What are the real benifits if any when comparing a big block to a diesel? From what I've heard when towing there isn't much. My dad has a F250 V10 he gets about 6-7 mpg when towing his 13k lbs trailer and my friend get about the sane towing 13k lbs. with his Chevy Duramax. Just need more info before I decide what is best for me to buy. I will be towing 9500 lbs form San Diego to the desert and river about 130-to200 miles 1 way depending on where we go. It will be my everyday driver approx 20 miles 1 way to work mostly hiway. Thanks in advance.

 

I personally think you would much rather have the diesel truck. I own a gas and diesel truck and would rather drive the diesel anyday. For around town, you will get better gas mileage out of a diesel than the gas If/When you chip it. My gas truck has 190,000 on it and is starting to die, my diesel has 299,000 original EVERYTHING, and runs like a champ. Not to mention using bio-diesel now days. It's cheap and runs on a new stock diesel truck with no mods. Diesel is my pick.

 

I've got an 8.1L gas now and will trade it for an DMax sometime this year. I've talked to lots of people with both and researched a lot - bottom line is the diesel will average about 1-1/2 times the milage as the big block gas - either towing or not towing. I have no complaints about towing power with the 8.1, but I rarely tow more than 10,000 pounds - most of the time about 7K to 8K. The diesel will definately tow better with less downshifts since it developes max torque at a lower RPM range.

I've heard a lot of people who tow a lot who have gone from gas to diesel say that they will never go back to gas. I don't recall any who have switched from diesel to gas saying the same thing.

Jaybee

 

For your intended use I would think the diesel would be the better choice for the reasons other posters have stated. If you were wanting a toy truck like my S-10 to do short runs around town and tow a quad or two on a light weight trailer then I would say stay with gas.

 

Get a diesel.

toe

 

The diff. is that the diesel will glide up hills with a load as a gas job, you will struggle to make it up the hill. Then you will have a cooked motor. Diesels are meant for pulling.

 

I drive a diesel because of the better mpg.

 

I got 6 mpg towing 11K lbs with a Dodge V-10, and get 9 mpg towing 17K lbs with a Duramax. So that is half again better fuel mileage, while towing half again more weight with the diesel. Despite this, I really do not think you will save ANY money with a diesel. Diesel fuel cost 50 cents a gallon more than gasoline around here, and any potential cost savings from better fuel economy is offset by the rediculously high price of the fuel.

I choose to drive a diesel simply because a diesel has more torque for towing, and pulls a heavy load easier than a gas engine does.

3TV

 

I'm sure you've heard enough to make up your mind....If you tow, it's a simple answer, Diesel.....Being a die hard Chrysler buyer; I still bought a F-350 w/ a 460 gas in it. Put 4K in upgrades to give it the extra pump I thought it needed to tow my 32' 5th wheel toy hauler.... Fun truck but just couldn't hang...Maybe got 7-8 MPG at best towing..And I was spending what apperred to be $500 per month trying to keep it running, it was one thing after another... Sold it, lost 5K in investment and bought a used o4 Dodge Ram crew cab long bed 4X4 Cummins.....What can I say; simply night and day comparison. Go diesel, take your mfg preference and I'm sure you'll be happy.... (One little mfg bias slam, All my buddies have power strokes, none can come close to hanging with me when pulling a hill w/ load; they've all had some issues and I've had to put diesel in to keep running)....I'm done...get what you want but go diesel.

 

Hey DesertViper do you realize that you are towing my house in back of your truck!!!!!!!!???? LOL No check that; it's bigger than my house!!!!! Nothing like going big or go home!!! Think you picked the wrong truck if you ask me. Should have gone with a Peterbuilt!!!

One bit of advice; I would put a lift kit on "Buddy." LOL