bobbyg123 wrote: So what about this scenario. You need a truck as a daily driver and only tow 10-12 trips per year for no more than 30-35 nights/year. Is it still worthwhile to get a $40K diesel, or shop for a used 3/4 ton HEMI or 6.8L gasser for $25K?
Are you comparing a NEW Diesel for $40K vs a USED gasser for $25K? In either the new or used market the diesel option is almost always going to cost more - thats just a fact. Really depends on what you want from your truck.
Unless your like me in which case the diesel with a 6sp manual tranny is just fun to drive. So what if it costs a little more. I could sleep in a tent too (and do when backpacking) but it didn't stop me from RVing.
The best truck is the 10 year old diesel you bought new.
I know , I have one.
Duramax is only 10 quarts of Delo 400.
Brakes last longer in a diesel by a factor of 1 - 1/2 times.
If I have to use my brakes much I am not practicing proper engine brake management.
My best friend has a fleet of diesel pickups and he is running those 300,000 miles before disposal and buying new. Another camper buddy is over 350,000 on his PSD - Navistar.
The grades are the deciding point. If you stay on flat land a hemi will be OK. But when you hit the grades and the bottom of the grade is at 6,000 feet and it's all up from there, you really want a diesel. 12 quarts of oil and 7 gallons of coolant will take a lot of heat. My 03 is a gem.
With my gas Chevy I was getting 6-7 mpg. With my Duramax I get 11.5 to 13 mpg towing the same TT. So, for every 3 gallons of gas I used towing. I now use 2 gallons of diesel. My Chevy was a 1/2 ton. My Duramas is a 3/4 ton. As a daily driver the gaser is better. But, I like a 3/4 ton truck for other stuff.
Personally, I hate the diesel sound. Drove lots of them, power strokes as cummins. No Duramx yet though. And no I am not comparing my little gasser to a diesel.
The 5 minutes or so that the motor is turning high revs while climbing a mtn is off set by a mostly quiet drive the rest of the time.
For me and the dw the sound of the diesel is a big turn off. Simply can't compare the in cab sound of my fil 99 7.3 F250 to the in cab sound of my 5.4. Yes that's silly, but it's true.
My dw can't stand the diesel smell so even if I really wanted one I would still buy a gasser for her. The tv is her daily driver. So no diesel.
Admittedly, the new diesels are a lot quieter.
At the end of the day it is your money, get what you want. Not what somebody else thinks you need.
Thanks!
Thanks
TT: 1995 Layton 2910
Tow Vehicle: 1999 F-350, v10, 2wd, Crew Cab, Dually
Hitch: Draw-Tite Trunnion WD Hitch
Sway Control: Valley dual friction sway control
Brake Control: Tekonsha Voyager
"It's Kind of Fun To Do The Impossible"
~Walt Disney~
bobbyg123 wrote: So what about this scenario. You need a truck as a daily driver and only tow 10-12 trips per year for no more than 30-35 nights/year. Is it still worthwhile to get a $40K diesel, or shop for a used 3/4 ton HEMI or 6.8L gasser for $25K?
Yeah, the new diesels have come a long way as far as noise. My 08 powerstroke is a quieter ride than my 06 150 was when pulling the camper. The constant stress on the engine while towing always made the gas motor loud. Not so with diesel. So if you are going old used diesel take that into consideration
Personally, I hate the diesel sound. Drove lots of them, power strokes as cummins. No Duramx yet though. And no I am not comparing my little gasser to a diesel.
The 5 minutes or so that the motor is turning high revs while climbing a mtn is off set by a mostly quiet drive the rest of the time.
For me and the dw the sound of the diesel is a big turn off. Simply can't compare the in cab sound of my fil 99 7.3 F250 to the in cab sound of my 5.4. Yes that's silly, but it's true.
My dw can't stand the diesel smell so even if I really wanted one I would still buy a gasser for her. The tv is her daily driver. So no diesel.
Admittedly, the new diesels are a lot quieter.
At the end of the day it is your money, get what you want. Not what somebody else thinks you need.
Thanks!
Thanks
The noise and odor that you list as objections have been addressed. My RAM is quieter going down the road than my wife's 2007 Chrysler and I can't smell the trucks exhaust even in the garage.
2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010
Look at used Diesels. We were able to find a 2 year old Ram with the 6.7, 22K miles for around $25K. It may take some looking but in our case we found a truck that was in great shape, lots of factory warranty left, and about 1/2 the cost of new.
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