Gas or Diesel

gunafulltime

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Joined
Aug 12, 2019
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699
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CG
We're looking for a fresh take on gas or diesel decision-making.

Vehicle Use:
  • We want to order a 1 ton SRW truck.
  • We travel 3-4 times per year. The truck will sit under a cover most of the year. It will not be a grocery, supply, or home project truck.
  • Our trips are 400-800 miles.
  • From Birmingham, Alabama, we travel pretty flat Southern interstates and highways (mainly I59, I65, and Highways 31 and 231.
  • Our trailer weighs 7,500-8,000lbs.
  • We may take 1 trip to Connecticut and 1 trip to Idaho to visit family.
  • We're likely to drive the truck 2000-3,500 miles per year. If we take the longer CT and ID trips, those years would be higher, but we would also not take as many trips those years (if any at all).
Questions:
  • Does this warrant the extra cost of a diesel? Money is an issue for our fixed income and savings. We tend to think the diesel is not needed, and we would not get a decent ROI out of the diesel. However, there is so much diesel or bust discussion out there that we thought we'd ask the JOF experts.
  • Understanding that any vehicle will suffer from a lack of use, is it true that diesels suffer more than gassers? If they do, what problems does a lack of use cause with a diesel?
 
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We're looking for a fresh take on gas or diesel decision-making.

Vehicle Use:
  • We want to order a 1 ton SRW truck.
  • We travel 3-4 times per year. The truck will sit under a cover most of the year. It will not be a grocery, supply, or home project truck.
  • Our trips are 400-800 miles.
  • From Birmingham, Alabama, we travel pretty flat Southern interstates and highways (mainly I59, I65, and Highways 31 and 231.
  • Our trailer weighs 7,500-8,000lbs.
  • We may take 1 trip to Connecticut and 1 trip to Idaho to visit family.
  • We're likely to drive the truck 2000-3,500 miles per year. If we take the longer CT and ID trips, those years would be higher, but we would also not take as many trips those years (if any at all).
Questions:
  • Does this warrant the extra cost of a diesel? Money is an issue for our fixed income and savings. We tend to think the diesel is not needed, and we would not get a decent ROI out of the diesel. However, there is so much diesel or bust discussion out there that we thought we'd ask the JOF experts.
  • Understanding that any vehicle will suffer from a lack of use, is it true that diesels suffer more than gassers? If they do, what problems does a lack of use cause with a diesel?

Based on what you said I see no reason at all to buy a diesel. I pull our 38’ Jayco travel trailer (around 10,500 lbs on travel day) with a F250 with the 7.3 gas engine and the truck does an excellent job pulling our camper. I’ve had diesel’s too but todays gas engines (especially the 7.3) have a lot of pulling power.
 
As much as I love my diesel truck, especially for pulling big things. However, from the description of what your needs are I don't think you need a diesel. Diesels like to be used and love to pull. Your money would be better spent on a gaser with the right rear end ratio (4.10 or 4.30). Just my thoughts.
 
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We're looking for a fresh take on gas or diesel decision-making.

Vehicle Use:
  • We want to order a 1 ton SRW truck.
  • We travel 3-4 times per year. The truck will sit under a cover most of the year. It will not be a grocery, supply, or home project truck.
  • Our trips are 400-800 miles.
  • From Birmingham, Alabama, we travel pretty flat Southern interstates and highways (mainly I59, I65, and Highways 31 and 231.
  • Our trailer weighs 7,500-8,000lbs.
  • We may take 1 trip to Connecticut and 1 trip to Idaho to visit family.
  • We're likely to drive the truck 2000-3,500 miles per year. If we take the longer CT and ID trips, those years would be higher, but we would also not take as many trips those years (if any at all).
Questions:
  • Does this warrant the extra cost of a diesel? Money is an issue for our fixed income and savings. We tend to think the diesel is not needed, and we would not get a decent ROI out of the diesel. However, there is so much diesel or bust discussion out there that we thought we'd ask the JOF experts.
  • Understanding that any vehicle will suffer from a lack of use, is it true that diesels suffer more than gassers? If they do, what problems does a lack of use cause with a diesel?


I had gassers and 6000 lb trailers and they did fine. I had two diesels and a 14K 5th wheel and would not have tired to tow it with a gasser. You are not into the diesel range with that load or the times of the year and mileage that you would tow.

Diesels obviously are more expensive to operate and are designed to be driven, not sit. An oil change is in my Duramaxs was 10 quarts and a filter. The transmission and other fluids need to be changed whether you drive it or not. Now there is Def which is an extra expense. A one ton is going to be more expense, more issues with housing and try to take that to the grocery store. Yes I know you said you wouldn't but your wife will take the car and you will need make a trip to the hardware store and wish you had a smaller vehicle when you try to park it.



If you are planning to upgrade in the future go diesel if not you don't need one.
 
A one ton is going to be more expense, more issues with housing and try to take that to the grocery store. Yes I know you said you wouldn't but your wife will take the car and you will need make a trip to the hardware store and wish you had a smaller vehicle when you try to park it.



If you are planning to upgrade in the future go diesel if not you don't need one.

