I concur on the gas engine for your towing. For towing medium-to large sized loads fairly infrequently, the economics of running a gasser are compelling, and you'll have plenty of performance for towing 6K.
Depending on the number of people in the cab, if you toss 1000lb in the bed (in addition to the hitch weight) you might want to check into a 350/3500 to increase your payload. Post some specifics if you'd like more help on calculating useful payload.
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2011 Sequoia 5.7L 4.30; Tundra Towing Mirrors; LT 275/65R18 C Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs on 2nd set of wheels
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I have a '02 6.0 chev CC with 4.10 gears. I have a 25 ft tt and my SIL has a 30 ft tt and he pulls it with a 02 chevy CC diesel with 3.73's. We pulled down the Columbia river on the Washington side and we both gassed up in Vancouver wa. By the time we got to Umatilla, which is in eastern Oregon, I was down to fumes in the gasser, he still had a half a tank of diesel both trucks had 26 gallon tanks. To me it's a no brainer, I am getting a diesel next time.
old guy wrote: I have a '02 6.0 chev CC with 4.10 gears. I have a 25 ft tt and my SIL has a 30 ft tt and he pulls it with a 02 chevy CC diesel with 3.73's. We pulled down the Columbia river on the Washington side and we both gassed up in Vancouver wa. By the time we got to Umatilla, which is in eastern Oregon, I was down to fumes in the gasser, he still had a half a tank of diesel both trucks had 26 gallon tanks. To me it's a no brainer, I am getting a diesel next time.
That was a great theory,
ten years ago.
* This post was
edited 12/26/11 09:43pm by surveyorjp *
If you never plan on getting another truck I would spend the extra money for the diesel. If you are like most people and are planning on trading up for a newer truck down the road I would get the gas motor. I bought a 2006 Dodge 3500CTD because I figured it would be the last truck I would buy, then I got my toy hauler and it wasn't enough truck! Now I have enough truck and will never have to trade up.
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Well you certainly shouldn't need the extra towing power of the diesel since your trailer is within the weight range suitable for almost ALL of the half tons out there. Paying all the extra money for the diesel AND the extra for fuel wouldn't make any sense to me.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR - 2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles) 2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
Sparky69 wrote: If you never plan on getting another truck I would spend the extra money for the diesel. If you are like most people and are planning on trading up for a newer truck down the road I would get the gas motor. I bought a 2006 Dodge 3500CTD because I figured it would be the last truck I would buy, then I got my toy hauler and it wasn't enough truck! Now I have enough truck and will never have to trade up.
The nearest station to which I sit, in Rockport, TX, has diesel priced $.86 over gas. That's almost a 30% premium. Unless I were really pouring on the miles, I wouldn't even consider diesel now. The initial cost difference, the continuing fuel premium, and the potential for megabuck repairs make it an unappealing alternative - for me, in my circumstances.
I currently myself own a 2008 Ford F250 6.4 Diesel. My brother in law owns a 2009 Chevy 2500 6.0 Gas. This past summer we did a few trips together, and yes I can tell you for sure without a doubt my diesel would pull circles around the gas engine. However, the fuel economy while towing isn't that large of a difference.
If I could today purchase a F350 SRW 6.2(Gasser) and break even on the deal I would sell my truck for the gas engine in a heart beat. For some people it makes sense to own a diesel, I find myself wanting the simplicity of the gas engine.
Take into the consideration that diesel's cost more to maintain, and "if" they break they can be spendy. I would look into what your normal uses would be. If I were just using my truck as a toy hauler, I would find an older pre-dpf diesel and park it. If it's a daily driver I would purchase a gas engine and just accept the fact that you wont be winning races up hills but you will get there, safely.
However yes my diesel currently gets much better mpg unloaded than my gas counterparts. But that was after deleting the DPF, and putting a tuner on it, which does void factory warranty if you have one. The mileage gains were not huge by any means. In the end I think mileage wise the new 6-speed transmissions are keeping the fuel economy close to the diesels with DPF equipped systems. So the biggest question is are you fine taking a little more time to get up a hill?
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 6.0, 3.73, Firestone Air Bags, CCSB LTZ
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