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Gas or Diesel

by Lab Man , Posted to Fishing Buddy on 07/15/2011 08:32 AM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Lab Man

Joined: 09/20/2004
Location: ND
Hello All

I wanted to ask a question. I am line for a newer truck and am toying with the idea of getting a cummins diesel. I pull a 5th wheel as well as my boat right now with a gas engine.(Hemi). It is  a 3/4 ton truck and pulls it fine, but I get about 8.5 miles per gallon doing it. I have heard diesel get much better mileage, and there pulling power is amazing, but with diesel's there are higher price tags, higher maint. when things break, fuel, etc. Is it worth getting a diesel, when I pull the 5th wheel and boat around, about 6 to 7 times a years, or stick with the gas? Please let me know, what your combos are and if it is worth getting a diesel. Thanks and have a great weekend.
Re: Gas or Diesel
by goosehunter90 on 07/15/2011 08:37 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
goosehunter90
Joined: 05/31/2003
Location: ND
Are you looking at a brand new pickup, used, how far do you pull, do you pull anything else the rest of the year?
Re: Gas or Diesel
by Lab Man on 07/15/2011 08:44 AM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Lab Man
Joined: 09/20/2004
Location: ND
Pull about 150 miles one way, about 6to 7 times a year, but nothing the rest of the year. Does not have to be brand new.
Re: Gas or Diesel
by huntrut on 07/15/2011 08:47 AM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
huntrut
Joined: 10/21/2004
Location: ND

For 6 or 7 trips I don't think it pencils out.

For S's and G's here is a little example.
If you normally get 17 MPG it then takes you twice as much gas each trip now.  If gas is at $3.50 a gallon and you now need 100 gallons instead of 50 gallons, each trip costs an extra $175.00.

Can you get into and run a Diesel the rest of the year for less than $1,050.00 (6 trips times $175.00) ?

300 miles round trip at 8.5 miles per gallon is 35 gallons at $3.50 is an extra $122.50 per trip.  6 trips at $122.50 is $735 a year extra.
 
Re: Gas or Diesel
by 40's-or-Bust on 07/15/2011 08:47 AM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
40's-or-Bust
Joined: 03/03/2009
Location: nd
 how big is your camper and boat
Re: Gas or Diesel
by fisherman25 on 07/15/2011 08:56 AM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
fisherman25
Joined: 11/26/2010
Location: nd
huntrut Said:

For 6 or 7 trips I don't think it pencils out.

For S's and G's here is a little example.
If you normally get 17 MPG it then takes you twice as much gas each trip now.  If gas is at $3.50 a gallon and you now need 100 gallons instead of 50 gallons, each trip costs an extra $175.00.

Can you get into and run a Diesel the rest of the year for less than $1,050.00 (6 trips times $175.00) ?

300 miles round trip at 8.5 miles per gallon is 35 gallons at $3.50 is an extra $122.50 per trip.  6 trips at $122.50 is $735 a year extra.
 

I agree with your logic, but there are other things to consider.  Having a diesel takes a little more work and maint. than a gas without question.  The upside is, they hold resale much longer.  It basically costs twice as much to do any maint. though. 

I've been tossing the idea around as well, but I just don't think I want to spend the money on a diesel, nor do I want to deal with the geling in the winter.  I know it's not that big of a deal to some, but its not for me I guess. 

Live hard! Die happy!
Re: Gas or Diesel
by huntrut on 07/15/2011 09:02 AM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
huntrut
Joined: 10/21/2004
Location: ND
huntrut Said:

For 6 or 7 trips I don't think it pencils out.

For S's and G's here is a little example.
If you normally get 17 MPG it then takes you twice as much gas each trip now.  If gas is at $3.50 a gallon and you now need 100 gallons instead of 50 gallons, each trip costs an extra $175.00.

Can you get into and run a Diesel the rest of the year for less than $1,050.00 (6 trips times $175.00) ?  or $735 a year.

300 miles round trip at 8.5 miles per gallon is 35 gallons at $3.50 is an extra $122.50 per trip.  6 trips at $122.50 is $735 a year extra.
 

