Gas or diesel?

[BigH]

Originally Posted by D W

With all due respect, the average joe doesn't have $60K+ cash to plop down on a new rig. The conversation was about investing/maintaining your rig in such a manner to make it last over the long haul vs. buying new every 4 years. I submit that your case is on a totally different spectrum.

I'm unsure how you can say what I typed doesn't apply...

This is what he said:

Originally Posted by 007matman

New vehicles in general are a "Ponzi Scheme" of sorts. Buy a new vehicle for 80k and 5 years later it's worth 20k. You just lost 60k to drive a brand new vehicle for 5 years.
...

[httntheroad]

Back to post #11 I thought 2007 1/2 was the last pre def. At last that was the case with my lbz.Son in law has It now has 120000 miles.

[jbflag21ds]

Originally Posted by BigH

Several hours? Show your math...



Sir, your trailer weighs less than 7k loaded. Any HD gas truck will pull that at legal speed + and some gas trucks have a gas tank that is 14 gallons more than comes with your Chevy.

Since I used to tow it with a 5.3L gasser Tahoe (yes the gear ratio was not optimal) it would get 4-5mpg at 65mph in the flats of central California. At 55mph it was 8mph towing. Big hills topped out at 45mph. Ugh

My new to me Duramax can tow 70mph at 12mpg in the flats or over the mountains at 8mpg average still at 70mph.

In a 12 hour day that's, best case mpgs, that's 82.3 gallons of gas. (12h x 55mph / 8 mpg) and at 25g tank is at least 3 stops. 20 min per stop is an hour. 12 hours at 55 mph is 660 miles.

In that same 12 hours at 70mph, I've gone 880 miles and used 70 gallons of diesel which is two fill ups thus saving another 20 minutes. Yet I've gone 220 more miles

Say I need to drive 500 miles. At 55 that's 9 hours. At 70 it's a bit over 7 hours. Add the above fuel stops to that and there's your several hours.

Even if diesel is 50 cents more per gallon, say 3.5 vs 4 per gallon, it's even 8 bucks cheaper over that 12 hours

Of course if your HD gasser gets a little better mpg then the numbers will be a little closer

[debit]

I love my 2004 Ram 2500 diesel; just replaced the batteries last week, even though they were still working well. And power; I don't even think about it. We tow the TT over the local pass (I-90) in high gear in cruise control. It has been a great truck for out TT and boat.
_______________
Ram 2500 diesel, with 6 speed manual tranny / FR Surveyor 251rks
26' off shore troller (planning on towing it cross the border later this month)

[BigH]

Originally Posted by jbflag21ds

Since I used to tow it with a 5.3L gasser Tahoe (yes the gear ratio was not optimal) it would get 4-5mpg at 65mph in the flats of central California. At 55mph it was 8mph towing. Big hills topped out at 45mph. Ugh

My new to me Duramax can tow 70mph at 12mpg in the flats or over the mountains at 8mpg average still at 70mph.

In a 12 hour day that's, best case mpgs, that's 82.3 gallons of gas. (12h x 55mph / 8 mpg) and at 25g tank is at least 3 stops. 20 min per stop is an hour. 12 hours at 55 mph is 660 miles.

In that same 12 hours at 70mph, I've gone 880 miles and used 70 gallons of diesel which is two fill ups thus saving another 20 minutes. Yet I've gone 220 more miles

Say I need to drive 500 miles. At 55 that's 9 hours. At 70 it's a bit over 7 hours. Add the above fuel stops to that and there's your several hours.

Even if diesel is 50 cents more per gallon, say 3.5 vs 4 per gallon, it's even 8 bucks cheaper over that 12 hours

Of course if your HD gasser gets a little better mpg then the numbers will be a little closer

Thanks for your math but your comparison is between a soccer mom vehicle and a heavy duty truck...

[007matman]

Originally Posted by BigH

For sure vehicles are a loser's investment but your example is an exaggeration on one end of the spectrum -especially in todays environment.



I drove a 2017 3/4 ton that I bought new four years ago and got 100 bucks more out of it than I paid for it...new. Considering I paid cash for it and if I don't count the oil changes, I got paid to drive a new truck.

Sounds like you got really lucky. Most people are not in that category.

Case in point..l bought a clean, 1-owner 2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV Premium in 2015 for $21,500 w/72k. Original sticker was $87k.

If someone is paying more for a used truck than they would for a brand new one.. that's just plain silly. More than likely now it's only because of the chip shortage.

The main reason my truck is actually appreciating is because it doesn't have all that new technology and emissions. People are paying more for trucks that don't have it.

BTW.. my 6.0 will out-pull any gasser and do better in fuel economy in the process.

Not saying everyone needs to do what I did.. just think about it and see if it makes sense for you. I'm mechanical and can do most things like wheel bearing replacement, suspension, etc myself.

[jbflag21ds]

So what is the HD gasser truck mpg at what speeds compared to a diesel towing the same frontal area trailer?

Then you do the math and show us. I already said it would be different than my situation. My trailer is within all the towing and payload specs of my 4x4 Tahoe with the 5.3L and 6 speed trans. The gear ratio is the only difference from an HD truck.

If you are saying a gasser will get the same mpg at 70mph of a diesel then the entire convo is moot. But if it isn't then the diesel will go farther in a given amount of time and use less fuel doing so.

Then it just depends on what you need when you aren't towing and how unloaded mpg compare.

[BigH]

Originally Posted by jbflag21ds

So what is the HD gasser truck mpg at what speeds compared to a diesel towing the same frontal area trailer?

Then you do the math and show us. I already said it would be different than my situation. My trailer is within all the towing and payload specs of my 4x4 Tahoe with the 5.3L and 6 speed trans. The gear ratio is the only difference from an HD truck.

