Diesel vs. Gas

[Sandybar]

I'm in the market for a new TV, and currently have a Chevy 2500 with a 6.0 gas motor. Will retire next year and need a new TV. I will be going cross country so will be pulling on long hills, Rockies etc. I'm pulling a 28 foot trailer weighs 6800 fully loaded.

I know my gas motor will get pretty warm when I go up long steep grades.

I think I want a diesel but price is 8k -10k more than a diesel. I can buy a lot of gas for that.

Pros and Cons?

Thanks

[Iraqvet05]

This topic has been beat to death repeatedly on this forum. Everyone towing a heavy trailer seems to have their own opinion on what works best for them. Buy what you can afford and can afford to maintain. Here is just one thread on this: https://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/f...gas-35141.html

[Johnny Lightning]

As far as pulling goes it's all about torque. It seems that most folk go with a Dodge with a Cummins. I've seen it said that there are a couple of transmission options, an Aisin and a Dodge but I'll leave that to other folks. I do know that a friend of mine who is a diesel mechanic told me that as far as he was concerned a Cummins was the way to go. Now having said that, you have a pretty steep price differential and a pretty big maintenance differential. In my world if you're going to be pulling a lot in the mountains I'd go with a diesel but if it's just occasionally in the mountains and most towing will be on flat land I save my money and stick with the gas. In either case I'd make sure that I get a transmission cooler (not just the transmission lines going to the radiator). This will help the longevity of your transmission and keep some of the heat out of the engine. Just my two cents.

[oldmanAZ]

Oh, boy! This is endlessly debated on this site.

It seems you've been around a couple of years so, as a start, I'd suggest grabbing the beverage of your choice and using the search function.

[cfisher523]

I've owned both and owned them specifically for towing travel trailers and fifth wheels. I will say up front, a diesel is whole lot more work and expense to maintain and operate. That being said, if I went back to towing I would go diesel without question.

You will get slightly better mileage with a diesel, but the fuel costs are higher (see above). The biggest difference I noticed was in how hard (or not) the diesel works to tow. Want to use cruise control? Go for it! Want to have a conversation without talking over the engine? No problem. Especially with a trailer your size, the truck won't even know its there and if the truck isn't working hard it'll last a long time. Braking is better too, most now come with an electronic exhaust brake, but the engine braking alone is nice.

I have nothing against gas trucks, but when it comes to long haul (cross-country) towing it'll be hard to beat the diesel for overall capability and confidence.

[Sandybar]

Ok Thanks guys, I will use the search function and read the link provided by Iragvet 05.

I'm sure I will get my answers from other already available information.

Thanks

[goducks]

Towed a 7300 lbs TT and a 9300 lbs 5er with both. 2500 CTD and now a 2500 6.4, 4.10. No comparison between a gasser and a diesel for towing. The diesel pulls stronger and stops better while getting 11 mpg compared to 8.5-9 mpg.
If you have the $$ for the diesel then go past the gasser and get a diesel.
You will love how easy it tows in any conditions.
While I loved towing with my 2012 CTD, I hated winters with it. Long warm ups and regens killed my disire to keep it. I short hop a lot when not towing so I went back to a gasser. Had the CTD for 6 years. I didn't want to spend the extra $9K for another CTD so I went gasser. So far I'm loving it. No it doesn't tow as easy as the CTD, but the majority of time I'm not towing, so that was my basis for switching.

[TCNashville]

Originally Posted by goducks

but the majority of time I'm not towing, so that was my basis for switching.

I traded in my '12 PSD for my current gasser for this same reason and I was getting tired of the maintenance on the diesel but it sure pulled great.

[PistonSlap]

Most new diesels are going to be way overkill for that light of a trailer. 6800lbs is in the 1/2 ton range of things. Your question on gas vs diesel, I can say this as I worked on a lot of both. Diesels take a lot of oil 10-16qts vs 5-8qts. Diesel emissions system also require DEF and they use some of the fuel you put in the tank to burn off soot. The cost of diesel vs gas is something to consider. My opinion on diesel trucks, if you can get one without all the DPF and stuff go that route. If you're looking for new or newish I would go gas. My little brother pulls there 23-foot toy hauler with a Tahoe and says the 6 speed trans and the 5.3 works well. His trips are mostly to Glamis in the winter and have hardly any hills. Summer, he heads up to Flagstaff and there are a few hills that slow him down but overall he says it works. Like others have said pick what you like, as long as the tow rating is capable you should be set.

