Looking for those that made the switch from a gas TV to a diesel some questions.1. Happy with your choice?2. Are maintenance cost as high as you were lead to believe?3. What gas rig did you switch from, to which diesel?4. What are you pulling and what is its GVW?5. Will your next TV be Gas or Diesel? Just looking for honest feedback from those that have stepped from gas to diesel as a TV. This is NOT a gas vs. diesel, but real life feedback from those that have changed to diesel both positive and negative.To the moderators, this is NOT a gas vs diesel post, looking for honest feed back from members who have made the switch, and if it was a positive or negative experience for them.

Get what you want... we are gonna do that anyway. these are all semantics and we gassers can say whatever to justify our purchase and the diesel guys are gonna say whatever to justify whatever. few points1) a "loafing" diesel working at 80% capacity is actually not "loafing" its working hard its just not turning high RPM's like a gas engine would at 80% capacity2) Freight being pulled and moved by a diesel in commercial applications makes no sense in a consumer level argument. Those vehicles can have literally millions of miles and often hundreds of thousands of hours on them (in train and boat applications). 3) For most RV hauling purposes most TV's will only see 75k-300k miles before the owner wears out and wants a new truck. I would venture to say that from signature observations around here most TV's last 3 years, regardless of diesel or gas or mileage..4) Diesel cost 6-8 THOUSAND dollars more than gas5) Diesel gets around 30% better MPG6) Maintenance is a wash (Not all diesels are super expensive to maintain, not all gas vehicles are cheap to maintain) 7) Get what you want, you don't have to justify anything to users on RV.net

My first truck was a new 1984 2.2L naturally aspired Izusu pickup. All 65 HP of it. The only thing I towed was my dune buggy, and it was a big load when going up the hills in 3rd gear of the manual 5 speeds. It would get 30 MPG, it was very light too. Curb weight was around 3,000 pounds.I also owned a Honda Civic 1.5L car at the time, and I guess I replaced the 230 cubic inch inline 6 Ford Fairmont with both the truck then the car. Later I went to a 1975 F-350 gas 460" engine for more power and more pulling capacity. Back in 1987 when I bought the F-350, the more powerful engine that Ford had was the 460" recently fuel injected V8. The non-turbo F-350 of the time was only 180 HP while the 460" was a bit over 225 HP. So I owned and drove all three of those cars and trucks at the same time, never to work, I had a company truck for that. The F-350 was mostly for vacations, the Honda to go to the store, and the Izusu for side jobs and any time I might need the 25' extension ladder I carried on it's ladder rack.No I don't think I would want another diesel vehicle, unless it is a DP motorhome. The fuel is more epensive, oil changes are a lot more, and the oil is REALLY black. The oil filter for my Izusu was something like $18 back then, and a regular Phram filter for the Ford 460 was only about $3.50 on sale once a month. I would buy the oil when on sale the other part of the month.I drove a GMC work truck with a 6.2L NA engine in it, that was not much of a huge improvement over the 350" diesels that GM put into the cars a few years earlier. GM single handedly changed what people thought about diesel cars in a few years with the 350" diesel engine. Fred.

I went from a F150, 5.4 3.73 rear end to a 2008 F250 6.4 Extended Cab and then back to a 2500HD 6.0 gas.When my wife and I picked up our first travel trailer we didn't like the stability of the half ton so we picked up the F250 with the 6.4. The first winter I had constant check engine lights on cold starts in the winter. The diesel was great when we had our travel trailer but then we sold that and decided to look into a truck camper. The F250 only had 1800lbs of payload per the door jam, so we traded it across the board for the current truck in my sig with 29xxlbs of payload per the door.If the truck had more payload and honestly no check engine lights with cold starts I might have kept that truck.Maintanance on the 6.4 cost's a lot more than my 6.0 Gas truck. I was doing oil changes every 7500 miles and fuel filters every 15k to avoid oil dillution. The 6.4 got the same mileage as my 6.0 gas unloaded same route to work so no gain there. I bought these trucks expecting it to burn fuel so it didn't really bug me, just surprised by some of the claims. If I were to purchase a 8,000lb+ GVWR travel trailer / fifth wheel then I would be looking for a diesel, having owned both I can say from experience there is a point where the diesel just works better. However if I did go back to a diesel I would take my time and try to find a pre-dpf duramax or cummins.

I am a little partial here. First truck was an 89 F250 with a 6.9 hypermax turbo. 2nd truck was a 91 F350 with a 7.3 banks turbo. Then finances got in the way. Now I have a Jeep Liberty turbo diesel. My old trucks hauled race cars and small campers. My new 2.8 tows my 5k gvw camper. And most likely, I will stay with diesels.

