my dad has been asking me about getting a diesel to pull an 8000lb. camper around for travel. but being the diesel truck disliker he is he just can't make up his mind. i'm trying so hard to pursuade him to get a diesel but he wants a gasser. so what i and him want to know is the pros and cons for this type of situation. he's also considering the duramax, and the powerstroke too, so i need the pros and cons of these trucks too. whatever he does get, it'll be a 3/4 ton for sure. so anything ya'll have on engine, tranny, rearend, chassis, suspension, etc. for this purpose, which is pulling a camper, would be appreciated. and these are what he is all considering to get: DODGE: 5.7L Hemi, Cummins, or the V10. FORD: 5.4L, Powerstroke. CHEVY: Duramax. So all in all he just really wants to know what would work best for what he is going to use it for. i told him to get the cummins but he is so darn ify on the situation. i told him that he wont regret it but he just doesn't believe me.
so please any info on the above trucks and their setups i would greatly appreciate to help pursuade him.
thank you in advance!

 

The pulling ease of the diesel will just blow his mind compared to the Gas, so will the mileage when towing.... Get him to test drive some trucks as well.

 

thanks for the reply CTDGuy. i will deffinetily have him test drive some. i'll have to go with too.
does anyone have any more info for me out there?

 

Stay away from the powerstrokes at all costs.... and dodge does not offer the V10 anymore IIRC.

 

Diesel hands down, my ctd gets three times the mpg my chevy gasser
got towing. the power is unreal towing 8000# your dad won't even
know the trailer is back their. I carry a 10' camper and 19' i/o runnabout
boat and other then the camper swaying you don't even know your loaded.
I pulled my camper and 3 snowmobiles accross two passes in Idaho and my buddy with his unloaded 2 wheel drive 454 ci. chevy couldn't even catch me let alone pass me

 

It's important to note that many people form thier opinions based of thier experances, not nessciarily the current-moment truth of the matter. The fact is, diesels for years were *percieved* as slow, noisy, hard to start, and expensive to service. The 6.0 L Ford still manages to be quite a few of these things, and it's unrelaible to boot and has deplorable resale vaule.

So, stepping into a Dodge Cummins or a GM- D-max (which is a very good setup as well - I will have to consider one when I finally replace old '96 12 Valve), he will be astounded at how quiet, responsive and pleasent to drive these new trucks really are. if you really want the power, it's there, but even if you drive it modestly, they are both (excluding the Ford) great trucks to live with daily. The Dodge also seems to turn quite sharply, something that suprises many people.

The resale value is really something to consider, as is the towing ability and fuel mileage. Overall, you can't loose with a diesel, but you may stand to gain considerably in areas intangeable, such as driving around looking a bit odd with a glowing grin from ear to ear that you just can't seem to shake...

 

oh man. you guys have really helped out a lot i hope that this will pursuade him a little. i'm gonna have to tell him in the morning what i have found out and go with him to test drive some of these trucks. (plus i get to play too). so if anyone has more info please feel free to chime in. don't be shy now, let your opinions flow i dont mind. but if not thanks all again and i'll have to keep ya'll posted on what happens in the future!
and i didn't tell ya'll earlier but he never liked diesels probably for the reasons that "96_12V" has stated but i have always been fascinated by them and i own one now at 18 yrs old. so im kind of the rebel child in that sense and i am gonna be going to college to be a diesel technician and i can't wait. so i love CTDs and Dodge itself and that's why i want to get him in the seat of one sooo bad. right now he's driving a '04 Ford F-150 and he just doesn't know what he's missin! right guys?
well thats the story and like i said any more info let me know and i will do the same.
thanks again!

 

Another good point of the deisel that has not been mentioned so far is the miles that you can put on these beast's compared to a gasser.You can fully expect to put at least 300,000 miles on a cummins before any kind of rebuild. try that with a gasser that you are towing with constantly.

 

I say just convince him to go drive the diesel trucks and that should help him make up his mind in a hurry.

Everybody knows the 6.0 powerstrokes have had lots and lots of problems so definately stay away from those.

Duramax is ok. Cummins is awesome.

Diesels cost more to buy up front, but you get it all back in resell value later or in longevity. They will tow that 8000 lb load like it isn't there. The gassers will probably be able to do it, but will struggle....especially trying to pull a hill due to lack of torque.

Fuel mileage is generally going to be much better on the diesel.

 

Just be straight and tell him real men drive trucks without sparkplugs.

 

The 06' D-max's are great trucks with a 6-speed Allision and the LBZ motor. Id probably pass one up though for a 6.7L CTD when they come out.

 

I towed my 27' camper with a 96 Dodge 360. I wrecked it and bought a Cummins. There is NO COMPARISON between a gasser and the Cummins.

When I was towing with the gasser, I was always tense, fighting my way up hills, wondering if it was gonna give out on me. At the end of the day of towing I was tired and miserable. The Cummins? whole nuther ballgame! I can pass unloaded gassers towing my camper up hills now. Plenty of power, great mileage, and that admiring look from other drivers seeing you in the mighty Cummins. LOL.

Tell your pop he will regret not getting the Cummins.