diesel or gasser

L

LaHunter

Active Member
Aug 24, 2012
322
0
N.E. LA
Retterath,

I bought my Duramax new. I don't drive it much, since I have a work vehicle that I drive for work. I pulled a 14' tandem trailer to the Big Horns in WY last year. Trailer was loaded with a Polaris Ranger and a week's work of red oak fire wood. I could barely tell the trailer was back there until I got into some pretty good inclines in WY. This truck is made for pulling heavy loads, and it rides very well for a 3/4 ton truck.
 
Jrod

Jrod

Active Member
Jan 30, 2012
262
6
Livermore, CA
I live in California where they charge for everything, literally. Don't buy a 1 ton; the running gear is nearly identical to a 3/4 ton except for bigger springs and the registration is way more money.

I had a 95 GMC gasser that went to 407000 miles and only stopped because the tranny started slipping. Best truck ever. Never did a thing to it, just add gas, add oil and I never shut it off. Drove it to work all week then fishing and hunting every weekend. Engines like to run, they don't like to turn on and off.

My opinion the only models you should look at are

01-07 Chevy/GMC duramax with Allison automatic; not the manual cuz from what I understand they cant handle the power like the Allison. Best interior and gauge cluster-not opinion; fact :)

99-03.5 7.3 with a 6 speed. Great motors and trannys and can go 80 mph all day driving out west and still get 20 mpg. Decent interiors but boring gauge clusters

04-07 cummins with a six speed also. I think the best motor(even though I bought a duramax). If you don't need a long bed buy a mega cab. My dads 06 dodge interior sucks, and the back seat kinda small so the mega cab is first class compared to coach.

Those are the vehicles I was looking at. That's the my California plan. Smog sucks.

For gas I am a chevy guy to the bone and the Ls motors are unbeatable.
 
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buckbull

buckbull

Veteran member
Jun 20, 2011
2,167
1,353
LaHunter said:
Retterath,

I bought my Duramax new. I don't drive it much, since I have a work vehicle that I drive for work. I pulled a 14' tandem trailer to the Big Horns in WY last year. Trailer was loaded with a Polaris Ranger and a week's work of red oak fire wood. I could barely tell the trailer was back there until I got into some pretty good inclines in WY. This truck is made for pulling heavy loads, and it rides very well for a 3/4 ton truck.
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I thought there were restrictions about bringing firewood into Wyoming. The oak would certainly burn lots longer and probably hotter than all that locally available wood. Does anyone know if there is any regulation on bringing firewood?
 
S

swampokie

Veteran member
Jul 29, 2013
1,165
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46
Haworth Oklahoma
It just amazes me that a 10 year old diesel with 250000 miles can still sell for near 20000$! They will sell as soon as they are offered all day long at that price also.
 
velvetfvr

velvetfvr

Veteran member
May 6, 2012
2,026
0
Nv
swampokie said:
It just amazes me that a 10 year old diesel with 250000 miles can still sell for near 20000$! They will sell as soon as they are offered all day long at that price also.
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It's because a Diesel engine has much more life and can last much longer than a gas engine and be more efficient also.
 
JimP

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
7,316
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Gypsum, Co
Colorado Cowboy said:
One thing is for certain....I will never own another gas pickup.
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At the price of the new diesels along with the problems that I am seeing that they are having with them, my 20 year old diesel is going to have to live another 20 years.

But still if you are hauling one of these new toy hauler fifth wheel trailers you are still better off with a diesel than a gas truck and the more weight that you are dragging behind you the better they are.
 
Colorado Cowboy

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
8,348
4,741
83
Dolores, Colorado
JimP said:
At the price of the new diesels along with the problems that I am seeing that they are having with them, my 20 year old diesel is going to have to live another 20 years.

But still if you are hauling one of these new toy hauler fifth wheel trailers you are still better off with a diesel than a gas truck and the more weight that you are dragging behind you the better they are.
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The thing I didn't say was I am almost 75, if my 2013 lasts as long as my 97 did (18 years & 300, 000 miles), I probably won't be driving!!! LOL
 
Colorado Cowboy

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
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Dolores, Colorado
sneakypete said:
CC, what's going on with the tractor. It's been under the radar, or Mrs. CC says no more $ for that toy! Lol hope all is well.
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I've been busy with a few thing on the hunting trailer, doing a lot of reloading irrigating, etc. Havn't been doing too much during the middle of the day, too damn hot. Also getting over a couple of wasp stings, one was right in my left eye brow. Eyes swelled completely shut, stayed that way all day. Better now, took some pills my Dr gave me which helped.
 
S

swampokie

Veteran member
Jul 29, 2013
1,165
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Haworth Oklahoma
velvetfvr said:
It's because a Diesel engine has much more life and can last much longer than a gas engine and be more efficient also.
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I understand that but all the rest of the pickup is the same parts and just because the engine is good doesn't mean the rest is still tight. I'm just amazed at the cost of pickups today period. Not to mention maintenance. My neighbor gave 70000 for a new power stroke and tranny went out twice before 50000 miles. That is as much as I paid for my house!
 
missjordan

missjordan

Veteran member
Dec 9, 2014
1,136
22
Missoula, MT
Get the diesel for sure, the fuel mileage will be way better then the gas motor towing your camper. We had a 2014 dodge 5.7l hemi and it was a struggle towing passes towing our 32ft travel trailer plus the 14ft rzr trailer we pulled behind the camper as well. Plus it would overheat pulling passes. So we traded it in on a 2013 Chevy Duramax and haven't looked back since


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
JimP

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
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Gypsum, Co
sneakypete said:
Problem is your neighbor bought a ford, not a GM with a Allison transmission!
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While the Allison is a great transmission they are starting to have their problems also. It could be because of the power race that the three manufactures are in without redesigning the transmission for that extra horsepower. It also looks like Fords problem is really a new design behind their 6.7 which is still evolving.
 
Team Kabob

Team Kabob

Very Active Member
May 9, 2014
793
148
Brad,

Go let the truck decide for you; get both from the dealership and hook them to the trailer you have. The truck will decide for you. The Diesel will hold its value in the long run, especially with putting low miles on it. I've owned both gas and diesel. Always wish the gas truck had more power. The diesel I didn't know why it needed any more power! I wish I could have both of my Diesels back; miss my 95 5.9 diesel the most, grandpa bought it new (broke college kid needed money). But, I have plans to buy a new one the fall or next spring when they run good sales/rebates. It will be a diesel duramax. Plus you can haul a bulk tank to refuel on long runs! I know you like performance too!



TK
 
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