Towing Dilema: Diesel vs gas

[dcheatwood]

Let us know your decision. It'll add to the information base on this forum. And good luck.

[elundquist]

I second dcheatwood! Diesel is the towing King, but is it the only tool for this application?

Diesel here in the mountains of CO is twice the expense of gas! Any diesel truck will be more then enough for 6k lbs.

I am sure the diesel trucks will take fight towing a 1200lb popup, but is that the goal or the right tool for the job? Given this new truck will be an upgrade is it worth the expense? I don't think so for the application.

The rule of thumb for Colorado mountain towing is de-rate your towing limit by 15 to 20%. If your are only towing 80% of your max load you should be fine.

Towing 8500 to 9500 here is possible on a Tundra, but not recommended. Given I live here and have to go over these passes all the time I would upgrade my Tundra if I was towing more than 7k.


Erik Lundquist

[V-Lite Fun]

I wouldn't trade my F 250 diesel for anything. Going down hill is more important than uphill in the mountains. My diesel in combination with tow package, Ford brake controller and the exhaust brake requires little to no braking even on steep grades. Just a tap on the pedal and it shifts down a gear. I love it.

[TheCooperchinos]

Hey guys, as I am originally from CA, this is no joke:

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by X96mnn

Went from gas to diesel about a year ago, still own my gas truck as well. I camp and travel a LOT more now with the diesel truck.

I find the maintenance over the first year a wash, two oil changes that cost me 400 compared to 4 oil changes that cost me 320. Fuel savings while hauling for me was huge, close to 40% less. Resale I get more back then I paid, depends on your area really.

Here is a similar post, think you will find for the most part the topic is split down the middle.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...gas-90778.html

Like to know why it cost 320 for oil change in gas engine. What ya using liquid gold. I travel 10,000 miles a year and change oil twice cost around $80 even if ya did 20,000 still be $160.

I'll take a gas any day over diesel. Diesel cost ya 7200 over standard truck and the smell when you get it on ya is bad also. You need to base how much driving you are doing and can you justify the diesel and make up the cost difference. I don't drive enough to justify one as it is just that a tow vehicle and I have other vehicles to drive when not camping. Later RJD

[bruane]

Originally Posted by robsshots

Call me crazy…but we've been hauling our Rockwood Signature 8280 WS fifth wheel for a year with a Ford F-150 Ecoboost. We've clocked 32,000 miles on the Ford, and have moved that Rockwood from the mountains of WV to the Smokies to the Colorado mountains, down to the Phoenix area, along the east side of the Sierra Mountains, up to Yosemite, Big Sur, through Grants Pass to the Oregon Coast, up to Olympic National Park, then Mount Rainier, and now sitting in Coeur d'Alene. In three days we are moving to Glacier before beginning our slow trek back to Florida for the winter. Towing has been a breeze. We've accelerated up 5% grades, passing 18 wheelers and Class A motorhomes. The key with the F-150 is a) the 3.73 differential, b) the heavy duty tow package, and c) the 6.5' bed. We got the super crew model and it is a marvelous touring truck with all that room and long wheelbase. On the road we get between 10 and 11 mpg depending on the terrain. Combined city/hghwy we are getting close to 20 mpg. I took a trip around the perimeter of Olympic NP and got 24.3 mpg. BTW, our fifth wheel weighs just under 8,000 lbs empty. We figure close to 9,000 fully loaded. Towing capacity of the F-150 is 11,300 lbs. And it does it!

Endorsed. I have a F150 Ecoboost with all of the heavy duty tow packages and we went up and down the rockies twice last year and twice across the appalachinas with an 8280 and a full load. The ride difference between a 150 and 250 is large and makes life easier on long hauls which I have done, up to 800KM when i'm in a rush. No need for a diesel for the rig quoted and the Ecoboost provides the appropriate highway economy.

