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.

[DWeikert]

I carry a fairly light (~2500 lbs) camper, no trailer and love my diesel. Most of my camping trips involve days on the road to get to the destination. 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.

CAN it be done with a gas engine? Absolutely. Will the drive be as relaxing as with a diesel? Not even close.

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. There are some diesel owners contemplating going back to gas for their next engine, but I don't here too many reports of people actually doing so and being happy with the change. With very few exceptions those that claim a gas engine is just as good as a diesel don't have a lot of experience with diesels.

My $0.02

[Grit_dog]

I think y’all should buy gasser HD pickups and convince everyone you know to do the same and encourage them to convince everyone they know too.....
Then maybe the price of diesel trucks will go down with their lack of popularity. And diesel fuel prices too!

The 1000s of pages of banter here and everywhere about this is just evidence that the OP should do a lot more reading and less asking.....
One objective reason if buying a used dually though, is how many used gas duallies are there to choose from? There’s no selection so good luck finding one....
The hidden message is there’s a reason WHY the diesels our number the gassers 100:1 or more.

[stevenal]

No heavy slides or DRW for me, but I like my diesel. Got tired of watching diesel trucks pass me on the freeways, and all the shifting required to get through mountain passes.

[jaycocreek]

If everyone is after power,why not just drop a Vette engine into your TC hauler..The new 1,000 HP Vette engine is warping the frame..500+ HP in the old 6.2 Vette..

Now that's a real ego ride!

[jimh406]

Paraphrasing from the video, the youtube channel owner’s truck has 6500 payload and his comparison truck has 5100 or so, but the diesel comparison truck hauls the equivalent truck camper better. In other words, the “payload” according to the sticker doesn’t tell the whole story just like many of us have been saying. Very much more noticable on a hill/grade.

[zb39]

For me. Number one is the exhaust brake. Period. It's all about safety . Everything else is secondary.

Power, hauling ability, MPG, etc. You can't take your money with you when you leave the planet. Might as well spend it.

[northshore]

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.

[Gjac]

burningman wrote:
Gas trucks do not have more useable payload.
The extra weight of a diesel engine is all on the front.
The camper weight all goes on the rear.

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.

[ppine]

Diesel engines are industrial grade engines. They are made to pull with lots of low end torque that comes on quickly. They have a large crankcase, and big displacement that allows them to take the heat of pulling. They are effecient, and long lasting engines.

I would not trade my 17 yo Ford 7.3 for a new Japanese truck.

[jimh406]

I have no problem with some of you buying your diesel for your ego but did it help? :D.

[BradW]

deltabravo wrote:
Diesel - because I haul the camper AND tow.... usually about 3500+ lbs of trailer.

Yep. We are a little over 18,000 lbs including truck, camper, jeep on trailer. Diesel power is great going up mtn passes and the exhaust break is great coming back down the other side. 🙂

bradw

[burningman]

Diesels do indeed have electronic injectors, the 5.9 just one year after that ‘02 you rebuilt has ‘em even.
I don’t think anyone said there is a gas six in a dually available new today, just that it would work.
Before anyone disagrees and thinks you “need” more than that, let me remind you GMC used to put their 305 V6 in theirs, and Ford used to put the 300 straigh-six in F600s.
I used to drive a tow truck that was a 300-six F600, it pulled a lot of weight a lot of places. Not at light-speed but it did it and didn’t break.

I used to haul my camper and trailer, totaling 22,000 pounds, with a 6.2 Chevy diesel. It had less power than the starter motor on a new truck. I did yank it out and put a big gas engine (Olds 455) in its place but even that didn’t have the power of a new V6 today.

I agree 100%, it’s all about ego, or just fun. I have a heavily hot-rodded Cummins - because it’s fun.
That truck only had barely over 200hp when it was stock and would have gotten my camper and trailer wherever it needed to go. You don’t “need” an 800 ft/lbs diesel. They’re just fun.

[NRALIFR]

valhalla360 wrote:
............

For a truck camper not towing a boat or similar...as mentioned, a gas V6 is plenty of power. Without some other justification, it's mostly about ego.

That’s insane. Where is this mythical crew cab dually pickup powered by a gas V6? For that matter, where is any pickup truck above an F150 with a V6 gas engine? There isn’t a pickup available with a V6 engine that is capable of hauling a 5000+ lb TC.

Personally, I’d have been happy to buy a KR F450 pickup with the V10 gas motor, but that’s not available either. Not interested in the cab and chassis F450’s for several good reasons.

I have high hopes that Ford’s new 7.3L gas motor makes it into F350 and F450 pickups. I’d be very interested in that.

:):)

[Lantley]

valhalla360 wrote "For a truck camper not towing a boat or similar...as mentioned, a gas V6 is plenty of power. Without some other justification, it's mostly about ego."

That's funny as if those with gas engines have no ego.

[KKELLER14K]

OK... I will bite into this one. I know my 5.9 inside and out...why? Because it was rebuilt at 53k miles for a very unfortunate failure. That is another thread but I do know it from the inside out... and that the fact is WHY is diesel fuel is more expensive(please explain why?)... but the mechanics and maintenance is what is really just the start. OK, .. with a diesel you have no plugs, no plug wires, or coils for each cylinder and no electronic injectors. On some types it is overkill with senors ...stick with a Cummins. It is a long term engine for at least 300k. Huge torque numbers that a gasser has trouble to come close to achieve or someone give me the numbers and show us all the facts.I have always been led to believe diesel is where the power is, otherwise why does it cost so much more? Trucks of the diesel caliber are dependent on the gear ratios but offer a more stable footprint with duals and offer bigger spring packs and usually bigger brakes...newer ones even offer exhaust braking... and much more. Mine is just at 99k miles and is an 02...It will be my last...pretty sure. Look at my profile...it explains everything.