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Jumping off the Diesel Bandwagon - UPDATED

ib516
Explorer II
Explorer II
Well, after two Cummins diesels that I thoroughly enjoyed, I am going to place a factory order for a RAM 2500 with the 6.4L Hemi, 4.10 gears, rear air suspension, Laramie and plenty of added options. I don't care for the looks of the "Limited" with all the badges gone, and I think the cowboy theme of the longhorn is tacky.

WHY THE SWITCH FROM DIESEL TO GAS?

1) Well, when I bought my first Cummins powered truck, diesel fuel was almost always 30% cheaper than regular unleaded where I live. In recent years, that scale has tipped the other way. It used to be occassionally, and now it seems that Canada is following the trends in the USA, and it is becoming the norm. Of course this is a regional thing, but it seems here to stay. Our last road trip with my current truck, I paid $93.00 for 68L of diesel. That's $93.00 for 18 US Gallons when I topped it up. :E Regular unleaded is running $1.20/L and diesel is $1.42/L right now. That has been the trend for the last 6 months or so - maybe the last year.

2) When I bought my last two diesels, the HD gas offerings by the big 3 were gas hogs compared to the diesels. That has all but evaporated with the hp/tq war going on in the diesels, and the addition of DPFs, DEF, etc. The gas engines haven't improved much, but the diesel mpg has come down some which has narrowed the gap.

3) The gas engines just weren't all that powerful either. The 5.7L Hemi was tops at 345hp back then, the GM 6.0L was a measly 300hp, and Ford's 5.4L was a bit of a dog as I drove one 12 hrs a day in an Expedition and it didn't impress me power wise in the lighter Expedition. While the diesels today offer huge power and will certainly outperform the 6.4L Hemi I am choosing, the 6.4L Hemi is actually rated to tow more than my 5.9L Cummins, by 2500#! I know it will be a "different" towing experience with much less tq than my pumped up 5.9L Cummins, but I will live with the higher RPMs.

4) The kids are growing and we will no longer need a huge bunk house RV to save us from going nuts on those rainy days when camping. We are going to downsize to a smaller RV next time round, which will be in the next year or two.

5) Driving my 2014 Jeep Cherokee with the heated seats, new tech features, etc has me wanting a newer truck with the new features and upgraded interior from the Tupperware/Rubbermaid one in my current truck.

6) A new, loaded 2500 RAM with the Cummins is about $8,000 - $9,000 more than the same truck with the 6.4L Hemi here in Canada.

7) Lastly, the big Cummins diesel sucks to drive at -30* and -40*. It just starts blowing heat when I ARRIVE at work. I have the grill completely blocked off with a winter front, and have done all I can, this just doesn't get better. Nature of the beast.

So there you have it. Me talking myself into a new truck. ๐Ÿ™‚
Prev: 2010 Cougar 322QBS (junk)
02 Dodge 2500 4x4 5.9L CTD 3.55
07 Dodge 3500 4x4 SRW Mega 5.9L CTD 3.73
14 Ram 2500 4x4 Crew 6.4L Hemi 4.10
06 Chevy 1500 4x4 E-Cab 3.73 5.3L
07 Dodge 1500 5.7L Hemi 3.55 / 2010 Jayco 17z
All above are sold, no longer own an RV
259 REPLIES 259

spud1957
Explorer
Explorer
goducks10 wrote:
No one ever seems to factor in resale value when talking diesel vs gas. I'm not talking hypothetical higher diesel resale values. I'm talking about the fact that the while the diesel costs more, it's naturally worth more. Same as paying for all the bling like leather, nav, 20" wheels, sunroof, etc. Those options are all figured in when you trade in or sell. Same goes for the diesel option. Just because the diesel option is purchased doesn't mean it's just money down the drain. IMO it's no different than buying a Laramie Longhorn over the SLT or Tradesman. Come selling time the more expensive truck will sell for more money.
No one buys a diesel and 3 yrs latter sells it for the same price as a gasser.


True, maybe worth more but the diesel engine value still depreciates at the same rate as the rest of the truck. And in all likelihood, the diesel owner is buying another diesel so there is really no more advantage over the gasser buying another gasser.

