Who Daily Drivers their diesel TV?

[RoyBell]

I am looking for honest real-world feedback from people that use their TV as a daily driver as well. I am thinking of upgrading from my Tundra to get a little more capacity. Tundra has been a great truck since I bought it new 6 years ago, however, I feel I could use a little more TV with my new camper I got last year. Around 7300lbs loaded. Everything seems fine until I load the truck full of passengers and it's a different towing experience.

I have a concern going to a diesel because they get a bad rap for expensive repairs and poor reliability. Right now I am swaying to the F250 because I like their looks and hp/tq figures seem to be the best currently. Some people cry that they are very expensive to maintain and repair. Can anyone share real world opinions on that?

In 6 years I have done nothing to the Tundra but put gas in and change the oil. Brakes/tires at 50K miles but that's been it. Very good truck in that regard.

It's a little surprising the Big 3 don't offer better gas engines at this point. All current gas engines make as much power as my 5.7 Tundra. At a heavier curb weight and the same or less hp, I am taking a step backwards in power which is not something I am willing to do. I was sold on the GMC 6.2, but they only put it in their 1500 trucks. Their 1500 HD barely tows more than my Tundra when you look at GVWR numbers.

Which has me looking at Diesels again. On days I do drive it, I would be looking at 30 minute minimum trips in it. I know short drives or not driving Diesels under load is not good for them which has me wondering what kind of driving people with issues actual do.

Appreciate any input. I figured this asking this here would be better than going to a vehicle specific forum. Looking forward to the unbiased responses.

[Grit_dog]

You're comparing to a 50k mi pickup for reliability? That should just be an expectation.
50 k on any truck is expected to be maint only and any of the diesels offered will be no different.
There is absolutely no issue with using a diesel pickup especially a new one as a DD, short trips, etc.
Read my thread on here about diesel pickups in the Arctic if you want a guage as to how much abuse it takes to make them an issue.
Go buy your favorite truck and drive it. Only diff is what you put in at the gas station and the smile on your face from being able to drive a real pickup! Lol

[Trackrig]

I'm not sure where your opinion came from that diesels pick-up trucks have poor reliability??? The only one that deserved that opinion is the Ford 6.0 out of all of them.

My first diesel was an 1983 Chevy 6.2 diesel that didn't come with a turbo then. It was my daily driver for 20+ years. Boy did I abuse that truck. In the winter time I plowed our area roads with it. Had to chain up all four wheels and put a 1,000 pounds of weight in the rear due to the hills. In the summer I put an overweight TC on it. Went through two transmissions, rear ring gear, a whole front end, one front drive line and two locking hubs. The only problem the diesel engine gave me was that I lost the injector pump one winter because of poor fuel filters and a lot of excessive water in the fuel that winter.

My next and current diesel is a 2005 Ford CC F250 4X4. A lot of people have had problems with this engine - I've had very few. It's my daily driver also.

On both trucks were / are my daily driver with trips under 30 minutes going to work before I retired. Now a lot of my trips are just to the grocery store or hardware store 5 minutes away. And I live in a cold climate.

And as for comfort, this 2005 3/4T is very comfortable. I prefer it on longer trips over the DW's vehicle any day.

When I decide on a new truck, probably an F450 or F550 so I can pull my hunting rig, guess what, it's going to be a diesel again. My MH is a diesel, my hunting rig is a diesel, some of my generators are diesels and the truck I use to haul the lowboy is a diesel. The only things I own that aren't diesel are my lawn mowers and Honda generators. Oh yeah, my Jeep Wrangler isn't diesel, but those are on the way.

Bill

[FishOnOne]

I have a '12 Super Duty with the 6.7 Power Stroke with 86k miles. There's isn't a day it doesn't get driven. It's used as my daily driver to work and also tows our camper, boat, utility trailer with tractor/shredder with little effort. With this many miles I'm confident that the emission system on these Power Strokes is solid and my truck hasn't seen a repair to date. Performance wise these trucks are very impressive and because of it's reliability record I plan to keep it for many years. If I were to buy a new truck today I would without question purchase another Super Duty that's built in the USA. :B

BTW... I'm not getting monthly recall letter's in the mail or all those pesky CEL's that some diesel's experience. Won't mention brands in order not to stir the hornets nest. :W And some that are reporting their diesel's as daily drivers aren't even one year old.

