Is It Worth It?

My first five or six trucks in my lifetime were gassers.

My last two were/are diesels.

I'll never go back, even if I quit RVing.

Mike

agesilaus wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
What did you like towing with more??? That's your answer.

To a certain extent, but where you will be towing is the most important. Mountain travel, the you need a diesel. Flat lands east of the big muddy, you can live with a gasser.
Of course you can drag your RV up those 7 or 8% grades, but the engine will be working very hard.

7-8% grade is STEEP for an interstate, reality, federal funfed interstates are suppised to be 6% or less, with short spurts to 8. Ive personally necer found interstates geades to be an issue.
The 10% geades to Timberline, NE Corner of Yellowztone, granted max speed limit is 35, reasinably obtainable if you're producing 100-150hp. If bot, you're going slower get.
If you want to pulo your boat out of on particular ramp or to i know of, you better have a rig that can pull more than a min 12% grade per current tow specs. Or you're stalled out, or you better have a 4lo option.
If you have 400 lb ft of torque, an overall low of around 24-1. Including ra rAtio, trans ratio, or 4lo, you have the ability to pull 20k up a 30-32% grade. Many forest service normal steep grades to really steep local roads. Here in Puget Sound region, it's not hard to find local roads in the 20-25% relm.
Some vehicles like my 26K dump truck, are better low speed steep grade pullers, my 05 Dmax killed speed wise at the same wieght, ie double the speed on an interstate. But would stall out literally on half the % grade of local road.
Choose your poison for the type of driving you do!

I would go with gas in OPs shoes. Quick guestimate with current pricing etc, it would take 150-200k miles to truly pay off the difference in cost to go diesel. That's a hellatious long time for many of us.
Hey, if you got to have a rattler, go for it! I can make any of the current gas rigs over the last 8 or so years work fine, if geared correctly, payload capable etc.

Marty

Marty

Walaby wrote:
My first five or six trucks in my lifetime were gassers.

My last two were/are diesels.

I'll never go back, even if I quit RVing.

Mike

I am the same, as long as I am dragging around a RV it will be pulled by a diesel.
I just enjoy the way a diesel pulls for me it is a more relaxing towing experience.

If I was to stop RVing I would go to a gasser most likely in a 1/2 ton.

hondapro wrote:

Walaby wrote:
My first five or six trucks in my lifetime were gassers.

My last two were/are diesels.

I'll never go back, even if I quit RVing.

Mike

I am the same, as long as I am dragging around a RV it will be pulled by a diesel.
I just enjoy the way a diesel pulls for me it is a more relaxing towing experience.

If I was to stop RVing I would go to a gasser most likely in a 1/2 ton.

This^^^
If the plan is to tow regualrly with the truck go diesel.

Huntindog wrote:
Not only that, but a gas truck with 150K on it is considered by most to be used up. A diesel with the same is considered broke in.

This was true 50yrs ago with fully mechanical, slow turning massively overbuilt big diesels putting out 200hp...compared to carbureted gas engines that needed regular and substantial maintenance and 100k miles was doing good.

Now 250k on a gas engine is nothing special. Usually, it's the body/suspension that has reached the point where it doesn't make sense to keep the truck going. Not the engine.

At the same time, modern diesels are far more complex and the idea it will last forever doesn't hold up as well.

blt2ski wrote:

agesilaus wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
What did you like towing with more??? That's your answer.

To a certain extent, but where you will be towing is the most important. Mountain travel, the you need a diesel. Flat lands east of the big muddy, you can live with a gasser.
Of course you can drag your RV up those 7 or 8% grades, but the engine will be working very hard.

7-8% grade is STEEP for an interstate, reality, federal funfed interstates are suppised to be 6% or less, with short spurts to 8. Ive personally necer found interstates geades to be an issue.


Marty

If you are the sort of RVer who never leaves the interstates then fine. But if you want to drive Colorado roads, see Bryce and drive Hwy 12, and otherwise see what this country has to offer. Then no, 7 or 8% grades are mild.

Walaby wrote:
My first five or six trucks in my lifetime were gassers.

My last two were/are diesels.

I'll never go back, even if I quit RVing.

Mike

I agree with your last statement, as we have diesels as well. “just because”, not because they’re absolutely needed. And I’m likely the same way, and have diesels for 3 primary reasons. 1 because I can. 2 because I strongly prefer lots of power in my cars. 3 because for me they are also very practical and useful. (Although the fuel mileage thing ain’t doing so hot on the latest truck…lol. But if it was a gasser it would be a 10-11mpg truck vs 15ish.
However I would roll a supercharged 6.0 LS or 6.4 Hemi truck all day long if I couldn’t have a diesel!

For me Diesel is the only choice for towing. Do like me, have the truck suited for each trailer. ;)

I once pondered keeping my old truck around and have 2 diesels.
In the end it was too costly to have 2 HD trucks especially if one just sat around.

agesilaus wrote:

blt2ski wrote:

agesilaus wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
What did you like towing with more??? That's your answer.

To a certain extent, but where you will be towing is the most important. Mountain travel, the you need a diesel. Flat lands east of the big muddy, you can live with a gasser.
Of course you can drag your RV up those 7 or 8% grades, but the engine will be working very hard.

7-8% grade is STEEP for an interstate, reality, federal funfed interstates are suppised to be 6% or less, with short spurts to 8. Ive personally necer found interstates geades to be an issue.


Marty

If you are the sort of RVer who never leaves the interstates then fine. But if you want to drive Colorado roads, see Bryce and drive Hwy 12, and otherwise see what this country has to offer. Then no, 7 or 8% grades are mild.

You removed sentence in my post where I mentioned not being worried about freeway grades! I'll be going up a few 15-20% grades in Puget sound lowlands today. I know of a drive that's 33% at less than 100' elevation.
Iirc, while I was thinking the main road at NE corner of Yellowstone going over a pass was 10%, it might be 15%.
8 is granted steep for a freeway, it would take some 500+ HP to pull that at 60mph. Most of us will be doing 40 to maybe low 50s loaded. In the right lane possibly with flashers.
Also for some of you visitors, if you come across Puget sound on a Bremerton or Bainbridge ferry. Don't go straight up the hill not following truck routes. You'll be in an 18 % grade with stop lights every block!

Marty