissions controls can cost the consumer a lot where a similar gas vehicle can tow the same with less chance of breakage.

And, I don't know that the diesels actually last that much longer than gassers. Please cite the people that have run their 3/4 or 1 ton truck to 500k miles without issue. People claim "those guys" do it all the time. It's totally possible; however, it can be done with a gasser too. Hotshot drivers put their trucks through constant towing stress; here's a guy who racked up 418,000 before the engine failed: Engine failure - at 418,000 miles
He was still running the stock tranny at the time.

I'm not saying diesels are bad by any means but give credit to gassers where it is due. For the average guy towing less than 10k pounds once a month, a diesel is WAY overkill.

This forum is filled with the "Your trailer weighs 7000+ pounds....you need a diesel....anything else isn't enough".

It gets old.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by clarkbre

Yep, and after I get to listen to all those guys piss and moan about Duramax injector issues, blown RAM tranny's and a plethora of Ford 6.X problems.

While the gassers cost more at the pump and don't win the race up Ike's Gauntlet towing a 10k pound trailer, they have do have their place.

IMO, 3/4 ton diesel's are worthless with their tiny payload and huge towing ability. Why bother?....buy a 1 ton.

And, the gas 1/2 ton Ecoboost "towing machines" work great until the turbos puke and wreck the engine. 3.5L exhaust manifolds, turbos and vacuum pump replacement costs about $6k through Ford (thank God for extended warranties).....ask me how I know at 71K miles. Talk about disappointment!

Whoever said that there's no replacement for displacement had a few thoughts right. They are simple, tried and true machines. Less parts are less likely to fail. Turbos, intricate fuel systems and emissions controls can cost the consumer a lot where a similar gas vehicle can tow the same with less chance of breakage.

And, I don't know that the diesels actually last that much longer than gassers. Please cite the people that have run their 3/4 or 1 ton truck to 500k miles without issue. People claim "those guys" do it all the time. It's totally possible; however, it can be done with a gasser too. Hotshot drivers put their trucks through constant towing stress; here's a guy who racked up 418,000 before the engine failed: Engine failure - at 418,000 miles
He was still running the stock tranny at the time.

I'm not saying diesels are bad by any means but give credit to gassers where it is due. For the average guy towing less than 10k pounds once a month, a diesel is WAY overkill.

This forum is filled with the "Your trailer weighs 7000+ pounds....you need a diesel....anything else isn't enough".

It gets old.

Sounds like you might be happier with a horse?

[clarkbre]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

Sounds like you might be happier with a horse?

Nah....Just refuse to be a lemming!

[CincyGus]

I think everything has its place. I had a 1500 gasser and it did a fantastic job towing my 6500 lb trailer. It hauled it from Ohio to Florida, Tenn, most of Ky, Indiana, Up and down the hills and valleys through the Smokey's and Jellico without a problem, just a little extra RPM whine.

Last Fall we traded the old TT in for a new Toy Hauler that's just under 10,000 when we have it loaded up for a week long camping trip. A few months before, we went looking for a 2500 and found the one in my signature which is a diesel, my first.

When I picked up the camper in the fall, I asked them to fill the 100 gallon fresh water tank as I wanted the tongue weight (tank is in the front) and the 800 lbs it weighs when full, just to get an idea how it was going to feel once we had it loaded for camping. It was a 90 mile drive home through rush hour of two cities, Dayton and Cincinnati. The stretch in between, I put the cruise on 70 and never touched it again. Up some pretty good hills without missing a beat, Exhaust brake keeping it right where I had it set going down some long grades too.

My wife thought I was grinning because the new camper was home. That was only half of it and I'm happier about the truck than any decision I've made on vehicles. Has plenty of power for the job I need it to do, is a pleasure to drive even being a stiff unloaded. I love having the torque to get a heavier load up to speed, especially with some of the very short entrance ramps on some highways. I love the better mileage as my daily driver vs. the gasser I had.

My advice is, as many have said, buy what you think you will ultimately need to the job. The quality of the trucks on the market today, with all the combinations of engines and rear ends, 10 speed trannys, turbo chargers plus all the other improvements they have made over the past 20 years, is in my opinion never been better. Buy the right size for what you need for the next 5-6 years and go for it.

[clarkbre]

Originally Posted by CincyGus

.....My advice is, as many have said, buy what you think you will ultimately need to the job. The quality of the trucks on the market today, with all the combinations of engines and rear ends, 10 speed trannys, turbo chargers plus all the other improvements they have made over the past 20 years, is in my opinion never been better. Buy the right size for what you need for the next 5-6 years and go for it.

Well said!

With the availability of naturally aspirated and turboed, diesel and gas engines in 1/2 to 1 ton vehicles, we live in a best equipped/consumer confusing tow technology time.

Realistically, the Big 3....plus Toyota & Nissan put out some killer vehicles for yarding around our hardsided-tents-on-wheels.

[frank4711]

Originally Posted by clarkbre

Nah....Just refuse to be a lemming!

good stuff!!!

