Forum Discussion

BeerBrewer's avatar
BeerBrewer
Explorer
Dec 17, 2018

Is there a Diesel or Gas break point?

I'm strongly considering upgrading to a 250/2500 or larger truck and I was wondering if there is break point where diesels just make more sense than gas. I know that as a rule diesels are better at pulling heavy loads than gas engines, but they also come with added maintenance costs. So I was wondering if there was a trailer weight where it just makes more sense to buy a diesel. If so, what is it?

We currently don't own a TT, but we've been looking. We first started looking for something my existing truck could pull but we discovered that its not a very robust tower, so we are in the market for a new truck. Since this would be our first TT we don't want to go too big, nothing longer than 29' and no heavier than 8500 lbs GVWR. Some have told us to buy the truck, then fit the trailer to the truck and others have said buy the Trailer and buy the truck to fit it. Its basically the old chicken and egg debate. So we're trying to both at the same time.

Lastly, I've noticed locally that diesel fuel is generally more expensive than regular gasoline, but I don't know if that's true around the country. Is it?
Tow Vehicles
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Dec 17, 2018
    Diesel costs more to maintain is an old wives tale. Modern diesels with the exception of fuel and oil are no more expensive to run than a gas motor. While diesels dont like idling around town on the highway they are a joy to drive. There are a few gas motors now that are rated to tow heavy, diesels are still way more capable of handling heavy loads.
  • Grit_dog's avatar
    Grit_dog
    Navigator
    Dec 17, 2018
    The break point comes when you decide whether you like being passed or like doing the passing with your trailer hooked up.
    In your case, given we are all intimately familiar with your situation, a diesel does not make financial sense for you.
    You’re pulling (maybe? going to be?) a trailer that 1/2 ton trucks can handle so that, combined with the “cost” (which is decidedly more for those that pay retail for every service) makes a diesel less attractive for you IMO from a financial perspective.

    Now if you want to own the roadwith your camper in tow, get a new diesel!

    Still not certain why you’re after a truck that you admittedly can’t daily drive, when your goal was to have a daily driver AND camper puller.
    Don’t let the rvnet ninnies scare you away from making the right overall decision for all your driving needs.


    However, fuel being harder to find is NOT one of the reasons to not buy a diesel.....
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Dec 17, 2018
    The idea that diesels have higher maintenance costs is just a myth. I'd like to see someone demonstrate that it is true. If you will be pulling up mountains then a diesel is much better. Otherwise plan to be grinding up slopes at 30-40 mph. Diesels get somewhat better, not great, but better mileage when pulling heavy loads. They also have much better resale value.

    This applies to towing a heavy RV like a fiver or a big TT. Not the mini TT in the photo above. If you will only be hauling a small RV and will not want a bigger one then get a gasser.

    They are heavier and have that higher initial purchase price. Fuel can be slightly more difficult to find but it seems to me that more stations are carrying diesel now days.
  • ib516's avatar
    ib516
    Explorer II
    Dec 17, 2018
    Unless you're pulling more than running empty, a gas engine makes more sense financially. At 29' and 8500# ish, a 2500/250 with the gas engine and 4.10/4.30 gears will have more than enough pulling power. I pulled a 37' triple slide 5er (12k lbs) with a 2014 2500 6.4L Hemi, and the truck handled it easily. I camp in the Canadian Rockies every year so it had plenty of grade climbing too. Never a problem. Does a diesel pull better? Yes. Is it worth the increased cost in initial purchase and maintenance? That is up to you. The fact is though, for the RV size you are considering a gas engine will do the job without struggling.

    One other thing to keep in mind is that the current gas engine offering from GM is a bit of a dog when it compared to Ford and Ram. They will soon upgrade it. So, if you're a GM fan, it would be well worth waiting until they offer something more competitive than the current 6.0L.
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    Dec 17, 2018
    Yeah, diesel fuel is pretty much higher than gas everywhere, some places have a greater disparity than others.

    I suppose the new diesels have higher costs due to the DEF and related emissions issues/problems, but IMO older diesels are not that bad. The main difference between my diesel truck and my gas powered cars is that the diesel has to have the fuel filter changed around every 10,000 miles, that adds about $8. It does hold more oil, but the oil is cheaper than what goes in my car. For my 2001 Cummins vs my 2013 Hyundai that's about it.

    Like most vehicles, as the complication increases so does the maintenance costs and repair costs.

    My advice would be to buy the truck to fit the trailer. That way if you find the trailer that really rocks your boat, you won't have to worry about whether the truck can handle it.

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