best all-around diesel truck?

[rseabur]

Who has the best all-around 1 ton diesel truck? Looking to upgrade my 24v to something new. Gmc/Chevy, dodge or ford and why. For the price difference would it be worth just getting a gasser?

[rlane547]

I've always been a Ford guy but they've all been gassers.  This is my first Dodge and it's because of the Cummins. I was a Fleet Mechanic at a Bakery that ran 4BT & 6BT's and they took a lot of abuse and kept on ticking.  Now I work with mostly Ford's and Chevy's and I'm not all that impressed with either.  The 6.7L Ford's seem to have quite a bit of trouble with Emissions and Suspension.  It seems like engine parts are hard to get as well.  I haven't noticed many problems with the Duramax but we don't have a lot of them.  The biggest problem with the Chevy's so far has been the rear ends going out.  I don't know much of anything about the newer Dodge/Cummins but after dealing with the Cummins Dealer for quite a while now and being around the other trucks I would lean towards the Cummins.  This is just my opinion though and the problems I've seen with the other manufacturers may be application related because they are run hard and abused. I think you are going about it the best way.  Ask for info and opinions, then test drive them all and make an informed decision.  Good luck. Let us know what you get.

[MnTom]

If you asked this question on a Ford or Chevy forum you would get answers like "Dodge sucks", but yet they are the first ones to brag about beating the Cummins. In my opinion (like a certain body orrifice, everyone has one and they all stink) the inline six is the way to go for towing. There is a reason big trucks run them, and the reason is torque. Exactly what are your plans for the new to you truck?

[rseabur]

I wouldn't dare ask the question on cummins forum or any others. It would have been a slaughter. I have a 11000 fifth wheel that I pull 1 to 2 times a month pretty much to local campgrounds. Farthest we typically go is within 2hrs. That's kind of why I brought up gassers. I have a company truck so it is not a daily driver. I think I average 5-8k miles a year. If I buy new this thing will have to last me the rest of my life with the prices of these things.

[Wild and Free]

Sounds like you need to look at a the new 6.4 Hemi rather than a diesel for what your use consists of.

[rseabur]

Do they drink the gas like my 04 2500 work truck with the 5.7 hemi? I heard the gm 6.0 gets horrible mpgs also.

[MnTom]

I can't say about the mileage, but way back when my truck was only 299 hp to the ground a guy I worked with had a 6.0. He was bragging about how it would tow his trailer. I told him to bring his trailer and I would bring mine to work and leave work together and head down a 3 mile long hill (6%). We would then turn around at the bottom of the hill and see who got back to the shop first. He replied "Well, my trailer is longer". His was 31' and mine was 28'. I said we can switch trailers. He absolutely refused to pull against my truck.

[MnTom]

Do they drink the gas like my 04 2500 work truck with the 5.7 hemi? I heard the gm 6.0 gets horrible mpgs also.

I just googled the 6.0 mileage. All I can say is NOT GOOD. Google it and see for yourself.

[Wild and Free]

Coworker has a brand new 2014 2500 blackout edition crew cab with the 6.4 hemi and is seeing 16 daily driving fairly hard but it isn't broke in yet only has a couple thousand miles on it. Have read on other Ram forums that guys are seeing 15-20 as daily driving and 8-12 towing no different than a diesel except for the 40-60 cents a gallon cheaper fuel.

[JAG1]

The mileage difference with a diesel makes it a worth while investment compared to gasoline powered.

 

When hauling heavy loads the mileage difference is even more significant. Somewhere around /near 50% better mileage, I think that is correct.

 

Then when you go to sell it or trade in you get lots more of your money back than a somewhat tired gas engine truck.

Edited June 18, 2014 by JAG1

[CTcummins24V]

How long have you had your truck? I went from a hemi to the cummins and I won't go back to a v8 again. Just can't beat the torque, for any application, daily driving or towing. I had an 03, averaged 12.5 mpg unloaded, now I average 16-18. I'd like to see some real life reporting on the new hemis... 

[Wild and Free]

Here is a big Dodge Ram forum with some info, they are still new enough having just been released a few months ago there isn't a ton of real world info compiled yet.

 

http://ramforumz.com/forumdisplay.php?f=279

 

http://ramforumz.com/forumdisplay.php?s=dd496bd0ff1453830aa87e2413c2216c&f=247

 

I myself would even look into a new 6.4 hemi over a new diesel just from an emissions stand point and especially since the OP only uses it less than 10K a year and only pulls a camper a few times a year would not justify all the extra upfront cost and maintenance costs over time plus the extra fuel costs if he just uses it as a DD rig.