Where I live here is a real example.

New diesel $60,000
Diesel trade $25,000
Difference $35,000

New gas $50,000
Gas trade $20,000
Difference $30,000

My used gas truck was $5k less on the lot sitting next to the same year diesel. The $10k diesel option is now only worth $5k after 6 years.
2018 F350 6.7 4x4 CCSB
2022 GD Reflection 337 RLS

BenK
Explorer
Explorer
Ditto that back around 2000 when noodling either stuffing in a diesel into my Sub
or getting a new TV

BUT...I also considered the SMOG freight train coming down the tracks and deja vu
of the 1980's SMOG on gassers...

Plus I do NOT purchase any of my vehicles for resale. Since I keep them forever
or till the wheels fall off and won't/can't fix them anymore

Not saying don't get diesel...just IMHO for "ME" gassers make more sense
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...

ib516
Explorer II
Explorer II
hone eagle wrote:
goducks10 wrote:
No one ever seems to factor in resale value when talking diesel vs gas. I'm not talking hypothetical higher diesel resale values. I'm talking about the fact that the while the diesel costs more, it's naturally worth more. Same as paying for all the bling like leather, nav, 20" wheels, sunroof, etc. Those options are all figured in when you trade in or sell. Same goes for the diesel option. Just because the diesel option is purchased doesn't mean it's just money down the drain. IMO it's no different than buying a Laramie Longhorn over the SLT or Tradesman. Come selling time the more expensive truck will sell for more money.
No one buys a diesel and 3 yrs latter sells it for the same price as a gasser.


Well said
no one will ever factor in anything that does not agree with their preconceptions.

Did you guys miss this part of my post?

" If you add in that the diesel will be worth more when selling/trading, that would reduce the payback time."

Read closer and put away the pitchforks and torches...
Prev: 2010 Cougar 322QBS (junk)
02 Dodge 2500 4x4 5.9L CTD 3.55
07 Dodge 3500 4x4 SRW Mega 5.9L CTD 3.73
14 Ram 2500 4x4 Crew 6.4L Hemi 4.10
06 Chevy 1500 4x4 E-Cab 3.73 5.3L
07 Dodge 1500 5.7L Hemi 3.55 / 2010 Jayco 17z
All above are sold, no longer own an RV

hone_eagle
Explorer
Explorer
goducks10 wrote:
No one ever seems to factor in resale value when talking diesel vs gas. I'm not talking hypothetical higher diesel resale values. I'm talking about the fact that the while the diesel costs more, it's naturally worth more. Same as paying for all the bling like leather, nav, 20" wheels, sunroof, etc. Those options are all figured in when you trade in or sell. Same goes for the diesel option. Just because the diesel option is purchased doesn't mean it's just money down the drain. IMO it's no different than buying a Laramie Longhorn over the SLT or Tradesman. Come selling time the more expensive truck will sell for more money.
No one buys a diesel and 3 yrs latter sells it for the same price as a gasser.


Well said
no one will ever factor in anything that does not agree with their preconceptions.
2005 Volvo 670 singled freedomline 12 speed
Newmar 34rsks 2008
Hensley trailersaver TSLB2H
directlink brake controller

-when overkill is cheaper-

45Ricochet
Explorer
Explorer
Funny I read a post the other day and the guy said diesel was cheaper than gas where he lived ( Cali). Certainly not the case where I live but usually summer months they even out. I liked the prices much better when it was good ole LSD before ULSD was law. I guess CAT felt the same way :W
I agree with goduck too.
2015 Tiffin Phaeton Cummins ISL, Allison 3000, 45K GCWR
10KW Onan, Magnum Pure Sine Wave Inverter
2015 GMC Canyon Toad

