Why diesel trucks?

[Gjac]

Judging from my other two posts a lot of folks that responded drive DRW diesel trucks to carry the heavier multi slide campers. I understand the DRW for heavier payload but why diesel? Just looking at Fords web site the gas models have a greater payload capacity than diesel models, I am guessing because they are lighter. I am trying not to have to buy a DRW diesel to use just when camping a few weeks out of the year. Is there another reason to buy a diesel truck such as durability that drives this decision.

[work2much]

jimh425 wrote:
Seems like a few here don’t understand why diesels need an engine brake and a gasoline engine doesn’t. Read the link below if you want to understand it, or don’t. 😄

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_braking

Only recently have consumer diesel trucks had exhaust brakes. I don't think any class 3,4 or 5 trucks have real engine brakes regulating exhaust valving in the head. My Ram has an exhaust brake. I think that's what Ford and GM use as well. This is different than a "jake brake" They are better for sure using up to 75% of the trucks engine performance to slow the engine rotation.

Diesels do not need an engine or exhaust brake. I have owned a few and the only one that has an exhaust brake is my current one. The others managed to not run into things and still move stuff.

Gas engine downshifting and the manifold vacuum created to resist the engine is nothing like the resistive force that exhaust brakes provide.

[SoonDockin]

Who doesn't love that feeling when you grab the pump handle when filling up and discover you now have a nice slather of smelly diesel on you hand. 🙂

[jimh406]

Seems like a few here don’t understand why diesels need an engine brake and a gasoline engine doesn’t. Read the link below if you want to understand it, or don’t. 😄

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_braking

[Lantley]

time2roll wrote:

DWeikert wrote:
Anybody that hasn't worried about engine temp when climbing mountain passes at speed in summertime hasn't done so in a pickup or RV with with a gas engine. Likewise anybody that thinks a gas engine has a decent engine break has never driven a diesel.

If you are saying a gasser tends to overheat climbing hills and cannot control speed on the decent.... I completely disagree.

I with time2roll there are no absolutes.
A diesel can overheat and cause worry going up the mountain.
Going down an exhaust brake is better but you can down shift your way down with a gasser. A gasser does not have to be a runaway train

[time2roll]

DWeikert wrote:
Anybody that hasn't worried about engine temp when climbing mountain passes at speed in summertime hasn't done so in a pickup or RV with with a gas engine. Likewise anybody that thinks a gas engine has a decent engine break has never driven a diesel.

If you are saying a gasser tends to overheat climbing hills and cannot control speed on the decent.... I completely disagree.

[wnjj]

DWeikert wrote:
No, it was just the way the truck was geared and how it responded to loads. In hindsight I realize I probably could have minimized the gear searching buy downshifting out of overdrive when I approached any grades. But I have yet to need to do that when I made the trip in a diesel. Anybody that hasn't worried about engine temp when climbing mountain passes at speed in summertime hasn't done so in a pickup or RV with with a gas engine. Likewise anybody that thinks a gas engine has a decent engine break has never driven a diesel.

Keep in mind the OP asked about a gas engine for TC hauling which isn't even in the same league as heavy trailer towing. I have none of the concerns you describe with a 4k lb camper, 2k lb trailer and a gas engine. The cooling system is designed to handle it and it doesn't get warm. The grade braking does just fine on downhills with that light load.

Much of this may be due to the engine (8.1) and transmission (Allison) which seem to perform exactly as I'd like them to. It also has more HP and most of the torque of the diesel option in its time. That experience may not be the same with other setups.

Mileage? That's a given win for the diesel. I get about 8 to 8.5 the couple times I've bothered to check with a mix of 65-70 on the freeway and 55-60 on secondary roads.

[slickrock_steve]

All I can relate to is....with my 1971 Eldorado camper, at almost 3800 lbs, I would NEVER try to pull the sierras, or go up even the San Gabriels with my horses in tow, and the camper on.....Linda and I did go thru 9 states with our load, from California, thru Nevada, up thru Utah, to Wyoming. Then across Wyoming camping with the horses, to South Dakota and Crazy Horse, then Mt Rushmore, and Custer State park, off to Yellowstone, and out to Montana, then to Idaho, and into Washington. Stayed with friends camping and riding in Washington, Montana, and when it came time to head south, into Oregon, and ride at Clear lake, then to the Redwoods, and down the coastal side of Kommifornia.
My 05 Cummins in my Ram did not miss a beat, and even got over 11 mpg coming across Wyoming, and east side of Oregon. and Home.

[DWeikert]

wnjj wrote:

DWeikert wrote:
I made the trip before with a gas engine and just a cap on the back to sleep under and it was far from stress free. Between the truck searching for a gear on modest slopes, to keeping an eye on engine temps trying to pull the the mountain passes out west then hoping I don't burn up the brakes keeping speed under control on the downhill side, not to mention the pathetic gas mileage, as long as I have a camper I'll have a diesel.