This example is just fuel only, see the highlighted.
FWIW
The other way to look at it is this.
You need to double your MPGs from 8.5 to 17 to same $1000 if fuel is $3.50 a gallon.
Fuel costs go down, savings go down.
Re: Gas or Diesel
by huntrut on 07/15/2011 09:06 AM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
huntrut
Joined: 10/21/2004
Location: ND
Same = save
Re: Gas or Diesel
by Lab Man on 07/15/2011 09:09 AM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Lab Man
Joined: 09/20/2004
Location: ND
My boat is 17.5' crestliner, and I only pull a 25' 5th wheel.
Re: Gas or Diesel
by fisherman25 on 07/15/2011 09:18 AM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
fisherman25
Joined: 11/26/2010
Location: nd

I thnk the new 3/4 ton gas trucks get a little better mileage when not pulling these day too, not??
Live hard! Die happy!
Re: Gas or Diesel
by cynical on 07/15/2011 09:36 AM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
cynical
Joined: 10/27/2004
Location: ND
Don't forget the potential diesel problems in winter especially with the new urea systems.
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Re: Gas or Diesel
by Lab Man on 07/15/2011 09:40 AM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Lab Man
Joined: 09/20/2004
Location: ND
One of my mutual friends is Diesel Mechanic at a local chrysler dealership, and he said the Dodge does not have the urea system because it meets the epa standards until 2013 I think, then in 2013 they have to put that into there trucks, correct me if I am wrong, but i think that is right.
Re: Gas or Diesel
by Horsager on 07/15/2011 09:49 AM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Horsager
Joined: 08/12/2003
Location: ND
I know you asked about Dodge, but Ford is the data I've got.  About 18mo ago I went from an '05 F-150 crew (5.4L gas) to an '06 F250 crew (6.0L Diesel).  At roughly the same speeds I get roughly the same fuel mileage with the diesel that I got with the gas, but, the F250 is a lot more "truck".  Both trucks have a 3.73 rear endj and automatic/OD tranny.  Running unloaded in the summer @ highway speeds, say 80MPH on the interstate system I get 14-16MPG depending mostly on the wind.  On secondary roads running 65-70 I get 16-19, again, wind dependant.  Pulling my 18.5' Crestliner I get 11-14MPG, again depending on wind and speed.  I haven't hooked up anything heavier for any real distance.

Maint. hasn't yet cost me too much more.  I changed the oil religiously @ 2500mi with my gas truck and go 5K with the diesel.  The extended oil change schedule has basically balanced out the extra cost of the diesel oil changes vs. gas.  I change air/fuel filters every 10K and that costs a little extra, about $200 every 10K mi, not a big number IMO.  I did gel up once this winter but was able to re-start a few minutes later and limp into a pard's heated shop just a couple miles away, lesson learned without having to freeze my toes.

I really don't know if I'll go diesel again when it's time.  I really like all the room in a Super Duty but I really miss how "nimble" the F-150 was in comparison.  Day in-Day out I think the biggest difference for me is that I think pretty hard about where/when I will fill up.  Often that means I go a little out of the way to get to a busy truck stop that goes through a lot of fuel in an effort to get "fresh" fuel.  I don't know if it really makes any difference but short of the 1 gelling incident that was my own fault I haven't had any fuel related issues in just over 30K miles I've driven the diesel.

Also FWIW my truck is NOT a daily driver.  I start it for long trips or any time I need to pull/haul something and it sits other than that.  If I had to use my truck as a daily driver I"d be back to an F-150 or similar in a heartbeat.
..............THIS SPACE FOR RENT..............
Re: Gas or Diesel
by 220swift on 07/15/2011 09:50 AM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
220swift
Joined: 12/09/2003
Location: ND
One thing to think about if you don't have a garage is starting a diesel truck up in the winter.Not so bad for long trips but if you use as a daily driver with a short drive to work that engine won't get up to running temp, which I heard is hard on them. As for the urea, Dodge doesn't use that. They have a NOx absorber catalyst instead. Brother in-law has a Ford diesel and he had no troubles with it last winter. I did hear that chevy trucks were having a few problems with there system though.

