What's the best towing truck you have had?

[5picker]

Originally Posted by aceinspp

Lets get the pop corn out this question has been asked so many times its a joke. Later RJD

5 total posts and member since March.
I'm guessing the OP hasn't read the thousands of posts on this subject.

In any case, I have no need for a diesel but every diesel owner I've talked to believes you possibly can't survive without one.

[007matman]

Older Diesel w/ minimal emissions equipment. The newer trucks with DEF and Regen cycles are problematic and very expensive to repair.

Personally, for me it was the later year 6.0 Powerstroke. Get them done right and they're just as reliable as the 7.3 with more power to boot. Not all will agree..

[1100mike]

Did you ever get diesel fuel on your shoes? Gas smell will evaporate pretty fast, but diesel, ugh..

[camper_Lucy]

As I have said many times before, get the truck you can afford that gets the job done.

Personally I have a Diesel not because it towed better, but because it holds its value better always been a financial decision for me.

[FordMastertech]

Originally Posted by 007matman

Older Diesel w/ minimal emissions equipment. The newer trucks with DEF and Regen cycles are problematic and very expensive to repair.

Personally, for me it was the later year 6.0 Powerstroke. Get them done right and they're just as reliable as the 7.3 with more power to boot. Not all will agree..

The 6.0 Powerstroke diesel was a ok engine, way better than the POS problematic 6.4 PSD.
The 7.3 Powerstroke diesel was almost bullet proof and stock or with slight mods it makes plenty of dependable power. Back when I was a Ford Senior Master Technician and serviced several 7.3s that have over 1 million miles and still running strong with minimal repairs there were few complaints on dependability.
The down fall of all modern day diesels are the emissions issues and the cost to repair them.

[lazyjj]

My 99 F250 7.3 with 216K is paid for and runs great. I will hang on to it. However, if I were going to buy a new 3/4 or 1 ton I would probably go gas just due to the DEF issue and the overall cost of the truck.

[mmartin_tdc]

I currently have a 2012 RAM 2500 cummins, no DEF, but all emissions are intact. Don't dare to remove anything in California. I enjoy the power of the motor, the effectiveness of the exhaust brake and the MPG while towing. All that said, I could get by with a gas for my 260RLD 5th wheel, but I got what I felt was a steal on it in 2016 with only 12k on the clock. If I were to start over, probably go 2500 gas with a TT instead of 5th wheel -- I think...

[Lubehead]

The answer is -it depends. In my business we had a 12k GVW Chev and 14kGVW GMC cutaway vans with 12 and 14 ft work bodies. Both had the derated Duramax diesels. The GMC 14 ft {Workport (made by Forest River) body} was purchased new. At 90k, it needed a turbo at the tune of $6k. Poof went any fuel savings. The older unit, purchased used, began to have recurring issues at about 120k miles. Both units averaged about 12-14 mpg. The need to register them as DOT vehicles was expensive and required maintaining logs and making stops.We traded them for two 350 series Transits with Dejana work bodies. These 3.5L V6 engines do fine and average 11-12 mpg. We don't miss the diesels as all.

I have a friend who pulls a fifth wheel, (I think its about 30+/- ft) with a Tundra and I think he told me he gets 7-8 mpg with no issues. Another friend who is a master mechanic and die hard diesel guy had a 6.0 Ford and then a Cummins in a Ram to pull his fifth wheel. He now has a TT and pulls it with a new Ram with the 6.4L gas. He absolutely loves the gas engine.

I've had two BMW X5 diesels and loved the mpg they got (27 mpg average). Both were purchased new and both had expensive issues at about the 75k mile point. I got tired of that and now drive a gas hog in the form of a Cayenne V8 Turbo that averages 18 mpg. MPG is no longer a priority.

In my opinion, there are no savings to be had with regards to fuel consumption and engine life in an RV application is irrelevant. Comes down to torque and what you are pulling.

Now I've got a Freightliner M2 chassis with the 450 Cummins pulling a 24 ft trailer weighing 7-9k lbs depending on what vehicle is in it. I get 7mpg.

Bottom line, depends on what you are towing,. MPG, and for most, engine longevity does not matter. Emissions issues are real and they are simply part and parcel of owning a modern diesel. You either accept it or decide it's not for you. It's not if, it's when you are going to have a problem.



Sooner or later, if you keep it long enough, you're going to need injectors and that'll be a wake up call. If you NEED a diesel get it. Don't buy it because you want it-then again, you only have to justify what you buy to yourself and your DW if you have one.

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by 5picker

5 total posts and member since March.
I'm guessing the OP hasn't read the thousands of posts on this subject.

In any case, I have no need for a diesel but every diesel owner I've talked to believes you possibly can't survive without one.

Ya heard that story many a time my self. I like you see no need for diesel. However still chomping on the pop corn. Later RJD

[stephndudb]

Had a Ford V10 gas, Ford 6.0 diesel, and now GMC 6.0 gas. Was happiest with the V10. Plenty of power and reliable. The 6.0 diesel ate turbos and had some other issues. The 6.0 gas is ok but doesn't have the torque for mountains. It gets the job done, just not as comfortably.