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by SQROOT

Had both, 6.0 in gas then bought 2500 diesel in 06 kept until 19 and moved to class c. short answer is diesel is really expensive out on the road usually $1.00 higher the gas. I did not have to use DEF so I cannot relate to that area. Short answer buy big enough gas or diesel for the what ever you get, TT or 5vr. But Look to the future.

Most places I've been lately, the only gas cheaper than diesel is Ethanol. Where I live, regular and premium are up to 25 cents or more higher than diesel. Yes ! I have seen some Truck Stops that are charging insane prices for diesel.

[DouglasReid]

We used to have a gasser, have had a diesel for the past 5 years or so.

We would never consider going back to gas as long as we are towing a heavy camper. The entire towing experience is so much more relaxed with the diesel.

Just my .02, and it is worth what you paid for it.

[ard58]

Have had both, current TV is Ford 6.2 gasser. I'm happy with it. Excuse me if I missed the extra cost for diesel, I'm busy answering phones, etc while reading over all the replies. My boss purchased a 2019 F250 diesel a few months ago, and he said he had a real problem letting go of the extra $10K for the diesel option, but he finally did. In my book, thats a lot of gas.

[Ejs4029]

Originally Posted by ard58

Have had both, current TV is Ford 6.2 gasser. I'm happy with it. Excuse me if I missed the extra cost for diesel, I'm busy answering phones, etc while reading over all the replies. My boss purchased a 2019 F250 diesel a few months ago, and he said he had a real problem letting go of the extra $10K for the diesel option, but he finally did. In my book, thats a lot of gas.

It all depends how you want to look at the 10K diesel option to me it's just another option on a truck to choose if you want or don't want like XLT, Lariat, Platinum trim levels....etc....I looked at Ford F150's while my wife's Explorer was being serviced and they had a higher MSRP's then some moderately equipped RAM 2500's with the Cummins at the local RAM dealer

[ard58]

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

It all depends how you want to look at the 10K diesel option to me it's just another option on a truck to choose if you want or don't want like XLT, Lariat, Platinum trim levels....etc....I looked at Ford F150's while my wife's Explorer was being serviced and they had a higher MSRP's then some moderately equipped RAM 2500's with the Cummins at the local RAM dealer

Familiar with that too. My last 2017 F150 XLT ecoboost had higher price tag than my 2018 F250 XLT 6.2.

[67L48]

F150-F250-F350 differences have less to do with price and more to do with fit, function, capability. Comparably equipped trucks are pretty close in price.

Diesel option isn't a $10k option. It's an $8k option. Still a huge sum of money, but no need to sensationalize by inflating the cost by 25%.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by 67L48

F150-F250-F350 differences have less to do with price and more to do with fit, function, capability. Comparably equipped trucks are pretty close in price.

Diesel option isn't a $10k option. It's an $8k option. Still a huge sum of money, but no need to sensationalize by inflating the cost by 25%.

That’s retail option price as well, nobody pays retail. And the higher resale value also recoups a good portion of that cost when you go to sell.

[woo10-210]

Originally Posted by 67L48

Diesel option isn't a $10k option. It's an $8k option. Still a huge sum of money, but no need to sensationalize by inflating the cost by 25%.

Diesel Option:
2019 Ford F250 Inv. $8391 MSRP $9120
2019 Ram 2500 Inv. $8281 MSRP $9100
2019 Chev 2500 Inv. $8550 MSRP $9395

[Artspe]

For me, the advantages of a diesel (towing 5er) are:
1. Great power
2. Longer intervals between fill ups
3. Easy in and out at truck stops (but priced higher)
4. Safer to carry extra fuel if necessary
Disadvantages:
1. Higher maintenance cost
2. Not every station sells diesel
3. 20-25%better fuel mileage but because of higher fuel cost, you will not save money.
4. Lower PAYLOAD than gasser
5. More likely to have a huge repair bill after warranty is up !!! (My biggest worry but a long time away)

[DreiHunde]

Originally Posted by Ejs4029

I have a Diesel....The PRO: I wanted it No other justification needed

This right here. Just like four wheel drive.

Also all my trucks have been 2500 or 3500, except for my 96 Ram, it was a 1500. I just like the way the heavier trucks drive and handle. I bought my first diesel pick up years before we even thought of owning a camper and they have always been my daily driver.

Just me, I know I'm wierd, that's fine. My pups and wife still love me and thats all that matters.

[67L48]

Originally Posted by woo10-210

Diesel Option:
2019 Ford F250 Inv. $8391 MSRP $9120
2019 Ram 2500 Inv. $8281 MSRP $9100
2019 Chev 2500 Inv. $8550 MSRP $9395

Thank you for proving my point for me. As I said, diesel isn't a $10k option. Nobody pays MSRP for a vehicle. Most end up ~10% below MSRP. So, again, as I said, it's an $8K option. No need to inflate the cost 25% to make the point.

Again, thanks for helping me by looking up the numbers.