Hauling rig options

[KopperBuck]

Currently we have a '97 Ford F-350 (diesel) pulling a gooseneck 3 horse. But now we are going to be at a fork in the road (pun intended). We're pretty certain we're going to sell the Ford. We just haven't been happy with it's performance. And yesterday I was just informed that I will be given a popup camper that wouldn't require the gooseneck. We use part of the tack room as our camping qtrs.

I'd like to get a smaller trailer, even though I like trailering a gn better than a bumper pull, with the camper I won't have a choice, plus it'll be more comfortable. Besides the fact that the trailer was much too big and heavy to be hauling around the mtns and up to the high hunt. If I had my way it'd be an old stock trailer, but I'm not going to get my way.

We're now considering a 3 slant bumper. We have a 2straight that we can use for now.

So to my question, is anybody hauling with gas rigs? I just hate looking at diesel prices anymore, and it's going to cost us more to get into a newer, more reliable rig. Is it even worth looking at? Besides the extra cost, we're considering that it might turn into my regular rig if we move closer to work, but it'll still probably be 60 miles a day roundtrip. Right now I'm closer to 110.

[Machias]

I currently have a 1989 F250 gas powered Ford.  It has the 460 in it.  I was hauling a 3 horse gooseneck with the mid tack room and insulated dressing room.  It was a great weekender/camper.  I think after hauling the gooseneck you'll hate the bumper pull, but you will be able to get around in the hills much better.  I was getting around 11 miles to the gallon.  Mine hauled fine.

[KopperBuck]

I know, I never knew what comfortable hauling was like until we got our current trailer/truck. Hell, before that I was hauling my 18ft glass bass boat with a 4banger Tacoma. That was fun And I know the lady definitely prefers the GN. But now with her going to more cutting shows and for longer periods, the camper would really come in handy.

I would rather have the diesel, but there's just getting to be more reason to look at gas, and we're considering downsizing our small fleet we've suddenly acquired. If we could have one rig for me to drive everyday and haul with it'd be cheaper on us right now. I'd love to be able to have a rig sitting around just to haul.

[RG]

I have a 4 horse gooseneck stock trailer as well as a fifth wheel RV trailer and a 24 foot boat on a trailer.  I've had 3 Dodge pickups with Cummins diesels, 96, 97, and currently 06.  I can't say enough good about diesel and especially the Cummins, my current truck has the 6 speed manual and pulls like a tank.  I can put my truck in cruise control and go the speed limit pretty much anywhere.  We just got back from a trip last week in which we went from western WA to Salt Lake City then back through Dillon MT and the Big Hole Valley through Wisdom and Missoula.  Averaged 14.5 MPG and never had a problem.  The truck was in cruise control most of the time and I cruised at about 67 MPH.  We went over some high passes, one was 7400 feet, pulling a trailer that weighs in the neighborhood of 7000-8000 pounds.  My previous 85 F250 with the 460 couldn't even come close to competing in the same ballpark.  Other diesel brands do well too but I'm very happy with my Cummins.

[KopperBuck]

Wisdom... the coldest place on the earth... lucky dog.

[RG]

I like that area up there.  We stopped at Bannack, the old mining ghost town, that's really an interesting place if you ever get up in the big hole valley.  They are really up in arms up there about the wolves, as are people everywhere in Montana and Idaho.  There's a lot of anger going around.

[Sawbuck]

I have a 3h Circle J slant that I have pulled loaded with our suburban and got around 8 mpg loaded. The suburban has the 7.4l and unloaded only gets about 12mpg. Last year we picked up a diesel pickup and I can't believe the difference. Last weekend with just the pickup loaded we went over the pass to Winthrop and got 20 mpg. With the horse trailer and pickup loaded (and driving like a mad man) I usually get around 14 mpg. The better milage makes up the difference in the cost of diesel. We don't use the suburban anymore for hauling horses, and are actually going to be selling our bumper pull and getting a goose neck trailer.

