ttsr4us
Florida
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Joined: 10/17/2003
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Dear 123
I would have thought that the pros and cons have been done to death on this forum. What more can you need to help make up your own mind!
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Brian and Esta
previously 2 Trailers and 2 Motorhomes, back in the trailer game.
GMC Sierra 3500HD 2WD, SLT Crew Short Bed. Duramax. 2014
Airstream 2016 Flying Cloud 30 RB with 2 a/c + Window Awnings
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hognuts
Cincinnati, OH
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Joined: 06/09/2004
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I prefer diesel.
The following text is not mine, it is copied from from the link below. Banks makes products to modify both gas and diesel engines.
http://www.bankspower.com/tech_gasordiesel.cfm
Which is better, gas or diesel? It’s a question confronting more and more new vehicle buyers in the light truck, SUV, and motorhome marketplace. And soon, it may be a question for car buyers too. Whether you opt for the more expensive diesel engine in a new vehicle may hinge on your experience with diesel engines. Perhaps it will depend on your desire for performance. Or maybe your decision will be based largely on economics, but chances are there will be an emotional element to the decision too.
For most new vehicle buyers, diesel engines connote power — the power to move or pull heavy loads. The terms "strength", "heavy-duty", "durable", and "rugged" are all associated with diesels. Power — that’s part of the emotional appeal of diesels. After all, you don’t think of diesel engines for light-duty applications like motorcycles or lawnmowers. You may not even think of diesels as appropriate for automobiles, but that too is changing.
It’s also possible that most of your impressions of diesels have been less than favorable. If you’re like most folks, your past experience with diesels may be mostly with big trucks and buses. At one time or another, everyone has been stuck behind a particularly smoky (and stinky) bus or big rig truck. That big diesel-powered behemoth was probably slow too. Fortunately, those old, slow, and dirty diesels are disappearing from the scene. Such diesel engines, especially those of a couple of years ago, don’t necessarily have much in common with the smaller diesels used in today’s pickups, SUVs, and motorhomes, but they have been part of shaping public thinking. Chances are that your diesel perceptions are based largely on past diesel technology, because the new generation of modern automotive diesel engines has only been around for a few years, and the changes have been dramatic. In fact, almost all of the objections people once had to diesel engines have now been eliminated. That might seem like a lot believe, so let’s take a look at some of the specifics.
Modern diesel engines now have computerized engine management to control electronic fuel injectors that operate at incredibly high speed and pressures. What this means is that the right amount of fuel is injected at the best possible time for optimum combustion efficiency with minimal pollution and virtually no smoke. That’s right, smoke is a thing of the past (unless someone has intentionally altered the fuel curve to hot rod the vehicle for extreme power, but more on that later). And now that smoke is gone, so is almost all diesel exhaust odor. What little diesel exhaust aroma remains will be gone when ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel replaces current diesel fuel in 2006, as mandated by the EPA.
The next thing you’ll notice about modern diesel engines is that they are quiet. Gone is the clattering sound at idle or low speeds. This is due to “pilot injection”, another benefit of electronic fuel management.
Pilot injection is an ingenious noise suppression cycle for modern direct injection diesels. Modern diesels with pilot injection run almost as quietly as comparable gasoline engines. This is especially beneficial in diesel pickups and SUVs, where engine noise is more noticeable.
Performance is something else that has changed. Older diesels tended to be slow and sluggish. That was especially true of non-turbocharged diesels. Today’s turbo-diesel engines are responsive and surprisingly nimble. Some are downright quick, and for most modern diesels, performance upgrades are readily available. Such modified diesels are frequently faster and quicker than comparable gasoline engine vehicles.
The last common objection to diesel engines, other than the initial cost, is the availability of diesel fuel. Happily, more and more gas stations have added one or more diesel fuel pumps, so filling up no longer requires a mandatory trip to a truck stop. Diesel fuel prices are typically close to that of regular grade gasoline, but that depends on availability, where you live, and local taxes.
Having covered the common objections to diesels, it’s time to look at a few of the advantages. Aside from the extra torque and pulling power of a diesel engine, one of the biggest advantages is fuel economy. Diesel engines typically deliver 20- to 40-percent better fuel economy than comparable gasoline engines doing the same amount of work. Depending on how many miles you drive a year and the cost of fuel, this can amount to a substantial savings that offsets the cost of the diesel option over the life of the vehicle.
There are other less obvious benefits from having a diesel engine. All of today’s diesel engines are turbocharged. As well as adding efficiency to a diesel engine, a turbocharger also has the advantage of offsetting power losses when a vehicle is operated at higher altitudes. If you live at high altitude, of if you will use your vehicle to travel to locations at high altitude, a turbo diesel makes a lot of sense. (see Understanding Today’s Diesel elsewhere on this site)
Yet another advantage to selecting a diesel powerplant is that power upgrades are readily available if you want to increase performance beyond factory levels. Simple upgrades can easily boost a diesel’s power output beyond that of any gasoline engine option in most vehicles. Diesels are quite easy to upgrade, and the modifications cost far less than what would be necessary to get equivalent power gains from a gasoline engine. Quality diesel upgrades, such as the Banks products sold elsewhere on this site, not only increase horsepower and torque, they improve engine efficiency and durability too. Here again, Banks power upgrades can often pay for them selves in improved fuel economy over the life of the vehicle.
