Dieseljunkie

Honestly, I love my truck, and I wouldnt have it any other way, but ultimately the decision lies with you.. I love the CTD too much now to go to a gasser.. I just don't see that happening.. It doesnt make sense to me.
Scott

strucksvt

Just wait until you have that Hemi loaded down and it upshifts while going up a hill with that heavy load. AARRGGGHHHH!!! It's the only tranny that I've ever seen do that.

My neighbor bought an '05 Hemi QC 4x4 after thinking that mine was so awesome and the tranny upshift drives him nuts towing his horse trailer.

I really liked my Hemi QC 4x4 until I traded in on my Cummins. WOW! I'll never go back to a gas truck for towing.

Hemi w/7000lb load = 4.5 mpg Cummins w/9000lb load = 11.5 mpg No contest in my book and with the diesel, towing is almost effortless.

The Hemi was a bit more throttle responsive around town, but all-in-all, I think that the trade up was worth it.

rjm022

i guess i need to stop - i have been buying my diesel from a near by indian reservation for about 12 years- diesel costs about 30 cents less a gallon than unleaded gas! i filled up this morning for 2.59 a gal.

carcrz

Must be nice. Diesel is sitting around 2.89 - 2.99 right now. Gas just went up from what I here, so I would imagine that diesel will follow.

rockhound

i drive my truck for a living about 40k per year so fuel is important to me

my ctd gets approx. 56% better gas mileage than my ford v10 17-18 versuses 11.5-12 and one of my guys had an 03 hemi 2500 that got about the same around town

the hemi and the v10 like the mid grade at these ratios fuel would have to be at least 56% more than gas before i would lose money

ie: gas at 2.75 in my area diesel would have to be at $4.29 per gallon before i start to break even

40K miles per year empty at 17 mpg is 2352 gallons @2.89 for diesel = $6797

40K mile per year at 12 mpg empty is 3333 gallons @ 2.75 for gas = $9165
if my spread was .60 like you claim 3333 gallons @2.25 for gas = $7165

either way my cummins saves me gas money your reason for going to gas doesn't hold water or fuel or gas

the v 10 also only got about 4 mpg towing my 5er, and it will certainly out tow a hemi

HOHN

The PW is a great truck, but you have to keep in mind what it was designed for.

Hint: fuel economy is NOT it! A Hemi w/ 4.56s is a guzzler for sure. A guy who works with me has a PW, but he doesn't really care about cost. It's a SWEET truck for sure.

Will the PW tow? Heck yes-- it will tow your 5K just fine. Will it get good fuel economy towing? NOT LIKELY.


It looks like you have come to the realization that most of us would tell you: that trading in your CTD might be an example of "penny wise, pound foolish".

If I have to get rid of my CTD, it will be for a small car. As long as I can afford to drive ANY truck, it *will* be a Cummins Turbo Diesel.

I like the newer trucks, but my 02, warts and all, isn't going to be traded in any time soon.

jlh

LUV24BY

Hey Squid - something no one has mentioned, and I immediately considered, what about the obvious:

If you need better offroad abilities, take the $$ you'll put into a HEMI (gastank ) and buy a Detroit Locker for the rear axle and a selectable locker for the front! Isn't there a e-locker for the D60?

I also have seen and driven much through the soft 'powdery' sand around here in hell, ummm I mean Phoenix, comperable to your Dunes sand. Bear down, grit it and be happy with the CTD. Don't be fooled by hasty thoughts or justification you may regret months after the CTD is traded in. Ultimately, it's your call - this is just my $.02!

Plus, with this thread being 4 months old it may already be too late!

John

Squidward

Looks like a thread I started several months ago got resurrected, for those of you that didn't read all of it, I figured out a while back that:

1. Too much tire pressure in the sand was the culprit, aired down to 12-15 lbs gets me anywhere I want to go in the dunes, and some places I probably shouldn't go.

2. Diesel fuel in Phoenix is now just about 20 cents more per gallon than regular gas, my calculations on breaking even on fuel costs were based on a 50 cent per gallon difference.

3. The Power Wagon is an awesome truck, and I'm sure that it would be great off road (especially aired down like I'm doing now), but I test drove one, and the difference in towing performance vs. the diesel would have been a deal breaker for me anyway. Too many revs, too many downshifts, not enough grunt.

I'm not going to replace my truck until something measurably better comes along that better suits my needs. After driving and analyzing just about everything out there, I've come to the conclusion that a better all-around truck than what I've got now just doesn't yet exist.

shinerunner

gas in vista ca this morning $3.25. Diesel $3.07

PumpDaddy

Have you considered the new International 4wd "pick up" truck. It's a monster with creature comforts. Listed at just under 20,000# so you don't need a CDL. They come standard with 4wd. I looked at one last week, got a woody, and the wife told me "truck or divorce, your choice". They are nice, but let's see, truck about $80,000.00, divorce = ARM, BOTH LEGS, right Gonad, and mucho $$$$. I'll keep the wife, it'll be cheaper by atleast $500K

4x4not

LUV24BY: You know Dodge doesn't use Dana axles anymore, right? So no more D60 in the front.... AAM 9.25!