[Lskeen]

Just traded my Dodge 1500 and 28 ft travel trailer for a 38ft. fifth wheel and Chevy 2500 HD Diesel. I have noticed two big differences with the 3/4 ton diesel; one the trailer does not push the 3/4 ton truck like my travel trailer and the 1/2 ton truck; two, the diesel has much more power (torque) for pulling in the hills. I run about 2400 RPM in my diesel at 70 mph. I have a friend with the Dodge Hemi 2500. He runs 4000 RPM+ with the gas Hemi.


Check your used truck guides like Kelly Blue Book and Nadaguides. The Diesel will hold it's value for the premium $ over gas. In other words, you will get all of the $6-8K diesel premium back when or if you sell.

[Big Vic]

Gas truck: better for short trips around town, occas towing under 10K, and lower maintenance costs.
Diesel truck: does not like short trips around town, better for frequent towing over 10K, comes with higher maintenance.

[Papa Rich]

Last year I pulled a 20 V nose enclosed trailer from St Louis to just north of Las Vegas with a 99 Chevy with a 6.0. Trailer loaded was at about 6000 lbs. Truck didn't do bad but most of the time I didn't run cruise just because of the hard down shifts on any hill that amounted to anything. I averaged about 9mpg running 65mph.

Early this year we decided to get a toy hauler and ended up with a 02 2500HD with an 8.1 to pull it. Our hauler loaded runs about 12k. Yes the gas truck pulled it but again on our trip to just north of Knoxville TN I couldn't run cruise for the same reason I didn't on the 6.0. I got a chance to buy an 08 Dodge with a 6.7 and a manual transmission. We just got back from Flagstaff AZ. Much better, set the cruise and just let it roll. Scaled just at 18K and averaged 10.9 the whole trip and pulled like a dream. I will never go back to gas for pulling. Just my .02$ on this subject.

[Papa GLS]

Another thing to look at is the transmission. I have a Chev. 2500 Duramax with the Allison TX & wouldn't trade it for a gold monkey.

[Rick_Geneseo]

I went from a gmc 8.1 gas to a chevy 6.6 diesel. Over twice the mileage pulling 12K. I'll never look back.

[spock123]

I think that most people that pull campers pull with a diesel, I have a Silverado 12 3500 dmax . I change the oil and filter myself, I use synthetic oil, buy it at Walmart. If thinking used, something 06 or before will not have all the stuff on engine


Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[Mikehend]

Switched to a diesel when I got my 5er. Found a used 2007 Classic 2500 WT for $18k with 118,000 miles on it. Put on a Bullydog tuner (just wanted good mileage, not all the crazy power some people want). Maintenance isn't bad if you do your own...not hard on the truck. (10 quarts of Rotella for $35 and a filter for $7...I've actually gone back to changing my own oil because the charge so much and it's a cinch to do) So far very easy and low maintenance costs.

I love the combo...get about 20 mpg on a straight truck highway run, 17 mpg average overall...and 10-12 with the 5er depending on the terrain. Without a trailer attached, you'd think you were driving some type of sports car with all the power it has rather than a 7,000 lb truck!!

I've been told by those who are more knowledgeable than myself that the 2006-2007.5 Classic was one of the best Duramaxes Chevy made.

Mike

[contractor Rob]

Originally Posted by usvipaul

I thinking of upgrading my truck. I currently have a 2012 Tundra 4.6l DC 4x4 and pull a 2011 Rockwood 2604. The truck pulls fine here on the east coast, but I'm retiring next year and DW and I want to travel west and I know this truck won't do mountains well. I'm looking at some used Silverado/Sierra 2500hd trucks. My dilemma is do I go with a 2006-2009 Duramax LBZ/LMM in the $30-$35000 range (low miles) or something like a newer 2011 6.0l gas engine? I know the diesel will do it fine, but I worry about a used diesel and maintenance/repairs. If anyone out there has any experience towing with a gas 6.0 2500hd pulling a 6000lb trailer (5800 empty) in the mountains I sure would like to hear from you. Thanks for a great forum. Can't go a day without checking in here!
Thanks. Paul

Do the diesel...gas cannot even come close to the power and you get better mileage too

[rlocicero]

We pulled our 829fkss flagstaff TT through the Canadian Maritime provinces with no problem at all. That was with our 2008 F150, 5.4L and tow package. Our 2011 5.0L F150 did better than the 5.4L. We now have a 2014 F150 with the 3.5 ecoboost and that does a better job than both V-8's. As long as the Chevy is set up right, I don't think there will be a problem. Any 6.0L owners out there???