[01tundra]

We pull a 3,800 lb trailer with a 6.6L diesel and wouldn't trade it for anything.

It's a joy to drive pulling or not.

[Iraqvet05]

Go big or go home. I actually saw a semi towing a 5er while we were in Colorado last year.

[jbrnigan]

Towed with "big block" gas trucks for 30 years. Since 95% of my mileage is towing, 7-8K mi per year, I decided on diesel for the performance. Worth every penny of the up charge for the diesel engine. As pointed out earlier, maint. costs are higher, but I only change the oil once a year. All things being equal, if you're not towing "heavy", towing with a diesel is like a present to yourself - kind of like adding every option to you RV, do you need it or just want it.

[Seann45]

Clean the rad inside and out and dont try to be the first on to the top of the hill and your 6.0 will work just fine.. also make sure the fan is working properly.

[Rustic Eagle]

Sandybar,

Welcome to JOF

Originally Posted by Sandybar

Ok Thanks guys, I will use the search function and read the link provided by Iragvet 05. I'm sure I will get my answers from other already available information. Thanks

The JOF search function is the gateway to a wealth of information..., but so are current threads/replies from new, junior, and senior members that may not have participated in prior threads of the same topic

In my case I stayed with a gasser after considering going diesel......., decided I would match present/future TT purchases within my present TV's capabilities. I don't have a 5th wheel anywhere on my long-term 'want' list.

My present TT has a gross weight of 7,200lbs, and my prior TT had a gross weight of 8,600lbs......, both towed by 2500HD's with the 6.0L gasser. I did find that with my newer 2500HD 6.0L gasser and tranny it delivers more towing power than my retired 2500HD 6.0L drivetrain. If my travels were regularly dealing with mountain towing I may have put more thought into a diesel, but it would have been hard to give up a 2500HD 6.0L gasser that did just fine.

Bob

[Jacotim]

I looked at the current diesel offerings and growing up a truck drivers son was pro diesel power. I had a 2001 F-350 w/ 7.3 Powerstroke that was fantastic. I think all 3 major brands are really nice today however the initial cost and expensive maintenance (especially the emissions) were a turn off to me. I live in Arizona and tow a TT that weighs 7550 dry through the mountains (6- 7 % grades) no problem w/ my 2017 GMC 2500 HD 6.0L 4:10
I'm not trying to persuade anyone into buying gas but just giving my input.

[JeremiahM]

I'm a diesel fan myself, there is no doubt they are far better for towing and hauling, with that said if it's all just local towing, it's hard to justify the cost of a diesel, gas trucks are far better than in the past and will get it done. So bbn I guess if you plan on traveling more, or longer distance, diesel. If it's just local weekend trips, gas

On edit, just re-read OP, cross country is your goal, IMHO it's a no-brainer, go diesel.

[Jacotim]

Originally Posted by JeremiahM

I'm a diesel fan myself, there is no doubt they are far better for towing and hauling, with that said if it's all just local towing, it's hard to justify the cost of a diesel, gas trucks are far better than in the past and will get it done. So bbn I guess if you plan on traveling more, or longer distance, diesel. If it's just local weekend trips, gas

On edit, just re-read OP, cross country is your goal, IMHO it's a no-brainer, go diesel.

I agree, if you need a truck for heavy duty work on a very regular basis the diesel engine is the ticket.

[Fleetman]

Have had both, currently 6.7 diesel F250, awesome difference. If you go the diesel route, don't buy new, let the first owner pay the $9k premium. Lot of factors to consider. Good luck.

[schrederman]

I did the diesel thing in '14 and the Ram/Cummins has been OK. No, I didn't say perfect. I've had several problems that were fixed under warranty once and under recall several times. However, my TT weighs around 7,400# and my truck pulls it very well. My trips take me through the D/FW Area and traffic sucks. But when on the road it maintains 65 mph without downshifting and having the engine screaming at 4,500 rpm for several minutes on slight grade changes. The engine braking is very nice, too. I do my own maintenance for the most part and that keeps the costs down pretty well. I get considerably better mileage towing and about the same just driving. When towing with my last truck (Ford 5.0), with a lighter trailer I got between 7 and 9 mpg. With this diesel towing over 1,000# more I am getting between 12 and 14 mpg. So.... as others have said, I'll never buy another gas truck unless I'm not towing my TT anymore.

[OldSoldier_5]

But you can’t buy that performance in any gas engine.