hindle_az
Sierra Vista, Az
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Joined: 11/17/2004
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I'm new to Diesel's and towing. I had an F150 4.2V6 and purchased a 20ft Interstate cargo trailer to tow dirt bikes. I towed a bit with my 150 and decided I wanted something stout that wouldn't be phased by the trailer. So I looked at 2500 series pickups. I did test drive a new F150 with the 5.4 Triton but that was a joke compared to the diesels I test drove. Plus I heard of the gas mileage advantage and I figured even with the higher prices it would still be a money saver if I did any amount of highway driving with the trailer.
I ended up purchasing a GMC 2500HD with the duramax Diesel. I've taken two trips with the truck. A 1700 mile trip without the trailer and a 400 mile trip with the trailer. Here is what the truck did on the 1700 mile trip wihtout the trailer. The price per Gallon is an average. The prices locally where I filled up are around 2.25 a gallon but North of my home prices were 10 to 20 cents cheaper. Go figure. As for gas I based that on local mid grade prices. Some of you may run the cheaper stuff or the high octane varies from engine requirements and personal preferences.
Diesel - 1700Miles / 20MPG * 2.10 = $178.5
Gas - 1700Miles / 18MPG * 1.95 = $184.16
Below are results from a more local trip with my trailer. I based the MPG on a friend who has the 8.1 Gasser version of the 2500HD. He says 6 - 7 @ 75 MPH. I added another MPG on top of that.
400Miles / 13MPG * 2.20 Price Per Gallon Diesel = $67.69
400Miles / 8MPG * 1.93 Price Per Gallon Gas = $96.5
It's easy to see that there isn't much of a gain with current diesel prices unless you are towing. However, if you do any amount of towing Diesel is the way to go without a doubt if you have the means. Some folk may already have a gasser that has the power and torque to tow a large trailer and it may not make sense for them to trade up. Where you do loose with a Diesel is city driving. In the city I get about 17MPG and that isn't any better then my previous gasser but I'm paying 30 cents a gallon more locally. So if your going to get a truck that will also dub as a daily driver in the city it's not as clear cut as if the vehicle was mainly being used to tow in city or highway.
That is just my 2 cents.
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OLD EASY
Beaver Lake, Nebr
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Joined: 10/21/2004
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I don't know any one who likes the smell of diesel fuel and the fumes from diesels,how many times do you go into stations that handle diesel fuel and have to walk threw a mess some has made filling there diesel tank, I drove diesels and repaired them for over 35 years, now that I retired I wouldn,t own one, they are the fair weather machine, when it gets really nasty They fail, they break down in the winter more than any other time, they can break the average person trying to buy fuel, you don,t dare shut them off when it gets 10 degrees or less or they won,t start, I know you aren't going that far north, but s___ hapens beyond our control. I would like some of you hi mpg get that milage in very cold weather, and you guys with the trucks pulling trailers get used to the dark stuff (exhaust smoke ) getting into your campers, if you think about it you can smell it, after 5 or 6 years the DP start to turn dark and smell bad.I hope you never get a fuel leak, then it really gets bad, you don't know what it's like to blow a turbo, if you don,t get it turned off you start burning oil as it pumps into your exhaust and you can't limp it very far or you will ruin your bearings in you engine then you really got problems, I don't want to scare you but these are just a few, I could write for a week about the problems that the diesels have and the problems you will have, this time of year be sure and ck your antifreeze and while your are at be sure and change your water filters and if it don't have one be sure to put that water additive to your radiator the companys that make diesels don't stress this but if you don't use it the antfreeze will eat a hole threw your piston liners in time,it's called electrolisis (spelled wrong)any way they will rust and make small holes in the pistons and antifreeze will get in your oil and if you keep going ruin your engine, it has happened to a lot of diesels, I 'm going to quit for tonite, I'll tell you some of the worse points tomorow.
Bob, Jan & Lizzy(long hair doxie] 2000 Adventurer
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RJDake
Topeka, KS
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Joined: 04/10/2004
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Quote:if all of you would put in you BEST, no flaming reasons for going gas vs diesel, pro and con,
Marty,
My interest in Diesel vs Gas (as driver) is the torque. But that isn't the whole story. The efficiency of a diesel is pretty significant (check the BTU performance on the sites below) and lends itself to many modifications, including the ability to use Biodiesel (fuel from soybeans and that yucky leftover stuff your french fries have given up on).
I think it is imperative that we begin thinking beyond petroleum and even though ethanol may work with gasoline, you will probably get a better "bang for the buck" with biodiesel!
