Dodge - Diesel or gas?

[kohldad]

Already know my new truck will be a 2014 Dodge SRW Crew Cab 4x4 with auto tranny. What I don't know is if I should go with the new 6.4 or diesel. Worked outthe numbers and the cost for my use of 15k miles/year with 50% TC duty, 25% DD, and 25% errands is only a few hundred difference a year.

So it comes down to the other advantage to decide.

Diesel - all the power and torque could need and then some.

Gas
-no cool down time (important due to lots of stops for sightseeing)
-less weight on the same axles/brakes equals better braking (best I can find, the 6.4 will use the same axles as the diesel)
-less to worry about (no DEF, turbo, etc)

My previous truck was a 92 F350 w/460 auto which I used to pull a 7,000# TT including a trip to Yellowstone and Arches. Never had an issue with power on that truck. So am familiar and comfortable with reving the engine for the power.


Which would you choose and why?

[JIMNLIN]

Dodge - Diesel or gas?

Which would you choose and why?

Depends on the job the truck will do. If its just hauling 3k-5k TC around with a small trailer the 6.4 hemi will work great.

You pulled a 5er so you understand the benefits of the diesel pulling 14k + trailers, so the 6.7 Cummins is a better choice.


IMO its a mistake putting the gasser ahead of the diesel for best braking performance. The 6.7 turbo brake has no equal in a gassers braking ability.
But the new gen 3500 SRW Ram with the Hemi will have no problems stopping the TC load. Truck makers have vastly improved our trucks braking systems the last several years.

Tough choice but IMO in your case of moving a small load and no pulling a heavy trailer I would lean hard toward the 6.4 Hemi from a up front cost perspective.

Make cents/sense to me.

[FreeLanceing]

I drove a big rig, like in 318 detroit for a few years. Hard to start in the winter, expensive to fix. The worst for me was the smell. After a fill up, after a long haul I could smell the fuel for a long time. When I worked consrtuction they asked if I wanted a gas or diesel, took the gas. Pulling a heavy job trailer with welder etc never looked back, took the gas welder as well. The guys who ran the diesels were always in the shop getting repaired truck or welder. We worked on a partial performance bonus so I was glad to keep the gas. I just bought a new JD subcompact utility tractor 27hp diesel. Now I feel real macho, sounds cool, power up the a, but its hard to start in the cold. My HHR sits next to it in the garage it smells like diesel, the house is starting to smell like diesel. The maintence is 200 bucks to change the oil. We all can rationalise anything we want. If I were buying a truck to haul a camper it would be gas all the way. These new gas motors are so powerfull, effient, the transmision are so much better than just a few years ago. You did not mention the cost diff, nor the cost of feeding the beast. My book, if you never drove one, and you want to look cool and feel mocho diesel. If you have nothing to prove and like to keep your cash in your pocket for other use gas. You wont be disapointed with either.

[rooney77]

I get diesel any chance I can. I'm even building a diesel rockcrawler. The longevity, reliability, power and mileage all make it worth it to me. You simply can't beat the low end grunt of a diesel. I've never had water in fuel issues. I rarely pass a station without diesel. Pretty much I see no advantages of a gasser over a diesel. Especially if you actually haul anything...like a truck camper.

[edatlanta]

I drive a diesel and have since 1998. Why? For all of the obvious reasons mentioned above concerning towing ability, longevity, etc. I have NEVER had a problem with fuel contamination (but I do carry a spare fuel filter just in case) in over 400,000 miles. But the main reason I drive a diesel:

I like it and would drive the diesel even if I never towed. We can never justify what we drive from a pure dollars and sense stand point, so get what you want and enjoy it....I do.

