Buying my Hemi WAS a good idea
When I first became a diesel owner (2003 or 2004), diesel was almost always 10-15% cheaper than regular unleaded where I live. Then came ULSD, and the economy moved on. Diesel became the same price...
Forum Discussion
kohldad wrote:
ib516, glad you are happy with yours. I'm making about the same move as you. When researching and calculating, the 6.4 made more sense for me too. I'm no longer towing heavy but am carrying heavy so needed the payload capacity. One look at the new diesel on a chassis cab revealed all of those sensors and emissions item which just yelled $$$$$$$$$$$ to me in the future after warranty runs out. The gasser will be a lot cheaper to repair if necessary.
I do have to correct you (or was it someone else?) that today's gassers pull just as good as today's diesels. That statement is wrong. But from everything I'm reading, today's gassers pulls just as well as the diesels we are giving up.
In regards to the Ike Gauntlet pull, I have no worries as the system was designed to reduce long term failure on the drivetrain. Notice that the rpm was held constant. My first thought was when they hit the steeper grade right before the tunnel, it would slow down but instead held the same rpm which showed it was computer holding it on. No need to run the engine back up to redline just to upshift, loose rpm in 2nd, drop back down to 1st then repeat. As soon as the grade eased off, the computer realized due to throttle level to maintain speed that it would be able to continue accelerate in 2nd, it let the rpms run up and then shift to 2nd and keep on going. Think it was some very smart programming on their engineers.
Really looking forward to when I finally get mine and start putting it to use.
Nope, wasn't me. I will say again, and have always said the diesels pull heavy loads better, and get better mpg doing it. For those who are full-timers, or pull very heavy loads often, the diesel will be a better choice. I'm not one of them.
When I actually thought my way through it, the truck is hitched to the RV the equivalent of about 5-7 full days per year. Even when we go on a 2-3 week vacation with the 5th wheel, we typically head to the mountains (1 day's drive), set up the RV "basecamp", then use the truck for hauling the mountain bikes, hauling the kayak, sightseeing, or taking us to hiking trails. Then we tow another full day home. Repeat that a couple more times per year, with some trips even less than a day's drive, and it adds up to about 7 days driving with the RV hitched. The other 358 days per year, the truck is a daily driver, commuter car, junk hauler, bike hauler, grocery hauler, etc.