The threads have made me get out and start researching ... here are a few sites (including the engine manufacturers):
http://www.dieselforum.org/index.html
http://www.dieselpub.com/
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/diesel.htm
http://www.dieselnet.com/
http://www.detroitdiesel.com/
http://www.duramaxdiesel.com/
http://www.cummins.com/cmi/content.jsp?s........d=1033&menuId=6&overviewId=0&menuIndex=0
http://www.cat.com/cda/layout?m=8703&x=7
http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/
Happy hunting everyone!
RJ
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crickeydog
Marietta, Ga.
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Joined: 01/29/2004
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* This post was
edited 12/03/04 07:58am by crickeydog *
USAF RETIRED 02/1992
DOD RETIRED 04/2014
D/W US GOV/DOJ/DEA RETIRED 10/2010
PULL DOG:
2006 GMC 3500 CC DRW D/A LBZ 4X4 SLT
2004 HOLIDAY RAMBLER PRESIDENTIAL 30' SCD 5'ER
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crickeydog
Marietta, Ga.
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Joined: 01/29/2004
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[quote]Tow Vehicle: 1996 Ford F-250 4X4 Diesel Supercab, Auto, 4.10, 75HP chip.
Trailer: 2004 Holiday Rambler Presidential 30' 5th Wheel
Total mileage towed for 2004: 5280 miles to date.
Average MPG towing for 2004: 12.4 MPG
Truck has 91000 miles and except for routine maintenance (I'm a fanatic about maintenance) and an upgraded tranny and torque converter, it's been "Old Reliable" or as we've nicknamed her; "The White Shadow". The truck is used only for towing. We routinely tow between Chatanooga, Tn. and Nashville, Tn. climbing Monteagle's 7% grade in 4th gear (overdrive) at 65MPH, EGT 900 degrees, Trans. Temp 195 degrees, 150 ft. lbs of boost. No soot, no smell. When "The White Shadow" finally blows up, we'll salute her, bury her on the road, and replace it with another diesel.
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djs523
Woolwich, NJ
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Joined: 12/06/2004
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Gas vs Diesel - Economics.
The diesel gas specs have been changing and will evolve to ultra low sulfur diesel in 06. Right now diesel supply is low and will continue low for on road diesel as refining capacity to make low and ultra low sulfur diesel constrains the market. More manufacturing will move to #2 fuel oil as the investment to meet the low sulfur demainds is a steep one.
You are beginning to see legislation proposed (currently one bill in NJ) requiring the retrofiting of all diesel engines to reduce particulate and emissions.
05 Ford F250 SD V-10 Crew 4X4 Long Bed
05 Jayco Eagle 325BHS
15.5K Pullrite with SuperRails
99 Crestliner 1850 Sportfish
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c.traveler2
Moreno Valley,Ca.
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Joined: 09/04/2004
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I went with diesel mainly for the longivity of the truck. Even with diesel prices on the high side here in Calif. I don't have any regets about my truck..F250/6.0/ext cb/lb/camper pkg...2004![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/cool.gif "cool")
2007 F-250 4x4 /6.0 PSD/ext cab/ 2020 Bunduvry
Lance 815/ 85 watts solar panel (sold)
2020 Bunduvry by BundutecUSA
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Truck Camper Trip Reports 3.0
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Alex and Julie's Travels Blog
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DutchAndBarb
Hereford, AZ
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Joined: 11/18/2004
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The best thing about the forum??? Everyone is allowed their opinion. ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
Dutch & Barb - and our 2 " ANTIQUE" dogs
OLD DUDES RULE!!
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DutchAndBarb
Hereford, AZ
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I guess the best thing about this forum is that everyone is allowed their own opinion!![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/awink.gif "awink")
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SweetPete
Woodlands, TX (North of Houston)
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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I love my gas engine. My brother has a PSD w/ 110000 miles on it. He says that even if he plugs it in at night, it sometimes has trouble starting in the morning. Here in Cleveland, it gets pretty cold. Anyways, with that being said, I just like the "no hassle" start up of a gasser. No plug-in, no troubles. Not to mention, what happens if I'm on a job site and my truck has been sitting all day in the cold. I just don't like thinking that I'd have to plug it in just to get home.
So...there's my $.02 It might not be a great reason to avoid diesel, but for now, it works for me. Either way, I LOVE TRUCKS!!
Happy trails!!
Pete
2004 F-250 SC XLT FX4 OFF ROAD 5.4L, camper package, snowplow prep and more.
1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4 5.2 V8
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