Already know my new truck will be a 2014 Dodge SRW Crew Cab 4x4 with auto tranny. What I don't know is if I should go with the new 6.4 or diesel. Worked outthe numbers and the cost for my use of 15k miles/year with 50% TC duty, 25% DD, and 25% errands is only a few hundred difference a year. So it comes down to the other advantage to decide.Diesel - all the power and torque could need and then some.Gas-no cool down time (important due to lots of stops for sightseeing)-less weight on the same axles/brakes equals better braking (best I can find, the 6.4 will use the same axles as the diesel)-less to worry about (no DEF, turbo, etc)My previous truck was a 92 F350 w/460 auto which I used to pull a 7,000# TT including a trip to Yellowstone and Arches. Never had an issue with power on that truck. So am familiar and comfortable with reving the engine for the power.Which would you choose and why?

The Cummins will give you real world far better fuel economy. It will also give you a decent platform if and when you decide to upgrade to some other type of RV. Gasser wont.

I wonder if it would be appropriate to tack on one more advantage of gas: less worry about water in the fuel system?I bring that up because I am looking at a Grand Cherokee with 3L diesel and have been reading the owner's manual and diesel supplement online. The supplement states that if the warning light for water in fuel comes on, one must immediately stop the vehicle, shut it off, and within 10 minutes crawl under the vehicle and open the drain... because continued operation could ruin the engine! That has alarmed me somewhat.

I chose diesel in 1999 and have never considered gas. 70% of miles are loaded heavy or towing up to 25,000 gross.Gas can do the same but I am an impatient person.Brakes? Turbo exhaust brake on my Ram is worth the price difference in the safety and functionality. DEF is becoming more available next to the fuel pump and the tank lasts a long time.

I just went from a Dodge gasser to a Dodge diesel and the only thing I can add for the diesel is the longer driving range per tank. My gasser did fine until I tried to tow in the mountains. I've only had my diesel for a week, but really like it and the mileage is better then I expected right out of the box. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

rexlion wrote:I wonder if it would be appropriate to tack on one more advantage of gas: less worry about water in the fuel system?I bring that up because I am looking at a Grand Cherokee with 3L diesel and have been reading the owner's manual and diesel supplement online. The supplement states that if the warning light for water in fuel comes on, one must immediately stop the vehicle, shut it off, and within 10 minutes crawl under the vehicle and open the drain... because continued operation could ruin the engine! That has alarmed me somewhat.In 14 years of ownership I have never had a water in fuel issue. Never. I do follow recommended filter change intervals and buy my fuel at stations that sell a lot of diesel.

Dodge - Diesel or gas? | Good Sam Community

96 Replies

john_bet
Explorer II
Jan 12, 2014
Something to think about. How many front engine Motor Homes do you see with a diesel engines? They go the same places as the ones with pick-ups and trailers.
john_bet
Explorer II
Jan 12, 2014
JacintoKid wrote:
rooney77 wrote:
I don't get the whole warm up cool down thing. By the time I've pulled into the campsite no cool down is needed and it's got a grid heater to warm it up. I crank and go and kill it when I get there. I get aggravated by people that leave their junk idling all the time like that.

I have a neighbor who used to wake up the whole neighborhood idling his 01' 24 valve Cummins. I had the exact same truck and informed him that the engine wouldn't start to warm until he started driving and got the RPM's up. He didn't listen but thankfully, he sold the truck last year. I guess some folks love watching money exit the tailpipe.
And I have a neighbor who has a hemi and I can hear him coming a quarter of a mile away. Makes more noise than my 10 year old Cummins.
valhalla360
Navigator
Jan 12, 2014
JumboJet wrote:
valhalla360 wrote:
And how often do you drive into a 30mph headwind when the temp is 105f? If it's one time over the life of the truck, I'll happily save $10k up front to live with 1 day of slow driving.

I live in the southwest part of the country and I drive into 30 mph headwinds quite often. It gets hot in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona where we travel the most.

$10,000 is not much for me when I compare it with what I was trying to do with a gas equipped truck before I bought my first diesel in 1999.

I might buy the wind arguement but for the vast majority of people (even those in the west), it's not a daily or even monthly event to tow heavy into a 30mph headwind.

