Taco wrote:

I have stepped back from this for a while, but will address a few things.

Any measured test between gas and diesel trucks has shown them very very close in hill climbing performance. the diesel get better mileage and lower rpms but the speed is very very close and directly related to horsepower.

The diesel folks on here continue to argue their own beliefs with nothing to back them up other than they don't believe a gas truck can tow as well.

Some have said we should just all get along and all the discussion is pointless gas guys like gas trucks and diesel guys like diesel trucks.

The reason this discussion is important is that on a very very very regular basis people come to this forum looking for credible advice on what will suit their needs. This is almost always quickly responded to buy you need a diesel to tow a 8k travel trailer. It simply isn't true. If I would have bought a diesel instead of a gas truck it would have cost me 14-15k more over the gas truck. I would probably get about 7k back in fuel savings and maybe 3k more when I go to sell it. but would still be down 4-5k over my time of ownership.

Taco wrote:

I have stepped back from this for a while, but will address a few things.

Any measured test between gas and diesel trucks has shown them very very close in hill climbing performance. the diesel get better mileage and lower rpms but the speed is very very close and directly related to horsepower.

The diesel folks on here continue to argue their own beliefs with nothing to back them up other than they don't believe a gas truck can tow as well.

Some have said we should just all get along and all the discussion is pointless gas guys like gas trucks and diesel guys like diesel trucks.

The reason this discussion is important is that on a very very very regular basis people come to this forum looking for credible advice on what will suit their needs. This is almost always quickly responded to buy you need a diesel to tow a 8k travel trailer. It simply isn't true. If I would have bought a diesel instead of a gas truck it would have cost me 14-15k more over the gas truck. I would probably get about 7k back in fuel savings and maybe 3k more when I go to sell it. but would still be down 4-5k over my time of ownership.

transamz9 wrote:



I call BS on that. There is only 7-8,000 difference in two trucks that have the same options except the motors. Maybe half ton to three quarter ton there is that much but not two like trucks.

No body yet has proved to me that diesel cost you more than gas in the long run.

transamz9 wrote:

With all these engineers that we have on here. Explain to me why torque is even a measurement that is used if it's not important. If it wasn't important, why even measure it?

transamz9 wrote:


I call BS on that. There is only 7-8,000 difference in two trucks that have the same options except the motors. Maybe half ton to three quarter ton there is that much but not two like trucks.

No body yet has proved to me that diesel cost you more than gas in the long run.

Taco wrote:



Please don't talk about what you know nothing about. you don't live in VA. Remember I said for ME it would cost that much. the diesel engine weight would push it over the gvw that get reduced personal property tax rates for "passenger vehicles" I would end up paying 4-5k more in personal property tax over my ownership.

then add 8k for the engine cost 1k finance cost of engine, 500 for def, 300 sales tax on engine option. then the slightly higher routine maint costs.

This doesn't even touch the fact that a diesel is much more costly to fix outside of warranty, which is also a major factor in my decision.

transamz9 wrote:

I'm not trying to be a pain in the *** but I am like you trying to get as much of the info on this thread correct. First off Taco I'm sorry, I didn't catch the "I" in the post where you said that it would cost "you" 14-15G more. I'm sorry for that. So you bought a half ton instead of a three quarter?

As far as routine maintenance cost go, yes if you buy a Ford diesel because they have to until they get the bugs worked out. The others, I don't think so.

OhhWell, I know that torque is stationary but here's my theory. You guys have already said that a diesel will get up to speed quicker with a load because of the low end torque. If you think about it , it makes sense if you have 600 lb/ft of pressure trying to turn a wheel as apposed 300 lb/ft of pressure trying to turn a wheel. Same as true if you are already running a set speed (flat ground) and you start up a 6% grade. It's going to be harder to slow a wheel's speed down that has 600 lb/ft then it will 300 lb/ft.

Am I thinking correctly?