Last gasser - 2002 2500HD Crew cab 4X4 6.0 and 4.10 gears. Did Ok with TT but not with the taller 5'er that replaced the TT. Never weighed the 5'er but guessing a bit over 10K.Next truck - 2006 2500HD crew cab 4X4 LBZ version of the diesel. Wow! World of difference and towing became a pleasure rather than work. Could pass vehicles when I wanted, run with cruise on if conditions allowed, stopping power was much better. Now have 2012 and its even better!As far as maintenance - I do my own repairs and maintenance so I have a pretty good handle on the true costs. The diesel uses 10 quarts oil per change. The 6.0 used 6 quarts. Change interval is similar. Oil filter costs were also similar. Fuel filter for diesel is pricey - upwards of $40 - my filter life is at 58% at just over 18,000 miles. Last truck I sold at 128k miles - other than routine services, I had no other engine expenses to that point. 2012 needs DEF - $25 every 5k - 7k miles depending on towing or empty.Not saying everyone needs a diesel but the maintenance is not much different than a gasser for todays engines. My next truck will likely be another diesel as I don't see us downsizing out rig. 02 truck got 13 mpg empty 6 towing the 5'er. 06 got 18 mpg empty and 10 towing our 5'er. '12 gets 17 (on winter fuel, hoping I'll get 18 on summer) and almost 11 towing.Good luck, Mike

Gone to diesel? Some questions for those that have.

StirCrazy
Moderator
Apr 08, 2024
I made the switch to diesels 2 trucks ago, my first was a 99 F250 7.3, I traded that in on a 2014 F350 6.7 in 2016.
am I happy with my choice, yes I will never go back to gas.
not realy any 1 ton is going to have higher maintance on brakes, tires, and so on, but my 1999 F250in the 10 years I owned it aside from normal maintance (brakes tires etc that is the same for both) the only repair/ breakdown I had was the water pump which I did myself and was pretty cheep. my 2014 I havent had any maintaince in the last 8 years aside from a front wheel berring, again comon between the gas and diersel trucks. Oh I did have to replace the ccv vent. the problem isn't how much the parts are its how much the dealerships will rip you off to do it.
the side benifit is my old 98 F250 gas used to get 7mpg towing my old trailer, my first diesel towing the same trailer got 18mpg and didn't strugle to get over 50mph in the mountians. I got my new diesel only because we bought a 5th wheel that was to heavy (300lbs over the rear axel) and towing the beast they both get about 15mpg (did one trip with the old truck) I think the 5th is in the 14 to 15K gvw range
when I retire will be my next one maybe it will be diesel, even unloaded the fuel milage is better, and normaly diesel is cheeper than gas also. I added a emissions leagel tuner to mine and if I drive nice empty I am getting 27mpg (Cdn not US)
Grit_dog
Navigator
Apr 07, 2024
Hahaha it will get lost in this cluster fck of a forum, but someone just replied to an 11 year old gas vs diesel thread! Roflmao.
and now my post will be stuck under theirs, eternally lost in this stupid new forum!! Hahaha
- Grit_dog
  Navigator
  Apr 07, 2024
  Even funnier, my post just got stuck up top but the recent replies sorting doesn’t work and is backasswords on old threads.
  Really wanted to hear someone’s “contribution “ to a decade old argument! Oh well.
  - StirCrazy
    Moderator
    Apr 09, 2024
    **bleep** I am getting sick of the way this new forum does things.... this was marked as a new post
macsplinter
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
curt12914 wrote:
Turtle n Peeps wrote:
curt12914 wrote:
I guess I'm not in the same financial bracket as you guys that can waste money. I have had a couple diesels, when they made financial sense, but with the change in diesel price and the newer, more capable gasoline engines, diesel just doesn't add up to a better deal for me any more.

I may change my mind, but at this point, when I trade trucks (which may be quite soon), I will probably look for a gas engine.

The bottom line is PM for Dodge and GM diesels are cheap and PM for Fords (6.0 on up) are expensive.

I pay 5 bucks for an oil filter for my D-max. 10 qts for oil about every 10K. And around 30 bucks for a fuel filter around every 15 to 20 thousand miles.

Fuel has been a few cents more than gasoline around my town and #2 was a few cents less than gasoline in a town down the road.

My diesel is cheaper to own than my gasoline truck.

If diesel were even close to the same here, I would probably stay with a diesel, but 60 cents per gallon more, which equates to about $50 per month, is getting ridiulous for me!!!!!!!!

I wish some of our politicians would investigate why diesel is more than gasoline ANYWHERE!