Previous camping rig
06 Ram 3500 CC LB Laramie 4x4 Dually 5.9 Cummins Smarty Jr 48RE Jacobs brake
06 Grand Junction 15500 GVWR 3200 pin

goducks10
Explorer
Explorer
No one ever seems to factor in resale value when talking diesel vs gas. I'm not talking hypothetical higher diesel resale values. I'm talking about the fact that the while the diesel costs more, it's naturally worth more. Same as paying for all the bling like leather, nav, 20" wheels, sunroof, etc. Those options are all figured in when you trade in or sell. Same goes for the diesel option. Just because the diesel option is purchased doesn't mean it's just money down the drain. IMO it's no different than buying a Laramie Longhorn over the SLT or Tradesman. Come selling time the more expensive truck will sell for more money.
No one buys a diesel and 3 yrs latter sells it for the same price as a gasser.

ib516
Explorer II
Explorer II
Should be taking delivery this week :B

Just for fun, I ran the numbers for me of fuel cost per year.

Based on the following:
- 10,000 miles/year (16,000 Km)
- Unleaded fuel $4.57/US gallon equivalent (currently $1.209/L)
- Diesel fuel $5.099/US gallon equivalent (currently $1.349/L)
- Mpg for the 6.7L Cummins used 19 mpg (highway)
- Mpg for the 6.4L Hemi used 15 mpg (highway)
- Annual savings diesel has over gas based on above? $362.99/year

- Mpg for the 6.7L Cummins 15 mpg (mixed driving)
- Mpg for the 6.4L Hemi 12 mpg (mixed driving)
- Annual savings for the diesel based on mixed mpg numbers? $409.00/year

Building trucks equipped the same except engines
Purchase price (MSRP) 6.4L gas - $62,305
Purchase price (MSRP) 6.7L diesel - $71,510 ($9205 higher)
**NOTE: There is a $5000 "cash back" on both right now, so the actual CDN MSRP is $68k for the gas and $76k for the diesel :E.

Payments based on $23k down = $334 BW gas
Payments based on $23k down = $413 BW diesel ($2054/year more)

$2054 more (payments) - $400 (annual fuel savings) = $1650 more per year out of pocket for diesel.

So, based on a savings of about $400/year for fuel costs, my payback for buying the diesel based on fuel costs alone is about 23.5 years.

I know there are other factors to consider for "total cost of ownership", but for me, this is how the numbers crunched based on fuel costs. If you add in that the diesel will be worth more when selling/trading, that would reduce the payback time. I didn't research that part of it, because it's hard to say what a 6.4L Hemi truck will be worth compared to a Cummins diesel in 5 or 10 years. No crystal ball here. There are also the slightly higher finance costs for the extra $9200 over the course of the finance term.

I think maintenance costs will be a wash. Why? Because the 6.4L Hemi requires 0w40 synthetic oil that makes an oil change (at the dealer) about $140 locally. I have to think the Cummins diesel would be about the same price (or slightly higher) at a dealer. Note I'm in Canada.
Prev: 2010 Cougar 322QBS (junk)
02 Dodge 2500 4x4 5.9L CTD 3.55
07 Dodge 3500 4x4 SRW Mega 5.9L CTD 3.73
14 Ram 2500 4x4 Crew 6.4L Hemi 4.10
06 Chevy 1500 4x4 E-Cab 3.73 5.3L
07 Dodge 1500 5.7L Hemi 3.55 / 2010 Jayco 17z
All above are sold, no longer own an RV

rjstractor
Nomad
Nomad
Wes Tausend wrote:
MORE TRIVIA:
The Mustang owners had this habit of holding high revs on the line and side-stepping off the clutch, so the V-8 soon got the 8.8 inch differential as opposed to the 7.5 inch. The 8.8 inch was used in many 1/2 ton trucks. The car weighed around 3200 pounds.


Welp, we've managed to derail this thread but good. ๐Ÿ˜‰ More trivia, Ford used the 8.8 inch rear axle in Explorers and 4.0 V6 Rangers (including your Ranger twin Mazda B4000.) My B2000 was a completely different animal but when introduced in 1985 it was somewhat revolutionary among mini-trucks.
2017 VW Golf Alltrack
2000 Ford F250 7.3

Wes_Tausend
Explorer
Explorer
jmtandem wrote:
Hope GM and Ford engineers like a good game... it's coming.


