Gas or Diesel

[ghosthunter]

not enough info
What is its main purpose? Diesel trucks are designed to pull hard and run for long distance/ run times. They get the best wear, mileage benefits if fired up and driven for several hours.
Are you buying new or used? have a brand preference?



Which do you think are better Blonds Or Red heads? 

Red Heads

[Buzz2401]

If its gonna be your daily driver then diesel all the way.  I prefer gas and it pencils out for me but I only drive it about 6k miles a year all towing.  I love my 8.1L gas and the allison it is mated to but it would not be my choice if I was driving it everyday.  It would of taken me 7 years to break even on buying a diesel.

[kisfish]

diesel is the only way to go.

[fish vacuum]

As a daily driver? Just think of what it would cost in gas to run a big block every day! 

[yorketransport]

If its gonna be your daily driver then diesel all the way.  I prefer gas and it pencils out for me but I only drive it about 6k miles a year all towing.  I love my 8.1L gas and the allison it is mated to but it would not be my choice if I was driving it everyday.  It would of taken me 7 years to break even on buying a diesel.

This is a really smart way to look at it. If you aren't going to keep the truck for a long time or put a lot of miles on it, you may be money ahead with a gas engine.

A diesel will save you money in the long run. I ran an '07 Chevy cutaway van with the 6.0L that was running right at 10,000 lb GVW every day and driving about 70 miles. Power was never an issue but the fuel bill was! I replaced that van with a 5.9L Cummins 16,000 lb GVW truck running at about 14,000 lb every day with the same mileage. I'm saving 17% on my fuel bill to move more weight the same distance. The only downside is the increased cost of repairs when something goes wrong.

Right now I'm running 3 diesels. An International T444E (almost identical to a 7.3L Power Stroke) and 5.9L Cummins in my work trucks, and a 6.6L Duramax in my 2005 Silverado. All of them have an Allison transmission. The tranny will make or break a diesel. If it's not strong enough to hold up to the torque of the diesel then you're better off with a gas engine. Both work trucks are over 250K miles. One is 258K and the other is 254K. The Duramax only has 88K. My 6.0L gas engine made it 167K miles before the main bearing went out.

If you can rationalize the added expense of the initial purchase, fuel and maintenance, I say get the diesel. If you tend to be a little heavy on the throttle or need a little "snap" when you hit the gas, get a gas truck. I have a 4.8L in my 2012 Chevy cutaway van and even at 10,000 lb, it will get up and go when you want it to. No diesel will keep up with it off the line!

Andrew

[Mudman]

Hmmm.  More power/torque, more towing and better mpg.  Last longer as well.  Downfalls are repairs and auto trans.  Cummins cheapest to Maintain/repair I think.  Dodge auto trans are very good once rebuilt right. (48re). I dont want gas unless its a car or small p/u.  Is there a gas vehicle with 350-425 hp and 650-800 tq that gets average 18mpg and 12-15 towing? 20+hwy?

[jackelope]

I was all for diesels till I started working for a Ford dealership service department. I'd not want to be the guy on the recieving end of one of my phone calls telling you you need an EGR cooler or head gaskets or injectors or something along those lines replaced. They're soooooo dang expensive to fix that it has completely ruined me of any interest I had in owning a Super Duty. They break a lot too. 
Cummins are A LOT more trouble free and a lot cheaper to fix than any Powerstroke I've seen. I don't have any significant experience with the Duramax. With all that said...I think if you're going to tow a boat and put a camper on, you don't have much of a choice unless you want to pour your life's savings into the gas tank. Just have the $$ to fix the truck should it break.
Just my .03

[DeerHarvester]

I have a 2011 6.7 powerstroke and love it.   The torque is crazy.  I hear a lot of complaining about the emissions and exhaust fluid.   It really doesn't use much and isn't a big added expense.

[follow maggie]

I'm wanting to get a diesel this year.  Only because I tow my work trailer every day from June though October.  If I didn't tow a lot, I'd get a gas because you can buy a lot of gas for the thousands you spend in extra purchasing cost, maintenance and fixing them when they break. It seems like they all have a problem that's really expensive to fix.

[dscubame]

Diesel all the way.

[Special T]

Ghost you must like crazey.