Gas vs. Diesel - If You Were Me....

[ChocoMare]

…and only hauled out with your horse once a month, if even. Used the truck once or twice a week to make the 48 mile round-trip commute to work and the local zips to Home Depot & Tractor Supply, would you go with a Chevy 3500 with Vortec gas engine or stick with the Duramax diesel?

Mr. ChocoMare keeps saying diesel and, while I would be fine with that, it is a more expensive truck all around (initial cost, diesel at the pump, diesel mechanic, etc.) and we just don’t use a diesel enough like, I’ve been taught, it should be used.

Plus I’ve found a nice 2010 2010 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LT with the Vortec 6L with only 87,339 miles on the odometer for $18,300 that’s not a quad-cab.

What say you?

[NBFarm]

I have both a Chevy 3500 Duramax and a Chevy 2500 with a gas motor. The diesel is in a whole different league from the gas motor, but I haul a very large trailer with it so its necessary. I haven’t found the diesel to be more expensive to maintain. Heavy duty trucks are expensive to fix, period. And while the diesel is more expensive at the pump, my diesel gets around 16mpg when I am hauling, where the gas motor gets 10mpg. That being said, if you are only an occasional hauler with a smaller trailer the gas motor will treat you just fine.

[ChocoMare]

Trailer isn’t that big/heavy and we hauled well with an F-250 3/4 ton before the tranny croaked.

[shakeytails]

I love my diesel trucks. Love the sound, the power, the longevity, and the “coolness” factor. With our new truck, I’m also amused that we’re getting about 19 MPG out of something that can pull down your house. OK, so the oil changes are a bit pricey, fuel filters need changing regularly, and some parts are a little expensive. Do we need a diesel? Probably not, but I love knowing that we can haul almost anything and the truck won’t care.

For as much as you’re using a truck- I’m assuming you’re not hauling very far- a gas truck would be just fine. I love a Chevy gas truck, I’ve owned a few- always reliable. However, I wouldn’t buy a Chevy diesel for nothing.

[shakeytails]

@ChocoMare;6372177

Trailer isn’t that big/heavy and we hauled well with an F-250 3/4 ton before the tranny croaked.

You might need a diesel if you feed that horse any more!:winkgrin:

[ChocoMare]

Well that’s what you get from a Cobb: Clydesdale/Standardbred cross. She’s built like a truck!

[lilitiger2]

Well a good truck is a good truck so its not likely you’ll make a bad choice here!! Things to consider in this (IMO) are

1. Are you planning on keeping this truck a long time-5-6 years, over 100k? If so, a diesel has GREAT lasting power (as you can see on other threads on this).Ifyou plan on trading in/up in less than that, gassers have the advantage. In the short term, gas engines probably are a little cheaper to maintain, their parts are not as costly. i have not found mine particularly expensive but, much as I hate it, I have to say in the short term, more $$ than a gasser (just for upkeep). But again, the lasting power of a diesel is pretty unquestioned!

2. Towing is obviously an issue, although it sounds like for you this is not a big part of yourplanned use. Diesels have more torque so do have more power to pull big loads. If,as you say, you only pull occasionally, and not a heavy load, I would say a gasser will do you fine!

3. Don’t know where you live but availability of diesel can be an issue (not out here!). When I was east this winter there were TWO stations in the whole area that sold diesel, so I had to plan carefully (always a good idea but not something I have to do out here).

4. Mileage is much better in a diesel (I get around 26mpg, not towing, and as someone said, around 16 or so pulling) as the engine is more efficient. If you’re not going to be using it much, the occasional tow and that’s it, it might not be an issue for you! But you will feel it at the pump when towingwith a gasser for sure!

5.Some times just plain ole preference! It sounds like you would prefer to get the gasser, so, all other things considered, I’d go with it. Much better to drive what I want to drive than something I just don’t like!

Have fun! Drive trucks!!

[ChocoMare]

Thanks Lili …good info.

