Diesel vs gas for truck campers?

Steve_in_29 wrote:

hotrodfords wrote:
I just wrestled with this very question, and ended up with a 2016 GMC double cab 3500HD/6.0L, long bed, 11,000# GVWR, SRW. I've added a child and 2 more dogs to the mix since I bought my '06 a decade ago, and needed the bigger cab. Bought it last week from a noteworthy dealer in northern Idaho, already have 1100 miles on it, and it has averaged 14.5 MPG (mostly hiway).

I'm replacing my 06 2500HD 6.0L 4L90E that has been great, no problems hauling my Lance 835. I would have bought a diesel if I could have gone back in time to 07 and earlier and gotten a diesel without all the emissions "piss water" stuff on them. Yep they are awesome torque monsters. But for me, getting the same or nearly the same MPG as gas, diesel being more expensive and the fact I daily drive my truck, I went with gas. I have the camper on the truck 2-3 times a year and don't expect the 6.0L gas is going to kill my fun going camping.

It was a tough call for me..but I made my bed. The 8,500 saved over the diesel is still in the bank.

You could have saved a lot more then $8500 by buying a used truck from that era. No time machine needed.

I appreciate the thought, but I'm not a big fan of buying used, and in this case I'd be going back a decade. Most of the rigs I saw in the configuration I was looking for were in the high 100,000 to 200000 mile plus range. While the engine may just be getting broke in, all the rest of the ancillaries to the vehicle don't age as well. You could get a decent price on rig 6-7 years old but they didn't have the LBZ, and I read enough on the problems with the emissions to drive me away from those.

I'm happy with my rig as it sits, as I'm sure you're happy with yours. Isn't that what it's all about? Not spending the additional $$$ for a diesel also allowed me to keep my 2007 supercharged Saleen Mustang. That was important to me too. :)