Should I join the 3/4 ton diesel club$$$$?

[doonkin]

Hi-advice please.
Should I buy a 3/4 ton deisel. I am towing a 5500lb trailer- then add average cargo for average famx2 kids.
I'm towing w a Nissan Titan w 7000lb max. I feel the need to upgrade to a 3/4 2500 diesel dodge/ford/gmc. They are sooo expensive, and I'm not in construction so I can't write any of it off tax wise?

Short story. Bought a 154bh, then realizing I needed a bigger truck than the fams suv- rapidly pulled the trigger on a Nissan Titan. Worked perfect. Within 6 months we admitted we'd bought to small a camper- I went to trade for a 184bh- but
way bigger w a 23mbh. 2000 lb to 5500lbs overnight.
I've towed the big camper for a year now w no problems except for a few times(very hi wind- up big hills w air on on full). I service the **** out of it even tho there's only 15000 miles on it.
I'm now looking to bigger, farther journeys( weeks on end, 1000+ mile trips.
Bottom line. I'm paid up in full and relatively happy, but know I'm pushing/asking a lot from my1/2ton.
Should I go 50k into debt n buy the inevitable diesel monster?

Sorry for being long winded��

[ecksdude]

So long as your vehicle is reliable and you are towing within GCWR and GVWR specs, it's mostly about preference.

I can say from experience, going from a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton Diesel with a 5K trailer is a night/day change of experience. I honesty don't think you need Diesel, though, especially if money is a concern. A 3/4 ton Gas truck will pull 5K very nicely.

I did opt for the Diesel, and I don't regret it for a moment, but then again, the money wasn't much of a concern for me at the time. Also note, Diesels not only cost more to buy, they cost more to run. The maintenance is not cheap, nor is the fuel these days.

The right answer is the one that lets you sleep peacefully at night.

[clubhouse]

NO -- you should not go in debt to buy a diesel.

Your 23MBH is a decent sized travel trailer, but not so big it would automaticlly push you to a 3/4.

Don't get me wrong, pulling with a diesel is night and day improvement over a gasser. When I made the change I was able to find a 5 year old duramax with 85k miles, the truck was exactly what I wanted and I got it for ~$25k. After selling my 1500 it was pretty easy to save up the difference so I could get the truck without debt. There is no way I would go out a finance $50-$60k on a new truck.

[doonkin]

Thank you guys for quelling my concerns.
I took the 1/2ton Titan to a tranny specialist when I bought the bigger rig n he said don't worry, there's enough fans on that to cool the fires of mordor
But then you'll get to a campsite n you'll get the 'huh-towing THAT w a 1/2 ton from the guy w the tank.
I got into this TT lifestyle to spend 20k n givr a great experience for my kids, not spend their collage fund.

On the other hand, I hate pulling 80% capacity. That's why I keep looking for a great deal on the 3/4 diesel.

It's pushing ang pulling me(pun intended)

[Racinforthefinish]

For you it is a choice only you have to make. I have the 23rb and pull it with a Toyota Tundra by choice. I also have a F350 dually diesel that I use sometimes.With my rv I feel no difference in towing with either truck. The Toyota averages 9 mpg and the F350 11.Considering the price of diesel it costs about the same to drive either one.

[SparkDr]

If the financial resources are there and long trips are in the future, I'd be looking at a used 2500 gasser to tug my 27DSRL. I've never been a diesel guy and would be hesitant to go that route myself, but to each his own. My local dealer has a certified pre-owned 2015 Silverado 4-door 2500 with the 6.0 and 467 miles on it with a window price of $37995. By the time negotiating's all done on something like that, it's going to fall into the same territory as my 2010 1500 cost me as new back then. For the difference in quality of tow and daily driveability, I don't see how this wouldn't be the best way to go for my next truck.

[Darin]

When my wife and I upgraded from a tent trailer to our first TT back in 2004 we had a Chevy Tahoe for our TV. It did a pretty good job of towing our new 24FB. Later, that same year, I bought a used 2001 F-250 7.3L Diesel. It was overkill for our 24' trailer, but what a difference in towing. I am a firm believer in Diesel. So much easier! Fast forward to 2015.....We had been wanting to upgrade to a roomier, more couple friendly floor plan. Everything finally worked out and we sold our old 24 and bought a brand new 29RKS. I am now testing the limits of my old 3/4 ton's GCWR/GVWR and am wishing that I would have bought a F-350. I can't afford to upgrade my truck at this point so the 250 will have to do.

