Decisions....Gas or Diesel

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canary runner

riding in a 66 cuda
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Wife & I upgraded our travel trailer camper this past year... Its 34.5 ft overall...6820 dry weight... & probably at least another 1000 lbs by the time you get everything in it to camp for 2-4 weeks at a time? Now we are going to upgrade the tow vehicle as well... Looking at Ram 2500s... Now the decisions... Gas or Diesel??? They both have their Pros & Cons...6.4 Hemi is 420 HP... 6.7 Diesel is 380 HP. I know that the diesel probably has more torque on the hills...plus Jake Brake on some models. Does anyone know what these get for mileage? Both empty & pulling a load? Figure i can buy a lot of gas for the difference in cost of the engines & at the pump??? Thanks for any & all advice!!!!
 
Wife & I upgraded our travel trailer camper this past year... Its 34.5 ft overall...6820 dry weight... & probably at least another 1000 lbs by the time you get everything in it to camp for 2-4 weeks at a time? Now we are going to upgrade the tow vehicle as well... Looking at Ram 2500s... Now the decisions... Gas or Diesel??? They both have their Pros & Cons...6.4 Hemi is 420 HP... 6.7 Diesel is 380 HP. I know that the diesel probably has more torque on the hills...plus Jake Brake on some models. Does anyone know what these get for mileage? Both empty & pulling a load? Figure i can buy a lot of gas for the difference in cost of the engines & at the pump??? Thanks for any & all advice!!!!
Diesel. You will love it pulling around those hills overlooking the Mississippi. Like the trailer isn't there.
 
Diesel, easily pulls long grades. My 2500 has 6 speed manual, and gets 17-18 pulling our 24 ft travel trailer. Can get closer to 20 pulling the lighter car trailer.
 
I disagree. Gas is the way to go with that light of a trailer, you will be wasting money with a diesel. Will you use the truck when you are not towing? I ran diesels for years, and there was a definite advantage a decade ago, that is now not the case. The expense of maintaining the diesel, the huge difference in fuel prices, plus the advantage of fuel mileage for the diesel has grown smaller and smaller over the years with the EPA basically strangulating the advantage. A couple of years ago the 6.4 was premium fuel only, now with a light load like you will be pulling you can run regular fuel. I have towed with diesel and gas trucks for the last 30 years, and have a 5.7 Hemi Ram now I can still tow 11K lbs with no issues. They don't put the 5.7 in 2500's anymore if you buy new so the 6.4 is all you can get. That is my 2 cents, I am sure I will get lambasted for it, but there is no reason to run a diesel with that light of towing...
 
Wife & I upgraded our travel trailer camper this past year... Its 34.5 ft overall...6820 dry weight... & probably at least another 1000 lbs by the time you get everything in it to camp for 2-4 weeks at a time? Now we are going to upgrade the tow vehicle as well... Looking at Ram 2500s... Now the decisions... Gas or Diesel??? They both have their Pros & Cons...6.4 Hemi is 420 HP... 6.7 Diesel is 380 HP. I know that the diesel probably has more torque on the hills...plus Jake Brake on some models. Does anyone know what these get for mileage? Both empty & pulling a load? Figure i can buy a lot of gas for the difference in cost of the engines & at the pump??? Thanks for any & all advice!!!!
I'm gong to say depends on how often and how far/terrain you will be using it, if its only a couple times a year i'd probably say gas but if lots of trips,lots of hills go diesel,just remeber if you use this year round and cold terrain,they take a while to get windows clear
 
My neighbor had a 7.3 Ford and had never owned a Dodge. He bought a 2019 Ram 2500 with 6.4 Hemi and loves it. He pulled some big boats from the boat show and was very impressed plus lots better mileage and gas is about 50 cents a gallon cheaper.
For the price difference I would have to go with the 6.4.
 
The op didn't mention how far he was going to tow. I will expand on my above recommendation. With that weight if you are just towing to the lake in the spring and home again in the fall I would get the gaser. If you are going to hook up and take 3 weeks and travel to the west coast and back, get the diesel. Do you have a car trailer? do you haul to shows or swap meets? Many unanswered questions.
 
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^ All good advice above. Whatever you decide - if you go diesel, be familiar with it's emissions requirements. Especially if you buy used. Some years before the DEF fluid need 20 minutes above 50 mph to go into a "good" regen cycle.
 
Real trucks don't have spark plugs. If it don't smoke black take it back. Combination weight 32000 you would never pull that up a mountain with a Hemi

20140524_114805.jpg
 
I own a few of each- pull trailer loaded with all sorts of stuff to make money with heading to jobs for my company.
Diesel is my favorite.
My gas 4x4’s burn typically 9-10mph pulling 20,000lbs. New trailers with dual axles-
Typically 14,000gvw tilt decks.
My diesels pulling same loads is 12-14mpg.
Those are honest figures- the dash computers are good but math says otherwise. I also drive heavy footed. So take that information as well.