If you have a desire to have the strongest pickup in your town, once more, the diesel is the way to go. Banks has the necessary high-performance tuners and performance bundles to wring maximum power from a diesel pickup while still providing a margin of safety to prevent engine or turbocharger damage. The Banks Six-Gun tuners with the optional SpeedLoader will even allow you to intentionally make some smoke at selected times by simply dialing in the desired setting (see Racing the Diesel elsewhere on this site). With a Banks-modified diesel, you can choose the power level you want on the fly – another thing you can’t do with a gasoline engine.
So what are the advantages to selecting a gasoline engine? Aside from slightly lower initial cost, there’s little to recommend gasoline engines today. It’s a new world, and diesel is no longer the fuel of the future — it’s the fuel (and the engine) for today.
2005 Desert Fox 28-KS SURV
2004 F250 Lariat Crew Cab 6.0 PSD
Reese Titan Receiver, Titan HD Weight Dist System, HP Dual Cam
ETQ IN3500i
98 FXDWG Chrome Magnet - grrrrr
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Salianron
Lake Livingston, Texas
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Joined: 02/17/2003
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I just saw this thread on "Active" and hope someone can answer the following question:
Does a stock diesel provide adequate engine braking without exceeding recommended RPM limit?
After paying a premium price for a diesel I don't want to have to add aftermarket equipment to compensate for any deficiencies. The ads for Banks and other systems indicate that adding an exhaust brake is necessary for safety. Some other ads indicate that the transmission (Allison and Mercedes) provides the braking, but a description of the process indicates that dropping one gear may have little effect (much less than with a gasoline engine). This question is related to a one ton van with a Class B camping conversion approximate weight 8,000 pounds.
Salianron --Sally and Ron
2003 Roadtrek 200 Popular
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tgatch
Meridian, ID
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Joined: 08/13/2003
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Salianron,
I tow about 12,000lbs with my F350. I say about as I haven't weighed it yet, just figuring based on what I added to my other 5er and adding the generator.
Anyhow, I towed down a 5 mile long 6% grade and my Torqshift did an amazing job of keeping me at 55 all the way down. Tap the brakes twice and the transmission did the rest. The Allison will function in a similar manner.
I promise you my set up far outweighs a Class B. I'm in the neighnorhood of 19,000 GCW going down the road.
* This post was
edited 11/18/04 04:10pm by tgatch *
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homebuilder
Califon NJ
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Joined: 10/13/2004
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I got fed up with my gasser when it could not tow its rated weight. I had a 2004 Silverado 6.0l with the 4.10 rear. Rated at 9800lbs. I was towing a 8500 lb TT. Recently purchased a 2005 Silverado with the Duramax/Allison combo. Hear this....there is no other tow vehicle!! I traded in the TT for a 5er. Sandpiper 295BHD. Probably 11k full. Any incline is a breeze. Any down hill travel the tranny brake kicks in and controls your speed. I love it. The right TV makes your trip so much more enjoyable.
Christopher Anderson
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mqpapa
auburn, wa
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Joined: 09/12/2004
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hey hoggie
that was a long winded reply. gave up reading after a few lines.
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hone eagle
essex ontario canada
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Joined: 11/18/2004
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guys I keep reading about how the diesel engine option is $5000,true but if you need a truck to do a job that can only be done with a 8.1 or a v10 shouldn't the price be the differance between the two options?In my case up here in can the torqueshift is $2050 for both the v10 and PSD,and thePSD is $6080 the v10 is about $3000 isn't my true cost for a PSD about $3000 cdn.
2005 Volvo 670 singled freedomline 12 speed
Newmar 34rsks 2008
Hensley trailersaver TSLB2H
directlink brake controller
-when overkill is cheaper-
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PSDExcursion
Millstone NJ
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Quote:After paying a premium price for a diesel I don't want to have to add aftermarket equipment
There is no law that says you have to.
2002 Chevy Express 3500 8.1 155" WB passenger van
41 Ft 2003 Thor Citation 41-ZBSR TT w/ Hensley Arrow
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J. Michael
Sarasota, FL USA
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My reasons are:
#1 My wife constantly complained about the noise of the diesel (7.3 PSD)
#2 I've been putting on about 18,000 miles/year, of which only about 7,000 are towing. Since diesel prices in my area are either higher than premium or at least higher than regular there is no fuel savings.
#3 When entering an unfamiliar service station I don't have to hunt for the right pump or wait for someone to finish fueling.
2005 F-350 Lariat Long Bed Crew Cab 6.0 PSD, 3.73, Tow Command, PullRite 16K Hitch & Line-X bed liner
New Fiver 2008 Cameo F35SB3
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bushman512003
wallaceburg,ontario,canada
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Joined: 01/24/2004
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If You want to have a true smoker get a cummins!John
Keystone 5er Model Cougar 276 RLS ,and all the toys.Enjoying camping,friends, fire. LOL. life is good..John,Jeannette,..From Canada the Queen's Country..Member of IRV2.Com."> The Bushman EH!
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