[Dhoey07]

Stick with diesel.  You will just be dissapointed with any gas rig.  Although I would suggest selling the Ford and buying a duramax 

[et1702]

I too have a Dodge diesel w/ 6spd & Cummins.  Like RG said, I can't tell you how much I like it.  20 to 22mpg for daily driving and average about 14mpg loaded up and towing 5th wheel, dump trailer, etc.  ALthough the diesel's cost a little more up front, and fuel is more expensive, maintenance is less and mpg greater.   In the long run, I believe you'd be much happier with a diesel 

FYI, I bought mine w/72K miles on her, and she now has 237K and still running strong and doesn't use more than a quart of oil in 5000 miles.  BTW, had a Ford Powerstroke before my Dodge.  PS was good, but no comparison between the two.  Dodge from now on!

ET

[KopperBuck]

At the time, the PS was the best rig in the price range we could afford. It's a little underpowered as is, but it's been a good rig. I don't have a lot of bad to say about it.

Currently we're in possession of my lady's father's rig - Duramax. We're hauling to a show in Moses Lake this weekend with a full trailer so it'll be interesting to see the difference. I already know it's going to be big, just driving daily it's been a great rig. It'll just work towards convincing me even more so. But at this point I'm probably leaning towards the Dodge route.

Thanks for pushing me back onto the ledge.

[wildweeds]

Be the coolest cat in town..................... getcher self one of these,that fruitliner will blow away any tin can diesel burner 

[ArrowH]

To answer what seemed like you question. Diesel pickups have really only been around since the mid '80's. So there have been alot more miles logged on gas pickups pulling trailers then have been on diesels. There is not a thing in the world wrong with using a gas rig to pull with, as long as you have the horse power, torque and gearing, as to which there are plenty of rigs that will give you that. As far as fuel milage goes, you will have to shop around, and also if you have to work on the engine, gas powered costs about half as much as diesel for repairs. Honestly if you were to sit down and pecil it out, about the only way a diesel pickup is feesible to own, is if all you use it for is towing heavy loads for lots of miles.

[6x6in6]

Kopper, your going to wish you didn't go the gaspot route after owning a diesel.  I'm going to hedge to guess that you probably enjoyed your D-max towing experience this weekend.

I too had a '97 PSD as my tow vehicle prior to the '05 Dodge I have now.  Was a great truck.  Hauled my camper and my 2 horse bumper pull just fine.  I decided to go bigger on the camper and to a 3 horse Circle J BP.  Loaded, that's right around 22,000 pounds.  I would have killed that '97 by now.

The cost of diesel vs gas and then the fuel economy between two makes fuel costs a wash.  Then the times you drive it unloaded, the fuel costs will be in favor of the diesel.

Maintenance is no worse on diesel than a gasser.  You can do oil analysis checks, and if your analysis come back clean, over 12,000 miles on an oil change could easily be the norm.  Throw a fresh 3 micron fuel filter in it every 10-12k and your really good to go.

Longevity.  You plan on towing fairly regularly and keep the truck for years to come, that gasser will not last nearly as long as a diesel.

Buy a diesel, buy a manual trans, buy a Dodge and you will be happy.
The D-max with the Ally auto is great close 2nd choice.
And I agree with most, BP's have their advantages but GN's do tow a whole lot better.  Having a properly set up weight distribution hitch on the BP does close the towing difference gap though.

[Sawbuck]

 
Except the Dodge is a close second to D-Max 

[CplRaines]

I have a 2500HD with the 502ci big block mated with the allison. It is a pulling beast. Lot's of power. Stock vehicle to stock vehicle, runs away from the diesel versions. But..........
I get just over 10 miles to the gallon. Whether I am pulling an med. excavator up a pass or going downhill unloaded with a tailwind - same same. 
I didn't buy it for the gas mileage, I got it for the power and the tranny.
My boss at the time had a dodge diesel we used to tow the trailer/excavator. Went through trannies way too often in that thing.

There are pros and cons for each. It's a personal choice when it comes down to it.

[RG]

The early Dodge automatic transmissions couldn't handle the torque from the cummins so you either had to rebuild and beef them up, $4500 on my 97, or get a manual transmission.  I had a 96 cummins manual, a 97 automatic, and now a 2006 manual.  I've had absolutely no issues with the manuals or with the automatic after I had it built.  Snohomish transmission in Monroe did the work on that one and they are pretty good.  I've also heard, from them, that since 2003 the Dodge autos seem to be able to handle the diesel just fine.