[jefe_4x4]

The main things to consider are:
1. If you will do a LOT of driving with said rig and put many, many miles on it, the oil burner is the ticket. It takes a long time and many miles to recoup the up to $10K cost of a diesel engine. If only moderate miles, the V10 gets the nod, in my book.
2. If you plan to do a LOT of hilly, mountainous miles, or at high altitude with a heavy payload or tow, the oil burner wins again. If only moderate exposure to ups and downs, the V10 gasser wins the toss.
3. Diesels retain a lot of their value for a long time. This makes them expensive in the used market, especially the Dodge/Cummins which has a near cult following. Gas engines depreciate faster. So, if buying used, a low mileage gasser would be a better bet, especially if you don't drive massive amounts of miles.
4. The reason I bought a Dodge/HO Cummins new in 2001 is I thought it wise to buy a drivetrain that would outlive me. So far, so good. Simply trouble free. Oh, and the NV5600, NV241HD t. case (with the extra wide chain) and the first year of the Dana 80/35 spline rr diff with Power Lok, and the first year of big disc brakes all around. These are a few of my favorite things.
jefe

[wcjeep]

ScottG wrote:
The diesel has the exhaust brake. Nothing else matters to me.

With 50 percent towing pier the thread starter having an exhaust brake floats right to the top. At 110k miles on my early build 06', I still have over 50% factory brake pad life.

[rexlion]

Oh, you guys are just no help at all with talking me out of a diesel! Sheesh! 😄

[MikeJinCO]

I've had a 7.3 Ford and now a Duramax. Both bought used, it can really be tough finding a gasser with all the bells and whistles. If I was buying new now I'd probably get gas as the price differential between gas and diesel is just going to keep getting higher as the demand for gas continues to drop. By the by gas trucks have engine braking and no need for a compression brake.

[dadwolf2]

I've never had a water/fuel issue and I've never had a cool down issue either. The only time I've really made sure I gave my diesel cool down time was when I was towing a 12,000 lb toyhauler up a steep grade or really worked it hard and the temps hadn't come down.

Obviously Supercharged hasn't been around modern diesel engines...

I would base my decision on how much mountain/steep grade time you plan on with your RV. If it's not a lot I would go with gas.

[12V_Cummins]

What ever your pocket book will want to pay for. Either truck will be fine. If you can't do repairs on your own I wouldn't recommend owning a diesel out of warranty.

[RamTC]

I just finished out 16 years with a 1998 3500 CTD and replaced it with the 2014 3500 CTD. Wow !!! I'm still smiling. You need to go and test drive both.

[woodhog]

The diesel has the exhaust brake

This makes a lot of sense, especially if you don't like the smell of burning brake pads when descending long grades..

I would investigate the after treatment equipment, can the service people keep this system up and running, it has been a nightmare with some other diesel engines.

The small Cummins has a good record, is the add on equipment working well???? How much soot is now being pumped back into the fresh air intake compared to the 2007 spec engines??

[Bionic_Man]

I don't think you can go wrong with either. I've had a diesel since 1999 and have never had water in fuel problems. I tow heavy (17000 pounds) and have never had to worry about cooling down.

I would agree that out of warranty repair are likely less expensive on the gasser. And make sure you take into account resale value when you are looking at the total costs (historically a BIG advantage for the diesel).

If it was me, and I was just doing a TC, I would probably go gas.

Have fun!

[Old-Biscuit]

7 yrs. of FT travel fueling up at just about every type of station out there selling diesel...........NEVER had an issue with water/gelling/bad fuel so I don't consider it in a gas vs diesel issue.

Cool down time.....ha. That is only an issue when you have been pulling HARD and then decide to stop. By the time I have pulled down the ramp and gotten parked after a hard upgrade run the EGTs are already cooled down enough.
Another non-issue in a gas vs diesel issue

DEF.......don't have on mine BUT would be a concern that I would have to weigh (Cummins first year with DEF/SCR system on pickup---have it on other trucks) after I made other decisions???

Other decisions.......
What am I going to be using this truck for?
I tow FT.......so diesel was easy
IF I were looking to buy new right now and not towing FT but just for camping trips I would be looking hard at the gas/tranny combos available from ALL the players. (Diesel....probably would stay with the Cummins)

Stopping power.....non-issue in a gas vs diesel issue

Buy the truck that you want.
Then use it and enjoy it.

[ScottG]

The diesel has the exhaust brake. Nothing else matters to me.