Gas VS Diesel

[Mike Selzer]

I pull a 14,000 lb Sierra Fiver with a 2013 Dodge 3500 Dually. I have encountered multiple issues with DEF causing fuel sensor problems. Twice this happened while traveling. The last event required replacement of the entire particulate unit requiring four days to repair. Thankfully each time I was close to a Dodge store and all the repairs were covered under my extended Ram Warranty. Would I be better off bailing out of this truck and diesel engines all together and going to a gas powered 3500? If so what model do you recommend?

[donniedu]

Sorry for your problems. DEF issues are few and far between, especially after the first year or two. Honestly there is nothing short of the V10 Ford capable of doing what your asking. Before I did that though I would be trading for a new diesel truck. Fuel economy pulling with a V10 would be around 5-6MPG vs 10-12 pulling with a new diesel.

[Kimber45]

I think only you can answer that question. Opinions will run rampant but they are just that, opinions.
I tow with a gas 2500 and could never justify a diesel because I don't drive that much or tow that much. Most of camping is close to home. I could never make up the extra expense up front for the diesel.

[RB19RR]

Another interesting tid-bit....

The gas truck is 5yr/60,000 warrantee

The Diesel is 5yr/100,000 miles

And...
Interesting...Exactly the same trucks at the dealer today. One Gas and the other Diesel. Only difference was the Diesel had 18" wheels and the Gasser had 17". Other wise just engine (and transmission, Diesel uses a different automatic transmission) difference

GAS = 3120 pound payload on door jam yellow sticker

Diesel = 2130 pound payload on door jam yellow sticker

Diesel has nearly 1000 pound payload deficit......*

[aceinspp]

As said only you can make that decision and yes there are problems with the DEF but here again depends on your driving conditions. Later RJD

[spock123]

I started off having problems with the def which was covered under my Silverado factory warranty. I had more problems with the def after the 100,000 mile warranty ran out in a place where I couldn’t find service, Alaska. The last problem was poor quality def fluid but it had been 2,500 miles since I put in def fluid in truck. I paid $1400 bucks to take off the emissions, truck runs like new. I have better oil pressure, the truck doesn’t get as hot plus I get a little better fuel mileage. If I was going to buy a new dually diesel I would leave the dealer and a shop would take off the emissions before I took truck home. I have 130,000 miles on truck and have never had a problem with the drivetrain, it’s always been DEF problems.

[Clipperdude_54]

Originally Posted by Kimber45

I think only you can answer that question. Opinions will run rampant but they are just that, opinions.
I tow with a gas 2500 and could never justify a diesel because I don't drive that much or tow that much. Most of camping is close to home. I could never make up the extra expense up front for the diesel.

So true

[Clipperdude_54]

Originally Posted by Clipperdude_54

So true

Stay with gas

[D W]

Originally Posted by RB19RR

Another interesting tid-bit....

The gas truck is 5yr/60,000 warrantee

The Diesel is 5yr/100,000 miles

And...
Interesting...Exactly the same trucks at the dealer today. One Gas and the other Diesel. Only difference was the Diesel had 18" wheels and the Gasser had 17". Other wise just engine (and transmission, Diesel uses a different automatic transmission) difference

GAS = 3120 pound payload on door jam yellow sticker

Diesel = 2130 pound payload on door jam yellow sticker

Diesel has nearly 1000 pound payload deficit......*

And don't forget to add in that "small upcharge" for the diesel engine and transmission.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by Mike Selzer

I pull a 14,000 lb Sierra Fiver with a 2013 Dodge 3500 Dually. I have encountered multiple issues with DEF causing fuel sensor problems. Twice this happened while traveling. The last event required replacement of the entire particulate unit requiring four days to repair. Thankfully each time I was close to a Dodge store and all the repairs were covered under my extended Ram Warranty. Would I be better off bailing out of this truck and diesel engines all together and going to a gas powered 3500? If so what model do you recommend?