I also appreciate diesel exhaust brakes. Saves on brake pads - a lot. Gas trucks use 1.5 more brakes than diesels per life time of same mileage. Other thing to consider is trim levels.
If you are driving empty all the time but a few trips then diesels are not for you. You cannot recoup the extra $7k for a diesel with gas savings.
Also, real trucks don’t blow black smoke- that is unburnt fuel. Looks like crap and makes a mess of the truck. Yes it is a sign of a “turned up truck.” Remember these trucks were designed for approx 400,000 miles per engine (diesels) when you turn them up you remove from the big end mileage. Wear and tear. Sadly you need to modify a new Ram diesel some because the emissions on the 6.7 chokes them off, regen sucks. Leaves you dragging butt every time. Off soap box. Hope I helped.
Syleng1
 
No need for a diesel for that light of a load. Does the 6.4l use the 8 speed? If it is that's what I'd buy.
 
My boss is looking at RV's right now and this is his big question to be answered....

I have towed with a minimal gas and a very powerful Diesel. Alot depends on the grades. Flat less mountainous areas I would go Gas. But if you are planning on some serious grades for a good percentage of travel go Diesel and never look back.

They both have their place and you have to be honest with yourself about your travel areas. Diesels mean $$$ but gas means $$$ at the pump due to less than stellar gas mileage.

JW
 
Everyone i know who jumped on the diesel train eventually sold them because they really didn't need them and maintenance cost was much higher.
 
Used to be it was diesel, hands down. More torque all the way around and fuel was cheaper. But then the market finally caught up and now diesel is higher. It happened right around the time I bought my 04 Powerstroke. Just my luck. Diesel used to be .50 and more cheaper than gas, I buy a new truck and suddenly, overnight it's about .50 and more over the price of gas.
 
seems the manufactures (atleast ford and gm) are trying to push people to gas engines. both coming out with larger new tech gas engines..

i'm not sure i'd want a new diesel that uses DEF and all the computer stuff these days not to mention the added maintenance costs. would take a long *** time to make up the price difference in my opinion.
 
I dunno 'bout other parts of the country, but here in Colorado diesels hold their value better than gassers.

Good luck with your decision.
 
seems the manufactures (atleast ford and gm) are trying to push people to gas engines. both coming out with larger new tech gas engines..

i'm not sure i'd want a new diesel that uses DEF and all the computer stuff these days not to mention the added maintenance costs. would take a long *** time to make up the price difference in my opinion.

Yes, and when you're talking about a $100 dollar oil change JUST IN PARTS, it gets old. That's just ridiculous.

Don't get me wrong, I like the diesels. If you're yankin stuff around like @Oldmanmopar is talkin about, that's really the only way to do it. For the most part though, gas will get it done.
 
Chip a diesel and you can drag the travel trailer upside down over hills.
Most painful part of a diesel is writing the check.:eek:
 
oil changes:

yes diesel is approx $100 per change-
About 6k on an oil change with new diesels. (15-17 quarts) plus filter $12.00
Gas is still about $100 per change but if you do every 3,000 miles that’s $200.

the oil I have to buy- 0W40 is synthetic and is like $12 per quart (6.5quarts) right now. The computer does not like any other oil.
Amazon has gotten in the oil biz at 6.99 per quart of 0W40 but no idea on if it is any good. Filters for gas is like like $8 from dealer. But the filter is like a lawn mower filter. You can get the larger filter but it is still very small in comparison to what our old cars use.

I've increased my oil changes on gas trucks to 6,000 miles. Seems a lot but my trucks do approx 3k per month. 40k already on my 1 year old 2500 6.4L 4x4 utility body single cab. With welder and tools I’m at around 8k weight wise. A set of tires just cost me $1200 for factory Firestone’s. Add tires on the mix and your better off buying a camp ground site and leaving your trailer parked all year. Lol!
 
I looked into a Cummins be fore I bought my Ram . The fuel mileage was horrible since the DEF . Plus the Cummins was a $4,000 dollar option . AND , fuel is $.75-$1.00 more per gallon AND an oil change cost $100.00 AND DEF cost . Even their eco-diesel is too expensive . IMO , if you buy new , order one rather than having one in stock shoved down your throat . Don't let them sell you crap you don't need or are never going to use .
 
Many folks buy much more than they need jumping on the on the diesel fashion wagon. I see the same HD diesels every day empty driven by these tools. If I was in the market and had the same requirements as the OP I would buy a Ford with the new 7.3 gas engine screw the brand loyalty BS.
 
Many folks buy much more than they need jumping on the on the diesel fashion wagon. I see the same HD diesels every day empty driven by these tools. If I was in the market and had the same requirements as the OP I would buy a Ford with the new 7.3 gas engine screw the brand loyalty BS.
What's wrong with the 6.4l? 7.3 is nice but the ugly truck around sucks.
 
What's wrong with the 6.4l? 7.3 is nice but the ugly truck around sucks.
I consider a truck a work tool, looks are secondary,some might think the Ford looks better? I have noticed Ford,GM and Dodge seem to be in a beauty contest, I get it
sell more. I wish they would focus on more on durability and less on bling. Form follows function.
 
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