Since the price of diesel is up now, and seems to keep inching up how do you feel it has affected the value of your HD diesel truck.

Some parts of the country of course alot higher than others. Running about $2.079 locally for me. Northwest U.S. seem to be ones getting hit the hardest within .10 of hitting the $3.00 mark.

Is this rise causing some to get out while they can, get rid of the diesel truck. I've heard rumors that when the ULSD (Ultra Low Sulfer Diesel) comes about nationwide by summer 2006 cost of the fuel will be even more due to refining process involved.

I work for a local govt' and we started using the ULSD back in Sept 04, and "yes" it has affected some of our older diesel pickups, having to replace lift pumps and leaks developing.

I have read that on other sites people parking their trucks and using their fuel savers to commute to work. (motorcycles,Jetta diesel cars, Honda cars,etc). Alot of people don't own a fuel saver vehicle "like me for example".

How has this increase affected your plans for vacations, going out to eat,etc.

Since I actually do not use my diesel truck as a working vehicle such as my own business I really don't need it to be honest. I really like driving it, and enjoy it, but the higher fuel prices are starting to take the fun out of it. Actually when I bought it fuel was lot cheaper than unleaded and we had plans for a larger 5th wheel trailer. My 1/2 ton truck pulled our 28ft TT just fine. Getting a newer 5th wheel trailer is no longer feesable anymore for me.


Just curious about these questions.

Tony

 

Well I have my 93 CTD for a gas saver and my truck for a tow truck when I need to haul stuff so Im covered I think
DM01

 

I got rid of a gasser (an HD Hemi) for this thing... and I'm starting to regret it kind of. Yea, there's a lot more goodies you can hop up on these things which is why I got it really, but I have absolutly no need for as much truck as I have. That with a few other money issues is tempting me to get rid of this for a new toy... although it's probably not much of an improvement going with a 400HP car. lol I've been trying to ride the bike in to work, but with the oh so wonderful weather (read "sarcasm") it's hard to do that as often as I'd like.

 

Be patient.
News is reporting gasoline prices will be jumping real soon.

All those Gassers will soon be crying to their elected officials about haveing to pay too much (the same prices we've been paying for diesel) for gasoline.

 

Maybe we should slow down down and drive 55mph? Nawww......
Bet I could get at least 25mpg doing so........

MikeyB

 

i bought this truck to save fuel. its still not costing me as much to drive as the old gasser, but the tanks are costing more now. its starting to suck a little, i figured the big truckers would fight a bit like they did in the old days, kinda dissapointed there.

 

It's already a done deal here on the gulf coast!
Yesterday morning my low fuel light came on and my cheap Shell station had some #2 for 1.97/gal.. I made note of that price so I could fill up on the way home...
I left the plant yesterday and a coworker pulled up and said WOW! gas prices JUST jumped!!!
I though, OH NO! Sure enough... #2 Jumped from 1.97 to 2.09 in an hour before I got off work!
Gas prices were CONVIENTLY up to 1.89,1.99,2.09 with diesel at 2.09 also.
Stable prices allow the supply/demand system to work(somewhat).. When they jerk the prices around so much, price competition goes out the window!

K.

 

A week ago I ran into a ham radio buddy of mine that is a long-time OTR trucker. The price of diesel topic came up and he said that since the trucking companies are tacking a fuel surcharge onto their rates, he said he is actually MAKING a little money off of the fuel surcharges!!!

That could explain why there is no hue and cry from the trucking sector!!!

Keith

 

There's no COULD about it...that DOES explain it.

We operate two OTR trucks in our business, and still have ~60% of our merchandise hauled or shiped for us. ~95% of the invoices for freight of ANY kind have a fuel surcharge. UPS, Fed-Ex, and the bigger trucking companies we use...ALL of them are charging a fuel surcharge.

They could care less about the fuel price now, We're the one's who are paying it. Like Rattler said, most of them are probably making a "little" on it. Not much, but probably enough to cover other small expenses (a part here, tire there), basic upkeep probably.

Sucks, Don't it?
Chris

 

Shamelessly stolen from DRUDGEREPORT...

At least we now have a name for it!!!

Need I say more???
Keith

 

I'd say the alternative is biodiesel, once you read through the process it is not really that hard if you are even a little bit mechanically inclined. Supplies like methanol could be had from a speed shop, lye from any hardware store, and greaser oil from resturants. Last week I made a small batch, about 20 gallons and pumped them into my Dads Volvo Semi truck, detroit 60 series engine with 800,000MI on the clock. It already had about 200 gallons so the percentage was only 10%, B10 is what biodieselers say. With the 10% biodiesel he says it ran smoother in all rpm ranges and he could not detect any loss of power.

Even ran the same biodiesel batch in a diesel generator, 2 cylinder LISTER engine which cut the smoke and soot in half, I also noticed the engine ran smoother compared to regular dino diesel. BTW overall cost was about 70cents a gallon using high price lye, but if you can find bulk supplies making it 60 cents a gallon is easy. Then to make it even cheaper you distill the byproduct for returned methanol which cuts the price/gallon to as low as 50cents a gallon. Add in your labor, electricity, and its still a good price compared to pump diesel.