I've been looking at diesel prices here in town and it's gone up to $3.99 a gal at a local truck stop. I've got a 33' 5th wheel which I move maybe twice a year and was wondering, with the way diesel prices are going, is it practical to buy a diesel these days? No offense to this web site guys, just wondering. Thank you.

 

Don't feel bad man...the way that diesel is costing folks these days is your answer...NO, it's NOT practical at all anymore. When you factor in the fact that a gallon of diesel cost compared to a gallon of unleaded compared to the fuel mileage between the two heavy duty trucks...it's MUCH more practical to own a gasser these days. However, weight ratings aside...you will NEVER pull loads with a gasser that diesels are capable of...so you have to ask yourself, "am I pulling loads heavy enough OFTEN enough to justify not only an additional 5-7K on a diesel's sticker price, but is the fuel worth the pull as well?"

 

Hmmm...I'm not so sure diesel is "NOT practical at all anymore", so I'll present a different argument. I'm not trying to be argumentative with $oC@l CTD...just presenting anoter way to look at it.

If we can assume that diesel costs 30% more oer gallon, but you burn 30% less of it while towing, then it's a wash so far as the cost of fuel is concerned. If diesel keeps rising, to then things change, of course.

The whole notion that you pay more for a diesel engine is true, but has always been true even when the price of fuel was cheaper. The math didn't add up then, and it doesn't add up now...because there are other considerations to owning a diesel truck besides just the cost of a diesel engine.

Currently, diesel trucks have a much higher residual value than a gasser, though this will have to be re-evaluated as the data isn't recent enough to take the cost of diesel fuel into account.

I really don't think there's any justification math-wise to owning a CTD if you don't tow heavy, or often enough to realize the savings in fuel. But again, there's more to it than just the math.

Personally, my reasons for diesel are two-fold (I use my truck to tow my junk around the desert, not to commute):
- improved fuel efficiency while towing versus my previous, gasser tow vehicle
- ease of towing thanks to the power characteristics of the diesel engine

I think only you can determine IF a diesel truck is right for you...based on your situation and planned use of the truck.

 

Hey Moondog, where do you live?? I'm coming there to fill up!! Here in SE PA I just got some fuel for $4.29/gal. I have a 98 gal. aux. tank in the bed which I can squeeze about 104 gals. in plus the 36 gals. in the factory tank - that's 140 gals. to fill up!! Can you say fill me up and have it total $600.00 and not pass out!!?? At your price I could still afford breakfast at Waffle House and maybe even some supper!!

 

I gotta disagree with this. I had the 8.1 liter gas engine in my 2500HD and it pulled like a freight train. When I towed for the first time with my CTD,I was dissapointed. I was expecting the clouds to part,a ray of light to hit my truck and angels to start singing. There just wasn't that much difference between it and the CTD.

Until the power wars of the last few years,the 8.1 was just as strong as any diesel on the market.

With the same load,my 8.1 would pull circles around my moms '97,and my brothers '99 Powerstrokes.

The 8.1 definately burns alot of fuel,but to say it will NEVER tow what a diesel can isn't correct.

 

There was a link awhile ago that Pickup Truck mag did testing the big 3. Diesels and gassers in all versions put thru the same tests, 3/4 ton & 1 ton & 1 ton dually's. I was surprised at how well the gassers did!!

 

Yeah, but how long will that gasser last towing that weight compared to a diesel ?

 

What year is that 8.1 you're talking about? I guarantee that if you put it up against any of the diesels of the same year, you would have a hard time claiming any of these:

1.) Ability to hold speed with a 16000lb load going up an 8% grade lasting 10 miles as compared to the diesel
2.) Ability to maintain double digit mileage while doing so
3.) Ability to make it to 300,000 miles PLUS while doing so on a regular basis.

I wasn't trying to raise hairs on folks backs, nor am I saying that gassers are garbage...I was saying the with the cost of fuel and the common every day use of pickups these days from a lot of folks, MOST people don't need them over a gasser anymore...I have one (diesel)...I'm on everybody on this site's side when it comes to diesel fuel, black smoke and towing heavy...but would it be cheaper to own a 1500 or even 2500 with a Hemi today, heck yeah! Your gasser was built at it's TIME to attempt to compete with the diesels...so that diesel didn't monopolize the pickup industry...so yes, it's rated high, but even an 8.1L Chevy isn't economical for pulling 40' toyhaulers...if it was, they would save the diesel fuel for commercial truckers

 

I think that in different words, you and I just said about the same exact thing...with fuel prices going up, it all just depends on how heavy and how often you are going to tow that will determine weather diesels are economical anymore compared to some gassers with diesel costing as much per gallon as it does...

 

You Guys have it easy just topped up today @ 1.28 liter Canadian BC = $4.86 a US gallon and our dollar is worth more than yours! Makes me sick as we are the third largest supplier of oil to the USA. OH well Canadians should be used to being Hosed our government has been doing a fine job of it for years!

 

based on 12000 miles a year, avg. fuel econ of a hemi and avg of a cummins5.9 diesel would have to be 67 cents more than gasoline to have equal annual fuel bills.

 

Let's agree...to agree
Said basically the same thing from two different perspectives.
You took the "makes no sense for everyday use" view...I took the "makes sense for heavy use" view.

 

12k a year you must not go anywhere i can run that in 2 months. we used to tow with hte 454's get maybe 6 or 7 loaded and 8 or 9 empty they would run hard and fast. now i get 8 or 10 loaded and 11 to 13 empty that makes a difference when you burn a lot of fuel. hauled an 850 case dozer to OK and burned about 400 in fuel round trip cant do that with a gasser

 

hey "jmic" how much did you pay in healthcare last year in canada i paid about $10,000 i think ill pay a lil more for fuel to have a nation healthcare so the $10,000 is in my pocket next year!

 

The 8.1 I had was an '01 with 345hp and 455lb-ft of torque.

The Cummins in '01 was 235/460

The Powerstroke was 250/505

The Duramax was 300/520

Just how fast do you figure you'd be pulling a 8% grade with 16k behind you with any of the diesels in '01....25-30mph?

The problem is that other than the Duramax,none of them made any HP. Despite what most people think its not just about torque when towing,HP plays a big part in effective towing.

If you don't think HP plays a part,try pulling that grade at the peak torque rpms with a diesel. You'll go nowhere fast.

With way more HP and similar torque,I'd bet the 8.1 would run right alongside the diesels.

As far as the mileage,I already stated that the 8.1 gets lousy mileage when pulling heavy.

GM rates the 8.1 as having the same lifespan as the Duramax,they're both 200k engines according to GM.