Are diesels worth it, for costs per mile?
Was at a car dealer out of town, and the dealer (name with-held to protect the guilty) was trying to warn me away from a diesel on the 3500 models he was selling, unless I had at least $15,000 a year ...
Forum Discussion
There are applications that a gasoline engine is great for, but when you want to tow heavy, nothing beats a diesel. The problem is when you get into the gray area or overlap between the two.
In my opinion, the EPA is the worst thing to happen to a diesel engine.
Bottom line; the right tool for the job is not always the cheapest tool.
I pull a 12,000# trailer in tow haul mode down the road at 60 mph (just under 2,000 rpm). When I go up a hill, like across PA on I-80 the rpm's climb to 2,500-2,700 @ 60 mph and up the hill I go on cruise and never have to put my coffee down :) My trucks GCVWR is 20,000# and I'm at 20,000# (12,000 trailer and 8,000# truck)
Diesel trucks tend to have larger fuel tanks and thus a longer range. I have 39 gal factory fuel tank and at 11 mpg towing I stop about every 300 miles. Not towing I get 17 mpg and stop about every 500 miles for fuel.
In my opinion, the EPA is the worst thing to happen to a diesel engine.
Bottom line; the right tool for the job is not always the cheapest tool.
I pull a 12,000# trailer in tow haul mode down the road at 60 mph (just under 2,000 rpm). When I go up a hill, like across PA on I-80 the rpm's climb to 2,500-2,700 @ 60 mph and up the hill I go on cruise and never have to put my coffee down :) My trucks GCVWR is 20,000# and I'm at 20,000# (12,000 trailer and 8,000# truck)
Diesel trucks tend to have larger fuel tanks and thus a longer range. I have 39 gal factory fuel tank and at 11 mpg towing I stop about every 300 miles. Not towing I get 17 mpg and stop about every 500 miles for fuel.
