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Jarlaxle

New England

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Posted: 08/15/12 07:29pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

I love diesel trucks and own one...it's almost certainly my last. They have just gotten too complicated, finicky, delicate, and expensive. It's not worth it anymore.


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Ram4Sam

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Posted: 08/15/12 08:18pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Jarlaxle wrote:

I love diesel trucks and own one...it's almost certainly my last. They have just gotten too complicated, finicky, delicate, and expensive. It's not worth it anymore.


Well said....x2

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Taco

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Posted: 08/16/12 12:00am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

If you look at all the diesel vs gas posts not just on this thread but all of them you will notice something. The diesel guys always talk about how happy the diesel makes them feel, or how they can't stop grinning. They talk about their truck with emotion. The gas guys generally talk more about cost of ownership and potential repair costs. The gas guys rarely talk about their feeling toward their trucks.

I think this really separates the two. I look at vehicles as "equipment" not as status symbols not as something that makes me happy or stokes my ego. I look at what it costs to purchase, own, and will it do what I need it to do, meaning get me, my family, my toyhauler, and misc hauling where I need it to go at a reasonable rate of speed and safety.

I think I may very well be more smiley or amused with a diesel towing than a gas truck but I don't look for amusement out of "equipment" it is just a tool. A means to an end. There is no one that can say that my gas truck won't put my 10k worth of load on top of every public paved highway hill that a diesel will. it might not win EVERY race that I don't know I'm in with some coal roller that has something to prove.

But as a purchaser of equipment I cannot justify the initial purchase cost, ongoing vehicle tax liability and potential elevated repair costs that a diesel brings.

If you have the money and want a diesel or think the smiley factor is important to you get a diesel. If you just want to get the job done as economically as possible and tow less than 12-14k lbs I would seriously consider gas.

OhhWell

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Posted: 08/16/12 07:54am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Taco wrote:

If you look at all the diesel vs gas posts not just on this thread but all of them you will notice something. The diesel guys always talk about how happy the diesel makes them feel, or how they can't stop grinning. They talk about their truck with emotion. The gas guys generally talk more about cost of ownership and potential repair costs. The gas guys rarely talk about their feeling toward their trucks.

I think this really separates the two. I look at vehicles as "equipment" not as status symbols not as something that makes me happy or stokes my ego. I look at what it costs to purchase, own, and will it do what I need it to do, meaning get me, my family, my toyhauler, and misc hauling where I need it to go at a reasonable rate of speed and safety.

I think I may very well be more smiley or amused with a diesel towing than a gas truck but I don't look for amusement out of "equipment" it is just a tool. A means to an end. There is no one that can say that my gas truck won't put my 10k worth of load on top of every public paved highway hill that a diesel will. it might not win EVERY race that I don't know I'm in with some coal roller that has something to prove.

But as a purchaser of equipment I cannot justify the initial purchase cost, ongoing vehicle tax liability and potential elevated repair costs that a diesel brings.

If you have the money and want a diesel or think the smiley factor is important to you get a diesel. If you just want to get the job done as economically as possible and tow less than 12-14k lbs I would seriously consider gas.


That's true, I've never really had a big grin on my face towing with my Gasser. I am however very relaxed as it is a big truck and tows my regular sized TT very well. The grin factor would be nice if I pulled over mountains though. I do realize that. For everyday grin factor, I just drive my little Mini Cooper S.

I do get a smile on my face though with the truck when it is raining real hard and I get to play in the puddles or when I take it through some loose sand.


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transamz9

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Posted: 08/16/12 10:31am Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Taco wrote:

If you look at all the diesel vs gas posts not just on this thread but all of them you will notice something. The diesel guys always talk about how happy the diesel makes them feel, or how they can't stop grinning. They talk about their truck with emotion. The gas guys generally talk more about cost of ownership and potential repair costs. The gas guys rarely talk about their feeling toward their trucks.

I think this really separates the two. I look at vehicles as "equipment" not as status symbols not as something that makes me happy or stokes my ego. I look at what it costs to purchase, own, and will it do what I need it to do, meaning get me, my family, my toyhauler, and misc hauling where I need it to go at a reasonable rate of speed and safety.

