Community Forums

wylie pa · 04-11-2010, 10:37 AM

Im going to be purchasing in coming months a duall wheel pickup for hauling camper.My question is the way we get price gouged on fuel ,in the long run which of these fuels would be less likely to stay high when they rise ,last time gas and diesel both got very expensive .Just curious what your overal thoughts would be.Do you think diesel in long run is better or gas.Im asking because, if I go with diesel this would be first time owning one ,any advise.Since truckers use diesel for work do you think down the road diesel may go high and not come back down? I know nobody has a crystal ball ,but what has been your expierence gas verse diesel?What kind of mpg on gas verse diesel with comprable size engine do you see?In my home I burn chesnut coal in 5 years it has gone from 85 a ton to 140 a ton it makes you wonder whats next.It used to be a good choice but with all the work involved and increase in cost Im thinking of something else,I threwthis in as a comparison as to gas or diesel just want to try and pick right engine.

RichR · 04-11-2010, 12:31 PM

I have had two diesels and prefer them to gas-I have towed in the past with gas.As far as price goes heaven only knows what is going to happen,who would guess 3 dollar gas with this recession!Good luck on your choice-happy camping

GaryKD · 04-12-2010, 04:54 AM

Hi wylie pa,
For me, looking at the price of one fuel vs another fuel misses the point of buying a diesel or gas engine. One buys the engine that meets your requirements. If you will keep the vehicle for many years, if the RV is of a weight and size torque becomes important and if the terrain you'll camp the most is other than flat a diesel would seem to be the best choice.

CD · 04-12-2010, 08:40 AM

wylie pa
My experience has been, if you compare a gas and diesel engine with equal HP, torque,etc, you will get enough better MPG with the diesel to more than offset the cost. With the diesel you get the pulling power at a much lower RPM.

mythplaced · 04-12-2010, 09:02 AM

IMO

Diesel is the only way to go,

Now with that said, I know NOTHING about small diesels (Ford, GM, VW, etc) But you can't go wrong with Cummins, Cat, or MB!

Stump Jumper · 04-13-2010, 02:58 PM

I have owned both. From a pure towing standpoint, my opinion is that diesel is the way to go. A diesel will also hold its value better. I think that you will average about 3-4 more mpg's while towing as well. Regarding the price of gas/diesel, your guess is as good as anyone's. Personally, I am surprised that the truckers haven't already revolted with the cost of diesel being higher than gas!

JVJ · 04-13-2010, 05:36 PM

First things first. What size and weight of a camper are you looking at pulling. How often, how many miles per year will you be towing. This should have the largest bearing on your making your choice.
If you will be towing a large, very large, Heavy trailer, and doing it often for many miles a year....this would put a diesel at the top of the list.
If you are only looking at say 13,000 pounds or less, and talking about say 5,000 miles a year I would strongly think of going the gas route.
As for MPG there won't be as great of a savings on the new emission controled diesel as there would have been on older model years diesels. When towing the aprox. same weighted load with my F-550 6.4 2008 diesel and my 2006 F-250 6.8 gas V-10 the MPG was only 2.75 MPG difference.
Then you need to justify the cost of the diesel option of somewhere near $8,000. Yes the resell looks better, but if you base the resell on a percentage of what was paid for the diesel option VS. say a $600 option price for the V-10 gas powerplant the percentage will be very close. Depending on the current price of diesel the gas engine may actually have a better resell.
Then consider the cost of maintance, an oil change on a gas engine runs $21 at my local Ford dealer, the fuel filter runs another $55 installed. I had the oil and filter changed along with the fuel filters changed on my 6.4 diesel just before the new owner took deliver....cost $250.
I sold my F-550 diesel because I could not justify the cost when my F-250 V-10 could handle my current needs since we sold our Travel Supreme 40' triple slide 5th wheel, which weighed in at near 17,000 pounds.
I suggest you drive many different trucks, both diesel and gas powered. Look close at the numbers you will be looking at towing and make your own decision.

69RoadRunner · 04-13-2010, 07:50 PM

Don't buy a diesel to save money. Buy a diesel for better towing and engine life.

georgetown350 · 04-13-2010, 11:27 PM

FYI diesel is much cheaper then gas in Canada

Glenn and Kathy · 04-14-2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgetown350

FYI diesel is much cheaper then gas in Canada

Yesterday, in Chino Valley, AZ, Unleaded reg was . 2.839 gal and Diesel was 3.079. I don't know if the better mileage would pay off, so that is something to be considered.

Glenn

RustyJC · 04-14-2010, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn and Kathy

Yesterday, in Chino Valley, AZ, Unleaded reg was . 2.839 gal and Diesel was 3.079. I don't know if the better mileage would pay off, so that is something to be considered.

Glenn

Pulling the same 13,500 lb GVWR 5th wheel over the same route in the Texas Hill Country, our 1996 Dodge dually V-10/automatic yielded 6.5 MPG whereas our current truck got 12 MPG. Up one particular 6% grade westbound on I-10 going into Kerrville, the V-10 could hold 55 MPH in 2nd gear while the Cummins pulled the grade at 70 MPH in 6th gear.

Having had both, the diesel wins hands down for our application.

By the way, in the U.S., diesel is taxed more heavily than gasoline.

Rusty

Ray,IN · 04-14-2010, 06:20 PM

Georgetown, the Good Sam mapping software says currently, Canada diesel is the equivalent of $5.13 per U.S. gallon today.

ninos · 04-19-2010, 09:44 PM

I say diesel all the way, It tows a lot better and will less you a lot longer, If you going to do something do It the right way, thats my oppinion, Joe.

CD · 04-19-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn and Kathy

Yesterday, in Chino Valley, AZ, Unleaded reg was . 2.839 gal and Diesel was 3.079. I don't know if the better mileage would pay off, so that is something to be considered.

Glenn

The diesel @ $3.079 is less than 10% more than gas. If you got 10 mpg with a gas engine, you would only need to get 11mpg with a diesel to be ahead as far as fuel cost.