equifan
Central AL
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Joined: 11/04/2007
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Agree with the comment about longer engine life expectancy -- that ought to take the sting out of the extra cost for the diesel engine.
One note as well: I'd be careful about what states the used truck has been registered in lately -- after Katrina, there were a lot of diesel trucks (mostly out of Texas -- not taking a shot here, so please, no flaming) used for shotgun trips and to haul heavy equipment in / out of New Orleans, as well as to do the work there. Many of these were pretty beaten up in the process, and are cosmetically restored simply by changing out the bed & other superficial 'fixes), etc. They were bought for hard labor, probably not maintained well, and sold after all the money was made...These are comments from my friend in New Orleans who has seen the 'restoration' process and claims he would never buy a truck that had been used down there.
As far as fuel mileage, I took my Dodge from B'ham area in AL to Myrtle Beach a few months ago, and restricted myself to max 65 mph for the entire trip, got 22.4 mpg. Towing either of my 12k lb empty trailers, depending on the wind (and the weight of my foot), I get between 9.5 and 12.5 mpg.
FWIW, my friend's son who is into horses is constantly borrowing his Dodge 3500 to haul horses long distances because of the better fuel milage than he gets when compared with his own Ford diesel 250...
Regardless, I don't believe your decision to switch to diesel will be regretted. Good luck!
KK & the Muttley crew (4 Boxers)
'04 Dodge 3500HO, 2 x 4 LB, 6 sp std. tran.
Triple Dog by Bully Dog
B&W gooseneck companion 18K
'04 Prowler Regal AX6 365FLTS Fiver
'01 Featherlite GN 3hSL with mid tack & 13 SW LQ
"Silly Boy, Trucks are for Girls!"
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richfaa
Ohio
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Joined: 04/24/2005
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Here we go again..Had the 05 V10 now have the 08 6.4L diesel. The diesel will get better MPG maybe not a whole bunch..but it will be better. If a diesel is doing less than a big block V-10 the diesel is broke. Maint.. Can't say that I know of anyone who will go 15k or 7.5 K between oil changes pulling a big ole camper around. I do mine at 6K..did the same with the V-10.. The diesel takes more oil, has more filters..If changed at the same intervals..The diesel is more expensive. We have the Ford 6.4L..it gets the worst diesel MPG of any of the diesels but it WILL do better than the gassers. They are both good motors and the V-10 served us well.Can't beleive some of the things we hear around here.
Gg
06 Montana 3400. 08 Ford F-350 6.4L
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donhov
near Jackson Michigan
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Joined: 01/31/2006
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OK, maintaince schedule is directly from Cummins for the Dodge truck's. Don't know about the Chevy & Ford but I do my oil at 7000-7500 intervals as I tow a lot. Fuel at 10-15000 normally unless I suspect poor fuel then sooner and air as necessary which lately has averaged 15-20000K miles. Yes the diesel costs more up front but lasts longer. Still say maintaince is almost a wash as far as cost unless you want to spend the extra money and change more frequently than is required. Do an oil analysis if in doubt, you will be surprised.
2003 Cedar Creek 30RLBS
2007 Dodge 5.9 Cummins Turbo Diesel 325hp/610Tq
4x4 3.73 axles short bed
Inferno Red W/Gold pinstripping
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salda01
Wisconsin
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Joined: 01/10/2006
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Another to factor to consider is resale / trade-in value.. The diesel will be much higher... Have you check Ebay out for used 1's? It's not uncommon to see 5 year old 150-250k miles diesel trucks looking to get between $15 -$20k. Rough estimate that only about 45% depreciation on a vehicle that will still run another 100k before a major rebuild. If you plan on keeping it for many miles go diesel.
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Likes to tow
Huntington WV
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Joined: 01/13/2006
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stanbnv wrote:I had a 95 F250 460 with a 5 speed manual, and was amazed at the difference in power (torque) with the CTD in the Dodge. Plus, the old 460 got 10.5 mpg empty and 8.5 mpg towing. The Cummins now gets 18.5 mpg empty and 12.6 mpg towing, plus since I've only got 30k miles on it, it keeps getting better. I can put the cruse control on in 6th gear towing, and it takes a pretty good hill to get me to shift to 5th. Go back to a gasser? Never.
I had the same experience with a 96 460 automatic. 10/11mph non towing and 9/10 towing a low profile 24' fifth wheel. Good dependable truck for over 11 years and was planning on a new one with a V10 but then after reading forums and talking to folks in camp grounds I made the switch to a Cummins 5.9. Yes, diesel costs 65 cents per gallon more but I'm goin twice as far per gallon!! It has been in the 20's mpg consistently and I don't know why I did not move to a Cummins sooner!! I was afraid of any Ford other that the 7.3 and those are all high milers now. Look for a good used low mile 5.9 and cut the check....you won't be sorry.
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Tundra2084
Kitchener Ontario Canada
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Joined: 09/06/2005
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Well we are home from Florida and now we start looking in earnest for that Diesel truck we have decided to buy. It wont be new more than likely it will be a 2004 to 2006 model and no we have not decided on only going Ford but GMC & Chevy are also contenders. Thanks everyone for your input and help.
Frank & Dawn
2005 Ford Super Duty F250 Diesel 6.0L Fx4 Short Box supercab
2007 Palomino Thoroughbred F-829RK
Tucker and Sadie our 4 legged kids
Forest River Forums
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Kong&Lucy
Pendleton, Indiana
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Joined: 05/31/2006
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One other thing not mentioned here, is how much high altitude towing do you plan to do? In high altitude, you lose a substantial amount of horsepower because of the air/fuel mixture being thrown out of whack. I can't remember off the top of my head what the percentage is, but it is very noticable. This is where the diesel pays for itself too. A turbocharged engine doesn't lose anything because the turbo forces air into the engine, and will force more air when needed. Just another thing that puts the diesel at the top of the list for me...make mine chevrolet tho
06 Chevy 4x4 CC dually diesel
98 Dodge 4x4 dually diesel (RIP)
97 Cardinal 32' RKLX
Reese 16k hitch
Prodigy
Love our Redbird
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dnoling
Minnesota
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Joined: 11/14/2005
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We have a 2006 F350 Diesel Dually 4X4 pulling a 35' 5th wheel with a boat behind the 5th wheel. 10 MPG. without towing about 15 MPG.
The low mileage has to do with all the emissions stuff they put on the 2006. The 2005 didn't have it when it came off the lot.
Yes - diesel is more, but so is the torque, and life expectancy of the motor.
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Tundra2084
Kitchener Ontario Canada
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Kong&Lucy
Thank you for mentioning the high altitude,that was something we forgot about. We towed our fiver in Colorado mountains and for the wife it was white knuckles all the way with the high altitudes. The v-10 was a lot slower going than the diesels we saw hiking up the mountain roads with no problems.
Wife states she will NOT go back up there (mountains in Denver etc) unless we get a diesel to pull our fiver with, so this should make her happier now knowing a diesel can do a better job than our gasser did on the inclines.
We do some mountains in Vermont and New Hampshire and it is slow going but it is doable in the gasser but will be much easier with a diesel according to how fast thoese diesels go past us on the grades.
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LovenRV
Auburn,MI
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Joined: 12/16/2007
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I have a 2003 6.0 PSD F250 CC and am very pleased with it. This is all pencil and paper and not the computer I am getting 20-21.5 on the highway at 75+, 15-17 local and 11-12.5 towing. We tow all over Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee and run to South Carolina once a year at the Christmas holidays. Would I go back to a gas motor, not on your life. Maintenance does cost a little more but to me it is worth it and I do most of my own except transmission fluid changes. It is cheaper.
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