Gas or diesel

[Carrier]

I posted this on another site as well.
I have decided that the F150 I have is just not going to cut it with the trailer I have. Have an opportunity to get a pretty good deal on some 2015 350 Super Duty trucks coming available in a couple of weeks with very low mileage on them. Some are 6.7 diesel and some are 6.2 gas. Are there any here who have the 6.2 gas in a 350 Super Duty and how are the real numbers for mileage and power. I realize the diesel is going to have a lot more power however the price different is about $10,000 and the cost to service, repair will be less as well.

[shelbyj]

rhagfo wrote:
To think that the Vantage grade is just over a 5% grade overall! We may just need to go to eastern Washington to see how the climb is!

Its not THAT tough, just a long run. My truck usually spins at 3k or so in second the whole way up. I don't have to go WOT though, just hold what speed I want and go. No real hurry.

[ls1mike]

rhagfo wrote:
To think that the Vantage grade is just over a 5% grade overall! We may just need to go to eastern Washington to see how the climb is!

Nope just long, windy and hot. I usually take my time plenty of trucks, including diesels pulling heavy travel trailers going 40 to 55. Some cars too.

[nohurry]

rjstractor wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
To think that the Vantage grade is just over a 5% grade overall! We may just need to go to eastern Washington to see how the climb is!

It's actually not even that steep, it's posted at just 4%. What can make that climb a killer is during prevailing weather patterns it's common to push a 20+ mph headwind going up that hill. 100 degree temps in the summer make it worse. When it's cool and calm it's not a bad hill to climb, just long.

It also starts with crossing the bridge over the Columbia river where you usually have to deal with nasty crosswinds, sometimes preventing a running start up the hill. Even though the new trucks are much better insulated/sound proofed, and the engines more refined I still love hearing it rev up the hills. Doesn't bother me, or the engine a bit.

Now here's one of the biggest "problems", or complaints if you will with the gas rigs. We've all been in the situation where you're towing up a steep grade in the right lane just fine, then you come up on a slow moving semi. The left lane is crowded with cars, faster trucks (Diesels?), etc and you can't get over. At that point you can either cut off the faster traffic to get around him (Not the courteous thing to do), or you can just set a comfortable distance behind the semi and follow him to the top, getting there a few minutes later. If you do get a break in the left lane, it better be a good one cause that gasser won't exactly speed around the semi on a 7% grade. So if that kind of scenario bothers you, get the diesel. Any of today's diesels pulling my 7500 lb trailer would pass me on that hill like I'm sitting still, but that's OK with me, I know I'll get there (See user name 😉 )

[rjstractor]

rhagfo wrote:
To think that the Vantage grade is just over a 5% grade overall! We may just need to go to eastern Washington to see how the climb is!

It's actually not even that steep, it's posted at just 4%. What can make that climb a killer is during prevailing weather patterns it's common to push a 20+ mph headwind going up that hill. 100 degree temps in the summer make it worse. When it's cool and calm it's not a bad hill to climb, just long.

[rhagfo]

To think that the Vantage grade is just over a 5% grade overall! We may just need to go to eastern Washington to see how the climb is!

[ls1mike]

Dave H M wrote:

ls1mike wrote:

nohurry wrote:
Just to add; for those that think it's nerve wracking to hear a gas truck rev at 4500 RPM really need to drive a new one. Can't speak for the other brands, but my Ford is not loud at all compared to the 1990 f250 with 460 engine I previously owned. Wife and I can hold a conversation just fine pulling the 11 mile grade on I90 westbound out of Vantage, Wa. Just sayin.

Ah Vantage, I used to pull that with my old 89 454, it was working.
Now I do it with my 6.0 gasser and 7500 lbs. No issues. I stay around 50 to 55 and cruise right up it.

I switched from my old 99 powerstroke to a 2012 F250.

We now get to listen to the radio in the TV while pulling the 11.5K fifth wheel. As far as I am concerned gassers are coming into being. I am older than dirt sand probably on my last RV, but i am never going back to diesel. Gas fits my needs. He He but I am kinda paranoid now about the valves and stuff that may come flying through the hood. :B

The old 1 ton 454 would SCREAM up that hill 4000 RPM and 35 MPH. Lots of reverbiration in the cab. 🙂 Ah good times!

The ole 6.0 4000 RPM a bit loud as my truck is a stripper so rubber floor mats and no insulation. 4000 RPM in a modern gasser is where it likes to be. It will do that for days and days. 50 to 55 up that hill keeps up easy with the flow of traffic. I am not a truck guy, so it is an 02 with 37,000 miles on it. Its sits most of the time. I can't justify a diesel for 3000 miles a year and 7500 lbs. I would much rather drive My Trans Am or Supercharged Grand Prix 🙂

[Dave_H_M]

ls1mike wrote:

nohurry wrote:
Just to add; for those that think it's nerve wracking to hear a gas truck rev at 4500 RPM really need to drive a new one. Can't speak for the other brands, but my Ford is not loud at all compared to the 1990 f250 with 460 engine I previously owned. Wife and I can hold a conversation just fine pulling the 11 mile grade on I90 westbound out of Vantage, Wa. Just sayin.

