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

Supercharged
Explorer
Dec 29, 2013
kohldad wrote:
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?

You must remember if you get a gas engine they will look funny at you when you pull in at night in a new camp ground, there will be no lawn chair set out for you. Then on the good side of it, your pickup will not smoke, shake, smell, make all that noise, your fuel will cost 70 cents per gal less than diesel, and not tract on your carpet, diesel repairs are double, and the guy down the street will tell all the neighors you don't understand the power you lost.
JumboJet
Explorer
Dec 29, 2013
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.
GpnAZ
Explorer
Dec 29, 2013
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.
JumboJet
Explorer
Dec 29, 2013
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.
rexlion
Explorer
Dec 29, 2013
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.
donn0128
Explorer II
Dec 29, 2013
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.

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Dodge - Diesel or gas?

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