Re: Gas or Diesel
by Horsager on 07/15/2011 09:53 AM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Horsager
Joined: 08/12/2003
Location: ND
 
Lab Man Said:
One of my mutual friends is Diesel Mechanic at a local chrysler dealership, and he said the Dodge does not have the urea system because it meets the epa standards until 2013 I think, then in 2013 they have to put that into there trucks, correct me if I am wrong, but i think that is right.
True, but, you still have the DPF that needs to re-gen periodically.  That robs diesel from your fueling system and gobbles up MPG as a result.  I test drove an '09 F250 W/6.4L/3.73.  I got it up to 78-80MPH set the cruise and then re-set the mileage calculator, in roughly 15mi of driving the mileage calculator never got up to 11MPG, 10.2-10.8 depending on with the wind or against it.  Again not a Dodge, but, similar engine technology.
..............THIS SPACE FOR RENT..............
Re: Gas or Diesel
by Jig-em-up-Josh on 07/15/2011 09:57 AM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Jig-em-up-Josh
Joined: 10/31/2003
Location: ND
All I have to say, is that I love my F-250 with the V10 compared to my V8. Too bad they don't make that motor anymore. I'm going to look hard at finding another one when it's time to retire my current pickup.

I have a friend who has a 2500 HD diesel. When he wants to go ice fishing now, I tell him the only way I'll take him is if we take my truck. I can't remember how many fuel filters we've had to replace, and I think it gelled up 2 or 3 times the last 2 winters (just while I was with him)

Captain Josh Burgett

www.jig-em-up-guide-service.com
Re: Gas or Diesel
by johnr on 07/15/2011 10:06 AM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
johnr
Joined: 02/18/2004
Location: ND
I pull a 34' fifth wheel, and a 19'6" lund pro v behind it. I have a 2006 f250 diesel. I average 12 mpg pulling this load at 65 mph. When I am towing nothing its at 18.5 mpg.
The power you gain imo is worth it 10x over. Total weight I am pulling is close to 17,000 lbs and most times I dont even notice it behind me, even when driving through the Killdeer mountains.
Cant go wrong with more power, I previously pulled a 26' bumper pull camper with a 16' fisher boat behind it, using an f150 and coming out of the breaks up hwy 22 I would just about not make it with the petal to the floor. Still cant believe I didnt blow the engine on that truck
 

If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made out of meat?
Re: Gas or Diesel
by ggenthusiast on 07/15/2011 10:14 AM | Reply #17 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
ggenthusiast
Joined: 09/11/2002
Location: ND
Fuel savings is about a wash imo.  I get a little better mileage with my 01 cummins than most 1/2 gas trucks, and its not a tinny piece of junk.  I can chain up all 4 tires and gone through some amazingly deep snow that I believe would have crippled a half ton with less torque.  So the diesel is nice for some things, but a pain in the arse for others like cold starting, exaust fumes, noise, etc.

I say to hell with that pot o' gold.
Re: Gas or Diesel
by Horsager on 07/15/2011 10:16 AM | Reply #18 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Horsager
Joined: 08/12/2003
Location: ND
 
johnr Said:
I pull a 34' fifth wheel, and a 19'6" lund pro v behind it. I have a 2006 f250 diesel. I average 12 mpg pulling this load at 65 mph. When I am towing nothing its at 18.5 mpg.


I've the same truck.  Out of curiousity, what rear end gears have you got?  Mine are 3.73's.
..............THIS SPACE FOR RENT..............
Re: Gas or Diesel
by johnr on 07/15/2011 10:30 AM | Reply #19 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
johnr
Joined: 02/18/2004
Location: ND
Horsager Said:
 
johnr Said:
I pull a 34' fifth wheel, and a 19'6" lund pro v behind it. I have a 2006 f250 diesel. I average 12 mpg pulling this load at 65 mph. When I am towing nothing its at 18.5 mpg.


I've the same truck.  Out of curiousity, what rear end gears have you got?  Mine are 3.73's.
Yes, mine are the 3.73's also the only repairs I have had with mine was a vacuum line to run the air conditioning. about 180 bucks. I love it, pulls like a dream.
 

If we're not supposed to eat animals, how come they're made out of meat?
Re: Gas or Diesel
by Lab Man on 07/15/2011 10:41 AM | Reply #20 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |
Lab Man
Joined: 09/20/2004
Location: ND
SO if what you are guys are saying, the diesel might not be the way to go, because I would not use for what it is intended for maybe 6 to 7 weekends in a year. I know the resale on the diesel is probably about 30% more, just kind of a hard decision I guess.
59 Replies | Page 1 of 3123 Next Page >> | Top of Page | Bottom of Page
Posted By: Lab Man
Posted On: 07/15/2011 08:32 AM
2626 Views, 59 Comments

Tags: diesel, gas, getting, 5th, truck, boat, wheel, hemi, question, toying
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Region: North Dakota

Categories: Outdoor Sports > Trucks and Truck Accessories
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