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3500 Dually with 6.4L? HEAVY truck camper question.

Relative to the amount of trucks on the road , big and little diesels the problem is overblown . Most are def in extreme cold . I had one DEF incident that I cleared myself in the 6 yrs of owning a 14 3500 . My son has owned it for an additional 2.5 years with no def issues . Not to say people don't have problems but definitely not enough to be gun shy of them . 2014 to 2022 100 k miles and one def incident that I cleared . I think that is a pretty solid dependability record . 68RFE no issues either .
 
Depending on where you live the door sticker payload may not even matter. Most states don’t care about GVWR, they care about axle and tire ratings. The GVWR is restricted to 14K because they are Class III vehicle, so they are cheated out of capacity.

The gas trucks have the same 9,750 RAWR but a lower 5,500 FAWR, compare to 6,000. That’s most the engine weight. The truck is built to handle the max FAWR+RAWR, which is 15,750. That’s a lot of payload if you could max both out.

So gas or diesel may come more down to preference. 410hp is 410hp, doesn’t matter gas or diesel. The difference is the rpms at which it makes it. The diesel will rev lower and accelerate better, but given the right rpm both can maintain the same speed.

Lots of things to consider, and research.
 
It all comes down to torque ! A gasser does not put out the same torque as a diesel relative to hoarse power.
 
Nick said:
It all comes down to torque ! A gasser does not put out the same torque as a diesel relative to hoarse power.
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No it does not, but that's the beauty of gearing as torque can be multiplied but horsepower cannot.

The diesel torque is instrumental in getting a load moving easier, and maintain speed at lower rpms but a gasser with similar hp, and proper gearing, can keep load moving but it takes some rpms to do it.

Here is an example. Assume WOT. All 3 trucks would be DRW's with 4.10's. 60 mph for the 6.4L and 63 mph for the 6.7L's, the 3 mph difference is to put them both at their rated rpm.

The 6.4L would be turning 5,600 rpms making 410hp and 384.5 lb/ft. It would be in 3rd gear to do 60 at 5,600. 3rd is 2.10:1. Torque to the rear wheels is 3,310.55 lb.ft.

The 6.7's would be turning 2,800 rpms making SO:370hp or HO:420hp. Torque would be SO:506.4 lb/ft or HO:787.8 lb/ft. Both would be in 4th gear at 1:1. Torque to the rear wheels is SO: 2,076.24 lb/ft or HO: 3,229.98 lb/ft.

As you can see in this example the 6.4L can put more torque to the ground at 60 than the HO or SO at 63.

Getting up to speed would be another story, and that's more important to me among many other reasons. I'll be sticking to diesel.
 
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Interesting thread, I've had several diesels, all 1 ton. I always liked the diesel engines and for the first time I'm getting a gas (2023 PW). I'm sure I'll feel the difference, but my requirements are no longer the same. I'll build an off-road beast and Procharge it. It's all a matter of what you want I guess; everyone has something different in mind. There's always pros and cons to everything in life. Get what you want and be happy, it's a waste when it comes to debating something like engines, it's like politics and people never or rarely will change their mind.
 
AH64ID said:
No it does not, but that's the beauty of gearing as torque can be multiplied but horsepower cannot.

The diesel torque is instrumental in getting a load moving easier, and maintain speed at lower rpms but a gasser with similar hp, and proper gearing, can keep load moving but it takes some rpms to do it.

Here is an example. Assume WOT. All 3 trucks would be DRW's with 4.10's. 60 mph for the 6.4L and 63 mph for the 6.7L's, the 3 mph difference is to put them both at their rated rpm.

The 6.4L would be turning 5,600 rpms making 410hp and 384.5 lb/ft. It would be in 3rd gear to do 60 at 5,600. 3rd is 2.10:1. Torque to the rear wheels is 3,310.55 lb.ft.

The 6.7's would be turning 2,800 rpms making SO:370hp or HO:420hp. Torque would be SO:506.4 lb/ft or HO:787.8 lb/ft. Both would be in 4th gear at 1:1. Torque to the rear wheels is SO: 2,076.24 lb/ft or HO: 3,229.98 lb/ft.

As you can see in this example the 6.4L can put more torque to the ground at 60 than the HO or SO at 63.

Getting up to speed would be another story, and that's more important to me among many other reasons. I'll be sticking to diesel.
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I think you made the argument for all diesel guys.

It gets tiresome hearing a v8 gas motor screaming at 5600 rpms with a 10k lb trailer in tow getting ready to launch a rod out the side of the block just to crest the mountain pass at 58 mph. No thanks
 
gimmie11s said:
I think you made the argument for all diesel guys.

