Diesel vs gas for truck campers?
Have posted a few questios phere on the truck camper forum asking for help in down sizing to a TC and thanks for the help so far, I have been going over the weights of the TC's that we have looked at...
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I've had gas trucks all my life, and they will get the job done, for a lot less money overall despite poorer fuel economy. But I've gone diesel for the power and the ability to really pull hard for a long time under a heavy load up hill without breaking.
I've kept my old '86 GMC because it can do what NONE of the newer trucks can do.
It can be repaired at home for cheap... not that it needs it much. It's got no computer, no electronics, no sensors, modules... it doesn't throw codes or regen or go into limp mode.
If it has a couple PSI fuel pressure and spark to the plugs, it runs. If it doesn't run, I can figure out why with a 12 volt test light and a few basic tools - and fix it!
I can put a whole new motor in at home in the driveway in a weekend for a couple thousand dollars.
If I'm way out in the middle of nowhere, I feel a LOT safer in my old truck even though I like the newer ones better.
Simplicity IS reliability. The less to go wrong, the less goes wrong.
What I consider the best truck to own is a 1998 Dodge 12 Valve Cummins.
That's the first year of the quad cab and last year of the no-computer 12 Valve Cummins. It's the best mix of modern comfort and old school reliability there is.
I have a '99 because I found the cleanest, lowest mileage, best equipped example I'd seen. But I do hate the electronics and may someday back-date the thing with a '94-'98 parts truck.
I've kept my old '86 GMC because it can do what NONE of the newer trucks can do.
It can be repaired at home for cheap... not that it needs it much. It's got no computer, no electronics, no sensors, modules... it doesn't throw codes or regen or go into limp mode.
If it has a couple PSI fuel pressure and spark to the plugs, it runs. If it doesn't run, I can figure out why with a 12 volt test light and a few basic tools - and fix it!
I can put a whole new motor in at home in the driveway in a weekend for a couple thousand dollars.
If I'm way out in the middle of nowhere, I feel a LOT safer in my old truck even though I like the newer ones better.
Simplicity IS reliability. The less to go wrong, the less goes wrong.
What I consider the best truck to own is a 1998 Dodge 12 Valve Cummins.
That's the first year of the quad cab and last year of the no-computer 12 Valve Cummins. It's the best mix of modern comfort and old school reliability there is.
I have a '99 because I found the cleanest, lowest mileage, best equipped example I'd seen. But I do hate the electronics and may someday back-date the thing with a '94-'98 parts truck.
