Gas vs Diesel for Towing a Fifth Wheel!!!

[Taylor90]

I have some issues picking a suitable towing vehicle to haul a travel trailer. Gas vs diesel for towing a fifth wheel? Which one is better? Any suggestion?

[EgorKC]

As long as the Tow vehicle capabilities meet or exceed the trailer weights either works fine. I give a strong edge to a Diesel as long as it has the engine exhaust brake option. That is very helpful in Mountain driving.
Greg

[ACZL]

burningman wrote:
While I prefer a diesel because I like the power, it just cringe when I hear people saying gas engine trucks aren’t up to the task. That’s hogwash. These super powerful diesel pickups didn’t commonly exist until the 1990s (the earlier ones were slower than the big-block gas engines).
Big heavy trailers existsed and we got where we were going. I towed up and down mountains with many different gas trucks, with a truck/trailer combo over 20,000 pounds. That’s what gears are for.
A friend owns a major local tow truck company and only runs gas trucks, they do the job and have overal lower cost of ownership. He buys new and runs to well over 100k. He’s owned countless diesel and gas rigs over the last 40 years to come to that conclusion.

That said, I personally use a Cummins diesel because I enjoy having over 900 ft/lbs of torque.
If I were buying new, the emissions junk on new diesel pickups would probably scare me away from them.

900 pounds of torque from a '99 Cummins? Obviously not a stock engine. I agree about the emissions on new diesels and when they work, they are all great. As for gassers, are the new ones as robust as the old GM 454's or Ford 460's??

[burningman]

While I prefer a diesel because I like the power, it just cringe when I hear people saying gas engine trucks aren’t up to the task. That’s hogwash. These super powerful diesel pickups didn’t commonly exist until the 1990s (the earlier ones were slower than the big-block gas engines).
Big heavy trailers existsed and we got where we were going. I towed up and down mountains with many different gas trucks, with a truck/trailer combo over 20,000 pounds. That’s what gears are for.
A friend owns a major local tow truck company and only runs gas trucks, they do the job and have overal lower cost of ownership. He buys new and runs to well over 100k. He’s owned countless diesel and gas rigs over the last 40 years to come to that conclusion.

That said, I personally use a Cummins diesel because I enjoy having over 900 ft/lbs of torque.
If I were buying new, the emissions junk on new diesel pickups would probably scare me away from them.

[valhalla360]

Define "Better" and tell us details about the 5th wheel.

If it's in the manufacturers weight rating both will do the job and with the right truck, gas can pull a pretty big 5th wheel.

If cost is irrelevant and "better" is going up a steep grade at 70mph, diesel will usually win (exhaust brake for coming down the mountain is probably the better reason to consider diesel).

If better implies cost and you are pulling a more modest say 8000lb 5th wheel and most of your travels are not in heavy mountain areas, gas will likely work out cheaper in the long run while doing a very nice job towing.

It's a myth based on 40yr old technology that diesel will last longer. Back then carburated gas engines took a lot of maintenance and were lucky to last 100k miles. At the same time diesels were massively overbuilt mechanical and as long as you kept the filters clean, not much could go wrong. With modern engines, the gas engines are good for 200-250k miles with minimal work and diesels are drastically more complicated with computer systems and electronic controls that are prone to failures.

[MitchF150]

You don't say what you are intending to tow, or how often or anything really..

Sure, all the diesel guys jump on and say diesel is the only way to go.. ha, ha..

Just look at their sigs and sure, diesel is the way to go for them..

For me, a diesel would be a total waste... So there you go..

So there you go...

More info would be nice..

Good luck!

Mitch

[LIKE2BUILD]

I pulled a 7600lbs travel trailer for 10 years with a GM 2500HD with the 6.0L engine. It revved in the mountains to make the necessary power but it was rock solid reliable. We made the decision to jump to a 5th wheel that has a 16K GVWR. At that point it I knew the 'ol gasser wasn't going to be up to that task. I moved to my Cummins and couldn't be happier. Towing performance is outstanding and the exhaust brake is outstanding for long downhill runs in the mountains.

The take away is OldBiscuit is right. If the trailer is within the vehicles limit, gas or diesel will do the job just fine.

KJ

[centerline]

they will both do the job, but under heavy loads the diesel will have much more longevity over a gasser.
if you are the type of person that is going to trade in every 4-6 years (or sooner), the gasser makes more sense due to the purchase price savings, but if you keep vehicle til its nearly wore out, get the diesel and it will last you a long time...

[Grit_dog]

If you can afford it, diesel will put a bigger smile on your face while towing. New gasser will do the job at moderate weights, don't try pulling any big 5vers with A gasser.

[Lwiddis]

Have you purchased or selected the TT...or 5er? That’s first then discuss an adequate TV. Cart before the horse. Five K TT...gas. Fourteen K 5ver...diesel. Note you wrote: “vehicle to haul a travel trailer.”

[Taylor90]

Thank you. I am taking into account buying one vehicle to haul a trailer. Actually I prefer diesel because diesel will give us a more consistent torque output. But still consider some other aspects/

[deltabravo]

Thread needs moved to the tow rig section

[1320Fastback]

If were strictly talking "better" it will be the diesel.

There are many many tradeoffs between gas and diesel but diesel is a better tow engine.

[azdryheat]

There's a sticky over in the Tow Vehicle section - Diesel vs gas. 468 pages of reading for you.

[Old-Biscuit]

If trailer is within the tow vehicles real world capabilities both can perform well

Diesel will always have edge when it comes to towing overall.