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Diesel gas comparison

The numbers for me make the cummins worth while - with the extra late season discount from Ram and diesel being cheaper here.
That aside, im a diesel guy and I just love how all that torque feels. When I test drove the new HO, I knew it was time to upgrade.
I got the 3500 for extra payload - still not sure if ill be getting the truck camper or a bigger trailer. All options are open to me now.
 
I'm driving another diesel today while my car is in for an oil change and this one also has the same annoying vibration at idle. That's 2 random trucks with the issue..makes me wonder how widespread it is.
 
hutchman said:
I'm driving another diesel today while my car is in for an oil change and this one also has the same annoying vibration at idle. That's 2 random trucks with the issue..makes me wonder how widespread it is.
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My gasser has a somewhat annoying shake while idling. It is sort of the feeling you get while stuck in traffic on a bridge, when the opposite lanes are moving freely. I can live with it. There is a lot to like about the truck too.
 
hutchman said:
I'm driving another diesel today while my car is in for an oil change and this one also has the same annoying vibration at idle. That's 2 random trucks with the issue..makes me wonder how widespread it is.
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I have the standard output Cummins and I don’t feel the annoying vibration at idle. I’ve had two 3/4 ton gassers and three Cummins
(two 5.9s and a new 2019 Cummins) and the new Cummins have less vibrations, less noise, and more power than the older Cummins.
I don’t have the new Hemi, but I really had no complaints with the older Hemi (2015) except the dramatic engine noise/rpm changes and shifting while hauling and towing compared to the diesels.
 
were going to get the 3/4 cummins tradesman 4x4 quad for our fifth wheel. dry weight is 10K gross 12K pin weight 1500
after towing thousands of miles with the gassers, 99 3//4 5.9 and 1/2 5.7 i believe this is the best way and with the pricing now
best timing, we will only tow in the winter as summer seasonal site. i figuring a minimum of 1200 miles each way hoping the MPG will be better than the gas.
plus the longevity of the diesel is a winner. my current truck is an 04 quad 1/2 4x4 5.7
 
So far have less than 300 miles. 6.7 HO 4.10 gears. 3/4 miles are highway 68-74 mph. Avg 17.3C376298D-3717-4379-A35B-FB34DDB5FB4D.jpeg mpg. About what my 99 F350 Powerstroke with 3.73 got. With more around the subdivision and to store about 16
A8090A28-7A5F-4E8A-A47E-7DFC02EF10A0.jpeg
 
I had a tough time deciding between a diesel and a gas. I dont really need the diesel, but kind of wanted to go all out. If I could go back and change my order now though, I'd get a gas engine. I didn't feel much difference between the 68rfe and the H.O. Cummins. Cheaper and from what I've found better mpg. I've gotten 21.3 mpg with this one on Christmas Day doing a 70 mile trip, 75/25 hwy/cty mix.
 
Hello all. New to the forum. Ive got an 18 6.4 Big Horn and it pulls my enclosed 9K trailer like its not there. Thats here in Washington where we have a few grades and mountain passes. The thing I don't like is the MPG's(7.8 hand calculated, going about 63 MPH) I will eventually be pulling this weight(between 6-9,000 lbs) 4 times a week for a total of 1100 miles a week. Can my Gasser handle this daily stress or should I go for the Cummins(non HO)? I was also looking at the newer single cab 8 speed gasser with the 4.10's thinking that may be the sweet spot for what it will be used for,, but I am still worried about the high mileage I will be putting on my next truck. Thoughts?
TIA
 
rickydelivers said:
Hello all. New to the forum. Ive got an 18 6.4 Big Horn and it pulls my enclosed 9K trailer like its not there. Thats here in Washington where we have a few grades and mountain passes. The thing I don't like is the MPG's(7.8 hand calculated, going about 63 MPH) I will eventually be pulling this weight(between 6-9,000 lbs) 4 times a week for a total of 1100 miles a week. Can my Gasser handle this daily stress or should I go for the Cummins(non HO)? I was also looking at the newer single cab 8 speed gasser with the 4.10's thinking that may be the sweet spot for what it will be used for,, but I am still worried about the high mileage I will be putting on my next truck. Thoughts?
TIA
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Might have been better to post in your own (new) thread, but here goes:

If I was only pulling 10K, I'd probably own a gasser mileage be damned. I had a 98 2500 360 C.I.D. 4-speed that worked great and got wheeled a bit - until it didn't (bought a fifth wheel).

You'll never make up the difference in the up front and maintenance cost of the diesel.

This is coming from a now die hard diesel fanatic. That said, I'm currently pulling around 16K and my 04.5 325 HP / 600 LB-FT HO CTD (4.10 gears) was struggling here in Colorado even with some go fast parts and a mild tow tune.

The 4.10's are nice for more pulling capacity or if you go up in tire size to offset that low gear, otherwise I'd get a taller gearset that will give you better mileage.
 
Thanks for the response. I won’t be towing over 10k, on the regular. I am more worried about the potential 60,000+ miles/yr I’ll be putting on the big gasser. I like the simplicity of the 6.4, I just worry about the longevity of the truck as it will be bumper pulling 80% of the time. I have/had a box diesel delivery truck that I had to finally retire recently. Been dumping too much money on repairs in that Diesel engine the last year or so. But it did give me(my company) 400k+ miles worth of income. With the miles I will put on, I think I can make up the difference of the premium of the cost of the Cummins. I’m just not too familiar with all the DEF stuff and more costly maintence involved. My old box truck was an 07, pre emissions BS, diesel truck. Again, Thanks for your input!
 