I think I may very well be more smiley or amused with a diesel towing than a gas truck but I don't look for amusement out of "equipment" it is just a tool. A means to an end. There is no one that can say that my gas truck won't put my 10k worth of load on top of every public paved highway hill that a diesel will. it might not win EVERY race that I don't know I'm in with some coal roller that has something to prove.

But as a purchaser of equipment I cannot justify the initial purchase cost, ongoing vehicle tax liability and potential elevated repair costs that a diesel brings.

If you have the money and want a diesel or think the smiley factor is important to you get a diesel. If you just want to get the job done as economically as possible and tow less than 12-14k lbs I would seriously consider gas.


That's a very good point Taco. Something for one may not be that something for another. I have a mixture of trucks that I take care of at work and the gas trucks do just fine. The diesel trucks are the trucks that are heavily loaded 100% of the time and pull very heavy loads. I'm not saying that the gas trucks won't preform the job, it's just that the diesel trucks seem to take the abuse that these guys put them through better. You have to remember that these guys are driving trucks that don't cost them anything out of their pockets so they don't try and take care of them. I don't cut my personal trucks any slack either. The gas trucks I've owned just wouldn't hold up. I was always working on them.


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Crazyfoe

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Posted: 08/16/12 01:49pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

OhhWell wrote:

Taco wrote:

If you look at all the diesel vs gas posts not just on this thread but all of them you will notice something. The diesel guys always talk about how happy the diesel makes them feel, or how they can't stop grinning. They talk about their truck with emotion. The gas guys generally talk more about cost of ownership and potential repair costs. The gas guys rarely talk about their feeling toward their trucks.

I think this really separates the two. I look at vehicles as "equipment" not as status symbols not as something that makes me happy or stokes my ego. I look at what it costs to purchase, own, and will it do what I need it to do, meaning get me, my family, my toyhauler, and misc hauling where I need it to go at a reasonable rate of speed and safety.

I think I may very well be more smiley or amused with a diesel towing than a gas truck but I don't look for amusement out of "equipment" it is just a tool. A means to an end. There is no one that can say that my gas truck won't put my 10k worth of load on top of every public paved highway hill that a diesel will. it might not win EVERY race that I don't know I'm in with some coal roller that has something to prove.

But as a purchaser of equipment I cannot justify the initial purchase cost, ongoing vehicle tax liability and potential elevated repair costs that a diesel brings.

If you have the money and want a diesel or think the smiley factor is important to you get a diesel. If you just want to get the job done as economically as possible and tow less than 12-14k lbs I would seriously consider gas.


That's true, I've never really had a big grin on my face towing with my Gasser. I am however very relaxed as it is a big truck and tows my regular sized TT very well. The grin factor would be nice if I pulled over mountains though. I do realize that. For everyday grin factor, I just drive my little Mini Cooper S.

I do get a smile on my face though with the truck when it is raining real hard and I get to play in the puddles or when I take it through some loose sand.


I grim every time I drive my gasser over the hills and far away.


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rhagfo

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Posted: 08/16/12 02:09pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Crazyfoe wrote:

OhhWell wrote:

Taco wrote:

If you look at all the diesel vs gas posts not just on this thread but all of them you will notice something. The diesel guys always talk about how happy the diesel makes them feel, or how they can't stop grinning. They talk about their truck with emotion. The gas guys generally talk more about cost of ownership and potential repair costs. The gas guys rarely talk about their feeling toward their trucks.

I think this really separates the two. I look at vehicles as "equipment" not as status symbols not as something that makes me happy or stokes my ego. I look at what it costs to purchase, own, and will it do what I need it to do, meaning get me, my family, my toyhauler, and misc hauling where I need it to go at a reasonable rate of speed and safety.

I think I may very well be more smiley or amused with a diesel towing than a gas truck but I don't look for amusement out of "equipment" it is just a tool. A means to an end. There is no one that can say that my gas truck won't put my 10k worth of load on top of every public paved highway hill that a diesel will. it might not win EVERY race that I don't know I'm in with some coal roller that has something to prove.

But as a purchaser of equipment I cannot justify the initial purchase cost, ongoing vehicle tax liability and potential elevated repair costs that a diesel brings.

