sack1
Kent, WA
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Joined: 08/16/2002
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Sure, and that's why we went with the long bed. As I pointed out before, we can get greater than 300 miles before filling while towing. That's plenty for us and then some. When I look around campgrounds I'd say most of the rest are within a tank getting there too. Having a range of lets say more than 5-600 miles on one tank just doesn't interest me. It would be like carrying extra weight around. Gas is easy to find when needed.
Yes the current diesels can reach 600 lb/ft of peak torque. But that's only developed with the pedal mashed to the floor at certain rpm. Do you mash your pedal? I rarely need more than half to 3/4 pedal to stay with traffic while towing. I have extra power left too. I like power as much as the next guy but looking at peak numbers is just that. It may be good for bragging rights but there is a practical side to things, at least in my book.
As a point of interest I was talking with a rep from Whipple (superchargers) and their system for the 8.1 boosts HP and torque by up to 50%. That would give numbers of over 500 HP and almost 700 ft/lbs of torque. He said towing mileage would improve by about 20% which is very close to what the diesels deliver while towing our weight. Hmmm, if I sell the kids and hock the dog, or is it hock the kids and sell the dog? ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile")
Believe me or not, I'm not anti-diesel. I just don't like everything painted with the same brush. The world usually isn't that simple.
'03 Chevy 2500HD 4x4, LT, Ext. cab, LB
8.1/Allison, 4.10
'03 32' 2955 Montana 5er
XM Radio/OnStar
Valley Hitch
Honda EU1000i
1984 VF700F Interceptor
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PSDExcursion
Millstone NJ
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Quote:As a point of interest I was talking with a rep from Whipple (superchargers) and their system for the 8.1 boosts HP and torque by up to 50%. That would give numbers of over 500 HP and almost 700 ft/lbs of torque. He said towing mileage would improve by about 20% which is very close to what the diesels deliver while towing our weight. Hmmm, if I sell the kids and hock the dog, or is it hock the kids and sell the dog?
There is no way a supercharged 8.1 is going to give you the mpg of a diesel. If that were true then they would put them in trucks. Gale Banks has gone 222 mph with their diesel pickup and got 21+mpg with the same truck. And that was putting out 700+ HP and 1300+ Ft lb of torque.
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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alaska511
Southcentral Alaska
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Joined: 05/15/2004
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Uh oh....![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/rolleyes.gif "rolleyes")
2017 Wildcat Maxx 295
2015 Silverado LTZ Duramax/Allison
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Rogerg
WESTERN N.Y. U.S.A.
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Joined: 01/23/2004
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This is a very good topic. I have owned compact trucks up to a class 5 diesel. What I like about the diesel is duribility and fuel mileage. I travel alot for work and pleasure so I want something that will last. Most of the time with my 5vr, loaded 15,200#.
2001 F-550,7.3PSD,4.88 gears, 14-15 mpg empty.
8-9 mpg loaded,25,000# gcw.
1999 F-350,7.3PSD,3.73 gears, srw, 18-20 mpg empty.
10-11- mpg loaded,22,200# gcw.
2001 has 60,000 miles and the 1999 has 130,000 miles. Previously owned F-250 4x4 gas V-8 got 10 mpg empty.
As for the price of a diesel, I gave up the 4x4 option,witch I rarely used, for the diesel. At 100,000 miles, the diesel added about $3000 to the resale value of the F-350.
There is no right or wrong. This works for me.
Happy trails to you,
Rogerg
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firewood58
Cherry Valley, IL USA
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Joined: 07/02/2004
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BertP,
I just came back from a 3K trip pulling a 6K travel Trailer with a 2001 Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3L, Tow package. The truck is rated to pull about 8K but I don't think I even want to try that! My only concern is that in the hills of Tennessee the truck would downshift to pull the truck and trailer up the hill, the RPMs were at or near 5K. It is very obvious that I need more low to mid range torque to keep from having to downshift to climb the hills. I have started looking at getting a new truck and I am seriously looking at a diesel. It isn't for the gas mileage but for the torque. My only experiance with diesels is on the Fire Department I am on. We have (2) engines (pumpers) that have CAT 3208s in them and have NEVER once had an engine problem. Is the reliabilty of the smaller diesels as good as the larger gas engines. Guess I just am trying to decide if I should just spend money on a new truck or beef up the engine and trans in my current truck. You stated you went from a gas to a diesel and I was just interested in the reasons.
Thanks!
FIREWOOD58
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PSDExcursion
Millstone NJ
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Joined: 08/17/2001
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Quote:
Yes the current diesels can reach 600 lb/ft of peak torque. But that's only developed with the pedal mashed to the floor at certain rpm. Do you mash your pedal? I rarely need more than half to 3/4 pedal to stay with traffic while towing. I have extra power left too. I like power as much as the next guy but looking at peak numbers is just that. It may be good for bragging rights but there is a practical side to things, at least in my book.
600 pounds-feet of torque at 1,600 RPM vs 450@3200 rpm shows that the diesel is the engine that doesn't need the pedal mashed to the floor.
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alaska511
Southcentral Alaska
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Quote:600 pounds-feet of torque at 1,600 RPM vs 450@3200 rpm shows that the diesel is the engine that doesn't need the pedal mashed to the floor.
Here I am lying about piping up again.....
I think we all know diesels don't turn the engine speed a gas engine does, the torque developement occurs for a "longer" duration during crankshaft rotation thanks to a slow burn in a diesel. And 3200 RPM in my truck damn sure ain't mashed to the floor, it will hum there in overdrive if I let it, but that is going way too fast with 3.73s and 265 tires. Engine speed arguments are moot, we all know the reality of where the torque is developed.
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PSDExcursion
Millstone NJ
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Quote:And 3200 RPM in my truck damn sure ain't mashed to the floor, it will hum there in overdrive if I let it,
You are right but I was responding to the quote "Yes the current diesels can reach 600 lb/ft of peak torque. But that's only developed with the pedal mashed to the floor" It seems some people are making remarks about diesels when they never even drove one.
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alaska511
Southcentral Alaska
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Got it, I digress...........![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/embarrassed.gif "embarrassed")
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8.1
mandeville, LA, usa
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Joined: 08/17/2003
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From what I can gather the reason to purchase a diesel cannot be justified alone on the economy of the motor. That is, the payback from the lesser fuel consumption will not be realized over the $4000+ entry fee for at least 60,000 miles, maybe longer. The posts do all seem to resonate the same message about the diesel motor's ability to pull heavy loads and do so with ease. I guess that is why the trucking industry uses them.
Mike
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