Jumping off the Diesel Bandwagon - UPDATED
Well, after two Cummins diesels that I thoroughly enjoyed, I am going to place a factory order for a RAM 2500 with the 6.4L Hemi, 4.10 gears, rear air suspension, Laramie and plenty of added options. I don't care for the looks of the "Limited" with all the badges gone, and I think the cowboy theme of the longhorn is tacky.
WHY THE SWITCH FROM DIESEL TO GAS?
1) Well, when I bought my first Cummins powered truck, diesel fuel was almost always 30% cheaper than regular unleaded where I live. In recent years, that scale has tipped the other way. It used to be occassionally, and now it seems that Canada is following the trends in the USA, and it is becoming the norm. Of course this is a regional thing, but it seems here to stay. Our last road trip with my current truck, I paid $93.00 for 68L of diesel. That's $93.00 for 18 US Gallons when I topped it up. :E Regular unleaded is running $1.20/L and diesel is $1.42/L right now. That has been the trend for the last 6 months or so - maybe the last year.
2) When I bought my last two diesels, the HD gas offerings by the big 3 were gas hogs compared to the diesels. That has all but evaporated with the hp/tq war going on in the diesels, and the addition of DPFs, DEF, etc. The gas engines haven't improved much, but the diesel mpg has come down some which has narrowed the gap.
3) The gas engines just weren't all that powerful either. The 5.7L Hemi was tops at 345hp back then, the GM 6.0L was a measly 300hp, and Ford's 5.4L was a bit of a dog as I drove one 12 hrs a day in an Expedition and it didn't impress me power wise in the lighter Expedition. While the diesels today offer huge power and will certainly outperform the 6.4L Hemi I am choosing, the 6.4L Hemi is actually rated to tow more than my 5.9L Cummins, by 2500#! I know it will be a "different" towing experience with much less tq than my pumped up 5.9L Cummins, but I will live with the higher RPMs.
4) The kids are growing and we will no longer need a huge bunk house RV to save us from going nuts on those rainy days when camping. We are going to downsize to a smaller RV next time round, which will be in the next year or two.
5) Driving my 2014 Jeep Cherokee with the heated seats, new tech features, etc has me wanting a newer truck with the new features and upgraded interior from the Tupperware/Rubbermaid one in my current truck.
6) A new, loaded 2500 RAM with the Cummins is about $8,000 - $9,000 more than the same truck with the 6.4L Hemi here in Canada.
7) Lastly, the big Cummins diesel sucks to drive at -30* and -40*. It just starts blowing heat when I ARRIVE at work. I have the grill completely blocked off with a winter front, and have done all I can, this just doesn't get better. Nature of the beast.
So there you have it. Me talking myself into a new truck. :)
WHY THE SWITCH FROM DIESEL TO GAS?
1) Well, when I bought my first Cummins powered truck, diesel fuel was almost always 30% cheaper than regular unleaded where I live. In recent years, that scale has tipped the other way. It used to be occassionally, and now it seems that Canada is following the trends in the USA, and it is becoming the norm. Of course this is a regional thing, but it seems here to stay. Our last road trip with my current truck, I paid $93.00 for 68L of diesel. That's $93.00 for 18 US Gallons when I topped it up. :E Regular unleaded is running $1.20/L and diesel is $1.42/L right now. That has been the trend for the last 6 months or so - maybe the last year.
2) When I bought my last two diesels, the HD gas offerings by the big 3 were gas hogs compared to the diesels. That has all but evaporated with the hp/tq war going on in the diesels, and the addition of DPFs, DEF, etc. The gas engines haven't improved much, but the diesel mpg has come down some which has narrowed the gap.
3) The gas engines just weren't all that powerful either. The 5.7L Hemi was tops at 345hp back then, the GM 6.0L was a measly 300hp, and Ford's 5.4L was a bit of a dog as I drove one 12 hrs a day in an Expedition and it didn't impress me power wise in the lighter Expedition. While the diesels today offer huge power and will certainly outperform the 6.4L Hemi I am choosing, the 6.4L Hemi is actually rated to tow more than my 5.9L Cummins, by 2500#! I know it will be a "different" towing experience with much less tq than my pumped up 5.9L Cummins, but I will live with the higher RPMs.
4) The kids are growing and we will no longer need a huge bunk house RV to save us from going nuts on those rainy days when camping. We are going to downsize to a smaller RV next time round, which will be in the next year or two.
5) Driving my 2014 Jeep Cherokee with the heated seats, new tech features, etc has me wanting a newer truck with the new features and upgraded interior from the Tupperware/Rubbermaid one in my current truck.
6) A new, loaded 2500 RAM with the Cummins is about $8,000 - $9,000 more than the same truck with the 6.4L Hemi here in Canada.
7) Lastly, the big Cummins diesel sucks to drive at -30* and -40*. It just starts blowing heat when I ARRIVE at work. I have the grill completely blocked off with a winter front, and have done all I can, this just doesn't get better. Nature of the beast.
So there you have it. Me talking myself into a new truck. :)
