Phat 40 said:Here is a spreadsheet I made up to help me make the decision. If your hanging onto a rig for a long time (5+ years) OR putting ALOT of miles on it per year than the diesel will pan out for you. Keep in mind that the chassis starts to get pretty rag'd out past 250K (unless your meticulous). So a motor that goes 500K is not of much use unless you like driving chitty chitty bang bang. I personaly chose the V-10. It will last as long as I own the truck, the milage (comparing Ford to Ford here, I bleed Hemi orange but Dodge wasnt there soon enough) between the two was insignificant. So far towing my 25' enclosed trailer (limited experiance so far no big hills yet) I get 10 MPG. I got 9.9 MPG going to Tillamook with the Jeep on the back at 70+ and a BUTT LOAD of gear (wood, camping supplies, three freaking kids and wife worth of stuff!). Plus the Excursion is as close to a school bus as I could get without driving a school bus. Now, when this rig is done I may find me an 05 diesel Excursion as that one will have to last me a long time as they dont make them anymore.
Hmm,, it wont let me upload the file so email me if you want it. It allows you to plug in all the factors of the purchase so its pretty accurate as to the PAY OFF of owning the diesel, or not.
Fullywrecked said:I wouldn't buy an 05 excursion 6.0 if you want a diesel that will last a long time. Most vehicles will last fine over 250k unless you abuse them. I had a 96 with 245k and jumped in it and took a 2500 miles trip without batting an eye. Things wear out on any truck but keeping up on maint. is cheaping than buying a new one every 100k.:beer: I would never expect a gas engine to last towing the loads I tow with my very low maint, diesel.
To my understanding this thread is mainly about diesel tow rigs, not wheeling rigs. That said its all about the big 3 meaning Izuzu(Duramax),Cummins(Dodge),and International(Ford) as these are the rigs that the general population chooses to tow with.Lamar said:Dear KarlVP;
Having owned gasoline, diesel, propane and natural gas fueled rigs, I would like to have an opinion on this subject, if I may. I happen to have a 1998 Toyota Hi-Lux with a diesel engine and it's an OK powerplant for what it is and what it does. All engines produce a peak amount of power, the secret being WHERE in the power band the maximum power is produced. Diesel engines produce their max torque at just off idle and they maintain it over a long RPM spread, which makes them ideal candidates for pulling or carrying heavy loads. Gasoline engines, on the other hand, tend to produce their max torque higher in the RPM band and they maintain max power for a much shorter duration, which means that they have to work harder in order to pull/carry the same load. Gasoline engines also suffer from decreasing fuel economy as the load increases, whereas diesel engines maintain a very stable economy from empty to maximum gross weight. I've had Toyota FJ-40s with B block diesels (I-4) H block diesels (I-6) and F series gasoline (I-6) engines and for a stock rig I much prefer a gasoline engine. If I build a rig with 35" tires then I shop around for an H block Toyota diesel to stab in. It's pretty cool to be able to idle over obstacles with my foot off of the accelerator pedal, but again, for me 35" tires is the cutoff point.
Your friend;
LAMAR
OldGreen said:Here's another thing. . .Diesels SUCK at trick or treating. It was really cold here on "beg for candy day" and one of the neighbors was taking his kids around in his PSD Excursion. DAMN that thing was LOUD. It annoyed all the neighbors to no end. LOL
I bet it would be safe to say that you are not getting 15 towing though.Jay1 said:I have an 96 dodge 3/4 ton extended cab with 360 and 1 ton running gear stock and running 33's and getting 15 mile to gallon. It has all the power I need.
coxeyed said:I tow long trips with a class b, 1 ton, 74 chinook rv, with a 454. Ir cruises the same with or with out a load at 65mph, must be the gears, although chinook pass does kinda suck. as for mileage 8, with or without the rig, its always alot of coin to take the camper on a trip, but it beats flyin or the cost of a new diesel. I think o've got about 4,1/2 k into it, and the whole family loves it. Plus its got a toilet i can puke in when i get siiiiiiick!
Bunk said:I bet it has 4.10 gears. Toilets are a good thing in a tow rig..:haha:
KarlVP said:Does this mean, because I will never use a tow rig, that I need a toilet in my TJ?