For the extra 2-3 mpg he would gain only with a trailer in tow a few times a year compared to what he would spend in fuel the rest of the year and extra maint cost added on top of that is a no brainer for a gasser, sorry to bust some diesel bubbles but there are times when a new diesel just isn't worth it and to me this is one of them.

I have a 2010 1500 5.7 hemi and I love it, it is definitely not a slouch even with my 25' 1974 Avion TT in tow.  I have never driven another gasser that would run with the new Hemi's including the 99 V10 I had. My brother inlaw works for a company that has fleets of pickups and they run all 2500 gassers in all makes and he is a die hard chevy guy until death and even he says real world the Hemi's run away from the GM and Fords and this is loaded down with construction materials.

[rancherman]

how long do you plan on keeping it?  trading  every couple years,  or long term?      Cash buyer or  financed?     Gassers tend to  depreciate a  tic  faster  on the  value.. 

Me,   I'd go  cheap as  possible (gasser)  for the   short term  gig,    diesel on the   longer haul.    If  you plan  on   racking up  2-300k  miles  then the  diesel  is   how  I'd roll.    Cummins option  (new)  is  what    8-9k  these days???    That  would buy a  LOT of  gasoline!

 

Figure your  cost-per-mile, (fuel wise)   more than the   mpgs.    It's   closer than you'd  expect.    Gasoline's  kinda settled into a  50 cent  less per gallon these days.

[Wild and Free]

Figure your  cost-per-mile, (fuel wise)   more than the   mpgs.    It's   closer than you'd  expect.    Gasoline's  kinda settled into a  50 cent  less per gallon these days.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This is what I have been trying to say just not in as few words.

 

Don't forget you don't just burn fuel anymore you have another tank people seems to forget about on all diesels and that is the DEF "Diesel exhaust fluid" tank, yet another cost that can't be left out of the cost per mile equation plus the use of fuel additives so many like to run need to be figured in as well and then the fuel filters and extra oil at maintenance intervals.

 

Sorry for pointing out the finer details of figuring in "real world' costs most like to convieniently leave out when trying to compare things, that's just how I roll lol.

 

The new 6.4 Hemi spark plugs are good for 100K miles now versus the 30-50K recommended replacement interval of the 5.7 hemi.

[joecool911]

Also calculate in the added maintenance of a diesel rig. We have a 2006 Hemi mega cab. Been very dependable and care free. Anyone want to buy it. Lol. They do seem harder to sell than diesel.

[rancherman]

Thanks Bill,  I  totally forgot about the  'second tank'!     

 

And  the  fine folks at the court house  will want  more too..   Not so much because it's a  diesel,  but  it's  valuation.

Edited June 18, 2014 by rancherman

[Wild and Free]

They changed the vehicle licenses a few years ago here in the state and now pickups are licensed on the GVW rating along with the passenger capacity since they are used as cars with the crew and mega cabs as well as heavy tow rigs now days.

So you are not kidding about the extra it cost to license as well. Not to mention insurance on a diesel is higher than a gasser too.............. oh smack another strike against the diesels and yet another cost to add on against the diesel.

Should I stop now or keep going on the things people are overlooking on the "Bigger picture" or "Real World" expenses.  

[flagmanruss]

I love my Cummins but honestly, for your occasional use towing, I'd go gas.  I towed before with a '79 C30 Chevy with a built 454...  11mpg but would tow a house down the road.  (That's 11 towing or empty, didn't matter).   But frankly it wasn't a daily driver...  only used for towing.  It got me ( my horses gooseneck trailer & camper 5th wheel) everywhere I needed to go.   

I have 4:10s & it's unnecessary & wastes a lot of fuel.  I consider the ratio a mistake on my part.  Costs me 1-2 mpg over stock ratio.  Pay attention to the transmission...  the extra speeds in the transmission are where (in my opinion) the better mpg comes from. 

[rseabur]

I love my 24v but I have a feeling the thing is going to start eating into my pocket more than I would like. If I buy new I will have it for a looong time. At 40-70k not sure who can trade these things in every couple of years. I bought my first house for less than I can buy some of these trucks. DEF fluid is a good point but not a deal breaker. We are getting close to 5000 mile out of a tank if we cut idle time to a minimum which is hard when we run inverters and compressors. I might go to a dealer and drive a few gassers and see how  they feel but then I can buy alot of parts and fix rust when it starts on the 24v for 40k.

[JAG1]

I've been driving my 1st gen for 18 years now. Still a great truck same engine and trans. Mileage can't be beat, but the real boon is the fact that it has saved me from loosing money on buying at least 4 gassers by now. That' a lot of money right there and I'll be buried in this truck before I let it go. 

Edited June 18, 2014 by JAG1