I'm on my second diesel and last. It is also my daily driver and the extra cost of the truck, fuel and maintenance is not worth the few miles it pulls our camper each year. Not to mention the high cost and limited repair shops in my area.
JIMNLIN
Explorer III
Apr 30, 2013
2) Freight being pulled and moved by a diesel in commercial applications makes no sense in a consumer level argument. Those vehicles can have literally millions of miles and often hundreds of thousands of hours on them (in train and boat applications).

A one ton DRW diesel which is the most popular LTL size truck in commercial service moving general freight makes a excellent towing platform for consumers pulling/carrying anything including just a RV.

IMO when it comes to trucks many folks on a RV forum think in terms of pulling a RV only and forget many of us use our trucks for other purposes including commercial service.
mpierce
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
wnjj wrote:
Paul Clancy wrote:
4.5 much of which you see back in resale value over gas truck.

As long as you own a diesel truck, that money is "invested" in the truck. So unless you sell your last one before you buy the farm, that money is as good as gone and only means your heirs will get more cash.

Partially true. However, if you TRADE the diesel on another, you will recoup most of that additional cost, so then the NEXT diesel does not cost near as much. It is a one time investment.

If you trade 6 times, you only pay the big price increase ONCE, NOT every time. Around here, especially if you have high mileage, diesel will return 75-80% of initial cost.
nevadanick
Explorer
Apr 28, 2013
If i plan everything right my truck will be worn out when they inherit it.
wnjj
Explorer II
Apr 28, 2013
Paul Clancy wrote:
4.5 much of which you see back in resale value over gas truck.

As long as you own a diesel truck, that money is "invested" in the truck. So unless you sell your last one before you buy the farm, that money is as good as gone and only means your heirs will get more cash.
Jarlaxle
Explorer II
Apr 28, 2013
mpierce wrote:
Put a 18,000# trailer behind that gas engine, and see how you do! LOL

Diesel will get in the 8-10 mpg range, gas will get 5-6 mpg. And pull its guts out doing it, while the diesel loafs along.

Don't even think about hitting a big hill with the gasser at 28,000# gross! LOL.

Might have to have the wife get out, walk along behind, warning the cars about a slow trailer ahead!

Funny...Ford installs gas engines in trucks rated for 29,000lb GVWR. They install the same engines in F53 chassis rated for 30,000lbs GCWR. For an 18,000lb trailer...I'll take an F-550 with the 30-valve V10. Not a problem! Diesel has jumped the shark.
Jarlaxle
Explorer II
Apr 28, 2013
nevadanick wrote:
Waste ? Do you have power windows when you could easily crank them up and down and save that money too ? What about the rest of the options ?

I'm willing to pay a premium to NOT get most options...my truck & my Cherokee both have crank windows.
Hannibal
Explorer
Apr 28, 2013
mtofell1 wrote:
After going from gas to diesel I'd rather not ever go back to gas but would depending on what I need to tow and do with the truck otherwise.

A couple things that drive me nuts with the debates:

Maint. costs for the diesel are exactly the same except for fuel filters. I buy from fleetfilter.com and pay $23 for a a fuel filter. So, there you have it - I pay $50 a year to drive a diesel vs. gas. Oil changes are a wash and actually in the favor of a diesel since they are only needed half as often.

The whole cost of fuel debate is funny and I'm not sure if some of you gas guys are just trying to make yourselves feel better or just don't realize it. $4 vs. $4.50 a gallon is a 12.5% difference. MPGs on a capable gas (let's say a Ford V10) run roughly 10 towing the same load my Duramax gets 13 (and I think I'm being overly generous to the gasser here). Run that through the old calculator and see what you get.

I really have no problem with gas trucks... I've owned them and I'd gladly own one again but come on guys..... let's get real here. There a reason 99% of the commercial freight being hauled down the interstates is done with a diesel truck.

I said the same thing almost thirty years ago. Bored family and friends to tears with praise for the larger than life diesel engine.
Do you really go 15k miles between OCI's? I changed my '03 Cummins at 7500 miles. Same as my current incapable, struggling, screaming, trouble free, issue free 5.4L grocery getter.
I think you're being generous with both the V10 and Dmax. I got 10.5mpg towing 68~mph consistently with my Cummins Rams and 8.5 with my gassers around the southeast. The 18.5mpg I got around town compared to 14~ with the gassers is where the diesels paid off for me. Don't forget to add in the cost of DEF for the new ones! Honest newer diesel owners are reporting empty mileage similar to what I'm getting with my spark plug spitter. "Real trucks don't have glow plugs either!"
Getting real here, if I ever need to haul 80k lbs GCW 2500miles plus a week for a living, I'll buy an OTR tractor with an appropriate HP diesel engine, not a pickup truck with a car sized diesel engine with it's delicate little fuel injection system. It's a pickup truck, not an OTR tractor trailer.:B