If you have the money and want a diesel or think the smiley factor is important to you get a diesel. If you just want to get the job done as economically as possible and tow less than 12-14k lbs I would seriously consider gas.


That's true, I've never really had a big grin on my face towing with my Gasser. I am however very relaxed as it is a big truck and tows my regular sized TT very well. The grin factor would be nice if I pulled over mountains though. I do realize that. For everyday grin factor, I just drive my little Mini Cooper S.

I do get a smile on my face though with the truck when it is raining real hard and I get to play in the puddles or when I take it through some loose sand.


I grim every time I drive my gasser over the hills and far away.


Do you still grin when you need to stop twice as often to fuel up as a diesel?

Stop and think about that cost of operation, with gas at about $3.70 a gal, and Diesel at $4.10 that is only a 10 percent difference in cost of fuel, and if I get 12 mpg and you get 7 mpg, that is 40 percent better fuel mileage, I am making up the cost difference and then add the higher resale, and I just keep grinning!

I would like to undersand where gas drivers get that diesel has higher maintenance cost, oil changes only need to happen at most half as often as gas, so that becomes a push with almost twice the amount of oil.
No regular scheduled tune ups, belts, hoses, and coolant about the same as my old 460 gasser.

Once again Diesel isn't for everyone, that is just a fact, but don't slam it just because you don't want it, don't slam it.

I pull about 12K 18.5K GCVW, and would not want to do with a gas engine.

* This post was edited 08/16/12 02:21pm by rhagfo *


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Crazyfoe

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Posted: 08/16/12 03:08pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

rhagfo wrote:

Crazyfoe wrote:

OhhWell wrote:

Taco wrote:

If you look at all the diesel vs gas posts not just on this thread but all of them you will notice something. The diesel guys always talk about how happy the diesel makes them feel, or how they can't stop grinning. They talk about their truck with emotion. The gas guys generally talk more about cost of ownership and potential repair costs. The gas guys rarely talk about their feeling toward their trucks.

I think this really separates the two. I look at vehicles as "equipment" not as status symbols not as something that makes me happy or stokes my ego. I look at what it costs to purchase, own, and will it do what I need it to do, meaning get me, my family, my toyhauler, and misc hauling where I need it to go at a reasonable rate of speed and safety.

I think I may very well be more smiley or amused with a diesel towing than a gas truck but I don't look for amusement out of "equipment" it is just a tool. A means to an end. There is no one that can say that my gas truck won't put my 10k worth of load on top of every public paved highway hill that a diesel will. it might not win EVERY race that I don't know I'm in with some coal roller that has something to prove.

But as a purchaser of equipment I cannot justify the initial purchase cost, ongoing vehicle tax liability and potential elevated repair costs that a diesel brings.

If you have the money and want a diesel or think the smiley factor is important to you get a diesel. If you just want to get the job done as economically as possible and tow less than 12-14k lbs I would seriously consider gas.


That's true, I've never really had a big grin on my face towing with my Gasser. I am however very relaxed as it is a big truck and tows my regular sized TT very well. The grin factor would be nice if I pulled over mountains though. I do realize that. For everyday grin factor, I just drive my little Mini Cooper S.

I do get a smile on my face though with the truck when it is raining real hard and I get to play in the puddles or when I take it through some loose sand.


I grim every time I drive my gasser over the hills and far away.


Do you still grin when you need to stop twice as often to fuel up as a diesel?

Stop and think about that cost of operation, with gas at about $3.70 a gal, and Diesel at $4.10 that is only a 10 percent difference in cost of fuel, and if I get 12 mpg and you get 7 mpg, that is 40 percent better fuel mileage, I am making up the cost difference and then add the higher resale, and I just keep grinning!

I would like to undersand where gas drivers get that diesel has higher maintenance cost, oil changes only need to happen at most half as often as gas, so that becomes a push with almost twice the amount of oil.
No regular scheduled tune ups, belts, hoses, and coolant about the same as my old 460 gasser.

Once again Diesel isn't for everyone, that is just a fact, but don't slam it just because you don't want it, don't slam it.

I pull about 12K 18.5K GCVW, and would not want to do with a gas engine.