[Lins]

Diesel, because I always wanted one, but didn’t need one. Towing is a dream with one, especially with the exhaust brake. I do my own maintenance which saves a lot of money. Oil changes arent a factor with the long intervals (15k).Fuel filters weren’t that pricey until this year. Yes I believe the engine will last longer but not without replacing some expensive accessories in that time. I got one of the last DEF pumps in North America in December and just had exhaust sensor number 5 replaced under warranty - just about got them all replaced now. I’m also in a location where that can be removed. Yes a gasser would do everything I need.

[clarkbre]

Run what ya brung!

Currently happy with my peasant fueled pickup. No one is changing my mind because:

1. I paid for it....no one else bought the right to knock it.
2. It works absolutely great for my application.

Are diesels and gassers great trucks? Yep.

[Jbrow327]

Good responses so far.

[TowPro]

there is no comparison. With any engine, gas or diesel you need to look at a graph showing max torque and max HP. If your intended usage of that engine allows you to keep your running RPM between the max Torque and HP lines you will be in the sweet spot of that engine.

The Cummings 6.7 is max 1000 ft lbs torque @ 1600 and max 400 HP @ 2800 RPM..
Every day driving of this engine both empty and towing will all fit inside this RPM range.

the 7.3l ford gas engine is max 475 ft lbs torque @ 4000 rpm and max 430 HP @ 5500 rpm

Now if your driving at 1500-2000 RPM and need to increase power to pass somebody or climb a hill, your right in the sweet spot of the Diesel HP.
Plus diesel produces more BTU per gallons so it has more energy to it, thus the better MPG you see with diesels.


but if you are driving a 7.3L ford gas engine, in order to pass or pull a hill its going to need to downshift to get you closer to the 4000 RPM power output range of the engine.

I ran personally ran diesel pickups since the first 24V Cummins in 1998 and never had an emissions problem. But when the manufacture did have a problem, it was something they did and a recall fixed the problem. I also owned a garage specializing in auto diesel back in the 80's so I have seen some of the growing pains from GM

going forward the engine manufactures are designing all the emissions controls to be "after treatments" or installed down stream after the engine in the exhaust system. This allows for simple swap out of the system when needed.


Yes the diesel holds more oil on average 11-12 quarts to a gas engine 5-6 quarts but oil prices might run around $5 qt (shell) unless you have an MBS diesel which requires special oil (I was getting it for around $7 qt on sale at napa) . oil Filters cost around the same, but you will have more expensive Fuel filters in a Diesel.



One cost advantage is with the diesel, once you bought your first one it holds its value in trade to offset the price of your next diesel engine. Once you decide to sell that last diesel you will get that "diesel premium" back.


Oh, and that Ford 2.3l biturbo is a great engine. I have it in my 2021 Ranger. love it combined with that 10 speed. amazing Ford even offers a kit to to flash it up to the Mustang 2.3l power numbers.

[itat]

Originally Posted by Jbrow327

Personally I think gas does fine up to 12k or 13k, using a 3/4 ton or 1 ton of course. Above that, diesel seems to be the correct choice.

I tend to agree with this as long as you’re not towing in mountainous terrain.

I don’t know about Ford’s new 7.3L gas engine but the 6.2L should be good up to 12,000#. Beyond that, I’d want a diesel engine. The only time I wish I had a diesel is when merging onto the highway towing my 5er. We never tow in any mountains but on steeper grades it’ll rev up above 4000 rpm. If that bothers you, you’d be better off with a diesel engine. I ride an older motorcycle and the 6.2L’s redline is above 6000 rpm, so I’m fine with the higher revs.

[Moore Travels]

For me...from my experience in the 80's & 90's driving a commercial truck...it is always better to have more 'truck' than you need!

So, for me diesel is the way to go...turning lower rpm's loaded, more torque at those lower rpms and mileage is better...although not that much better!

I’ve had 3 Ram/Cummins since 2016…and the Cummins side of the drive train was flawless…it’s the CJDR side of the vehicle that has given me problems!?!?!
With all the technology now days...it will always be the Achilles heel of any new truck…but the exhaust technology is probably the most problematic…I just rely on the warrantee and know that when its old it will require higher than the usual expense to keep her going!

After all…if its ‘for fun’…it’s expensive!!!

[RFSims]

My 2019 GMC 2500 Denali Duramax/Allison. Did I need a diesel? No. Did I want a diesel? Yes, which is reason enough for me. Would I tow with a gas motor again? No.

[Jbrow327]

Which of the big 3 diesels pulls the best, in your experience? What year?

Which of the big 3 gassers pulls the best, in your experience? What year?

Now I know they all "do the job". But I'm just curious if some are better than others.

[Mr. Dan]

Site team has merged another “which truck?” thread with this one.

[debit]

diesel!
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Ram 2500 6 speed manual
Ford 250 gasser