My point is that, like most other families, we got started in RV'ing as a way to spend some quality time with the kids as they grew up. Now that 2/3 of them are grown and gone we are finding that this is a pretty fun "couples" hobby also. Think about your future plans when you buy your TV it may save you some hassle down the road. Just my 2 cents worth.

[etex211]

I'll probably get ridiculed for bringing this up, but I'll go ahead and do it anyway....

I know several guys that are getting rid of diesel trucks and going back to gas. These are guys that work these trucks for a living. The 6.4 Ram is a game changer.

The federal government has pretty much ruined diesel trucks in this nation.

[doonkin]

I just assumed that's the way it always went, looking at all the 3/4 tons (both gas/diesel) in the campground. I know diesel is way pricier/somewhat bumpier ride/expensive maintence...BUT cheaper fuel and can take on any road without breaking a sweat and will run for 500,000 miles n more.
I didn't realize the 6.4 hemi engine was such a competitor efficiency wise.

[Hattie]

SO glad we upgraded to a GMC Z71 diesel, the off-road hill descent means hardly any braking and as the DW, far less white-knuckling and more 'enjoying the view'! Gotta love the "exhaust brake" and "trailering" functions, they made tackling California I-5 (Grapevine), Yosemite's CA-140, and Santa Cruz CA-17 a breeze. BTW, the package we got gave us a gorgeous interior - seats 5 and feels like a sedan.

[Heymon]

I think you may be getting caught up in a bit of the hype. I tow a 2008 29BHS with a 2002 Yukon XL. I know that is pushing it for some, but I am comfortable with it and really have not had any trouble. Both the TV and the trailer are paid for. I can't imagine what kind of improvement I would have to have to make spending 50K (plus interest over time) worth the difference, especially towing a trailer as light as yours. I know you are planning longer trips (I'm just a weekender) but I would just drive your paid for vehicle as long as it can go. In the meantime, instead of making monthly payments on a new truck, make the same payments to yourself (don't cheat!). By the time your current TV blows up (if it ever does) you'll have amassed a small fortune that you can apply to a replacement of your choice (or you can use the fund to make repairs to your current setup as you go). I am sure you will travel easier knowing you have money sitting there, which will help you ignore whatever shortcomings you think you have right now.

[MIFL19H]

When I had to replace my Expedition El this summer after it was totaled (not my fault, and it was paid for) we had just sold our X19H with plans to go a little bigger with a TT vs Hybrid, prior to the need to replace it I was limited on how much larger we could go on a camper. The Expediton towed well but I was worried how it would do with an extra 2000+ lbs although it was rated for 9,000 on paper but not real world.

I loved my EL as it had a ton of room in the back which I used even when not camping, a Truck really would do me no good unless I put a Bed Cap on it and if I got a truck I believed I should get a 3/4 and if a 1/2 ton was the only option I might as well stay with an Expedition EL. I did not want or need a Diesel as they are not like the ol 7.3's from the old days, to much stuff to go wrong and big $ to fix, my BIL learned this, but he needs one for his work. So I thought a 3/4 was out of the question and almost settled for another used Expedition which would have been paid in full again.

Somehow I ran across the 6.2L section on the Ford Trucks Forum (I wanted another Ford product) and found out that the Gas engines held there own for any towing I would ever do and that the Tranny was the same one they bolted to the Diesel as well as the rest of the Truck was the same mechanically.

So I did more research and read all the forums I could and watched all the towing videos I could find and decided that was the route I needed to go. I never thought I would ever have the opportunity to get an F250 but although I have not had the chance to tow with it yet I have put 7,000 miles on it so far and am so happy I got it. We were out again today looking at campers and it was so nice not to have to worry about being able to handle any of the Jayco's we were looking at, the largest being 28BHBE down to a 24MBH Whitehawk. Just because I got a big truck does not mean I want to overdo it, feels good that I have a lot of truck left with less worry on if I even had enough.

I had told myself if I did ever get a F250 I would get a New one and optioned how I wanted it, so I did buy New which hurt $$ and I did put an ARE Z Series Cap on it with Bed Rug which hurt $$ even more but now I got the right truck for hopefully a long time, even though I did have to finance some. It is a tough decision to go from paid for to not paid for, it will be 10 yrs old when my son is 19 and his first truck (that's how I sold myself on it ).

Moral is the Gas engines in any brand of 3/4" are a good choice and allows you to stay in the 75% range of the trucks capacity which is equal to a 1/2 tons capacity. Remember it's not so much the Engine but all the other mechanicals that are so much stronger and heavier.

On a side note I drive 114 miles a day, 110 is highway, for work and have been averaging 15.5 mpg keeping around 65mph on Cruise, my Expy averaged 19. Expy was 2WD, F250 is 4WD. It does not get EcoBoost mileage but I also don't have to ever worry about blowing up a Turbo or 2.

