You choose - loaded gas or basic diesel?
If you had to buy a SD/HD truck today, what would you choose... a loaded, leather gas model or a diesel with cloth and just a few basic gadgets? Assume similar price, which is what I am finding.
Forum Discussion
otrfun wrote:The 5.0L Cummins that Dodge/Ram was gonna use would have fit your wishes exactly.goducks10 wrote:Yes, given the choices we have right now, you're take is right on the money. It's a major compromise when you have "mid-sized" towing requirements.otrfun wrote:You bring up a common situation. Mine's like you stated. We only tow a 9000lb 5'er but we tow in Oregon and are living at 132' El. Every where we go is up over a mtn pass. Lots of up and down heading east or west. We towed 7300lbs with a 1/2 ton gasser all over Oregon and Nor Cal. Lots of revving. Nature of the beast I guess.
It's an interesting dilemma when folks like the OP find a 1/2 ton truck too little truck, and a 3/4 ton diesel too much truck.
The Big 3 diesel "torque war" has created an interesting situation. For those folks who tow mid-sized loads, they're going to be left with an interesting choice in the next couple of years. Either a 450 ft. lb., high revving, fuel hungry, gasser, or a 1,000 ft. lb., stump-pulling, diesel monster-truck.
IMO, it's a ridiculous to have nothing in-between. Any suggestions?
We now tow with a 3/4 ton diesel. Is it necessary for 9000lbs? Maybe, maybe not. If I was in Tx or Fl no. But with the mtns all around it just makes it more relaxing. Don't get there any faster. And in reality the newer 400+hp-400+tq gassers with a 4.10 would probably be more than adequate. I do get 10.5-11.9mpg. A gasser won't do that. But then there's the fuel cost difference. Do I need a 1 ton. Heck no. Could I get by with an HD F150? No because my RAW is 4900lbs. 100lbs more than the HD @4800. Am I overkill on my truck? Sometimes, like when just cruising down the freeway at 62-65mph in 6th at 1600rpms. But hit the mtns and it makes more sense.
Sometimes it's not always cut and dried. If I was towing 11-12,000lbs it would be simple. Or like I said if I lived in a flat state it would be another factor in decision making.
Too many variables for one simple answer.
I guess what I was hinting at, is the need for either a Heavy Duty 1/2 ton or a "light-duty" 3/4 ton diesel with a "mid-sized" diesel engine. Something with 500-550 ft. lbs of torque that delivers better MPG's than the current 3/4 ton diesel offerings (and much, much better MPG's than the current high-torque V8's). Something like this would be the perfect combination for those that have "mid-sized" towing requirements (10,000-12,000 lbs.). If such a beast were available, you would see a lot less threads about gas vs. diesel and/or 1/2 ton vs. 3/4 ton.
