If price was not a consideration, Gas or Diesel?

There's a tremenduous forward-bias weight penalty to pay just to get some lower RPM quietness when trying to tow with a diesel pickup. That's probably one reason why so many diesel pickups are 4X4, because when unloaded in the rear they must really suffer from poor rear traction in slippery conditions.

Regarding diesel exhaust braking as compared to gasser geared-down braking - the 4:56 differential gearing of our 12,000 lb. gas RV's truck chassis provides way more hold-back in the lower tranny gears than we've ever found necessary for downhill braking.

In regards to exhaust brakes...I have a rig with the gas V10, and a diesel with an exhaust brake. Coming down a mountain pass with a load with the gas engine, yes, it downshifts but seems to hardly hold back the load at all as the tach zooms up to 5000 rpm. Eventually I have to use my brakes because it just keeps accelerating. With the same load behind the diesel coming off the same pass, once I engage the exhaust brake I don't have to touch the brakes. Matter of fact, I generally have to disengage the exhaust brake (mine is manual) periodically because it slows me down too much. There is simply no comparison in hold back power.

I always take it that those making up non-existent opinions about diesels are gasoline truck owners, who realized their mistakes ;)

Lantley wrote:

Rustofer wrote:
Messy fuel-up, smelly exhaust, noisy, long to warm up, heavy . . . these are the reasons I didn't consider diesel. And gas engines have plenty of power for truck campers IMO.

Have you experienced a modern diesel? Your comments are outdated.
Messy fuel up may apply to busy stations, otherwise your comment have no merit with modern diesels.

X1, I have had 2 new Dodge Diesel trucks, 1997 and currently 2004 and have not experienced any of your concerns or reasons. With a diesel aux. fuel tank from "Transfer Flow" added to replace the original fuel tank, I can drive 600 to 700 miles before I need to fuel up again cutting down on the number of fuel stops needed. I have a 60 gallon aux fuel tank and the extra weight has not effected my Milage when towing. :):)

I switched from big block gassers ( raced Jponder on the way to Dauphin island , Al, tc get together) to diesel in the early 2000 's the only thing missing in a diesel is the instant acceleration and todays turbo lag is minimal.

Diesel, no doubt.

pnichols wrote:
The best comments in the gas versus diesel debate that I've ever read!

Thank you, pnichols!

pnichols wrote:
So the bottom line is: With a given horsepower diesels don't tow better than gas, they just tow different than gas".

In objective, clinical HP terms one may not be better than the other; however, the subjective differences are absolutely palpable to some.

pnichols wrote:
Also, what's all this "exhaust braking advantage" about anyway? . . . Modern gasser transmissions can automatically and conveniently be downshifted with each brake tap when going downhill so as to hold back the vehicle as much as needed.

Can I politely assume you haven't driven a Cummins with the cruise on, the exhaust brake (EB) set to auto, while driving up and down 5-7% grades with, say 13,000 lbs. behind you . . . with your feet relaxed on the floorboard? For me, hearing, feeling an EB auto-activate on a 5-7% downgrade puts an immediate smile on my face. Never had a downshift (with a gas truck) do that. Granted, it's possible some testing might show a gas truck downshifting (from say, 6th to 3rd, or even 2nd) may accomplish something similar. But, again these subjective differences between a gas and diesel truck, for some, are palpable. It's ultimately up to each individual to decide whether these subjective differences equate to "better". Different strokes for different folks--lol!

pnichols wrote:

otrfun wrote:
The latest model HD gas V8's are pushing ~400+ HP with new 8-10 speed trannys. Late model diesels are also pushing ~400+ HP. 400 HP means they're both capable of doing the work. But . . . that tranny on the gasser will be constantly dancing around making up for the V8's lower torque on hills---not to mention that V8 pulling 3,000 - 5,000 RPM's while that tranny dances. If the sound and feel of this dance doesn't bother you, I'd go gas. Gas means less initial cost, cheaper fuel and less maintenance. If you're not fond of the V8's little dance, go diesel. Very few, if any downshifts with the diesel. As for the exhaust brake? Priceless!

The best comments in the gas versus diesel debate that I've ever read!

In other words - horsepower is horsepower and the only torque that matters is torque on the drive axles ... and the job of proper gearing is to change that horsepower into axle torque ... in either type of engine. So the bottom line is: With a given horsepower diesels don't tow better than gas, they just tow different than gas".

Also, what's all this "exhaust braking advantage" about anyway? As far as I've heard, exhaust braking was eventually added to diesels because downshifting gears did not provide enough hold-back on downgrades due to the physics of how diesels operate in combination with their overall vehicle gearing. Modern gasser transmissions can automatically and conveniently be downshifted with each brake tap when going downhill so as to hold back the vehicle as much as needed.

yes they will both get the job done. use the different vs. better claim if you like. But diesel power is better because it requires less RPM from the engine which results in a quieter cab and a smoother tow.
As far as down shifting transmissions diesels also have those, But an exhaust brake is a different animal. In short it provides additional braking that downshifting simply doesn't provide.
I imagine they would add exhaust brakes to gassers if it were possible.
When it comes to frequently towing a heavy load, the ONLY advantage the gasser has over the diesel is price. If price is not a factor diesel wins on every other parameter.

otrfun wrote:
The latest model HD gas V8's are pushing ~400+ HP with new 8-10 speed trannys. Late model diesels are also pushing ~400+ HP. 400 HP means they're both capable of doing the work. But . . . that tranny on the gasser will be constantly dancing around making up for the V8's lower torque on hills---not to mention that V8 pulling 3,000 - 5,000 RPM's while that tranny dances. If the sound and feel of this dance doesn't bother you, I'd go gas. Gas means less initial cost, cheaper fuel and less maintenance. If you're not fond of the V8's little dance, go diesel. Very few, if any downshifts with the diesel. As for the exhaust brake? Priceless!

The best comments in the gas versus diesel debate that I've ever read!

In other words - horsepower is horsepower and the only torque that matters is torque on the drive axles ... and the job of proper gearing is to change that horsepower into axle torque ... in either type of engine. So the bottom line is: With a given horsepower diesels don't tow better than gas, they just tow different than gas.

Also, what's all this "exhaust braking advantage" about anyway? As far as I've heard, exhaust braking was eventually added to diesels because downshifting gears did not provide enough hold-back on downgrades due to the physics of how diesels operate in combination with their overall vehicle gearing. Modern gasser transmissions can automatically and conveniently be downshifted with each brake tap when going downhill so as to hold back the vehicle as much as needed.

Initial price is only one consideration. I wanted the most capable truck and that’s a diesel, period. If you can get by with less, I’m not sure why you’d want a diesel.