Diesel Gas Mileage and Reliability???

bowler1 wrote:
Hi,
Thanks for the responses. Here is some additional information that may help to define my question better:

1. I tow a 5k pound trailer and may get a slightly bigger one in the future, but not a 5th wheel any time soon.

2. The terrain I tow in will be varied. Probably not a lot of towing in the mountains, but I am in the Army and move a lot so I am not sure what the future holds.

3. I certainly don't NEED a diesel, but am looking for a way to get better towing mileage than the current 6-8mpg I get with my 06 Tundra which is a bit underpowered--not sure what would happen if I tried to tow my current trailer in a mountainous area--current truck has 270 hp and 330 ft/lbs torque.

4. Reliability--yeah that is kind of a blanket statement to make. I guess I can say that I know the reliability of the Tundra and it's great. I am curious if most diesels can / will exceed this level of reliability and engine life. I currently have 165k on my 06 Tundra.

5. Cost--yeah I know that the hobby isn't cheap; however, given that I like this hobby I want to minimize my total ownership costs as much as possible. I will do the math based on my projected use. Spending half the amount on gas while towing sure would be nice....but only if it truly pays off in the long run.

6. Useage over the next several years will probably see lower miles and most of them towing. My wife is having a baby so the truck will be hers and will make short trips around town ocassionally and will no longer be used for commuting. Not making cross country trips, but our trip mileage will exceed the daily driving miles until she goes back to work in a few years.


thanks for your help!

Matt

Matt, I have owned the same truck as yours, the newer Tundra with the 5.7 & now the Ford with the 6.7 diesel. Comparing either Tundra to the Ford is like comparing an apple to an orange. I'm not saying one is better than the other but they perform quite differently. The Tundra with the 5.7 has lots of power, good torque and gets reasonable mileage. I think the Tundra would be a good choice for your application. If you were pulling a 5th wheel I would definitely go with the diesel. I can tell you from personal experience that the diesel does a much better job of towing. The pulling power of a diesel is absolutely incredible. I couldn't believe the difference. I average about 11 mpg towing a 5th wheel & high teens when I'm not.
I don't want to start a brand war but if I was pulling a trailer like yours I would likely still own a Tundra. I feel the diesel is the best choice for my application. The difference in cost between a gas truck and a diesel will certainly buy a lot of fuel. If your wife is driving it around town & doing short trips a diesel may not be a good choice.
Good luck with whatever you decide.