Researching my next truck, gas vs diesel

[Buzz2401]

My 8.1 allison combo uses the transmission to slow truck down.  I never have to hit breaks going down hills loaded at 13500lbs combined weight.  Other then that though the Ford V-10 is a good reliable combo.

[CAMPMEAT]

If you want to tow a boat and carry a camper,I'd be looking at more than a 2500HD.

I have a 2500 with an 8.5 foot camper and a 20 foot cargo trailer with an ATV and a side x side in it and I have plenty of power to spare. I'm right around 14000 libs.

I'm at about 21K combined with my '11 2500HD and fifth wheel.  Its not about the power,its about how the truck handles the camper and load behind it. A lot of guys don't seem to mind,but a lot of guys don't know WTF they're doing either (not implying that you don't)

My '11 and your '13 also have 900lbs more payload capacity than the '06-'07 the OP is looking at.

No offense taken. I drove and owned heavy haul trucks, 105,500 for 20 years. So, I do know what I'm doing at least..

[sirmissalot]

I had he same decision to make at beginning of this summer and settled on a diesel. I'm glad I did. I just got back from a trip to Cody wyoming with a camo trailer behind me and it was a breeze, I'm still amazed at the power that truck has. I averaged about 12 mpg but it's a pretty heavy trailer and we were cruising at 75 most the way. I get 23 highway with nothing behind it, with a '14 bone stock cummins. I have a 9,000lb boat i tow for fishing and it handles it without a problem, my ford always struggled with it.

[baker5150]

I had he same decision to make at beginning of this summer and settled on a diesel. I'm glad I did. I just got back from a trip to Cody wyoming with a camo trailer behind me and it was a breeze, I'm still amazed at the power that truck has. I averaged about 12 mpg but it's a pretty heavy trailer and we were cruising at 75 most the way. I get 23 highway with nothing behind it, with a '14 bone stock cummins. I have a 9,000lb boat i tow for fishing and it handles it without a problem, my ford always struggled with it.

Really?  Is that hand calculated or are you going by what the truck tells you?  For a stock truck that is really good mileage.

The Dodge's are great, I own one, but the tranny is a weak link, and its a rough ride.   The Chevy's are great too, good tranny, but the body has very thin sheet metal and Chevrolet is still cutting corners on their paint.  Ford's are great as well, as long as you know a mechanic who owes you a ton of favors.

Either way you go, try to get one without the newer emissions, that's the kicker theses days.  You will never regret buying a diesel truck over a gasser. Unless you buy a Ford

[sirmissalot]

That's just off the computer on the truck, and I'm just talking strictly highway around 65mph. I was amazed when I saw I could get that.

[baker5150]

That's just off the computer on the truck, and I'm just talking strictly highway around 65mph. I was amazed when I saw I could get that.

I would do a hand calculation.  My truck says 21, and my programmer says 23, but when I hand calc it I'm only getting 17 ( Granted I have 35" tires ).  This seams to be pretty common with Dodge trucks.

[wildmanoutdoors]

Keep in mind, your camper length will also determine your boat weight. I have a 9.5 camper on a 8 foot bed. So I use a super hitch extended hitch. My 36" extension is rated for 5000 pounds. So if you want a BIG camper, you may not be able to haul a BIG boat too.

[Hawgdawg]

I am also looking for a slightly used 2500 diesel. Towing around 7k. great info. TAG

[DRobnsn]

Yep you cannot trust the factory computer fuel consumption average on most diesels. On the diesel forums they call them Lie O meters for good reason. I'm curious NW what county you reside as to me this would determine what year of a truck to buy based on emissions testing. I believe 07 dmaxs have the first versions of DPF systems, which can be very problematic if left intact.

[KFhunter]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

[CAMPMEAT]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

[KFhunter]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

[CAMPMEAT]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

Here's a thought:

If any and all 2500 HD or similar type trucks are over weight, the coppers would be writing tickets all day and Chevy would be out of business and so would Ford, Dodge etc. I went through the stateline scales on the Idaho/Washington line last year loaded up, they weighed me and I continued on my merry way. No worries about weight with these trucks, unless you're hauling hog fuel........

[netcoyote]

I would get a 3500

Campers are heavy and even a conservative sized camper + boat will push your GVWR over the top very quickly on a 2500. 

I got a 19 foot boat and 10 foot camper, my GVWR is well exceeded then by the time my wife n kids pile all their crap in....well 

Not really. My camper weighs 3500 lbs and the trailer is around 4000 lbs. Easy, smeasy towing.

You truck is 6821 lbs
Camper 3500
trailer  4000

for a total of 14321.

Which is 4421 LBS over your GVWR,  I suspect you're a good bit higher than that once loaded up with all your junk.

I think that's 1 ton territory.  You do fine with it because you know how to drive right, most don't. Still it's hard on the lighter weight drive train, wheel bearings, springs and all that jazz.   3500 will have all those components beefed up.

Not to mention the addition of the trailer tongue weight to the cargo capacity. Even at a conservative 10% of trailer weight, that's another 400 lb on top of the 3500 lb. that's going to be on top of the springs, bearings, axles and tires. I don't care how careful a driver you are, that's some serious overloading (for a 2500).

[NW-GSP]

Campmeat I was drooling over your truck when I saw it.

what would you consider high mileage for a diesel?, saw a 06 chevy 2500 with 150,000 miles going for $25,000
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