I am in the market to get a new truck, need to upsize from my current 1/2 ton with 200k+ miles. I am doing a custom order and likely a dodge ram 2500. My question is if the 6.7L Cummins Turbo is overkill with 430 HP, 1,075 Lb-ft torque, 2,740 max payload, 19,900 max towing vs the 6.4L HEMI V8 - 405 HP, 429 Lb-Ft torque, 4,080 max payload, 17,440 max towing. The Cummins is about $12.5k extra, with the HEMI I can get all the accessories I want and have a not to bad of a loan payment while the Cummings I’d have to forgo some items and deal with an extra $250 monthly payment of close to $900.
I am looking at able to tow two horse with a gooseneck trailer and haul comfortably in 10+ hour trips. I also like in the Midwest so driving in inclines and declines. I’d be interested in hearing if the Cummins has a better resale value.
if you factor in the increased future maintenance the real difference in cost between diesel and gas for you will be pretty significant. The diesel is a fine engine, but routine maintenance and repairs simply cost more.
So unless you want to make a statement of some sort by driving a diesel truck, the gas engine will be a good, reliable choice given your roads and towing load. Now, if acquiring a 4-6 horse goose is in your future, or an equipment trailer to haul farm machinery, then spring for the diesel.
Bottom line, I think this post is very helpful for you. Either or will work for your situation, but one will certainly cost more. Diesels tend to hold their resale value better in my area than gas, but it really depends on the wear/tear.
I have a diesel (2001 F350 7.3). When I bought it everyone said it was way more truck than I needed. In all likelihood, it is. I only haul 2 horses in a Kingston 2H.
I got it for a song ($6k) and I could sell it today for more than I paid. It needs a little servicing since it’s 24 years old, but when it is up and running friends borrow it for everything from moving to hauling boats. It hauls so much better than my former truck (GMC Sierra 2500), and it also brakes much better imo since it’s heavier. Obviously those are two entirely different classes of vehicles, but I feel so safe hauling with this truck and that’s worth the extra maintenance cost to me - there were times (especially in the VT foothills) where I was nervous my GMC might not make it up a dirt road.
Now, if I could just figure out why it seems to go through batteries like butter, that would be great. I installed a kill switch and even that didn’t seem to help.
And if you do get the diesel, find a reliable local mechanic that won’t upsell you like the dealership. My local guy is worth it and I 100% trust him to tell me what I need for my truck. He knows what I haul and how often and curtails the maintenance schedule to that demand. He’s very busy, but that just tells me he’s trusted and well priced for the work he does. He found things on my old truck that should have been noticed by the dealership during an oil change and he fixed them at a low cost to me before they turned into a major problem!
It’s definitely a big help that my husband can do all of the maintenance on our diesel truck. Even then, it still comes out more expensive in comparison to a gas truck.
The gas trucks of today are also quite good when it comes to towing capacity and power.
Older Dodge diesel. NOT new. Pre DEF. They run forever. 3/4 ton OR 1 ton. A bit of rust isn’t a big deal. Power to burn. Not too expensive to buy because everyone always wants the latest thing, bright and shiny. Easy and affordable to work on mechanically. A good backyard mechanic can do a lot with these trucks. No computers.
If you ever want to sell let me know… I am not kidding either! the current going rate here is double that for a pre-def diesel without lethal rust. (though is Massachusetts road salt as evil as CT is these days?)
But really, to echo every one else. The diesels are expensive, the modern ones are really expensive, and very few people actually need them for their pulling power. Even we probably don’t at the moment, and DH is hauling a CDL trailer.