If you are saying a gasser will get the same mpg at 70mph of a diesel then the entire convo is moot. But if it isn't then the diesel will go farther in a given amount of time and use less fuel doing so.

Then it just depends on what you need when you aren't towing and how unloaded mpg compare.

My last gasser (Chevy 6.0 -notorious for being the worst mpgs) never got mpgs as low as you claim with your Tahoe. The nearest was still better at 74mph out west with a very strong headwind. 12.5 feet tall trailer at 9.5k with two kayaks on top of the truck.

Yes, a diesel will get better mpg's. No the gear ratio is not the only thing that separates your Tahoe from a HD truck.

With your trailer and my truck (see signature) I would need to stop twice (once if I left on a full tank but we will keep it real) in an 800 mile trip...driving the speed limit. My last truck would take three stops at whatever the speed limit.

Not hours of difference with a HD truck.

[Backcountryboondocker]

Originally Posted by lannieoakley

Going to pull the trigger and get a new truck. Always been a Ram person and currently have a 2014 3500, non dually, gas. Been a great truck and pulls the 36.6 Flagstaff fine on flat land. It does struggle on hills with only 61+ on it. The new one will be a 3500 dually. Leaning toward the Cummings 6.7 HO turbo diesel. Anyone have this? I know some folks that hate diesels in general (not just Ram's) and wish they had gotten gas or traded back to gas that say they would never buy another diesel. Diesel owners, do you like yours? + or - s. Thanks!

The answer is pretty simple here; If you plan on traveling and towing a TT for many thousands of miles a year, and doing so for extended periods of time, then get the diesel. If you are primarily towing your trailer to your local lake every couple of weekends and maybe one or two week long road trips, then get the gasser.

[Mikec557]

Originally Posted by lannieoakley

Going to pull the trigger and get a new truck. Always been a Ram person and currently have a 2014 3500, non dually, gas. Been a great truck and pulls the 36.6 Flagstaff fine on flat land. It does struggle on hills with only 61+ on it. The new one will be a 3500 dually. Leaning toward the Cummings 6.7 HO turbo diesel. Anyone have this? I know some folks that hate diesels in general (not just Ram's) and wish they had gotten gas or traded back to gas that say they would never buy another diesel. Diesel owners, do you like yours? + or - s. Thanks!

Wish you would have made this a survey question. LOL!

But my vote down for diesel. This is my first diesel rig (GMC 3500hd Duramax). I couldn't go back to towing with gas. DEF is not a problem, just something to do. And OMG the DEF engines are so much quieter than pre-DEF.

When we're towing, as opposed to being the grocery getter, I keep one 2.5gal jug in the truck bed. That's my security blanket. When the computer tells me it's time to add DEF I can fit two jugs (5gal) in. When I know it's getting close to time I pickup a second jug.

BTW, I've used Walmart brand DEF 95% of the time for my 65,000 miles. Never an issue. Cost: $7 for 2.5gal. I can't use the DEF pumps at the truck stops because the brainiacs at GM put my fill spout on the firewall.

[2dogs]

Originally Posted by nomad297

What does the door sticker say for payload?

Bruce

GVRW.....9,600 pounds
3.73 rear axle ratio tow weight.....12,650 pounds

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by 2dogs

GVRW.....9,600 pounds
3.73 rear axle ratio tow weight.....12,650 pounds

Ok, but what is the payload?

Bruce

[2dogs]

Originally Posted by nomad297

Ok, but what is the payload?

Bruce

Oops...........3,186 pounds.

[ppine]

Diesel especially now.
The world is going to start switching over to electric, but diesel will always be around because we can use all kinds of bio-diesel products to run on. The first diesel was designed to run on peanut oil.

I am still driving a 2002 Ford diesel because it still runs great. It is going up in value.

[tomkatb]

For us. We like the convenience of the diesel truck lanes to get a fill up. There is no concern about hitting stuff in those lanes.

When we stop, I pump fuel. She gets food. we park in the back of the truck plaza and have lunch. Or go to a nearby rest area. Then use the fivers bathroom.

Getting gasoline is more difficult.

We travel 6-8 weeks a year.

[MR.M]

the old gas diesel debate . get what you want ! for me it's a gasser. I do haul across country twice a yr roughly 6000 miles a yr and the gasser 2500 does great with the weight of my TH 9300lbs mpg between 7 to 9.5 depends on my foot . the rest of the time it's my driver . if i had a TH well over 10,000 then a diesel would be in order

[nomad297]

Originally Posted by 2dogs

Oops...........3,186 pounds.

Yeah…those diesel engines really eat up the payload, but your payload is higher than I thought it would be for a 2012.

Bruce

[sdelam]

I switched to a diesel 2 years ago. For the 3-4K miles a year I actually tow it does not make sense financially. But I get a smile on my face every time I do tow when I feel how much easier the trip is. No more “gaming” the hills, no more stressing about finding a gas station I can get the trailer in to. The whole trip is just more pleasant.

My 6.0 gasser worked, but it wasn’t ideal. And used a whole lot of gas getting groceries. The diesel pulls easy and gets better fuel mileage. Just had to suck up the initial cost.

[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by 2dogs

Oops...........3,186 pounds.

I think he means cargo. It’s a yellow sticker on the Dodge. My 05 same as yours is 2065. I am betting on 1900-2000 if is a 4 DR 4WD

[D W]

Originally Posted by ppine

Diesel especially now.
The world is going to start switching over to electric,

Do you really think that the oil companies are going to let that happen? They have deep-deep pockets, and money is a politician's first language.