2013 was the first year of the SCR/DEF systems on the Ram pickups so it's not surprising to have some issues, however the systems and programming improve over the years so it's odd that you would still be having issues if all the parts and programming are current.

That said, I wouldn't write off diesels just because you've had some issues with your first-model-year SCR Ram. I felt similarly about the newer diesels when the DPFs were first used, then when they started using SCR, but that was years ago. The growing pains have largely been figured out. That's not to say issues aren't possible, but any vehicle can have a part fail or be built with a defective part.

Given the option of buying a gas or diesel truck for towing...I'm sticking with diesel. I've towed with gas enough to know I don't like it and will only tow with a diesel. The only exception to that would be if I were only towing locally or only towing a small trailer with a couple of toys on it, but as long a I'm towing a TT/HTT I'll be doing it with a diesel.

With the size of your 5er I don't think you'd be happy with anything but a diesel, instant regret on the first hill if you go with gas. If you're looking to replace the truck then I would replace it with a newer diesel, whether that's a Ram, GM, or Ford is up to you. I would go with the Ram or GM before Ford, but that's just my preference.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by spock123

If I was going to buy a new dually diesel I would leave the dealer and a shop would take off the emissions before I took truck home. I have 130,000 miles on truck and have never had a problem with the drivetrain, it’s always been DEF problems.

With travel/tourist season approaching, a few weeks ago the Colorado State Patrol started handing out fines for rolling coal.

[schaffer05]

Originally Posted by HangDiver

With travel/tourist season approaching, a few weeks ago the Colorado State Patrol started handing out fines for rolling coal.

I’m sure those are chipped trucks with bigger injectors they’re spotting. You can’t tell if a truck is deleted or not just by it driving past you.

[vmax]

My daily driver is an 04 4wd z71 Suburban.
My dedicated tow vehicle is an 01 7.3 Ford Excursion limited 4wd.

Diesel to tow.
Gas for groceries.

[Rdeejr]

Diesels warranties are not 100k anymore. They dropped to 60k.

[spock123]

Originally Posted by HangDiver

With travel/tourist season approaching, a few weeks ago the Colorado State Patrol started handing out fines for rolling coal.

Who said I would be rolling coal, my diesel doesn’t smoke at all. It didn’t smoke before I did the delete and it doesn’t smoke now

[rjc1024]

Originally Posted by Rdeejr

Diesels warranties are not 100k anymore. They dropped to 60k.

That's incorrect. My 2017 3500 Duramax came with a factory 5 yr/100,000 mile warranty. In fact, the Duramax actually bumps the base warranty from 5 yr/60K up to 100K.

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by schaffer05

I’m sure those are chipped trucks with bigger injectors they’re spotting. You can’t tell if a truck is deleted or not just by it driving past you.

I have no clue how they are enforcing the law. Mountain pass steep hill climbs? Towing up mountain passes?

[Abates]

Easy fix, take that **** out if you can. They say if you leave it stock buy the warranty, if deleting you won’t need warranty deleted my 6.7 Cummins, best money I spent, let the motor run how it supposed to be ran and you’lol be amazed. Throttle response, longer engine oil life, fuel economy (40% increase), more power, more torque, longer engine life, no more limp mode, annnd sounds better to name a few but if you got warranty and like limpin to dealers at warranty cost I’d go to gas but the cost of fuel will be more than a delete kit on you Cummins. And rolling coal is your trucks not running proper ie unburned fuel or programmied wrong/ to much fuel or dirty air filter, I leave mine on stock setting and read 94% engine load going up a hill never smoked at bit exhaust temps may have been up there tho hahaha

[mwdilday]

I love my diesel. 2017 Ford F-350 DRW Crew. If I drove one mile a year it would be one mile in a diesel.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by rjc1024

That's incorrect. My 2017 3500 Duramax came with a factory 5 yr/100,000 mile warranty. In fact, the Duramax actually bumps the base warranty from 5 yr/60K up to 100K.

You have a 3yr/36k basic warranty and a 5yr/100k powertrain warranty.