Diesels are designed to tow. Sounds like you have a pretty good reason to get one but you surely don't need to. The 6.4 is designed for heavy use and work truck fleets, so it will last up to your needs. I used to be a diesel guy but the last few trucks have been gassers for me because of my short distance and less frequent towing. If I were in your shoes I would have a hard time not going diesel. And driving that diesel I would be always wondering when a "check engine light" will come on. The modern emissions can be troublesome, but most trucks are trouble free.
 
RainDesert said:
Diesels are designed to tow. Sounds like you have a pretty good reason to get one but you surely don't need to. The 6.4 is designed for heavy use and work truck fleets, so it will last up to your needs. I used to be a diesel guy but the last few trucks have been gassers for me because of my short distance and less frequent towing. If I were in your shoes I would have a hard time not going diesel. And driving that diesel I would be always wondering when a "check engine light" will come on. The modern emissions can be troublesome, but most trucks are trouble free.
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Yeah man, I don’t deny the capabilities of the 6.4. And actually I feel comfortable towing with it every day, if it was in town or shorter distances. Like I said before, I will be potential putting over 1100 miles a week on my truck with grades and mountain passes here in the NW. I’ll probably start a new post, to see if anybody is regularly towing long distances with the 6.4, eight speed, with the 410s, and go from there.
 
brutal said:
FWIW, many fleet managers are moving away from diesels to gassers.
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I don’t blame them one bit, coming from a diesel delivery box truck. May explain why all three heavy duty truck manufacturers, are coming out with these huge ass gas displacement motors. that Godzilla 7.3 looks interesting.
 
jkbrereton said:
I have no experience with diesels. I just bought my 2019 Power Wagon with the 6.4L Hemi. I took it on a 500 mile trip last weekend and averaged between 15 and 16 mpg. If I towed something I could see getting 10 mpg. Not ideal.

I read a comparison article a month ago and it said that if you plan on towing on a regular basis then the diesel was worth the extra $$$. Otherwise it recommended the Hemi.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
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According to my center information screen, I'm getting a little over 15 MPG with my diesel w/o HO. That's a mixture of highway and city. I'm sure when I start hauling something, that'll go down significantly.
 
750miles: 13.9 w/ 3.73s into the "city" 60mph freeway. I do tend to limit it to 5th because i like the feel of the truck at 1800 rpms vs 1500 rpms in 6th.
 
When I bought my truck last month I bought it for one main thing. To put my slide in camper on it. I was in need of a new vehicle immediately so no ordering for me. Dealer lots suck that is for sure. But I hunted and found the right truck (well 4)
Had to be a crew cab long box.
I struggled with gas vs diesel, after running the numbers, MPG, extra cost of the initial price of the diesel, and the maintenance I decided on gas. I would not tow much, once in a while maybe 7K, but it would be closer to 3K max with a quad.
Payload is what I needed and that is why I bought gas.
I wanted the 4.10 gears and the 8.4 radio and managed to find it. Plus a few little extras but not much.
The other reason for gas was due to where I camp and fish. When I had my F350 diesel I had to at times hunt for a place that sold diesel. Not off the interstate or main highways, but in the remote towns. It was harder to find.
Gas no issues. Diesel at times it would be hours before I would find a site. You had to plan ahead. In the remote parts of Canada it is a challenge.

I drive 55 mile to work one way. Speed on the interstate is 70mph I try to keep around 75mph max. Per the lie-o-meter I am getting about 15.7 mpg, not to bad. I have 1900 miles on my truck so far and it is starting to loosen up. We will see if that improves.
Tradesman, CCSRW with 6.4L and 4.10 gears, snowplow prep, bed liner and lights and ya about it.
 
After three significant trips, all over 3000 miles each here what I got for mpg
Empty at 65 mph and below 25-28 mpg
66-80 mph17-23 mpg
Towing at 70-75mph 40 ft fifthwheel from oh to Ms then to Tn and home over all average which includes some non towing driving was 12-15 mpg no wandering in the transmission except when I was forced to slow
And going up into the mountains on I77 the normal 8 mpg
Again I have the 2019 tradesman 2500 crew cab long bed4x4 cummins.

I also had the liberty of towing a raisin repeater from Kansas City to Indianapolis with a 2500 Crew cab regular bed 6.4 hemi this trailer weighed 8700 lbs that entire trip was 7mpg mostly flat land
 
Comparing MPG is missing the forest for the trees...get the 6.7 because you tow heavy/often/mountains....
Make a spead sheet, and roll up all the extra costs associated with the 6.7 and do the math...
The money I would 'save' was less than .10 cents on the dollar
 
Many people will say the higher cost of a diesel will never be made up. Just look up what used 7 yr old gassers and used 7 yr old diesels are selling for. I don't tow much. I first got into diesels for the performance aspect. 15 years ago if you wanted something with good HP you bought a diesel (and maybe a programmer). Gassers have definitely caught up in the performance area. But then again, there is still that programmer available.
 
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