If you had all those issues with only a cap on the back, there was something terribly wrong with your truck.

No, it was just the way the truck was geared and how it responded to loads. In hindsight I realize I probably could have minimized the gear searching buy downshifting out of overdrive when I approached any grades. But I have yet to need to do that when I made the trip in a diesel. Anybody that hasn't worried about engine temp when climbing mountain passes at speed in summertime hasn't done so in a pickup or RV with with a gas engine. Likewise anybody that thinks a gas engine has a decent engine break has never driven a diesel.

[JIMNLIN]

This is an interesting thought. I was just comparing the payload of a F-350 SRW with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs in gas and diesel. The 6.8L gas has a payload of 4000 lbs and the 6L diesel 3500 lbs both in a crew cab. Are you saying the 500 lb difference is meaningless because of weight distribution? If so for someone like me who never even owned a truck this is a big revelation.

The payload sticker isn't used for any legal weight purpose as far as how much load can a truck safely/legally carry/stop or start.

looking at fleet Ford specs for a 250 or 350 srw there is only around 4 lb up to 175 lbs difference in a gas vs diesel in the same exact trucks unloaded rear axle weight.
F350 srw has 13 different gvwr ranging from 10000 lb up to 11500 lbs. Ford doesn't and isn't about to mfg 13 different truck frames/trannies/front and rear axles/etc for each gvwr.
fleet ford clicky
click on vehicle specifications.
Spend a afternoon looking at all Fords mechanical specs for the F250 and F350 SRW trucks. Then you too will see how silly those gvwr based payload sticker numbers can be in most cases.

[wnjj]

DWeikert wrote:
I made the trip before with a gas engine and just a cap on the back to sleep under and it was far from stress free. Between the truck searching for a gear on modest slopes, to keeping an eye on engine temps trying to pull the the mountain passes out west then hoping I don't burn up the brakes keeping speed under control on the downhill side, not to mention the pathetic gas mileage, as long as I have a camper I'll have a diesel.

If you had all those issues with only a cap on the back, there was something terribly wrong with your truck.

[jaycocreek]

I suck gas like there’s no tomorrow in my 2017 F450 6.8L V10 gasser.

Humm..I got 10+ in my old 460 an over 11 mpg loaded with my currant 460..A lot of people around here only have a pickup for a vehicle and a diesel makes no sense as a grocery getter/daily user..IMO

[Kayteg1]

Gjac wrote:
...What I learned from it was that the gas model had a much greater payload capacity. To me that would be a biggest factor in determining what to buy, apparently some think other wise and I was trying to figure out why that why I asked the question? His truck had a payload capacity of 6500 lbs vs 5000 lbs for diesel. Not quite an apples to apples comparison, his was a regular cab the diesel was a crew cab. From looking at other sites, if you compare the same cab types there seems to be at least 500 lbs difference.

You learned wrong.
The gas models have bigger TAXABLE payload, but TC don't ride on taxes. They do ride mostly on rear axle and with the same rear axle on both - you have it exactly the same.
Heavy engine in this case help in evening the handling.
That said, diesels tend to have heavier differential. Think about it?

[Gjac]

northshore wrote:
https://youtu.be/TnM1ooYKN_Y
The you tube video is of Taylor Dzaman he has a camper with a gas chevy truck, in this video he has a friend has the same camper but with a diesel chevy , he drives both and gives his opinion.
This guy has lots of truck camper videos, mostly I would say they are good and seem pretty unbiased.
The idea that the diesel will give you more longevity with more miles is probably true but..... I would not get all excited about it, gas trucks these days seem to go 200k plus. Most trucks, especially the ones used for recreational use will wear out the truck before the engine.

I had seen this video several months and thought is was very good. What I learned from it was that the gas model had a much greater payload capacity. To me that would be a biggest factor in determining what to buy, apparently some think other wise and I was trying to figure out why that why I asked the question? His truck had a payload capacity of 6500 lbs vs 5000 lbs for diesel. Not quite an apples to apples comparison, his was a regular cab the diesel was a crew cab. From looking at other sites, if you compare the same cab types there seems to be at least 500 lbs difference.

[Kayteg1]

DWeikert wrote:


I think you'll find most people that have tried diesel won't go back to gas as long as there's a load in the bed. ,,,,

I started driving diesel sedans 20 years ago and will not go back to gasoline one.
Love 800-900 miles range on single tank. With low cost of driving those things, I "want" to drive it.
Aging of fuel is not a concern as well.
On some vehicles takes me 1/2 a year to use the fuel in tank. With gas that might be a concern.

[Area13]

I will be curious to see what these new big gas engines coming out or that are already out there are gettin for MPG in real world hauling and towing, not sticker MPG’s. I suck gas like there’s no tomorrow in my 2017 F450 6.8L V10 gasser. When I eventually buy a new super duty WAY down the road. It will be diesel for sure, or electric.