Don't be afraid to get a Gas 3/4... Good Luck with your decision, as you can see I have been there.

[Donedroolin]

I say if your truck is towing your rig good stay with it. That looks like a good combination. Having had a Ram 2500 with hemi , that towed good. The diesel is like night and day ,on hills with the a.c. cranking. It's nice. However I do find it difficult when towing to find a gas station that sells diesel. Sometimes you gotta travel miles off the highway to find one. I also have a 2012 Ford F250 with the 6.2 liter. It does toe very well. Any gas 250 would tow what you have and then some. Your setup works don't go into debt. The book of the club month to the bank is terrible

[Hattie]

Originally Posted by Donedroolin

I do find it difficult when towing to find a gas station that sells diesel. Sometimes you gotta travel miles off the highway to find one.

Costco is now selling diesel; I emailed them on their roll-out plan and they pointed me to their site ... Google Costco+diesel to see locations.

[nwminnesota]

I didn't pay anywhere near 50k for my diesel. Buy a slightly used one I got mine with only 14k miles on it. I use it as my daily driver. Fuel cost difference is a wash compare the fuel economy with the big gas motor in a 3/4 ton. If i just drive freeway unloaded 20 mpg I avg 17.7 mpgs using it as my daily driver. I never had a problem finding diesel at the pumps but if your worried about that just fill up just before you get off the interstate that should give you a 600mile range. If in farm country you'll always find diesel fuel. I don't need a diesel for my trailer but boy do I look forward to towing it. Exhaust brake is sweet and I like trying to find steep hill to pull up. It is a super fun truck to drive. They hold there value really well. Fyi I did compare the price of f150 ecoboost with max tow and payload to my 8 month old used diesel and the price was a wash. My advice buy the diesel it'll put a smile on your face but don't pay 50k buy used should find one that is hardly used for 38-40k. Good luck. Fyi sorry for spelling and grammar errors i didn't proof read...

[therealsafetya]

I just got into this last summer, bought a used 2013 26BH, which was the first time I have ever towed anything. I had a 2014 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew with 3.21 gears. I promptly installed airbags (cheap to do, got an Airlift kit on Amazon for $150 and installed myself) to help with the ride. Got into it for the same reasons as most - young kids, fun family activity, and also good to have for the dirt bike trips we do a few times a year.

Two weeks ago I traded in the Ram 1500 for a 2015 Ram 3500 Laramie Crew with a Cummins. While the 1500 managed the trailer well enough, like you I was at the 80% capacity (+/-) and when I looked at putting in more than one dirt bike in the truck I was quickly at my payload capacity with bikes, tongue weight and people.

Is the one ton overkill for what I am doing? Yup. But I'll never have capacity and capability concerns again no matter what trailer I have in the future. We are really enjoying this and this upgrade has paved the way for a pretty care free towing experience (from a "how heavy am I" perspective, not safety! ). And, I just plain love trucks!

[cekkk]

I'd go with the 3/4 and lose sleep over something else. If you want a diesel and have the money, then get one. I've had a few and love them. But I have to say, they're getting pretty expensive for what's now pretty much an EPA mis-engineered engine. I've been trying to talk myself into one for two years and just can't make myself give up my 7.3 for a few nice whistles and bells at $70k with an engine that needs expensive VitaJuice along with the fuel to satisfy the government.

But I'm no expert. Caterpillar is, though, and they've punted rather than play the never ending emissions games coming out of Washington.

[nwminnesota]

One thing I forgot to mention after buying the diesel you'll be wanting a new camper because now you can tow it!

[clubhouse]

Originally Posted by nwminnesota

One thing I forgot to mention after buying the diesel you'll be wanting a new camper because now you can tow it!

Exactly what we did. Compromised on first TT to accomdate our tow vehicle. Decided after a year I needed a new TV. Went for the 3/4 diesel, then 6 months later decided to get the TT we originally wanted. Definitely not the most cost effective way. Buying the durmax and 29QBH used helped, but I still lost considerable money doing it this way opposed to just getting the right TV up front.

[doonkin]

Trying to consolidate all the great, but different opinions on diesel or not. I'll stay put for now(no intention of going bigger than 23mbh). someday it'll be time to get a replacement truck then I'll look into these choices again, n def not go 50k+ on something brand new.

Interesting to see new 2016 Nissan Titan diesel. Kind of in between 1/2 n 3/4 ton.

I feel much more capable about buying a moderately more powerful truck (gas or diesel) sometime in the future.
Thank you all