Gas or Diesel??

[money_pit_yj]

I may be in the market for a new truck. I used my 3/4 ton to tow about 10 times in 2 years to tow more than a half ton. I have decided on a 3/4 ton for that reason. My question is gas or diesel? The most I would pull is a 10k lb camper about 8 times a year a d the church enclosed 2 or 3. I had a 6.0 and it was meh but I just do t know if I pull enough to justify a Duramax. Cool factor aside, what do you think is the right amount of towing to warrant a diesel?

 

[Bateman]

Wouldn't say you need one for what you're doing. I hardly tow anything and only own a diesel because I enjoy modding it and the power you can make with them. Sort of gives me my hot rod fix without owning another hot rod (car).

Of course, when it's time to tow they definitely do that well.

 

[ridered3]

When towing the camper, how far is the average trip?

Would the truck be the daily driver or only driven on occasion?

 

[poolman]

Gas. My dually is gas and it's no power wagon but just think about if you had to replace a motor. It's less then half the cost. If you towed every day or even more often I'd say diesel.

 

[Bebop]

Same here. Go gas.

Every time I tow, I wish I had a diesel.
Every time I do anything maintenance related, I'm glad I have a gas truck.

Unless you tow very often, I'd stay gas.
Also, 10k would be nothing with the new 7.3 gas F250 or the new 6.6 gas from GM.

 

[jeeptj99]

I never understood why people buy 2500 gas trucks. Supposedly the newer 1500 trucks tow a good bit. But i also want to tow at 75-80 because i hate driving slow.

 

[money_pit_yj]

I never understood why people buy 2500 gas trucks. Supposedly the newer 1500 trucks tow a good bit. But i also want to tow at 75-80 because i hate driving slow.

It has to do with the truck being able to control the load. My friend bought an F15@ with a tow rating of around 11k. We hauled an enclosed full of stuff that was probably 9k and it walked the truck all over the road. I've hauled some sketchy stuff at work but that much with a 1/2 ton is ignorant. It's all fine until it's not, the 3/4 ton (gas or diesel) has enough suspension and added weight to handle a squirrelly load…..to an extent. 1 ton + dusky is bestest.

 

[money_pit_yj]

Same here. Go gas.

Every time I tow, I wish I had a diesel.
Every time I do anything maintenance related, I'm glad I have a gas truck.

Unless you tow very often, I'd stay gas.
Also, 10k would be nothing with the new 7.3 gas F250 or the new 6.6 gas from GM.

Gas. My dually is gas and it's no power wagon but just think about if you had to replace a motor. It's less then half the cost. If you towed every day or even more often I'd say diesel.

Wouldn't say you need one for what you're doing. I hardly tow anything and only own a diesel because I enjoy modding it and the power you can make with them. Sort of gives me my hot rod fix without owning another hot rod (car).

Of course, when it's time to tow they definitely do that well.

All of these are what I was thinking. Although it would be cool to have a hot rod diesel I am just fine with the capabilities of a new 6.6 or even the big hemi.

 

[Zjman]

I don't get the whole diesel maintenance rap. I own two 7.3's. One has 315k the other 185k. All I've done is injectors on the 315k. They weren't bad but cups were. Other than a water pump and a under valve cover harness mine had been maintenance free, oil change is little more expensive but I make up for it in fuel mileage over gas.
I've seen more dummies this year towing campers with way too small a vehicle. Seen 2 rollovers in last week from the big wiggle. I'd rather feel comfortable knowing I have too much truck

 

[Bateman]

Yea I have a 12 valve. Simple as it gets and easy to make some serious steam if your into that kinda thing.

I understand the scare of cost of maintenance though. Look up the cost of injectors for a common rail or duramax. Whew.

but in the end just know your trucks limits. It might seem to tow decent on a straight level road but when things get hairy you don't want the trailer driving the truck.

 

[jeeptj99]

Yea I have a 12 valve. Simple as it gets and easy to make some serious steam if your into that kinda thing.

I understand the scare of cost of maintenance though. Look up the cost of injectors for a common rail or duramax. Whew.

but in the end just know your trucks limits. It might seem to tow decent on a straight level road but when things get hairy you don't want the trailer driving the truck.

My 12v has 370k and the only thing that has gone wrong with it is a head gasket which is a known issue on those. When i had the head off the internals of the motor looked better than my 4.0 i did in my jeep at 112k. That fix would have been way cheaper if i didnt go on and upgrade studs and valve springs while I was in there. But yeah injectors on newer diesels can be outrageous.

 

[Bebop]

I never understood why people buy 2500 gas trucks. Supposedly the newer 1500 trucks tow a good bit. But i also want to tow at 75-80 because i hate driving slow.

Not wanting to deal with DEF, $3000+ repairs every time something happens, 15k$ asking price for a ragged out POS that's 20 years old and 350k+ miles etc.

For me, I tow about 5000 miles per year. Even at 8mpg, and driving at 65mpg average I feel like I'm saving money. Money that I would rather spend somewhere else or keep.

If you can afford a diesel, do it, they are great.

I don't get the whole diesel maintenance rap. I own two 7.3's. One has 315k the other 185k. All I've done is injectors on the 315k. They weren't bad but cups were. Other than a water pump and a under valve cover harness mine had been maintenance free, oil change is little more expensive but I make up for it in fuel mileage over gas.
I've seen more dummies this year towing campers with way too small a vehicle. Seen 2 rollovers in last week from the big wiggle. I'd rather feel comfortable knowing I have too much truck

I have seen first hand someone buy a used 7.3 and have to replace everything under the hood to make it run half way decently and that person never really trusted the vehicle.