It gets tiresome hearing a v8 gas motor screaming at 5600 rpms with a 10k lb trailer in tow getting ready to launch a rod out the side of the block just to crest the mountain pass at 58 mph. No thanks
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While there’s no arguing that the diesel will do it at lower revs I never had an issue dragging 10k up the passes on I-70 in Colorado (same hill that TFL does “The Ike” challenge on) at 75 mph with the Hemi. 10k isn’t that much weight for any of these trucks.
 
AH64ID said:
No it does not, but that's the beauty of gearing as torque can be multiplied but horsepower cannot.

The diesel torque is instrumental in getting a load moving easier, and maintain speed at lower rpms but a gasser with similar hp, and proper gearing, can keep load moving but it takes some rpms to do it.

Here is an example. Assume WOT. All 3 trucks would be DRW's with 4.10's. 60 mph for the 6.4L and 63 mph for the 6.7L's, the 3 mph difference is to put them both at their rated rpm.

The 6.4L would be turning 5,600 rpms making 410hp and 384.5 lb/ft. It would be in 3rd gear to do 60 at 5,600. 3rd is 2.10:1. Torque to the rear wheels is 3,310.55 lb.ft.

The 6.7's would be turning 2,800 rpms making SO:370hp or HO:420hp. Torque would be SO:506.4 lb/ft or HO:787.8 lb/ft. Both would be in 4th gear at 1:1. Torque to the rear wheels is SO: 2,076.24 lb/ft or HO: 3,229.98 lb/ft.

As you can see in this example the 6.4L can put more torque to the ground at 60 than the HO or SO at 63.

Getting up to speed would be another story, and that's more important to me among many other reasons. I'll be sticking to diesel.
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My statement relates directly to hoarsepower relative to torque . Addressing the statement that 450 hp is 450 hp in a gas vs diesel . Gearing a gasser to pull better is another story . Which you have done a fine job of explaining . I Will remember that whenever l pass a gas motorhome screaming up a hill .
 
Nick said:
My statement relates directly to hoarsepower relative to torque . Addressing the statement that 450 hp is 450 hp in a gas vs diesel . Gearing a gasser to pull better is another story . Which you have done a fine job of explaining . I Will remember that whenever l pass a gas motorhome screaming up a hill .
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Well gas might make hoarse power because of all the screaming it does, but a diesel puts out horsepower ;)
 
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jsalbre said:
While there’s no arguing that the diesel will do it at lower revs I never had an issue dragging 10k up the passes on I-70 in Colorado (same hill that TFL does “The Ike” challenge on) at 75 mph with the Hemi. 10k isn’t that much weight for any of these trucks.
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Like most choices in life, there are compromises. It comes down to what you bought the vehicle for.

If the truck is an all-arounder that will be used frequently unloaded (daily driving, taking kids to football practice, light off roading, occasional towing), buy gas.

If the truck is being purchased for the task of towing a load, buy diesel.
 
gimmie11s said:
Like most choices in life, there are compromises. It comes down to what you bought the vehicle for.

If the truck is an all-arounder that will be used frequently unloaded (daily driving, taking kids to football practice, light off roading, occasional towing), buy gas.

If the truck is being purchased for the task of towing a load, buy diesel.
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Can’t disagree with any of that!

Or, if you want to do the first stuff and like diesel more, buy a diesel. If you want to do the second stuff and like gas more, buy gas.

Either way, as long as you buy a modern HD truck you’re probably going to end up with something that meets your needs. But don’t buy a Ram right now, there’s too many orders in already. Go bother a Ford dealer!

Edit: Spelling fix!
 
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jsalbre said:
Can’t disagree with any of that!

Or, if you want to do the first stuff and like diesel more, but a diesel. If you want to do the second stuff and like gas more, but gas.

Either way, as long as you buy a modern HD truck you’re probably going to end up with something that meets your needs. But don’t buy a Ram right now, there’s too many orders in already. Go bother a Ford dealer!
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*BUY
If I wanted a gas truck, then and only then would I consider Ford.
 
jsalbre said:
My fingers can't spell today. Too much time in spreadsheets so my brain is FRIED.
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Reminds me of a Simpsons episode when he got too fat and couldn't dial a number because of fat fingers. That image always pops in mind when someone misspells. :D
 
Blythkd1 said:
I had to chuckle when I read a post about somebody whose father used to load up a truck camper on a '75 Ford, the absolute worst time in history for power. What did that thing have? 150HP? How on earth did he ever get around with it? Now we have 400HP in gas trucks.
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Could I be that member? lol but I agree with what I think is your point. People got by just fine years ago with 1/3 of the power of modern engines and were perfectly happy with it. I own that truck now and I'll tell you what - even though it holds a special place in my heart due to the memories involved its a gutless, suspension less, brake-less wallowing pig that I'd be terrified to load up with anything. My grandfather who bought it new had balls of steel apparently.....
 
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