[RoyBell]

Thanks for the insight everyone. I am going to check out some of the trucks down the street. Theres a GMC, Ford and Dodge all within a mile from me. I will report back my findings 🙂

[CampingN_C_]

OK, I think I'm following now. I agree with the above posts, especially about the Cummins being the slower of the three.
Just yesterday a buddy called me after test driving one and was disappointed in how it felt. He's coming from a tuned 5.9 straight drive, said his older truck felt 10x's stronger. I tried to explain that mine drives EXACTLY the same with my camper as it does empty. Lots of torque management going on too.
As said, you have to tow with it before the perma-grin shows up.
OP you're kind of in the same boat I was in coming from a 6.0 gasser and shopping new. Sure a new gasser would be a huge improvement but I asked myself this, in one year which one could I see myself regret buying?

[Houston_Remodel]

We've put 20k on the 2014 Ram 2500 diesel. Half as the daily driver for work as contractors and half towing the RV.

Best decision we've ever made. 14-16 mpg around town towing some small trailer or another usually around 2000 pounds.

[rjstractor]

It sounds like you are set on a diesel. Nothing wrong with that, you will love how it pulls. But a HD pickup will not perform empty like your Tundra, gas or diesel. Both will be considerably slower 0-60 and in the 1/4 mile, although none of them are gutless by any means. The diesel will really shine with the trailer hooked up though.

[IdaD]

I daily drive about 5 miles on city/suburban streets each day. I've only done it since June but no issues yet, nor do I expect any. The truck warms up faster than the little Nissan SUV I daily drove before I got it.

If you want a fast diesel look at a Duramax or Powerstroke. They're both faster than the Cummins. I went with a Cummins primarily because I thought it would be the most reliable engine of the three and I want the truck to last a long time. The CP4 injection pump in the Duramax and Powerstroke is problematic and very expensive to fix when it blows up. Do some googling on the subject and you'll get an eyeful. They're all three very impressive and high performing trucks so you can't make a bad choice, you just have to evaluate for yourself how serious you think that CP4 issue is versus the CP3 in the Cummins. I don't regret my choice at all - the Cummins is plenty fast, is a simpler powerplant than the others, and the truck itself is very tight and handles surprisingly well when you consider the capability it has and the mass involved.

None of the heavy duty trucks, gas or diesel, will be as quick or car-like as the faster half tons you can get these days. If that's what you're looking I'd stick with one of the grocery getters. But if you want impressive towing performance any of the three big diesels will absolutely blow any half ton out of the water in that regard.

[mtofell1]

OP, for your TT a diesel is overkill but nothing wrong with that 🙂

The step up to a 3/4 ton from your Tundra will be a real eye opener with either gas or diesel. An HD truck is just in a whole other league.

For the load you are hauling a 3/4 gas with the modern engine is a great fit. Ford, GMC/Chevy, and Ram all make great trucks. The MPG are much better than a generation ago. I see mileage close to what I got with my Duramax from my 6.4 Hemi. The winter fuel blend does kill it a bit. Honestly, I don't micro-manage my fuel but considering the extra cost of diesel at the pump I'm at least in the ballpark for total cost. The whole diesel vs. gas with purchase cost, longevity and maint. has obviously been beaten to death so I won't even offer any opinion.

My main point is to at least realize the HUGE leap from your 1/2 ton up to a 3/4 ton, whether it be gas or diesel.

[RoyBell]

lawnspecialties wrote:

RoyBell wrote:
I want both towing ability and power, which is why I am thinking Diesel. I get that the 3/4 will tow better overall, which is why I am looking at them. Point being, going down in performance to get better towing ability is not something I am willing to entertain at this point. I towed 6 times last year with my Tundra and new TT. It isn't that terrible to begin with. Just right on the edge. Taking a hit in performance when I drive it empty most of the time anyways, just doesn't make sense.

Yes I want my cake and eat it too. @ $52-60K you shouldn't have to compromise when purchasing a vehicle.

Performance? Empty? Not sure the post. Maybe I'm confused. But my 6.7 will flat out launch off the line when I floor it. Nothing can move an 8000 lb. truck like today's diesels.

That was in response to people saying to stick with the gasser HD truck. To me, performance isn't there...which doesn't make sense. They all have gas engines with higher output than they are using for a truck that weighs as much as a freight train.

