I know this is a topic that tends to get beaten to death, but when I did a search I could not find much that was TC specific. Has anyone done an analysis of how many miles a year you have to drive with the TC loaded to justify going diesel? Under one scenario I might drive 7500 miles loaded, another 12,500 unloaded. Many of the unloaded trips could be short, i.e. the truck would be a DD. Under another I might drive under 5,000 miles loaded and not much unloaded. I assume under the first I would be better with diesel (though I have heard diesel is iffy if doing a lot of short trips), the latter gas.
That also raised the question of what kind of gas. Say the camper weighs 3500 pounds wet. Would the typical V8 be viable there, or are we talking V10 or at least a large V8?
You also need to look at some other variables. How heavy is your TC? How steep is the terrain and what is the altitude? Are you running ac most of the time? Are you towing a heavy or light trailer? It's not just a cost decision
03 F350 Diesel 4x4 Crew Cab long bed, 08 Lance 1055, Rancho 9000xl, Air Lift air Bags, Torqlift tiedowns,stable loads, super hitch, 48" super truss, Toyo 285/75R16 Opencountry HT
You also need to look at some other variables. How heavy is your TC? How steep is the terrain and what is the altitude? Are you running ac most of the time? Are you towing a heavy or light trailer? It's not just a cost decision
X2
'11 GMC 3500hd SLT DRW D/A 4x4 Spray-in, Air Bags w/comp & controls, TL, Superhitch, 48" Supertruss, 9.5t Warn, front rcvr, Fox Shocks, '11 AF 1140, DB, AC, Gen, Solar, Thermal Windows, Wardrobe, Rear & Side Awnings, 18' Lund/40hp Honda 4 stroke
I instead of everyone arguing about which one is best just tell what they did and why and not argue about it.
I'll start, I have a F350 4X4 CC LB KR SWR 4.30 rear axle with a 6.2 gass V8 with 11,200# GVWR. I am just getting back into TC again but I have pulled my 12,000# 5er with this truck and have been very pleased with it. I have had about 5 diesel trucks and for me with the new trucks and their emission stuff on them I just decided (my personnal opinion) I didn't want to mess with them at this time.
I don't put that many miles on my truck because I have many other vehicles plus my Harley and also being retired I just don't drive around for no reason much now days. My truck which was a year old last December only has 11,000 miles on it and most of that mileage was put on the truck when we moved to AR from MT. It made 5 trips (not round trips just one way) from MT to AR at about 1,800 miles each way. So 9,000 miles of that 11,000 was from there. I pulled my 5er down, then back empty, then pulled my ATV and trailer down, then back empty, then pulled the boat down. Lots of trips, I got very tired of that road. Now I'm thinking if we get the TC of trying to make the Glacier Park get together July of 2013. I have seen a high on my truck once and only one tank of right at 17MPG. Most of the time running empty I can get around 14 to 15 if I can keep my foot out of it. It is a snappy truck and has a nice sound when you wind it out a little. With the 5er I get around 9.5 and have seen up to 10.5 and a low of 8.8 (lots of head wind and hill or mountains).
Hope this helps out.
Butch
2011 F350 KR 4X4 CC LB SRW
2012 Northern Lite 10 2 CDSE
2008 Custom Weld 17' Boat
2010 Can-Am 650XT Outlander Max
2012 Harley Tri Glide
I have a diesel. I don't think it makes sense to buy a diesel unless you are pulling really heavy loads, over mountains, or driving quite a lot. If I had it to do again, I'd probably buy a gas engine.
I think the mileage of diesel vs gas is a wash once you factor in the extra cost of diesel fuel. In other words, it never pays for itself.
'06 F350 Lariat Supercab SRW, 6.0 PSD 4x4 Long Bed, Intake Elbow, Walker Big Truck Muffler. '06 Host Rainer 950 Double Slide, Fastguns. Firestone Air Bags, Rancho 9000s, Vision 19.5s with Hankook DH-01 245s, Energy Suspension bump stops.
Now, I'm a diehard diesel fan, BUT... there's one BIG difference that makes a gasser a plus when it comes to hauling a TC. Weight of the drivetrain in relation to overall GVW.
Gas drivetrain weighs a lot less. Look at Ford's published Truck Camper Cargo ratings, and the gasser is much higher because the drivetrain weighs so much less. Same frame, same springs, same brakes, but about 800lbs LESS cargo capacity.