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by Papa Rich

Last year I pulled a 20 V nose enclosed trailer from St Louis to just north of Las Vegas with a 99 Chevy with a 6.0. Trailer loaded was at about 6000 lbs. Truck didn't do bad but most of the time I didn't run cruise just because of the hard down shifts on any hill that amounted to anything. I averaged about 9mpg running 65mph.

Early this year we decided to get a toy hauler and ended up with a 02 2500HD with an 8.1 to pull it. Our hauler loaded runs about 12k. Yes the gas truck pulled it but again on our trip to just north of Knoxville TN I couldn't run cruise for the same reason I didn't on the 6.0. I got a chance to buy an 08 Dodge with a 6.7 and a manual transmission. We just got back from Flagstaff AZ. Much better, set the cruise and just let it roll. Scaled just at 18K and averaged 10.9 the whole trip and pulled like a dream. I will never go back to gas for pulling. Just my .02$ on this subject.

Bought a new 01 Chevy 1 ton dully with the 8.1 Allison tranny and 4.10 gears and the truck pulled like a champ 70 mph never knew the trailer was there. Hills never bothered it. Trailer was a 24 ft enclose car hauler with car and full 20 ft display with turn table about 9000#. Chevy got rid of these eng to push for the higher dollar diesel. To bad. Later RJD

[contractor Rob]

I have a mega cab 3500 Ram short box and tow a 14000.0 pound 330 sandpiper, when fully loaded. I'm always traveling in the mountains and I've had to go up some pretty steep hills. This truck does not slow down !! In fact I'm passing shitty Kia cars & fords like no tomorrow. Never going back to the gas side !!

[Cypressloser]

With the diesel I'm legally able to carry a fuel tank in the truck bed with an extra 80 gal. of fuel (the auxiliary tank is plumbed straight into the truck's fuel system) and I don't have to be constantly on the lookout for a gas station where my truck and trailer fit in without unhooking. I can choose where to fuel up and in my particular situation that's a saving of $100 (0.25 cts. per liter) each and every time. My range is better than 800 mls between fillups when towing the 5th wheel and about 1500 when not.
Piece of mind - priceless

[Crusadernoob]

This.....

I've been told by those who are more knowledgeable than myself that the 2006-2007.5 Classic was one of the best Duramaxes Chevy made.

Mike

[X96mnn]

Originally Posted by aceinspp

Like to know why it cost 320 for oil change in gas engine. What ya using liquid gold. I travel 10,000 miles a year and change oil twice cost around $80 even if ya did 20,000 still be $160.

I'll take a gas any day over diesel. Diesel cost ya 7200 over standard truck and the smell when you get it on ya is bad also. You need to base how much driving you are doing and can you justify the diesel and make up the cost difference. I don't drive enough to justify one as it is just that a tow vehicle and I have other vehicles to drive when not camping. Later RJD

Mopar peace of mind service $89.99 plus tax every 5000kms per my 2006, 2010' 2011 and 2012 powered hemi's. $199.99 plus tax every 10000kms for my 2014 6.7 cummins.

Comment justify the price, the 2012 5.7 2500 has 280000kms on it, for the most part it is worn out. Will get about $6000 for it at auction. 2012 diesel, 300000kms on it, still good to go. Right now I spent 430000 on the gas truck buying it, get 6k back when I sell, cost to own 37k. Buy another at 45k or so and will bet when the next has hits 300k, it is done and the 600k on the cummins is still going. Oh how I wonder how will I get my money back...LOL