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Keep our diesel or get a gas truck?

nano
Explorer
Explorer
We have a 2012 Ram 2500 diesel. We pull our 5er approximately 5 times per year, 50 mile round trip each time. Otherwise it's just a daily driver. Dh takes it to work which is a 15 mile trip one way. We try and take it on a longer drive at least once a month.

Since we don't do much towing with it, and don't plan to take any long trips with our camper in the near future, we were tossing around the idea of trading it in for a gas truck. Is there any advantage doing that, or are we better off keeping our diesel? We're leaning toward keeping the diesel because we assume it will last longer than a gas truck, and we assume resale value is better.
2013 Keystone Cougar 333MKS
43 REPLIES 43

RamTC
Explorer
Explorer
In diesel vs. gas, take a look at the power trains, 850+ lbs of torque is an upgrade and it's not a free option. IMO, the decision should not be based the cost at the pump.
Present - 14' Ram 3500 4X4 DRW CTD AISIN 3.73
Past - 98' Ram 3500 4X4 DRW CTD / 99' LANCE 1110 / 04' ARCTIC FOX 990 / 05' ARCTIC FOX 990

Hannibal
Explorer
Explorer
Greene728 wrote:
wing_zealot wrote:
Bigfoot affair wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Who in their right mind would tow anything with a Gas pickup? 😉


X2
Seeing as left brain is for logic and analysis as opposed to the right brain which is for imagination and day dreaming; I guess you could say - anyone in their left mind would choose a gasser. 😉


Bravo! I'm loving pulling with my gasser thank you very much!

Pulls better than my previous diesel actually!


Mine too! And if I get $5k less at trade in time, I didn't pay $8k more for it new. However, at this point, I would recommend the OP keep his diesel. Contrary to popular hearsay, they depreciate too.
2020 F250 STX CC SB 7.3L 10spd 3.55 4x4
2010 F250 XLT CC SB 5.4L 5spdTS 3.73
ex '95 Cummins,'98 12v Cummins,'01.5 Cummins,'03 Cummins; '05 Hemi
2017 Jayco 28RLS TT 32.5'

Greene728
Explorer
Explorer
wing_zealot wrote:
Bigfoot affair wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Who in their right mind would tow anything with a Gas pickup? 😉


X2
Seeing as left brain is for logic and analysis as opposed to the right brain which is for imagination and day dreaming; I guess you could say - anyone in their left mind would choose a gasser. 😉


Bravo! I'm loving pulling with my gasser thank you very much!

Pulls better than my previous diesel actually!
2011 Crossroads Cruiser 29BHS ( Traded )
2017 Grand Design 303RLS ( Sold )
Currently camperless ( Just taking a break )
2016 Chevy Silverado 2500 4x4 6.0 and 4:10’s
Me and the wife and our two daughters. Life's good!

nano
Explorer
Explorer
ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:

🙂 Hi, This is my opinion and only my opinion, so let the haters make their remarks, but If I were you and only traveled 50 miles round trip a few times a year, I would sell both the truck and trailer. Or maybe leave you trailer in a camp ground and visit it with a gas powered vehicle.


Well, one of our round trips does include a 2 month stay at the campground. Lol. No need to sell the camper.
2013 Keystone Cougar 333MKS

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
NY RVer wrote:
Lantley wrote:
TomG2 wrote:
It's funny how many folks who talk of the benefits of driving a pickup fifteen years and 300,000 miles show vehicles two or three years old in their signatures. (Yes, I know there are exceptions) I haven't put over 100,000 miles on one since the 90's. I don't care what fuel it burns, I don't want to drive a ten year old vehicle.

I find this funny as well.
Many talk about the longevity of a diesel and then trade it in with 100K-150K.
I have 192K shooting for 300K minimum. Many get bored before the truck is worn out. While the primary reason to buy a diesel is for the power longevity is also a consideration for me


X2


X3 I am almost there getting ready to roll 280,000 miles.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

nano
Explorer
Explorer
goducks10 wrote:
I love my 12 2500 CTD. I've thought the same thing once in awhile. Then I read the mpg reports for the 3/4 ton gassers. I get better mpgs except for in town, which is a wash. However if I only towed what the OP does I might be inclined to trade. We do 4-5000 miles a year, which about 50% of my driving, so I feel it' warranted.

To the OP if you bought like I did and got $10,000 off msrp you could very well be in a good position to try and sell it out right. Trading it will hurt. But a private party sale could be the thing to do.


We actually did get about $10,000 of the sticker price (bought it in the fall). So we wouldn't be too bad off if we traded it in, but reading all the responses just confirmed what we were thinking. I think we'll keep her for a while.
2013 Keystone Cougar 333MKS

sk734
Explorer
Explorer
TomG2 wrote:
It's funny how many folks who talk of the benefits of driving a pickup fifteen years and 300,000 miles show vehicles two or three years old in their signatures. (Yes, I know there are exceptions) I haven't put over 100,000 miles on one since the 90's. I don't care what fuel it burns, I don't want to drive a ten year old vehicle.
X2 I also notice that.

