Posted 2013-05-04 8:33 AM (#151778 - in reply to #150034) Subject: RE: Gas or Diesel?
Member
Posts: 15
Location: Southern Oregon
I've owned many diesels for personal and business use. There is a reason OTR diesel rigs are almost exclusively diesel. The operating costs of a diesel, over time, are less than a gas rig. They have very long economic lives. It's not unusual to see trucks with over a million miles on them. Pickup truck Diesel engines are a slightly different breed but still enjoy many of the benefits that their larger cousins do.
I'll comment on my current '10 Dodge one ton DRW Cummins powered tow vehicle. Pulling a 15,000 lb (loaded) 3 horse LQ trailer I see about 10 MPG where I pull in the mountainous west. On the flats of Kansas figure on 11 - 12 MPG. For the first 100,000 miles you should have minimal maintenance expense. Changing the fluids mostly. With proper care the life of the truck should be around 300K if you are pulling a lot.
Today's diesels are NOT great grocery getters. If you don't plan to pull often a gas rig may be a better choice but you need at least a one ton rig to pull that trailer. Diesels do typically enjoy higher resale so that is something else to consider.
Posted 2013-05-04 9:33 PM (#151783 - in reply to #150034) Subject: RE: Gas or Diesel?
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
Diesels are definitely the way to go for pulling. I'll just give you my two cents on the gas. We've been pulling with a diesel but I needed something for my daughter to make a daily 5 mile trip to college in. I knew it would be hard on the diesel so I found a Ram 2500 with a 5.7 hemi. It was supposed to be used "only in emergencies". Well long story short that "liittle gas engine" has pulled around 7 horses in a stock trailer with no problems (so far). I'm quite pleased with the towing capabilities of that 5.7 gas engine (3.73 rear end). Would I recommend it for long hauls every day NO. But for the occasional pull, at a reasonable pace, it sure surprised me. Good luck with your decision.
Posted 2013-05-05 12:00 AM (#151785 - in reply to #150034) Subject: RE: Gas or Diesel?
Member
Posts: 13
Location: Bethel, Oh
bought my 02 ford 7.3L diesel new in 02. have only had standard maintenance so far engine wise. remember there are 2 batteries (at least in my truck), so each time you need new batteries, you need 2.
I love this truck, and the resale on it right now is very good if I wanted to sell (but i don't). I have just over 100K miles on it, and it is my only vehicle. I get around the same mpg as other posters.
based on several suggestions I have only ran synthetic oil in my truck since we bought it new. because I haven't had any issues, I would have to say I am happy with that decision, and I do change my oil much less frequently than my dad has to in his gas truck. the filter is much larger in my truck.
Posted 2013-05-05 7:31 AM (#151787 - in reply to #150034) Subject: RE: Gas or Diesel?
Regular
Posts: 98 Location: MD
This discussion is so "regional" and application related. You folks who haul in to area mountains ranges like the Sierra and Rocky's are pulling in much higher elevations than someone say, from the east coast. I'd probably fork over the bucks for a diesel too if I lived out west. For me, my hauling is done below 3000', in the Blue Ridge and once a year in the Smokey's. I have a gasser that 60% of its use is to pull a 2H GN, the other time is run-around town stuff and light loads. It fits my needs just fine. I haul about 25 times a year, half of those in to the mountains - gasser is the way to go for me.
Posted 2013-05-05 9:42 AM (#151788 - in reply to #150034) Subject: RE: Gas or Diesel?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330 Location: northeast Texas
On the safety issue, with the diesel engine you get an exhaust brake. Wonderful thing to have in the mountains. I have an 07 Dodge 5.9 Cummins. Added a Pac Brake and absolutely love it.
Gas or Diesel?
