How disappointed will I be

[LittleRedGoat]

I am considering getting rid of the red goat and going with a Ford or Chevy gasser. The power is great with the diesel engine but its not for driving short distances. How disappointed will I be when towing. I try to stay at the poseted speed limit but we know how that works.

[MHWASH]

2 years ago I swithced from a 6L gasser to a new D-max. The only difference between my 09 and my 13 was the motor/tranny. I went from an average of 6mpg to 10mpg towing. We tow a 31' TH with one ATV and three dirt bikes. Although I don't drive the TV much for other than towing, the mileage with the deisel is always better. As another poster mentioned, the volume of noise in the cab is much greater with the big gas motor. Either way your fill ups are going to be $100. I've heard the new Ram 6.4 gets 10+ towing loads of up to 12k, but I have a hard time believing it.

I agree your best bet is to go buy a commuter car.

[lazydays]

The day I have to give up my diesel is the day I quite camping. I only average 6500 miles a year on it so I guess I really don't need it but I do alot of things that don't make sense.

[Merrykalia]

We just upped to a 2015 Ford F250 6.7L diesel from a 2012 Ford F150 Ecoboost with the Max tow and the HD package. The new one is about 3" taller, has about the same amount of torque, but gets much better mileage towing.

We live about 40 miles north of you and the towing in the mountains has been great with both vehicles.

[ls1mike]

kalynzoo wrote:
My previous motorhomes for 30ish years have been gassers. You will be disappointed. With the engine up front the noise level is really much higher. I love my diesel because I can talk with my wife, listen to the radio, hear myself think. These were never an option with a gas engine. The gas RV gives plenty of power, we could pull our towed over the Calif mountains without a problem at highway speed...but oh the noise.

HUGE difference bewteen RV and Truck Noise. My 02 3/4 ton gasser is WAY quiter than the old 454 Motor home I had. You were sitting on the Motor in the Clasa A.

[crcr]

We bought a used diesel truck (Ram) a year and a half ago, to tow our RV. It only gets occasional local use other than towing duty. Even though it now has 145K on it, I have not had to do anything but normal maintenance -- no repairs. Personally, I will never ever go back to towing with a gasser. Just no comparison in towing ease, plus mileage is better with the diesel.

Also, don't know how long it will last, but for quite a while now, diesel is cheaper than gas here, lately over 40 cents a gallon cheaper. Sometime down the road, resale will be higher, and it will sell easier and quicker than a gasser.

[ib516]

I'm happy with mine pulling 12k - mountains and flats.

[wing_zealot]

Get an ecoboost and you won't lose the Hp in the mountains.

[LittleRedGoat]

The hardest pulls that I am going to have would be around Asheville NC ( Sams gap and Saluda Mountain)

[Cummins12V98]

If you like the sound of the engine screaming at 5K go for it!

Actually just go tryout a new RAM you really will be impressed!

[kalynzoo]

My previous motorhomes for 30ish years have been gassers. You will be disappointed. With the engine up front the noise level is really much higher. I love my diesel because I can talk with my wife, listen to the radio, hear myself think. These were never an option with a gas engine. The gas RV gives plenty of power, we could pull our towed over the Calif mountains without a problem at highway speed...but oh the noise.

[Old-Biscuit]

FCA is going to buy it back so just wait.

[csamayfield55x]

I would NEVER EVER EVER give my diesel up for towing!!

This is how I keep my fuel bills down. You can also do it in 4 wheels with a little beater car


There are lots of litle cars around for commuting and short trips that will work way better than giving up a great truck
Chris

[Sandia_Man]

For the rig in your signature a newer 3/4 ton gasser will do fine, even in the mountains. We use a 3/4 ton Chevy to haul our 32' TT around the four corner states always traveling at elevation and we always get to our destination without issue. Just rev her up to her power band and we are good to go.

Our truck is dedicated to towing our rig and just sits in the garage awaiting duty, total waste of money for us to get a diesel as we would never realize any savings. As long as our TV has gas we know it will get us where we need to go, paid off and never has needed any service other than oil changes and filters.

[agesilaus]

WyoTraveler wrote:

agesilaus wrote:

LittleRedGoat wrote:
I am considering getting rid of the red goat and going with a Ford or Chevy gasser. The power is great with the diesel engine but its not for driving short distances. How disappointed will I be when towing. I try to stay at the poseted speed limit but we know how that works.

Depends on where you drive. Lots of mountains, then you will regret it big time. Flatlands--not so much.

I get 16-17 mpg on my 6.7 in mixed driving how much better do you expect with a big gasser engine? Ah you have an 08, day and night difference between the old diesels and the 2011+ models.

So am I correct you are getting 17 mpg with your 6.7 diesel towing an 18k pound 5er? :B Love the post but not sure of the math. :h I'm going to run out and buy one tomorrow. Think they will gime me that in writing?:B

I wish, that's around town not towing. I kept careful track of mileage this last summer trip. On steep grades with a head wind I got around 9.5 mpg towing (Montana for example). On flatter land, I-10 coming back, I got 12-12.5 mpg. 62-63 mph on highways. Went up a 14% grade towing in Utah with no problem tho it downshifted to 3rd gear.