Click here to see Ford's published camper capacities in all their models.
But here's a quick check just to illustrate what I'm saying---
2011 Ford F350 4x4 DRW Crew Cab
GVW 13,300
Slide in Camper Capacity w/6.2L V10 --- 5,016
Slide in Camper Capacity w/6.7L Diesel --- 4,272
I love my diesel, I'll never sell it, but wow, if you're getting one for JUST a REALLY BIG TC, get a gasser. It's literally the difference between an F350 and an F450.
diver110 wrote: I assume under the first I would be better with diesel (though I have heard diesel is iffy if doing a lot of short trips), the latter gas.
I dont know where that idea came from. Most of my driving is local and usually short trips. I use my diesel like any other vehicle and it runs fine, all the time.
When I do haul the TC, I dont even know its back there. I love the HP and the torque. Could I live with gas....sure. Do I love my diesel...you bet.
2009 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually D/A, Supersprings, Stable Loads, Bilstein Shocks, Hellwig Sway Bar, Front Timbrens.
2010 Arctic Fox 1140 DB, 220 watts solar, custom 4 in 1 "U" shaped dinette/couch, 59 interior and exterior mods to date and still adding
Boatycall wrote: Now, I'm a diehard diesel fan, BUT... there's one BIG difference that makes a gasser a plus when it comes to hauling a TC. Weight of the drivetrain in relation to overall GVW.
Gas drivetrain weighs a lot less. Look at Ford's published Truck Camper Cargo ratings, and the gasser is much higher because the drivetrain weighs so much less. Same frame, same springs, same brakes, but about 800lbs LESS cargo capacity.
Click here to see Ford's published camper capacities in all their models.
But here's a quick check just to illustrate what I'm saying---
2011 Ford F350 4x4 DRW Crew Cab
GVW 13,300
Slide in Camper Capacity w/6.2L V10 --- 5,016
Slide in Camper Capacity w/6.7L Diesel --- 4,272
I love my diesel, I'll never sell it, but wow, if you're getting one for JUST a REALLY BIG TC, get a gasser. It's literally the difference between an F350 and an F450.
Thanks for the link. The payloads seem pretty low on the SRW's. Even a 9 foot Lance would be a stretch.
Ok this is my Opinion
I have had a 2001 3500 with an 8.1 liter gasser and now have a 2012 gmc 3500 with the duramax
The 8.1 gasser
Love the truck, loved the power but it liked to drink fuel. It hauled our 4500 pound camper and utility trailer no problem, it climbed hills with ease but it would have to kick down a gear or 2.
Trip example June 2011 with the 3500 8.1 liter gasser
3 day trip to Jasper and back with the old gasser, on the way there have to fill up in Hinton, 290 km away and a $120 in gas. The trucks not empty but close, Drive around jasper for 3 days, estimate about 100km+. Started heading towards home, have to fill up in Edson, 160km away from jasper and a $120 dollars in fuel, Drive back to Edmonton, 202 km away I could drive around home for 2 days tops on the remaining fuel. Then fill up, between $120 to $140.
Last week with the new truck 2012 gmc 3500 6.6 duramax, same Camper and utility trailer
Drive to Jasper for a 3 day trip. Drive around jasper 100km+, drive back towards home and fill up in Hinton with diesel $108 and 586km on the distance meter, drive home to Edmonton 290km and can still drive for a week on that tank of fuel for work. Then fill up, $110 in diesel.
Climbing Obed summit my 8,1 liter, truck would kick down 1 or 2 gears
Climbing Obed summit with the 6.6 Duramax, no kick down, just powers right up it
Both Trucks had/have the Allison transmission
I use to be scared of the extra cost for the diesel engine but I am now a changed man.
For work I use to fill up 6 times a month with the 8.1 liter, 140 dollars a fill.
Now with the diesel I fill up 2 to 3 times a month and have never put more than $114 dollars in the tank at a time.
The savings in fuel is my truck payment.
My 8.1 was maintained and in good shape I even had the Catalytic converters cut off and that increased my mileage, but still can’t beet the Duramax
Average mileage with the camper and trailer
8.1 liter… 7 to 9 mpg
6.6 liter Duramax… 13 to 14.5 mpg all hand calculated.
Also run the AC as much as you want on any vehicle with over 300hp, it does not affected mileage.
Offline