Where did I slam diesel? I don't care about diesel to be honest. I wanted a BB and my truck does exactly and more that I need/want. I'm towing a 10k toaster box on wheels gas mileage really if I cared I wouldn't own a trailer and boat. Majority of the components require the same attention and replacement no real winner there. Diesels have the potential to last longer and better gas mileage. I won't own it that long to worry about it, but if I do a rebuilt gasser, it'll still be less that what a diesel would cost, thirdly it's not a daily driver and lastly towed my tt over 7 passes in the Sierra w/o an ounce of problems or wishing...just a grin I love this thing....guess that isn't acceptable, I know it irks the diesel crowd that I'm happy with my gasser which also makes me chuckle.

Hannibal

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Posted: 08/16/12 04:07pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

rhagfo wrote:



Do you still grin when you need to stop twice as often to fuel up as a diesel?

Stop and think about that cost of operation, with gas at about $3.70 a gal, and Diesel at $4.10 that is only a 10 percent difference in cost of fuel, and if I get 12 mpg and you get 7 mpg, that is 40 percent better fuel mileage, I am making up the cost difference and then add the higher resale, and I just keep grinning!

I would like to undersand where gas drivers get that diesel has higher maintenance cost, oil changes only need to happen at most half as often as gas, so that becomes a push with almost twice the amount of oil.
No regular scheduled tune ups, belts, hoses, and coolant about the same as my old 460 gasser.

Once again Diesel isn't for everyone, that is just a fact, but don't slam it just because you don't want it, don't slam it.

I pull about 12K 18.5K GCVW, and would not want to do with a gas engine.


Don't know about the poster you're assuming but, I stop at the same 200~ mile stops I always have gas or diesel. And yes I smile a lot.
I've thought about fuel mileage. I got 10.5~ towing our 10k~ lb 5th wheel with our diesels and got 8.5~ towing the same 5th wheel the same speeds over the same routes with our previous Hemi powered 2500HD Ram.
Since you pay $10k~ more for a diesel pickup when you buy it, I certainly hope you get more for it when you sell it.
I change my 7 qts of oil at 5k miles in my 5.4L F250. Same with the Hemi. The Cummins 12qts got changed at 7500 miles.
Not sure what tune ups you refer to. The plugs aren't scheduled for change until 100k miles. All else is the same except 25k on the fuel filters. If you're comparing to an old 460, lets be fair and use a '95~ diesel for comparison.
It's seems you're the one slamming other peoples' engine choices. If the differences where as drastic as you claim, I would have traded back to diesel long ago. It just isn't so.


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Madhatter1

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Posted: 08/16/12 08:05pm Link  |  Quote  |  Print  |  Notify Moderator

Funy how a bunch of guys who drive the same trucks (besides the engines) can be so opposed to each other. OK, time to dive back in.
1- the mileage of both gas and Diesel gets so exagerated no one can believe anything
2- gas or Diesel, someone posts some believeable MPG numbers and then get bashed by others
3- Fact is gassers burn less than they used to and Diesels burn more. Still have a decent advantage though
4- Diesels are tainted by the emissions BS and will be for some time now.
5- Torque is king and is what gets heavy loads moveing and and keeps them moving up a grade.
6- Gearing is good and can compensate a lot but not for everything. An F1 motor no matter how geared cannot pull 22K lbs up a heavy grade. At least not for very long
7- The late 90's and up older Diesels with their lower HP ratings still have nearly as much torque at "usable" RPM's as the newer high HP engines. The 12V Cummins way overshot the advertised torque.

Experience:
97 2500 CTD 72K miles
98 2500 CTD 280K miles Chipped like crazy, sold to a friend who put another 160K
01 2500 CTD 165K miles
05 3500 CTD 225K miles Towed 15K Toyhauler
08 3500 CTD 149K miles Towes 15K Toyhauler

One more thing for those who want to (and yes, you will) argue #5 and #6. Answer this, how can a pair of 270HP 5.9 CTD engines run my 34' boat much faster at cruise and beat the top end by 3 MPH ( a big deal in a boat this size and weight) than the 330 HP 454 big blocks that came out? The GM's were almost new and propped correctly. The Diesels added weight.

One last thing. I think you only "need" a Diesel for high milage and heavy towing. But it is OK to like one doing less work. Everyone just drive whatever ya want.Now where did I put my flame proof suit???

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