Thank you, everyone. CAG, we are keeping our 1/2 ton for me and my projects. It's a long bed that's in excellent condition. The new rig would be a dedicated tow vehicle.
 
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Can some of y'all help with the specific problems that diesels have when they are not run very much? And, how much is enough for a diesel to stay free of these problems?
 
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Can some of y'all help with the specific problems that diesels have when they are not run very much? And, how much is enough for a diesel to stay free of these problems?


Not sure I can help there and some may be able to. Mine was basically a daily driver although being retired it only got 5 to 7 K a year and was never a maintenance problem but even at that it still needs the fluids maintained. Nothing broke because it sat more than not. And I loved my Duramax, it made Fords and Dodges look pretty puny pulling mountain roads. Yes, that is me with a 14K 5th wheel on your ass, move over!
 
make sure you take care of the fuel if it will sit that much.
 
Small trailer, not a lot of hills and irregular use I would 100% recommend a gas engine. How many miles would it take to break even on the purchase of the diesel truck, and how many years would it take you to get there, and what is the time/value of that money?
 
Small trailer, not a lot of hills and irregular use I would 100% recommend a gas engine. How many miles would it take to break even on the purchase of the diesel truck, and how many years would it take you to get there, and what is the time/value of that money?

We've been thinking the same thing, Spoon. Generally speaking, we agree that it's a good idea to go a little bigger/more capable because we don't know what we may need or want in the future. That said, we're both winding down in the job world, and our retirement will not support big ticket items, like a large 5th wheel. We also do not want to travel any bigger than our current trailer.

If we were younger, we would probably be more apt to go diesel for future "growth." We actually took many cross country trips and did more traveling than we do now. In the future, as we increasingly depend on our savings, finances will dictate that we won't do more expansive and expensive travel. The fact is, DW and I talk about going smaller with the trailer; that's if we did anything at all with a new TT. We also talk a lot about keeping our current TT for the long haul. We'll see.

Currently, everything is paid in full, including our home - Lots of hard work and sacrifice, but we did it! At this stage of life, we are very committed to living without debt. This is especially true if the debt is for a want or desire purchase. The new truck would likely be our last big ticket "want category" purchase.

:campfire:
 
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We take our camper to florida and back each year. Here are the numbers for our new 2024 GMC SRW CrewCab Standard Bed 3500 Gas Sierra
attachment.php


Since most truck stops don't serve gas at their drive-through pumps I have to be a bit selective where to fill up. I'm happy with the truck.
 
We take our camper to florida and back each year. Here are the numbers for our new 2024 GMC SRW CrewCab Standard Bed 3500 Gas Sierra
attachment.php


Since most truck stops don't serve gas at their drive-through pumps I have to be a bit selective where to fill up. I'm happy with the truck.

Yes, the diesel definitely has the fill up advantage at truck stops.
 
What do you think about the future availability of the two fuel types? Do you think one of them will become more scarce in the future? It does seem like diesel is under fire (no pun intended) in the West and North East.
 
What do you think about the future availability of the two fuel types? Do you think one of them will become more scarce in the future? It does seem like diesel is under fire (no pun intended) in the West and North East.

Diesel fuel isn’t going anywhere within the lifespan of a new truck. Too many commercial requirements for it in my opinion.
 
The answer is diesel. Pick your poison, Powerstroke, Cummins, Duramax. Longevity, resale, and useability are the reasons.
 
Can some of y'all help with the specific problems that diesels have when they are not run very much? And, how much is enough for a diesel to stay free of these problems?

I can't say for other makes, but my Ford needed 3 DEF pump units in less than 60K miles over 14 years.
 
The answer is diesel. Pick your poison, Powerstroke, Cummins, Duramax. Longevity, resale, and useability are the reasons.

I’ll respectfully disagree with some of that.

Longevity isn’t a factor given the truck will be driven 2-3.5k miles a year.

In terms of resale I recently spent many months looking at both new and used HD trucks from all 3 makers and can confirm that, at least in my area diesel HD trucks do not hold their resale value any better than gas engines. Yes they bring more than a gas engine in terms of trade in or resale value but they cost a lot more upfront. Again in my area (central/south Texas) I saw gently used HD trucks with diesel engines on average a few thousand more than an equal truck with a gas engine. That’s a far cry from the 8k more a diesel engine cost new.
 
Just to add another thought even though it wasn't particular in the question, with an 8,000 lb trailer you definitely do not need a diesel engine nor do you need a 1 ton truck.

I would encourage you to look at the 1/2 ton gasoline pickups (all half tons are gas from what I have seen) as they have tow ratings well above what you would need, 12,000 lbs or more as rated and likely a better price all around. ~CA
 
Just to add another thought even though it wasn't particular in the question, with an 8,000 lb trailer you definitely do not need a diesel engine nor do you need a 1 ton truck.

I would encourage you to look at the 1/2 ton gasoline pickups (all half tons are gas from what I have seen) as they have tow ratings well above what you would need, 12,000 lbs or more as rated and likely a better price all around. ~CA

This is very valid. As long as the payload capacity is enough, there are many 1/2 tons that are absolutely capable of handling a trailer in that weight range.

Several of us here, myself and JFlightRisk included, have the Max Tow F150's and have great luck with them with many miles of towing.
 

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