Ah Vantage, I used to pull that with my old 89 454, it was working.
Now I do it with my 6.0 gasser and 7500 lbs. No issues. I stay around 50 to 55 and cruise right up it.

I switched from my old 99 powerstroke to a 2012 F250.

We now get to listen to the radio in the TV while pulling the 11.5K fifth wheel. As far as I am concerned gassers are coming into being. I am older than dirt sand probably on my last RV, but i am never going back to diesel. Gas fits my needs. He He but I am kinda paranoid now about the valves and stuff that may come flying through the hood. :B

[jerem0621]

bovellois wrote:
Do a test drive with the Ram 1500 ecodiesel. You'll get the best of both worlds, a workhorse that rides like a Cadillac and does not eat much.

I did... I actually drove a Pentastar Ram 1500 and a EcoDiesel Ram 1500 back to back test drives. The EcoDiesel performed exactly as I expected a 200 ish hp motor to perform in a heavy truck. It seems to wind pretty high in the RPM range for a Diesel. Seems that those 240 hp are only available at 3600 rpm.

The 300+ HP Pentastar was faster and pulled harder based on my seat of the britches comparo throughout the RPM range

The Pentastar pulled harder across the RPM range. Very impressive workhorse of a V6... not sure that the EcoDiesel is worth the 60plus HP difference for 2-3 mpg difference... then again, with the exception of the last 4 or 5 years, people didn't buy diesels to win races to the top of mountains. They did it for reliability and longevity and consistent performance.

Ecodiesel has a max towing rating of 9,200 lbs... I just don't see it handling that much weight with that low amount of power.... I know it has 420 lb ft at 2000 rpm so thats good.

What impressed me about the EcoDiesel is that the 8 speed does a great job with the power thats available. I could see an EcoDiesel handling a 7000 ish lb aerodynamic TT with relative ease, plus being able to fuel up in the big boy lanes would be awesome.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[bovellois]

Do a test drive with the Ram 1500 ecodiesel. You'll get the best of both worlds, a workhorse that rides like a Cadillac and does not eat much.

[jerem0621]

The gasser/diesel RPM issue is entirely a Human issue...the trucks will do the work at whatever RPM they are designed to do the work just fine as long as we people get out of the trucks way, let the gas motor rev and make power.

Diesels are very nice but are not required for most pulling duties. I'm not bad mouthing diesels at all....but gas trucks do the job just fine.

One of the biggest attractions to me about a Diesel is the fact that you can fuel up in the big rig spots with ease while pulling a big trailer. I hated fueling up my gasser crew cab Dually with my 31 ft TT hitched up. They are just so busy with kids, cars, adults, etc going every way possible. Especially during summer.

Thanks,

Jeremiah

[campigloo]

I recommend the diesel. I towed with a gasser and yes it did the job. One of the things that bothered me about the high revving gasser was the hallucinations of springs and valves and a few unknown parts flying through the hood. Only my preference, but I will never pull with a gasser again. The overall performance of the diesel is too much better to give up, IMHO.

[1oldtruck]

If the up-charge of buying the diesel isn't an issue buy the diesel. If you prefer to save the cash get the gasser. Both will do the job. The diesel will leave plenty of room to upgrade your TT, TH, or 5er later.

I purchased my first diesel this summer. I traded a 6.0 liter GMC with 4.10 gears and couldn't be happier with performance and fuel economy of the Diesel. The fuel economy is saving me money over what I was spending with the gasser loaded and empty.

I have no idea if it will be a good investment long term. That's not why I bought it. From what I saw while shopping for a new TV the diesels definitely retain more value as the odometer reading goes up.

[ls1mike]

nohurry wrote:
Just to add; for those that think it's nerve wracking to hear a gas truck rev at 4500 RPM really need to drive a new one. Can't speak for the other brands, but my Ford is not loud at all compared to the 1990 f250 with 460 engine I previously owned. Wife and I can hold a conversation just fine pulling the 11 mile grade on I90 westbound out of Vantage, Wa. Just sayin.

Ah Vantage, I used to pull that with my old 89 454, it was working.
Now I do it with my 6.0 gasser and 7500 lbs. No issues. I stay around 50 to 55 and cruise right up it.

[spud1957]

Do you need a diesel with that trailer? Nope. The 6.2 is plenty. Do you want a diesel? That's a personal choice. I have a 10K+ 5th wheel and am very happy with the performance.

Just keep in mind, with current fuel prices and financing costs, that it will take you almost 160,000kms to pay off the $10,000 extra dollars and start to see an ROI.

S

[Rwebby]

If you can afford it, I'd go diesel. Of course this depends on the weight of your current trailer. But remember, you may want to go bigger and heavier in the future.

I just got a diesel in May, towed a 10,000 pound 5th wheel through BC to Kelowna this summer. It was a very worry free ride. My gas one would have made it, but would have been switching gears constantly. As long as I am pulling a trailer now, it will be a diesel.