It is already here!

Sorta. But it's likely to get better. Ram 1 --- those guys 0

I think Gm and Ford brought a knife to a gun fight this year. Next year should be more competitive when GM and Ford Engineering get handed, "their mission, should they choose to accept it."

It's not only a great era to be a fan, but a great era to be an automotive engineer. ๐Ÿ™‚

Wes
...
Days spent camping are not subtracted from one's total.
- 2019 Leprechaun 311FS Class C
- Linda, Wes and Quincy the Standard Brown Poodle

jmtandem
Explorer II
Explorer II
Hope GM and Ford engineers like a good game... it's coming.


It is already here!
'05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed.

Wes_Tausend
Explorer
Explorer
45Ricochet wrote:
ib516 wrote:

I read the one about the pumpkin shock, but not the other. Gota linky?


Maybe?

On edit
Maybe I read your post wrong. If you were talking about the Edge tuner its HERE Dyno chart there somewhere too :B


Thanks for the cumminsforum suspension link, 45Ricochet. This post, with comments from a Ram Chassis Engineer, pretty much confirms what we figured out here. Those Ram guys are right on top of it. The separation from the corporate mother-ship was all they apparently needed. Hope GM and Ford engineers like a good game... it's coming. ๐Ÿ™‚

Wes
...
Days spent camping are not subtracted from one's total.
- 2019 Leprechaun 311FS Class C
- Linda, Wes and Quincy the Standard Brown Poodle

wintersun
Explorer II
Explorer II
campingken wrote:
We went new truck shopping yesterday and after looking at what diesels now cost have pretty much decided to go gas. Since we almost exclusively use our truck for towing our horse trailer we can buy a 4x4 standard cab Chevy work, Ford XL, or Dodge Tradesman model with a V-8 and a new Honda fit type vehicle for close to what a new well equipped diesel would cost (no one out here is knocking $10,000 off the window sticker).

This way we can get 40 mpg when we buy groceries and have plenty of power to tow our 7500 pound GVW horse trailer.


I like your logic. We have a diesel truck but our around town vehicle is a 2007 Prius that has averaged 45 MPG over the 75,000 miles we have used it. In the past 6 years we have replaced the little battery for the car's electronics, had the motor oil changed and tires replaced once and that has been it. The most trouble free car I have every owned.

What the posters who suggest you could get a better deal on a diesel truck fail to realize is that this applies to getting a better deal on a gas powered truck as well. I paid $42,000 for a new fully equipped GM diesel truck in 2011 but I could have bought the same level truck with the gas engine for under $35,000 with less effort on my part.

45Ricochet
Explorer
Explorer
ib516 wrote:

I read the one about the pumpkin shock, but not the other. Gota linky?


Maybe?

On edit
Maybe I read your post wrong. If you were talking about the Edge tuner its HERE Dyno chart there somewhere too :B
2015 Tiffin Phaeton Cummins ISL, Allison 3000, 45K GCWR
10KW Onan, Magnum Pure Sine Wave Inverter
2015 GMC Canyon Toad

Previous camping rig
06 Ram 3500 CC LB Laramie 4x4 Dually 5.9 Cummins Smarty Jr 48RE Jacobs brake
06 Grand Junction 15500 GVWR 3200 pin

ib516
Explorer II
Explorer II
45Ricochet wrote:
Nice bump :B
Funny they have a thread over on the Cummins site which can't figure out the Bilstein single shock issue. Man they are all over the board as to why. Running out crawling under dealer trucks to figure it out. Some even demanded refunds cause their truck didn't have one.:W
I assume the torque management in the CTD engines mated to the auto's don't require it :H
Hey they did have the new Edge thread though :B I would pass though as you basically loose the EVIC information. Ahh tuners and kids, errrr wait I didn't say that.

I read the one about the pumpkin shock, but not the other. Gota linky?
Prev: 2010 Cougar 322QBS (junk)
02 Dodge 2500 4x4 5.9L CTD 3.55
07 Dodge 3500 4x4 SRW Mega 5.9L CTD 3.73
14 Ram 2500 4x4 Crew 6.4L Hemi 4.10
06 Chevy 1500 4x4 E-Cab 3.73 5.3L
07 Dodge 1500 5.7L Hemi 3.55 / 2010 Jayco 17z
All above are sold, no longer own an RV

Wes_Tausend
Explorer
Explorer
...

