gas versus diesel 13.8 max weight fifth wheel

Thank you everyone for responding. The responses are mixed with valid points. I'm most concerned with using the dually/deisel/longbed as a daily driver for the 90 percent of the time (not towing) including the frustration factor of a dually/long bed. I am also concerned about increased issues with the deisel and emissions issues/costs because of the short commutes. How has that played out for people?

I can say from experience - get the diesel DRW. When we first purchased our FW, we had a 1999 F250, short bed, SRW, 6.8L gas with the 4.1 rear axle, 4WD. We got 7mpg and it stopped at every gas station. Stability was bad and towing up and down our mountains here was a white knuckle haul. We even had air bags installed and blew the lines on our first trip, and twice on our second. That was a clue that the FW was too heavy. Fully loaded with water full, we are about 14k (I know the exact number, just don't have that in front of me). Fast forward a year to when we purchased our current vehicle. WOW! Should've done it sooner DH says all the time. We have power to haul up and down mountains and stability is amazing. We joke that something is following us. The difference is night and day and in safety as well. Yes, diesel is more, but we also average 12mpg towing. Can't beat that. Now, ours is not a daily driver, but it was for DH for a couple of years till he purchased a sedan for our business. But, as a diesel, it will last and last. If you can afford it, do it. Both you and your main passenger will never regret it and we only tow about six times a year, if that, since we are both still working full time.

I wouldn't tow squat without a diesel, but that's me. Never had any luck with the old gas engines but then we do a lot of mountain towing out here in the west.

I would keep the gasser no more than you tow a yr

You might appreciate a diesel for that trailer but a SRW truck is plenty and would work better as a daily driver. Since you already have the Chevy, if you're satisfied with it I would just keep it until the time comes that you want to take some longer trips or come out west to the mountains. At that point upgrade to a diesel.

X3 on not needing a diesel in the East.

If your current truck pulls your TT to your expectations and you don't foresee towing in the mountains or buying a bigger RV then I would stick with your current truck. Will a Ram DRW diesel(or any current diesel) pull it better? Of course it will, but it is all about what meets your expectations and not what meets anyone else's. Just ask yourself which one would give you the biggest regret for not getting/keeping later on down the line and go with that one.

Unless you are unhappy with the present vehicle when towing, I'd keep it. Why trade in a 2016 gasser for a diesel daily driver. Yeah, you would love the diesel when towing, but if just 4k miles per year, you really aren't even breaking it in.

No stated problems or concerns but want to upgrade. Why? Are you overloaded?