Gas vs Diesel for Towing a Fifth Wheel!!!
I have some issues picking a suitable towing vehicle to haul a travel trailer. Gas vs diesel for towing a fifth wheel? Which one is better? Any suggestion?
Forum Discussion
Define "Better" and tell us details about the 5th wheel.
If it's in the manufacturers weight rating both will do the job and with the right truck, gas can pull a pretty big 5th wheel.
If cost is irrelevant and "better" is going up a steep grade at 70mph, diesel will usually win (exhaust brake for coming down the mountain is probably the better reason to consider diesel).
If better implies cost and you are pulling a more modest say 8000lb 5th wheel and most of your travels are not in heavy mountain areas, gas will likely work out cheaper in the long run while doing a very nice job towing.
It's a myth based on 40yr old technology that diesel will last longer. Back then carburated gas engines took a lot of maintenance and were lucky to last 100k miles. At the same time diesels were massively overbuilt mechanical and as long as you kept the filters clean, not much could go wrong. With modern engines, the gas engines are good for 200-250k miles with minimal work and diesels are drastically more complicated with computer systems and electronic controls that are prone to failures.
If it's in the manufacturers weight rating both will do the job and with the right truck, gas can pull a pretty big 5th wheel.
If cost is irrelevant and "better" is going up a steep grade at 70mph, diesel will usually win (exhaust brake for coming down the mountain is probably the better reason to consider diesel).
If better implies cost and you are pulling a more modest say 8000lb 5th wheel and most of your travels are not in heavy mountain areas, gas will likely work out cheaper in the long run while doing a very nice job towing.
It's a myth based on 40yr old technology that diesel will last longer. Back then carburated gas engines took a lot of maintenance and were lucky to last 100k miles. At the same time diesels were massively overbuilt mechanical and as long as you kept the filters clean, not much could go wrong. With modern engines, the gas engines are good for 200-250k miles with minimal work and diesels are drastically more complicated with computer systems and electronic controls that are prone to failures.
