Diesel to Gas? Yes/No???

[Rbertalotto]

Here’s the situation. I have a 2006 Dodge 2500 4x4, with 5.9 diesel, 193,000 miles. Love the truck, but just not comfortable trusting it on long tours. I recently retired in Feb and just completed a two month cross country trip of 9000 miles towing my 20’ Grey Wolf 19rr toy hauler ( 6000 pounds ully loaded)

I simply want a new truck...I drove a 2018 Dodge diesel and was greatly impressed on how civilized diesel trucks have become in 12 years.

But I have lots of concerns with added complexity of particulate filters, extra fluids, computers, etc. And price of a diesel option.

I keep reading how the modern gas engines are competitive with past diesels.

I’m considering a Dodge 2500 with 6.4L gas, 4x4.....

I have zero intention of ever going to a larger trailer.

My question, has anyone gone from diesel to gas with my size trailer and where you satisfied or was it a big, costly, mistake.

Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks!

[parker_rowe]

Here, sellers think diesels are made of gold, even if they have a billion miles on them.

Of course, gas 3/4-1 tons have stupid asking prices too in my opinion (in my area), even with over 200K miles. But diesels are even worse.

My favorite in recent memory was a 6.5TD late 90's chevy dually guy was asking ~15K for. It was super clean, but get real.

The bigger the exhaust stacks and the more RealTree camo, the higher the price. Finding an unmolested truck is tough.

[valhalla360]

otrfun wrote:
If you're not finding a price difference in your particular area, then either the gassers in your area are extremely overpriced . . . or, you've got some awesome deals on diesels in your area. One or the other.

Haven't done a nationwide analysis but I keep hearing people say how much more diesels cost on the used market but when I look, I just don't see it in the asking prices.

Maybe it's with the 2-3yr old trucks there's a big difference and I'm looking in the 7-10yr old range.

[valhalla360]

otrfun wrote:
Yes, one can use a full spreadsheet of numbers and debate this whole diesel vs. gas thing, clinically.

However, the one thing missing from this spreadsheet, and something you cannot put a universal value on, is each person's subjective take on the diesel tow experience.

There are those who have experienced it and know this value.

There are those who have not. Hard to make a totally informed decision without all the facts.

I think the presumption is the OP doesn't have an inherent love of diesel so as long as the gas engine functions reasonably well, it comes down to cost....otherwise why would the OP ask the question...

So it's logical that he's looking for objective criteria which basically boils down to can the truck reasonably pull the trailer and how much does it cost.

[otrfun]

Yes, one can use a full spreadsheet of numbers and debate this whole diesel vs. gas thing, clinically.

However, the one thing missing from this spreadsheet, and something you cannot put a universal value on, is each person's subjective take on the diesel tow experience.

There are those who have experienced it and know this value.

There are those who have not. Hard to make a totally informed decision without all the facts.

[otrfun]

valhalla360 wrote:

ScottG wrote:
Don't know where your getting your numbers from but it has been my experience that a used Diesel, even one as old as the one in my signature has retained the full value of the option.
Dealers have offered me 16K sight unseen for my truck. It wouldn't be worth $6K if not for the Cummins. The diesel option on my truck was 5 or 6K.

So yeah, in the real world the Diesel will hold its value enough that the extra upfront cost is a non-issue.

I'm pricing them in the midwest and there is little or no difference between gas/diesel but the OP should check out prices himself in his area.

I guess I should start buying trucks and driving them to your area to sell because 03 diesel trucks are going for a lot less than $16k around here.

If you're not finding a price difference in your particular area, then either the gassers in your area are extremely overpriced . . . or, you've got some awesome deals on diesels in your area. One or the other.

[Rbertalotto]

New Ford gas engines

If you're not specifically looking at Ram, Ford has a couple of new gassers on the horizon

Very interesting!

[2Bargos]

For me it basically boils down to,,Buy what you want.IMO,there is nothing worse than purchasing something and then trying to make yourself like it.
I have made the entire circle,started with a popup,then made progression TT,F'ver and A coach.
Same with with my trucks,7.3,,6.0 and decided I really had no use for a diesel truck so we sold ours and I purchased a Gas truck.
The wife and I are weekend warriors and don't travel great distances,we also ride off road so i'm often pulling a trailer with two side by sides on it.

About 18 months ago sold the coach and went back to a two slide 28 ft TT.Towed with a gas truck.truck performed well and did a great job with my trailers,I'm not knocking gassers in any way.But I simply wasn't satisified with it.

Do i need a diesel? ,,No
Do they cost more than a gas truck ?,,yes
Is maintenance more expensive ?,,yes
will they last longer than a gas engine?probably not with newer gas engines.
But the smile on my face when towing is priceless.

[patperry2766]

New Ford gas engines

If you're not specifically looking at Ram, Ford has a couple of new gassers on the horizon

[valhalla360]

ScottG wrote:
Don't know where your getting your numbers from but it has been my experience that a used Diesel, even one as old as the one in my signature has retained the full value of the option.
Dealers have offered me 16K sight unseen for my truck. It wouldn't be worth $6K if not for the Cummins. The diesel option on my truck was 5 or 6K.