I can put a brand new long block in my truck for 2k and drive it for years to come. Hard to do that in a diesel.


If you think a common rail or injectors are bad on the wallet, look for a fuel system replacement on a 6.7 if the CP4 pump shits the bed. 18k$ is what I was told for the whole thing

 

[Zjman]

Not wanting to deal with DEF, $3000+ repairs every time something happens, 15k$ asking price for a ragged out POS that's 20 years old and 350k+ miles etc.

For me, I tow about 5000 miles per year. Even at 8mpg, and driving at 65mpg average I feel like I'm saving money. Money that I would rather spend somewhere else or keep.

If you can afford a diesel, do it, they are great.



I have seen first hand someone buy a used 7.3 and have to replace everything under the hood to make it run half way decently and that person never really trusted the vehicle.

I can put a brand new long block in my truck for 2k and drive it for years to come. Hard to do that in a diesel.


If you think a common rail or injectors are bad on the wallet, look for a fuel system replacement on a 6.7 if the CP4 pump shits the bed. 18k$ is what I was told for the whole thing

I guess I've been fortunate but I've never heard of anyone with major 7.3 problems, but if ya buy someone's headache who bought cheap parts I could see that. My neighbors have a 99 work truck with 7.3 with over 700k on stock engine. Several sets of injectors and turbos but still works every day.
I doubt I ever own a newer used diesel unless it's a smoking deal. I'd prefer a newer one with warranty
I guess to each their own on the gas vs diesel war lol.

 

[Bateman]

Yep. Dealt with a customer that had the cp4 shoot glitter everywhere and another that spent $5k on used emission equipment when his broke.

I know more owners with trouble free Ford 6.7's than any other new diesel for what it's worth.

 

[Bateman]

My 12v has 370k and the only thing that has gone wrong with it is a head gasket which is a known issue on those. When i had the head off the internals of the motor looked better than my 4.0 i did in my jeep at 112k. That fix would have been way cheaper if i didnt go on and upgrade studs and valve springs while I was in there. But yeah injectors on newer diesels can be outrageous.

340 here I think. When my head started leaking coolant I pulled the factory bolts one at a time, cleaned and lubed them and over torqued them all to 135+. Can't beat these old tractor engines.

 

[jeeptj99]

340 here I think. When my head started leaking coolant I pulled the factory bolts one at a time, cleaned and lubed them and over torqued them all to 135+. Can't beat these old tractor engines.

Really cant. When I pulled mine the gasket was gone at #6. Like gone gone lmao. $80 later i had a new one. People hate one diesels but I coudlnt imagine it any other way. I am planning on dumping a **** ton in it when i sell my jeep. Get rid of the 4:10s and swap a dually axle in it. Paint it. I guess it's to much for some people but I love my old truck.

 

[jeeptj99]

Oh I forgot I blew a stock clutch up in it. Turned the truck up and it said no more. Got me a nice dual disk valair.

 

[Bateman]

Nice. My truck is on jackstands now actually. Axle swap getting rid of 4.10's. Built auto here with some billet parts and a triple disc converter.

OP, just get you a raggedy ole dodge haha

 

[onetoncrawler]

After 10+ years of owning a diesel, I used all of the justification above to ditch my diesel and go back to a gas truck. I ordered a 21 F250 with the 7.3 and the 10 speed. I kept the truck less than 6 months and traded it in on another Ram 2500 with the Cummins. Empty the truck did fine, but even towing something as light as my Ranger it sucked. It got 12.5 mpg empty and 8.5 towing my Jeep or the Ranger. My cummins gets 19 empty and 15 towing, so no comparison there. DEF is $100-$120 per year for the average 15k mile driver so that's negligible in my opinion. The 7.3 held 8 quarts of oil vs 12 for the diesel, so oil changes aren't that big of a difference at all either.

With that being said, I don't plan on ever owning another gas truck again unless I have zero intentions of hauling anything more than a sxs, small boat, etc.

just my opinion FWIW

 

[alrider]

After 10+ years of owning a diesel, I used all of the justification above to ditch my diesel and go back to a gas truck. I ordered a 21 F250 with the 7.3 and the 10 speed. I kept the truck less than 6 months and traded it in on another Ram 2500 with the Cummins. Empty the truck did fine, but even towing something as light as my Ranger it sucked. It got 12.5 mpg empty and 8.5 towing my Jeep or the Ranger. My cummins gets 19 empty and 15 towing, so no comparison there. DEF is $100-$120 per year for the average 15k mile driver so that's negligible in my opinion. The 7.3 held 8 quarts of oil vs 12 for the diesel, so oil changes aren't that big of a difference at all either.

With that being said, I don't plan on ever owning another gas truck again unless I have zero intentions of hauling anything more than a sxs, small boat, etc.

just my opinion FWIW

What was your gear ratio? I'm considering ordering a new F350 single wheel but want the 4.30 ratio I heard that the F250-350's with 3.73 are always shifting down to pull hills and when passing on freeway. I sold a Cummins 6spd manual trans 4x4 dually not long ago and it would pull a house but I want something new and can't afford a new diesel,what was thoughts on the 7.3 gas? I've driven several 6.2 gas Ford's and I'm not really impressed enough to buy one of those.