The third shock damps, not prevents, axle wrap up.

45Ricochet wrote:
Nice bump :B
Funny they have a thread over on the Cummins site which can't figure out the Bilstein single shock issue. Man they are all over the board as to why. Running out crawling under dealer trucks to figure it out. Some even demanded refunds cause their truck didn't have one.:W
I assume the torque management in the CTD engines mated to the auto's don't require it :H
Hey they did have the new Edge thread though :B I would pass though as you basically loose the EVIC information. Ahh tuners and kids, errrr wait I didn't say that.

rjstractor wrote:
45Ricochet wrote:
Funny they have a thread over on the Cummins site which can't figure out the Bilstein single shock issue. Man they are all over the board as to why. Running out crawling under dealer trucks to figure it out. Some even demanded refunds cause their truck didn't have one.


To me it looks pretty obvious- to help prevent axle wrapup and wheel hop. My old Mazda had the rear shocks angled opposite ways for the same reason, although with only 110 ft./lb of torque it was not a big problem. ๐Ÿ™‚


Yes, the extra shocks are of certainly the same intent as the 5.0 Mustang "Quad" shocks from a few years ago.

stock


aftermarket

The 4 cylinder Mustangs didn't have, or need, the extra shocks. But they were a V-8 performance necessity.
Ram is perhaps getting ready for kickin' a lil' butt? ๐Ÿ™‚

TRIVIA:
My Mazda B4000 3/8 ton truck also had the normal off-set staggered rear shocks as many other vehicles did for the exact reason rjstractor states above. Earlier in this thread, BenK mentioned that he thought GM had this shock "arrangement" patented for a while, probably true. My Mazda was an off-road special and had large OEM tires and factory "lift blocks" between the axle and leaf springpack. This "cheap lift" tends to accentuate the tendency for all axles to "wind up" since the axle gains bending torque leverage over the springpack.

Consequently, when I added real smaller diameter Mud & Snow grips to the Mazda truck, it developed a case of axle tramp while pushing deep snow (over bumper height) and not in 4x4. Too much traction for the rear leaf spring ribbon to avoid oscillating/twisting into an "S" shape. It can be reduced or eliminated by adding a solid-but-jointed "traction bar" which connects to the frame/axle almost identically to the 3rd anti-wrap shock. They are often found as a pair mounted below the spring packs for drag racing or off-road. The downside (as always) is the ride binds somewhat since the bar length cannot change like a shock absorber.

My Excursion has a similar arrangement to prevent axle wrap by the addition of "slapper bars" to the front of the springpack. A thick straight steel half-leaf is attached solidly to the axle/spring perch and contacts the upwardly curved main leaf via a rubber bumper to limit "S" twisting.

MORE TRIVIA:
The Mustang owners had this habit of holding high revs on the line and side-stepping off the clutch, so the V-8 soon got the 8.8 inch differential as opposed to the 7.5 inch. The 8.8 inch was used in many 1/2 ton trucks. The car weighed around 3200 pounds.

The 5.0 became popular above the GM Camaro for two reasons.
1) In this case, the Ford engine was easy to get to since it was not under the cowl (not like my V-10).
2) Ford used Mass-Air FI exclusively throughout the 1989-and-up production years. Mass-Air simply measures the amount of air intake to add fuel and is used almost exclusively today. A speed density FI system always injects fuel from a "map" chart, according to what the air should be with OEM parts. Camaro (and Corvette) jumped back and forth between the two systems for years, making successful GM aftermarket development and mod offerings a nightmare.

Thus the Mustang killed the Camaro for quite a while. And herein is a lesson for all OEM's.

Wes
...
Days spent camping are not subtracted from one's total.
- 2019 Leprechaun 311FS Class C
- Linda, Wes and Quincy the Standard Brown Poodle