As far as heat, a gas engine is no more likely to die from the heat than a diesel assuming both are functioning properly and are within the appropriate tow ratings.

I think where you see gas vehicles on the side of the road is when they are towing overwieght which is more common with gas engines. Not thru any fault of the engine but if it's rated for 7,000lb towing and you drag a 10,000lb trailer around, you exceding the design standards.
69_Avion
Explorer
Jan 10, 2014
In AZ we get temps over 120 degrees and we also have some serious hills. For those who aren't going to be using the truck for pulling a lot, save your money since a good gasoline engine will work. It just doesn't work as well. If you're going to be doing a lot of heavy towing, pay the difference because it will pay off in the long run. There is no wrong answer. Buy what you like. People were pulling most RVs with gasoline engines until a couple decades ago. They worked, even though they weren't as good as what is available today.
Bionic_Man
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
You get high winds and high temps frequently in the summer in the West.
JumboJet
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
valhalla360 wrote:
And how often do you drive into a 30mph headwind when the temp is 105f? If it's one time over the life of the truck, I'll happily save $10k up front to live with 1 day of slow driving.

I live in the southwest part of the country and I drive into 30 mph headwinds quite often. It gets hot in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona where we travel the most.

$10,000 is not much for me when I compare it with what I was trying to do with a gas equipped truck before I bought my first diesel in 1999.
valhalla360
Navigator
Jan 09, 2014
JumboJet wrote:
Redsky wrote:
There are emotional reasons for buying a diesel pickup as there are for having a Hummer or having a truck lifted and putting on 35 inch tires and that is OK as it a person's right to be illogical if it is their money they are spending. But trying to make it sound like the smart thing to do is a waste of time and not being entirely honest, both with oneself and with others.

Since my truck is used for duties other than hauling a TC, I guess your post has me covered somewhat.

But, stating that it is not a "smart thing", a "waste of time". and "not being entirely honest" is a little strong.

Load identical models, excepting the engines, with the identical campers and run them side-by-side for thousands of miles up and down the mountains, into 25-30 mph headwinds, etc. and see which delivers the better performance and reliability.

Ask the man I ran into in Clinton, OK while driving into a 30 mph headwind while the temperature was 105F and his new Chevrolet 8.1 gas engine equipped 2500 if he wished he had purchased a diesel equipped pickup.

And how often do you drive into a 30mph headwind when the temp is 105f?

If it's one time over the life of the truck, I'll happily save $10k up front to live with 1 day of slow driving.
kerry4951
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
Around Pa., we are seeing all the new stations (mostly convenience stores) being built are installing diesel pumps, and many of the older ones are remodeling and adding diesel to their selection. Some actually have every pump with gas and diesel now and it sure makes it easier for diesel owners. Its getting much better than what it used to be.
wnjj
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2014
JumboJet wrote:
mlts22 wrote:
I also looked at the places that diesel is sold, and it would mean a pretty long wait to fuel up when needing to get to work (usually one pump at most), while finding a gas stall isn't too much of a headache.

Finding diesel in Austin, TX is a difficult chore? I live in NW Arkansas and every station has multiple diesel pumps.

Casey's and Kum & Go's are being built on every corner and they have a minimum of 8 pumps with diesel.

I entered Austin, TX in GasBuddy on my SmartPhone and found 51 stations in Austin with diesel fuel. Those are the ones being reported so there would be more.

How many gas stations does it show? Around where I live id guess maybe 2/3 to 3/4 of the stations sell diesel and most of those only have 1 pump with it. Still not a big issue, though.
JumboJet
Explorer
Jan 09, 2014
mlts22 wrote:
I also looked at the places that diesel is sold, and it would mean a pretty long wait to fuel up when needing to get to work (usually one pump at most), while finding a gas stall isn't too much of a headache.

Finding diesel in Austin, TX is a difficult chore? I live in NW Arkansas and every station has multiple diesel pumps.

Casey's and Kum & Go's are being built on every corner and they have a minimum of 8 pumps with diesel.

I entered Austin, TX in GasBuddy on my SmartPhone and found 51 stations in Austin with diesel fuel. Those are the ones being reported so there would be more.