[lawnspecialties]

RoyBell wrote:
I want both towing ability and power, which is why I am thinking Diesel. I get that the 3/4 will tow better overall, which is why I am looking at them. Point being, going down in performance to get better towing ability is not something I am willing to entertain at this point. I towed 6 times last year with my Tundra and new TT. It isn't that terrible to begin with. Just right on the edge. Taking a hit in performance when I drive it empty most of the time anyways, just doesn't make sense.

Yes I want my cake and eat it too. @ $52-60K you shouldn't have to compromise when purchasing a vehicle.

Performance? Empty? Not sure the post. Maybe I'm confused. But my 6.7 will flat out launch off the line when I floor it. Nothing can move an 8000 lb. truck like today's diesels.

[xaugievike]

Currently daily in a '15 Dually. An 06 srw before that.

No serious issues. The 06 was maybe getting close, but it was also 10 yrs old.

I think the maintenance cost thing is negligible and a bit of an urban legend. Fuel filters....more oil, but with syns you can go out to 10k. Yes, now def too. 2 batteries when that time comes.

Your commute in open country like that is perfect for a diesel. Find what you want and don't look back. Just keep that smirk under control the first time you tow with it.

[CampingN_C_]

:h

[RoyBell]

Greene728 wrote:

RoyBell wrote:

Greene728 wrote:
I'm not sure where you are getting your information regarding the Big 3 and their new gas engines and taking a step backwards. When comparing them with your Tundra ( which admittedly is a fine truck for it's intended purpose ) either of them with gas engine's in 3/4 or better yet 1 ton configuration will out tow the day lights out of your Tundra, and get comparable mpg while doing it. It's far more than just engine HP and torque numbers. It's bigger frame, bigger brakes, different gearing, better transmission, higher payload, better suspension, etc... No stepping backwards at all! And I'd even say that for the weight your towing and being a DD that the gas would be your best bet. Now if your planning to upgrade your RV in the future and don't mind the extra costs associated with the diesel then go for it. And yes, I'm speaking from first hand experience. Had a 2012 F-250 with the 6.2 Gasser and pull a 5th at around 9500# loaded. Truck did fine other than less than stellar gas mileage when towing which is to be expected. I know have the truck in my signature that the 250 was traded in on and it is also my DD. Towing and fuel mileage between the 2 is no comparison and apples to oranges. I had diesels up until the gas 250 since 2003 and just missed being in a diesel trucks and was just not able to adjust to the gas engine towing. So far absolutely no issues and no regrets in 3.5 month's and 3500 miles.

Re-read my post. I said step back in power.

Toyota 5.7: 381hp 5600 rpm/ 401tq 3600 rpm
GM 6.0: 360hp 5400 rpm/ 380tq 4200 rpm
Ford 6.2: 385hp 5500 rpm/405tq 4500 rpm
Dodge 6.4: 410hp 5600rpm/ 429 tq 4000 rpm

They are all right in the same ball park, but the Dodge being the highest. But, Toyotas 5.7 makes torque lower than all of them. Then add the heavier curb weight of the 3/4 ton and performance will be down compared to what I got now which , to me, is not acceptable.

I understand what you meant. But it's not just that comparison. Post the payload and towing comparisons of each. Sure, unloaded performance may not be what you are accustomed to, but towing will be significantly different and improved. You want to get off the line and from stop light to stop light faster with sub par towing, or do you want to have a all around better towing experience while still having a capable and dependable DD that will get you from point A to point B just a tick slower? You simply cannot compare gas 1\2 ton truck to gas 3\4 or 1 ton truck for towing no matter what the HP and Torque numbers say! Especially a Toyota half ton as they are notoriously weak in payload and towing ability. Best of luck with your decision.

I want both towing ability and power, which is why I am thinking Diesel. I get that the 3/4 will tow better overall, which is why I am looking at them. Point being, going down in performance to get better towing ability is not something I am willing to entertain at this point. I towed 6 times last year with my Tundra and new TT. It isn't that terrible to begin with. Just right on the edge. Taking a hit in performance when I drive it empty most of the time anyways, just doesn't make sense.

Yes I want my cake and eat it too. @ $52-60K you shouldn't have to compromise when purchasing a vehicle.

[CampingN_C_]

I drive mine daily on very short trips. A typical M-F for me is just taking my kids to school and then parking it. It does get driven on the weekends. Although it's only at 4K miles it hasn't fallen apart yet due to the short drives.
All of this weighed very heavy in my decision to buy the Cummins vs. the Hemi, which would have suited me just fine, but at the end of the day I just wanted the diesel. No regrets so far!