Diesel Question...

I am a new diesel owner. I ordered my Ram 3500 MegaDually Limited :) in March, took delivery mid June. Just turned 3000 mi. 6.7 CTD/Aisin and 3.73's (4x4). On the trip home from SC, where I took delivery, I was getting 19.6 mpg just before I got home. Basically running empty at 60-75 mph. Now most of my distance is less than 10 miles each way. I still get 12/13mpg in town (avg speed on EVIC-23-27 mph) this is due to number of lights and signs with a max limit of 45.
My last truck, which I just sold this week,was a '99 Ford V10 gasser 4x4. She had 113k on the odo. Since all you can get around here is ethanol mix gas, her mileage suffered. From 11 down to 9 in town and 16 down to 13/14 on the hiway. When I went to MT to pick up my 5er, we got 7-12 depending on grade and fuel type. The Ford had 4.30 gears and would pull like crazy, just not very fast up a steep grade. ESPECIALLY, if you didn't have a running start! She had Banks intake and exhaust systems and Trans-Command module (gives you full-time tow/haul), but we were running the A/C and it would cut out constantly at WOT going up steep grades. Trailer was <10k# GW.
With the new transmissions 5-6 speed auto's and higher output from the gassers, it makes it easier to haul bigger loads.
I threw over 1100# of quick Crete and sand in the bed of my new Ram along with the slider hitch and picture frame adapter. It didn't drop the bumper a bit! May need to double up on the weight box for winter traction.:O
I have to say, as nice as my Lariat CC was, I really love my Ram Mega!

Boy, you Canadians get taken to the cleaners on trucks, don't you? Sorry about that. I don't think our depreciation around here is near that much. I bought a 2011 Dodge Ram diesel crew-cab long-bed in Sept. of 2011 and traded it in June, 2012 for my GMC. My depreciation was about $2,000 from what I paid for it to what I got in trade. They sold my old truck in five days, don't know what they got for it.

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

jalichty wrote:
4x4ord, do you really mean the truck depreciates $8,000 per year? That would mean that after about 7 years your truck is worth nothing? I'm not necessarily doubting you, more worried about the depreciation on my GMC.

My truck depreciated a little less than 2K a year. I must have got a good one! :B

The list price on my truck was 84,000. My BIL bought an identical truck to mine in the Spring of 2010 (a 2011 model). He paid $72,000 for it and traded it in a couple months ago after trying to sell it privately for 32,000. So his depreciation was over 8k per year. He had a few more miles on his than mine has though. Vehicles (and especially full load trucks) depreciate at an incredible rate in Alberta. I cheated and bought mine in Tennessee so my actual depreciation is a lot less.

My 6.0 PSD depreciated $1600/year between purchase price with taxes and fees to my recent selling price.

jalichty wrote:
4x4ord, do you really mean the truck depreciates $8,000 per year? That would mean that after about 7 years your truck is worth nothing? I'm not necessarily doubting you, more worried about the depreciation on my GMC.

My truck depreciated a little less than 2K a year. I must have got a good one! :B

mabynack wrote:
Years ago I did a comparison between the costs of a diesel and the costs of gas engine for RV towing. The diesel is more costly to maintain and costs more up front. Diesel fuel is also more expensive. One the other hand, the diesel gets better mileage and will usually last longer than a gas engine. I found the break-even point of the additional cost of the diesel at about 70,000 miles at the time of the study. In the end, it's more a matter of personal preference. I love my diesel for towing my 14,000 lb fifth wheel.

I have no doubt that owning a 6.0 diesel costs more up front and is more costly to maintain. It was the second worst diesel ever put into an American truck; ever! If you would have bought a Dmax or a Cummins your outcome would have been different. Mine is. :)

IF

One is towing under 10k

Will own less than 200k

then a gasser is the obvious choice.

Near 20k lbs and maybe 300k miles. Then, diesel

In between, today, the most powerful gassers are the better bet AFAIK (this would not have been true in 2005).

The more solo miles, the more the gasser appears the better choice. The diesel is almost overkill on most trailer weights of RV's, so the solo miles should carry the ball for this decision, IMO.

Good luck

.

Dreaded double post.

4x4ord, do you really mean the truck depreciates $8,000 per year? That would mean that after about 7 years your truck is worth nothing? I'm not necessarily doubting you, more worried about the depreciation on my GMC.

Some of the costs of owning a diesel for me over the last 4 years are:

Depreciation.....$8000/year
Fuel.............$5000/year
Tires...,...,....$600/year
Oil,filters
and repairs......$100/year