Grit_dog
Navigator
Navigator
Keep the deezle!
Well actually you know you don't need it. A pre def Ram will bring good $. If it's low miles and cherry condition, it's close to a $40k truck depending on options etc.
For that money you could buy a new or near new gasser of your choice though.
For me, real trucks don't have spark plugs!
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold

ROBERTSUNRUS
Explorer
Explorer
nano wrote:
We have a 2012 Ram 2500 diesel. We pull our 5er approximately 5 times per year, 50 mile round trip each time. Otherwise it's just a daily driver. Dh takes it to work which is a 15 mile trip one way. We try and take it on a longer drive at least once a month.

Since we don't do much towing with it, and don't plan to take any long trips with our camper in the near future, we were tossing around the idea of trading it in for a gas truck. Is there any advantage doing that, or are we better off keeping our diesel? We're leaning toward keeping the diesel because we assume it will last longer than a gas truck, and we assume resale value is better.



🙂 Hi, This is my opinion and only my opinion, so let the haters make their remarks, but If I were you and only traveled 50 miles round trip a few times a year, I would sell both the truck and trailer. Or maybe leave you trailer in a camp ground and visit it with a gas powered vehicle.
🙂 Bob 🙂
2005 Airstream Safari 25-B
2000 Lincoln Navigator
2014 F-150 Ecoboost
Equal-i-zer
Yamaha 2400

NY_RVer
Explorer
Explorer
Lantley wrote:
TomG2 wrote:
It's funny how many folks who talk of the benefits of driving a pickup fifteen years and 300,000 miles show vehicles two or three years old in their signatures. (Yes, I know there are exceptions) I haven't put over 100,000 miles on one since the 90's. I don't care what fuel it burns, I don't want to drive a ten year old vehicle.

I find this funny as well.
Many talk about the longevity of a diesel and then trade it in with 100K-150K.
I have 192K shooting for 300K minimum. Many get bored before the truck is worn out. While the primary reason to buy a diesel is for the power longevity is also a consideration for me


X2
2016 Ram 3500 Laramie Crew Cab 4x4 SRW 6.7 Cummins
2014 Jayco Jay Flight 28BHBE
Reese Dual Cam

FishOnOne
Nomad
Nomad
Lantley wrote:
TomG2 wrote:
It's funny how many folks who talk of the benefits of driving a pickup fifteen years and 300,000 miles show vehicles two or three years old in their signatures. (Yes, I know there are exceptions) I haven't put over 100,000 miles on one since the 90's. I don't care what fuel it burns, I don't want to drive a ten year old vehicle.

I find this funny as well.
Many talk about the longevity of a diesel and then trade it in with 100K-150K.
I have 192K shooting for 300K minimum. Many get bored before the truck is worn out. While the primary reason to buy a diesel is for the power longevity is also a consideration for me


I find it hilarious as well. Every time I hear the medium duty scenario, but yet the owner doesn't keep it long term.
'12 Ford Super Duty FX4 ELD CC 6.7 PSD 400HP 800ft/lbs "270k Miles"
'16 Sprinter 319MKS "Wide Body"

Bionic_Man
Explorer
Explorer
If you were just buying now, I would probably say go gas. But you already have the truck. Keep it.

And, 15 miles one way to work isn't exactly a short trip. That is plenty of miles to get the truck heated up.
2012 RAM 3500 Laramie Longhorn DRW CC 4x4 Max Tow, Cummins HO, 60 gallon RDS aux fuel tank, Reese 18k Elite hitch
2003 Dodge Ram 3500 QC SB 4x4 Cummins HO NV5600 with Smarty JR, Jacobs EB (sold)
2002 Gulf Stream Sea Hawk 29FRB with Honda EV6010

DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
TomG2 wrote:
It's funny how many folks who talk of the benefits of driving a pickup fifteen years and 300,000 miles show vehicles two or three years old in their signatures. (Yes, I know there are exceptions) I haven't put over 100,000 miles on one since the 90's. I don't care what fuel it burns, I don't want to drive a ten year old vehicle.


My last diesel, the engine and transmission were a work horse. But the body was falling apart. It had fiberglass fat fenders (dually) and they had spider cracks so bad I was concerned about gigantic chunks falling off them. The doors were beginning to rust along the bottom. When I checked with a body repair shop, they wouldn't even touch it. They said the rust was too deep in the doors. Any surface repair would not last as the rust was under everything. In order to keep a nice looking truck, we chose to trade for a new one. We still got $18,000 for it on trade in though! New one cost $54,000 so we were delighted at the trade-in value we got.

That's why WE have a 1 year old diesel with less than 10,000 miles right now!

IdaD
Explorer
Explorer
6.7 tow rig wrote:
IdaD wrote:
TomG2 wrote:
6.7 tow rig wrote:
Ivylog wrote:
OP, you will have to find another reason for a new truck. I still love my 02 F350 7.3 PU that I bought new and see no reason to not keep it another 10 years. In two more payments it will be mine.:W


How are you still making payments on a 2002?


He may have been joking?


Maybe he bought it used.


Did you read it? It says he bought it new.


Holy ...

I didn't catch that. How much interest does one pay on a 13 year auto loan?
2015 Cummins Ram 4wd CC/SB