Slowmover
Fort Worth, TX
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Joined: 11/14/2003
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Four wheel disc brakes trump quite a few considerations. And early Cummins HPCR trucks are cast iron reliable.
1990 35' SILVER STREAK Sterling, 9k GVWR
2004 DODGE RAM 2WD 305/555 ISB, QC SRW LB NV-5600, 9k GVWR
Hensley Arrow; 11-cpm solo, 17-cpm towing fuel cost
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transferred
CA
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Joined: 10/12/2010
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Have to agree with recommending the venerable Cummins 5.9.
325bhp and 610lb/ft from MY2005-07 is plenty especially given that peak torque arrives at just 1,600 rpm. The 6.7s are a lot quieter and have no smell, but the pedal/trans delay is a pita as can be the emissions longterm if you do a lot of short drives.
I did like the 7.3 I owned back in the day, it's an honest engine but they're getting old now and never had the pulling the power of the 5.9. Sure add a tuner, but for a woking truck that's asking for trouble. That said, if you can find the last MY2003, you'll get a reasonably new truck and 275/525 which is nothing to sneeze at.
05 Ram 3500 SRW QCSB Laramie 4x4 Cummins, 610lbs, 23k GC, 9.9k GV
(totaled) 16 Ram 3500 SRW RCLB SLT 4X4 Cummins Aisin, 900lbs, 25.3k GC, 11.5k GV
06 F550 4x4 PSD, 570lbs, 33k GC, 19.5k GV
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Steakman
Calgary, Alberta
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Joined: 06/01/2003
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Quote:..I should add I am a chevy guy and love the looks and fit and finish as well as the duramax/allison team, but the reliablility is not there and the parts are astromonical in cost....
Hmm, Reliabllity eh, well Im sitting at just shy of 300,000 miles...and for the most part its been wear parts with the exception of Head Gaskets. My build date was Oct 05...GM started putting in riveted upgraded gaskets in Dec of that year. Mine were fine until I drove over the BC Rockies with my EFI Live at a setting that was too high and overboosted. My fault - not the trucks. At the same time Deleted the EGR - Replace the exhaust with PPE "near" headers, new up pipes - larger down pipe and a Sinister Intake...truck runs just great and lil more power - less turbo lag.
There are many many guys with trucks older than mine..at 500, 600, 750,000 miles on them still going strong. A couple have rolled over their odomters that I know of..
I would agree that they have an issue with Transmission lines leaking, and a Transfer case pump rub issue...but other than that, it's stlll the best ride I have ever owned...and most comfortable of the bunch.
Fluids Fluids Fluids & Filters....keep those items at the top of the list (for any diesel for that matter), and it will carry you into the next decade.
Cheers,
M'self and the Bride...of 32 yrs
'06 GMC DMax CCSB 594,545 km (368,890 miles)
2003 Citation 26RKS.
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naturist
Lynchburg, VA
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Joined: 04/24/2008
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Diesel vs. gas, an Aussie's take on the topic: https://youtu.be/kpZQPN9ONu0
(sorry, the web page isn't letting me convert that into a click for you. copy and paste is your friend.)
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Nevadastars
Fallon, Nv.
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Joined: 10/24/2005
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Yes, there are gassers out there with a lot more torque and power than the V10 in our 06 Class C. With our Jeep Liberty in tow, watching the tach near the 5k redline pulling long mountain grades here in Nevada gets nerve wracking. Not to mention that poor transmission trying to decide which gear to stay in. We were getting 7 mpg as the result of that screaming engine.
Several years ago, we had an 04 2500 Cummins with a 10ft truck camper and pulling those same grades with our quads in tow were nothing. The truck rarely downshifted staying well under 3k rpm. After our last trip, I got tired of being in the way of diesel trucks with huge fivers behind them. So, I decided we are putting the MH up for sale and picked up an 07 5.9 Cummins. Once the weather gets a bit warmer, the MH is for sale and we will be on the hunt for a 5th wheel.
2016 Forest River Wildcat Maxx 262RGX 8,268 UVW 11,754 GVWR
2007 Ram 2500 QC SB 4x4 Smarty tuned 5.9 Cummins
B&W Turnover Ball & Andersen Ultimate
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Jarlaxle
New England
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Joined: 11/18/2006
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The new V10 will suck the doors off your 2006...60 extra horsepower and a better transmission.
John and Elizabeth (Liz), with Briza the size XL tabby
St. Bernard Marm, cats Vierna and Maya...RIP. ">
Current rig:
1992 International Genesis school bus conversion
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RobertRyan
Australia
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Joined: 03/16/2008
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naturist wrote:Diesel vs. gas, an Aussie's take on the topic: https://youtu.be/kpZQPN9ONu0
(sorry, the web page isn't letting me convert that into a click for you. copy and paste is your friend.)
Do not know the YouTube video, gas ( Petrol) Commercial vehicles of any type disappeared decades ago.
Pickups and all Commercial Vehicles are now diesel
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Sheepdreamer
MI
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Joined: 02/21/2017
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Bottom line - I'm a diesel guy. Love them. Great for pulling, awesome tow truck. Had several, last one was a 2006 F250 6.0. Lots of work done on the engine, great gas mileage, heavy truck, pulled well, good truck.
Reality - I can't afford two trucks. I work in town. Lots of starts and stops, hard on the engine. Now I drive gas.
Diesel:
Gobs of torque
Good mileage for towing heavy vs. gas
When it breaks, it's usually expensive
Easy fueling up with large trailers
Not suited well to daily driving short distances vs. longevity
More expensive initially and to fuel
Gas:
More horsepower, less torque
Great mileage no tow, sometimes really bad towing
Less expensive to maintain and repair, usually
Can be more "challenging" to find fuel pulling a long trailer
Less poorly suited to daily driving, still not great for stops and starts but less damaging
Less expensive initially and currently cheaper to fuel
Do I wish I still had my diesel truck, yes.
Does my gasser work just fine and do what I need it to do, yes.
Would I go back to diesel if I had a heavier trailer, yes and wouldn't think about it twice.
Am I willing to pay the extra expense to do what I'm doing currently, no.
The bottom line is they are both usually fine when used inside their operational parameters. Period. They both have advantages and disadvantages. It boils down to what you want, and what you want to pay. In the end it's likely an emotional decision, not a logical one.
Just my opinion though...
JT
2014 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 Hemi
2017 Coachmen Adrenaline 25QB (~32')
And a happy camper...
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jimmyv13
Michigan
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Joined: 03/26/2017
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^That right there is about as good as it gets.
I just switched from a 6.0L powerstoke crew shortbox to a '15 6.2L gasser crew longbox. I will be pulling the same trailer the same route with the new truck and I already know it's going to be painful. I couldn't justify the NEED for a diesel this time around, oh and it was north of what I wanted to spend on a truck. My new truck is in the Lariat Ultimate MUCH nicer than the 6.0 and that makes the wife happy.
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Jarlaxle
New England
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Joined: 11/18/2006
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RobertRyan wrote:naturist wrote:Diesel vs. gas, an Aussie's take on the topic: https://youtu.be/kpZQPN9ONu0
(sorry, the web page isn't letting me convert that into a click for you. copy and paste is your friend.)
Do not know the YouTube video, gas ( Petrol) Commercial vehicles of any type disappeared decades ago.
Pickups and all Commercial Vehicles are now diesel
Pablum.
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