What does all this MEAN? TV help.

What's the reasoning behind not wanting a diesel? The diesel is hands down superior to the gas engine for heavy duty hauling. If it weren't, all the big rigs going up and down the interstate would be using gasoline engines.....

Op. If your pocketbook can handle a diesel then by all means go for it. Just take if for a long 30-60 mile drive every week or so and it will be fine.

I really like the new GM HD trucks.... The 6.7 in the Ford is smooth but there are some reservations I have about it. I test drove a 2013 HD Silverado crew cab dually Duramax. Talk about a nice truck!!

Of course any gasser you are going to have is going to rev and slow down on big hills some. Depending on the grade and the highway 30 mph is not unreasonable. Just let it rev and it will do the job. Note...I agree that your current gasser half ton is too small for the trailer you have.

I do want to give you my experience pulling my 7000 ish lb TT with three trucks.

1) 2000 5.4 Expedition 4x4 with 3.31 gears and 5400 ish lb tow rating

The trailer owned this truck. The transmission stayed in second gear all the time. White knuckled trip due to the wheel base and engine living in high RPM's


2) 1997 5.4 (less hp and tq than the expedition) F150 SuperCab 2wd with 3.55 gears and 8,000 lb tow rating

The seemingly small change in gearing and smaller overall diameter p plus rated tires plus the longer wheelbase made for a much more comfortable tow. The transmission stayed in third much more often and rarely lost speed on hills on the interstate when down shifting. The truck handled the trailer so much better.

However on a 6% grade I was pulling at 35 mph and 4500 rpm by the time I reached the top. Once I got down to 35 mph the truck just chugged right up the grade. No sweat.

3) 1999 F350 V10 Dually Crew cab 2wd with 3.73 gears.

The chassis and wheelbase made for an amazingly stable platform. The V10 in 3.73 gave me ZERO additional engine performance over the 3.55 F150. They were both in the same engine class (Modular motor family) they both revved at the same times over the same roads. I wished I had 4.30 or 4.56 gears. That would have made that v10 into a monster.

I wanted to share that to illustrate that there is more to towing performance than the class of the vehicle. If you get a 6.2 F250 with 3.73 you may be surprised to find out how well your Hemi Ram actually did. Same if you get a 5.7 Hemi 2500 ram or a 2500 Silverado with the 6.0 all with 3.73 gears. The newer transmission do make things better now than my old 4 speeds.

If you get a Gasser get the lowest gear ratio available and your experience will be better.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

jeepman71 wrote:
Go diesel, the power loss at altitude is almost nothing. Naturally asperated is going to lose a bit of power by the time you top the hill on I70.

I had a gas motorhome with a 460 and all the Banks stuff weighing in at about 16K. By the time I topped Eisenhower I would be running about 35. With my Rockwood loaded and my Dodge 6.7/six speed auto weighing in at 17k I could run the speed I felt comfortable.

I do understand the driving 5 miles a day. I have the same issue. Every time I hit the hills up and down I am happy with the diesel and exhaust brake.

X2, well said

Since I've been towing RVs I've used diesel, so I'm not too good on advice. I farmed 45 years and towed a lot, but the rv in the mountains is a different thing. except for a little pulling I've used Ford's Power stroke. Just bought a 2014 DRW. I can promise the new diesels in all 3 trucks would be awesome. However is it the extra thousands for the diesel, that awesome.

This post's question, and the 1,000's of others just like it, have only 2 correct answers:

#1. Diesel Doolie

#2. See #1

You'd be far better off finding a disposable car for getting groceries and get a serious truck (today, that means diesel) to haul anything that big. If you're really stuck on doing both, find the best condition used Chevy 8.1L - I pulled a 10k TT with a heavy load for over 20k miles with no problems. That included up and down PA Turnpike hills at better than 55 mph. Make certain you also buy stock in an oil company, because I could easily get as low as 5 mpg doing so. Best I could get was around 10.

Today I'm towing a 15.5k weight Montana with our '06 F350 diesel and typically around 12 mpg. It doesn't go as fast as the old Chevy, but is drastically easier to drive and on my wallet.

For the last couple of years we have stayed in one place 2-3 months and up to 5 months.While we are parked for the winter,here in AZ,most of our trips are short,2-5 miles.It does not seem to do any damage to our Ram diesel.I do make sure that it gets regular oil and filter changes and I manage to hit the intrerstate once in a while to make the engine feel like a diesel,as you noticed in your test drive.(You like that diesel,you know you do.)'Sup to you now!

I drive 3 miles one way daily with a 6.7 Dodge Ram, I have a friend that drives about the same distance with a 5.9 Dodge. Like you I would prefer to have a nice 1/2 ton for my daily commute but I can't see myself towing my 5er without the diesel and exhaust brake again.

I hope Travelnutz doesn't see this post with all the Dodge/Ram info, he'll pop a cork. It's just too bad GM doesn't have an exhaust brake.:h

LeonineThor wrote:

RAMs - So, this will really cement my "girly" status, but some of the things I don't care for in my RAM are cosmetic issues at best.

Now, the question. The reason I am thinking I need to steer clear of the diesel is because the radius of my daily life. I average 8,000 miles a year, easily 2,000 of that is towing/camping, leaving 6,000 of in town driving on little 2-3 mile jaunts. How hard is it on the diesel to be doing these shorts runs - and how long does it have to "warm up" to not damage the engine?

Leo

You don't have to justify to ANYONE why you do or don't like the aesthetics of any vehicle.

I have not personally dealt with short drives with a diesel but from everything I have read on the net, the short answer is they hate it.

Then again gas engines aren't that thrilled either, but of the two, go with the gas.

Wow, thank you everyone for your input. A few follow up comments and a big question at the end.

First - "Silly boy, Trucks are for Girls"....EXACTLY what I told my husband years ago, it is my truck and my FW - he does enjoy the ride, and he's a damned good navigator :)

I previously towed a pop-up for 7 years. Totally different beast, but I know what it feels like to tow. Over the years we did have trips we were overloaded and the hills were big - but the performance was fine, NOTHING compared to this past weekend.

RAMs - So, this will really cement my "girly" status, but some of the things I don't care for in my RAM are cosmetic issues at best.

Diesel - I did test drive a diesel last year (after buying the RAM and then realizing the camper was too big). Dealer actually let me have it for 4 days. And it was fantastic! I loved the power, I loved the jump off the line and the whine of the turbo as I stomped it just because I could.

Now, the question. The reason I am thinking I need to steer clear of the diesel is because the radius of my daily life. I average 8,000 miles a year, easily 2,000 of that is towing/camping, leaving 6,000 of in town driving on little 2-3 mile jaunts. How hard is it on the diesel to be doing these shorts runs - and how long does it have to "warm up" to not damage the engine?

Husband and I chatted a bunch last night and I'm starting to come around to the diesel idea.

Thanks a bunch
Leo