Forum Discussion
Bionic Man wrote:
Thought this post was interesting--a 1/2-ton 4x4 truck with an aluminum body and a 3.0L turbodiesel V-6 getting 25 MPG. The 6.7L Cummins in my all-steel, 3/4-ton 4x4 Ram got a calculated 23.4 MPG on a 1,000-mile all-Interstate highway trip from Denver to Chicago (not towing!). Not much difference considering my truck weighs a ton more and the engine is more than twice as large.
I still think this truck will be successful. Maybe a little less so since the 4x4 MPG of a 25 isn't as good as I expected it would.
And, in 8 pages of responses, I didn't see one comment about the fact that all the current diesel pickups are turbocharged--from Chevy Colorado 4-cylinder diesels to Ford V-8 diesels. I live in Colorado and any non-turbo engine loses about 3% of its power for every 1,000-ft. of elevation increase. That means that a Ford or Chevy gas V-8 or Ram Hemi is going to lose 1/3 of its power going over an 11,000-ft. pass in the Rockies.
Now imagine towing your trailer with an engine that has only 2/3 of its current horsepower up the on-ramp of the Interstate nearest your home. Would you feel under-powered while trying to get up to cruising speed? Then you know how I feel when I am towing my 5th wheel up the east side of Wolf Creek Pass behind someone towing their 5th wheel with a 3/4-ton gas V-8.
Only the Ford Ecoboost, of all the gas truck engines on the road, has a turbo. Therefore, it is the only gas engine that will perform at anywhere near its rated power when towing on the mountain highways of Colorado.
Oh, one other diesel advantage--it's quiet at highway speeds. A quiet diesel? Impossible, you say! What RPM does your tach show when you are towing your trailer at 60 MPH on a level Interstate? Mine shows 1,400 RPM.- Kinda like going on a cruise. You can get an inside cabin (Gas) or get a nice balcony with a view (Diesel). You go to the same places but getting there is funner.
- its my money and I will buy what I want that will do the job I want it to do , and that is to pull my camper to the campground all the rest is moot points
nickthehunter wrote:
Wanting a diesel because its a superior pulling machine is fine. Declaring that a diesel is cheaper then a gasser or vice versa is just assinine. That argument always ends up in the same dead end and it's just plain stupid to go there.
We always get the diesel (did have plenty of gassers with my smaller trailers). We go first cabin all the way around and we always get the GMC as we feel it to be a above average rig.
That said and the fact we tow alot...... it only costs a few dollars more to go 1st class, so if you want or can why not. I worry not of mountains, wind or storms. Most often just hit the cruise, exhaust brake, TH mode and have a thumb drive with great music, sit back and see the USA.Hybridhunter wrote:
How are some people comparing features in a truck worth up to $8K, to a much less powerful, much slower, MUCH more expensive engine? I buy fairly basic trucks, and wouldn't spend more for a platinum, but if I did, it's tangible. The diesel is donkey economics with laughable power levels, unproven reliability, and expensive maintenance; not much upside there to ponder. On second thought, distronic cruise control and fan cooled seats seem like a steal!
I'm a business owner who can buy what I want, for my work vehicle, or for my wife for here winter rig (she daily drives my modded F150), and the diesel just doesn't fit any rational financial thinking. Not even close.
Oh, and our company owns 3 diesels, none of which present any clear balance sheet advantages whatsoever.
I did not buy buy diesel truck because it gets better fuel mileage. I bought it because it's simply a truck that's superior at pulling. There's a reason why people spend the money on them. It's not just dollars and cents.
Dan- Wanting a diesel because its a superior pulling machine is fine. Declaring that a diesel is cheaper then a gasser or vice versa is just assinine. That argument always ends up in the same dead end and it's just plain stupid to go there. No ones mind is being changed why even start that circus.
- A lot of bickering going on here over the financial sense of owning a diesel. Some things you can't put dollars and cents like the fact that pulling with my diesel is much more enjoyable. I'm not one that enjoys the high rpms and constant shifting, how to you put $ value on that?
In about 5 years I'll be in the market for a new truck assuming my current rig treats me good. And Honestly I hope I will end up with a gas truck, but right now I am spoiled with the diesel power. We will have to see where trucks are at that time, maybe diesel will improve in reliability or gas will improve their power output. Maybe Ford will put a 5.0 Ecoboost in their Super Duties that will be reliable enough ;)
Dan - How are some people comparing features in a truck worth up to $8K, to a much less powerful, much slower, MUCH more expensive engine? I buy fairly basic trucks, and wouldn't spend more for a platinum, but if I did, it's tangible. The diesel is donkey economics with laughable power levels, unproven reliability, and expensive maintenance; not much upside there to ponder. On second thought, distronic cruise control and fan cooled seats seem like a steal!
I'm a business owner who can buy what I want, for my work vehicle, or for my wife for here winter rig (she daily drives my modded F150), and the diesel just doesn't fit any rational financial thinking. Not even close.
Oh, and our company owns 3 diesels, none of which present any clear balance sheet advantages whatsoever. troubledwaters wrote:
So you're spending more for fuel, spending more for the engine, spending more for insurance, losing out on the interest by keeping your money invested, and think you're going to make that all up by getting 4 more mpg.
I Got to get some of that stuff you're smoking.
What I'm smokin is a truck I gave 30 grand for 10 years a ago and 160k miles later it's still worth within 5grand of what I paid, but the same truck with a Hemi sells for roughly 50% less.troubledwaters wrote:
You're Absolutely Correct.
If you blantently ignore the glaringly conspicuous fact that the diesel engine costs $8,000.00 more than the gas engine, then the diesel is cheaper to own then the gasser.
And a Laramie trim option costs $11,000 more than a Tradesman option so what is your point here?
Premium options generally cost more than base options just like the navigation radio option costs more than the basic radio option. You fit the option most important to you within what you are willing to spend. For some, it may be a Laramie gaser with nav radio. For others it may be a Tradesman diesel with a basic radio.