So yeah, in the real world the Diesel will hold its value enough that the extra upfront cost is a non-issue.

I'm pricing them in the midwest and there is little or no difference between gas/diesel but the OP should check out prices himself in his area.

I guess I should start buying trucks and driving them to your area to sell because 03 diesel trucks are going for a lot less than $16k around here.

[noteven]

Could you rent a 2500 pickup from u haul etc and give your trailer a tow before you commit to a new truck? See how you like a gas powertrain. If your 06 is an auto you will like the current transmissions in any new pickup I think....

[IdaD]

2012Coleman wrote:
For those who have later model diesels, what is the difference in maintenance vs. gas? I read that the exhaust system has to be serviced regularly.

The newer DEF trucks don't have the same maintenance requirements that some of the earlier emission trucks had. If something goes wrong it would need to be fixed or deleted, though.

The increased maintenance amounts to more expensive oil changes (3 gallons of oil) and two fuel filters that need to be changed about annually. I just did all of it last weekend for a total of $150 (full synthetic oil, Fleetguard Stratapore oil filter and both fuel filters). Trucks with the Aisin also require more frequent transmission fluid changes.

[IdaD]

I think the cost difference is a red herring that trips people up all the time. The diesel is more $$ up front, probably a little less to own or maybe about the same when you balance better MPGs versus a little more maintenance and (sometimes) more expensive fuel, and it's worth more when you're done. Considering all the money you'll spend on the truck, fuel, maintenance, insurance, etc. over the years you own it, if there is a expense difference between the two it's probably too small to matter in the overall scheme of things.

Maybe my truck will be less reliable than the Hemi version, or maybe it won't. I'm not sure there's a way to know that on the front end. I do know that the Cummins smokes the Hemi from a performance standpoint. I also just enjoy driving it more, and that's worth something too.

[2012Coleman]

MFL wrote:
I have a Ford 6.2 gas, that tows my FW very well. Forum member Dave HM went from a trusty older Ford 7.3 diesel, to a gas 6.2, and is very happy with it. For the size trailer and weight you are talking about, any of the big 3 gassers would serve you well. While they are more powerful than years past, the 6-speed transmission has made a big difference in gas truck towing. Of the 3, the only complaint I read about, is the transmission spacing in the Ram, especially with the 3.73 gearing. If wanting the Ram, get the 4.10.

Take them all for a test ride, buy the one YOU like, or just buy the new Ford with 6.2.:)

Jerry

I wholeheartedly agree. I have a 2017 RAM 2500 6.4 with the 3.73 gears and 6 speed transmission. It has 3025 lbs payload. Towed my brand new GD 303RLS from Florida to Georgia last week. In tow/haul mode in the flats, it ran at 2500 RPM and got 8-9 mpg. I set cruise on at 66 mph and of course it slowed down on hills and overpasses. Haven't weighed it yet but it's GVR is 11995 lbs and no way was I loaded up that much. Around town everything is fine, but the motor really works at highway speeds. Yes, it's built to do that and I understand it's going to rev higher, but after a while all that revving going up and down gets to you - tires you out. No way am I going to the mountains. Wife just doesn't get it. Tows fine, but at a cost.

So yes, I'd rather have the diesel but this is an everyday driver and I had the same maintenance concerns as the OP - which no one has really addressed.

For those who have later model diesels, what is the difference in maintenance vs. gas? I read that the exhaust system has to be serviced regularly. Lots of people also say that they use them as daily drivers, A lady who picks her kid up from school the same time as me has a brand new F350 diesel - she leaves it running while she goes inside.

[Community Alumni]

Devocamper wrote:
The ram only has 2k miles on it so far ibut the mileage with the 410’s is not great around 14 with out a load so even with the eco mode the 6.4 is thirsty , hoping it gets a bit better but the truck is not a daily driver so it’s the price to paid to carry a heavy TC

It doesn't get better. I pretty much have the same truck except with 3.73's and at 13,000 miles. With about a 60/40 mix of highway and city driving I'm averaging right at about 14 MPG. Any type of stop and go is pretty hard on the MPGs for big gas engines. I can get 17 on pure highway tanks, but nothing close to that if there's any stop and go involved. Towing I get the typical 8-9 MPG for a gas truck.

[ScottG]

valhalla360 wrote:

ScottG wrote:
While the 6.4 would do the job easily, the Cummins would be even better and when it comes time to trade it in, you'll get every cent back spent on the eng upgrade.

I've been pricing up used trucks in the 2008-2010 range. I'm finding diesel and gas trucks in similar condition and miles for around $9-15k...since the buy in price is an extra $10k, you are suggesting with the gas trucks, they should pay me $1000 (on the low end) to take it off their hands?

Don't know where your getting your numbers from but it has been my experience that a used Diesel, even one as old as the one in my signature has retained the full value of the option.
Dealers have offered me 16K sight unseen for my truck. It wouldn't be worth $6K if not for the Cummins. The diesel option on my truck was 5 or 6K.

So yeah, in the real world the Diesel will hold its value enough that the extra upfront cost is a non-issue.