The other pickle we have (Mr. c’mare vs. Me) is that he doesn’t want a dually (I don’t care) BUT to find a used non-dually diesel 3500 is NOT easy. I’ve searched till my eyes have crossed. The ones I did find were the 6.0 Ford engines that all say to stay away from.

Le sigh

[lilitiger2]

And a duramax is a good engine and as someone else noted on another thread,they’ve got the allison transmission, which is excellent. Duramaxs do have lower clearance which many really like (I don’t) but something to consider.

[lilitiger2]

Yes,looking can be sooo frustrating! Agree about the dually (doesn’t sound like you need one!) and for sure about the Ford 6.0 (avoid).

It does seem like a gasser would work for you (but a marriage is worth saving too I guess!! )

Hope you find the perfect truck!!

[mvp]

If you don’t haul often, I think you are mathematically better off with a used gasser.

It’s a sad day when a diesel fan like myself must make this recommendation.

[wildlifer]

The diesel. Once a month is not “rare” hauling. Plus the gasser will eat your gas money like a starving grizzly. My diesel has been far cheaper to maintain than my previous four gas trucks and cruising on the freeway gets 22 mpg and it’s 10 years old, so, yeah, easy choice for me.

We have a gas F250 at work – suuuuuuucks. You have to fill the tank about every 7 minutes.

[ChocoMare]

Ok, we’ll stick with diesel. Again, I have no problem with it – it’s just tough to find the non-dually. Mr C’Mare is gonna have to bend on that issue, me believes :winkgrin:

[rmh_rider]

I vote gas.

For short term use gas is less expensive. If you figure the same on maintenance, and up keep and insurance.

Diesels like to be driven alot. You could start them up and never turn them off and it would be happy.

Less driving go for gas.

That is a great deal on the gas truck you have mentioned above.

Gas doesn’t have the stinky gas smell. Diesel costs BIG bucks to change the oil.

I still vote for gas.

[Derby_Lyn_Farms]

[QUOTE=shakeytails;6372211]
You might need a diesel if you feed that horse any more!:winkgrin:[/QUOTE]

Hey she’s got a nibble net:D

[Guilherme]

I vote for the Discipline of the Yellow Pad!*

Write down your needs, then figure out what type of truck (class, capacity, etc.) will be required to meet them. Consider trailer weight and size; non-towing jobs that need to be done; general “running around” that needs to be done; etc.

Now compare gas and diesel total ownership costs on a per mile basis. Include the higher cost of the diesel; the higher cost of diesel fuel; the higher costs for certain diesel maintenance; if you finance the extra costs for interest on a more costly vehicle; higher insurance costs on a more costly vehicle; higher resale value of the diesel; lower fuel consuption of the diesel; etc. After you’ve done this look at the numbers. Las time I did it (comparing a one ton diesel to a gas one ton similarly set up) the gasser came in at about a cent or two per mile less than the diesel. I bought a diesel because I got the Deal of the Century on an '08 3500HD Duramax. If a local Ford dealer had not done a very blatant “bait and switch” with me I’d own a F350 with V-10.

Do the math. Then make the choice.

G.

*Note that you can substitute an Excel spreadsheet if you like.

[relocatedTXjumpr]

Choco, my truck is the 2500HD with the 6.0L and it hauls like a champ. Hubby uses it more than I do now to haul construction equipment and such and LOVES the way it handles a heavy load…much heavier than any fully loaded horse trailer Ive pulled with it…granted 3 of my horses equal 1 Penny, but still, lol.

Its not a bad hauler…without the trailer I have squeezed 20mpgs out of it (long trips) but normally get around 16…with trailer it drops to 10-12. And you know I live in the mountains. I would buy another one for the current amount of hauling we do.

[Nipntuck]

If you aren’t hauling that much weight, I’d go with a 3/4 ton. I have a Duramax that I haul a Hawk 2+1 with easily. It’s well within the ratings, and, like you, I am not interested in a dually anyway for several reasons.

[ChocoMare]

We want the one ton, because if I have to haul both my mares, it will be a heavy load… the cob is 1500 lbs and the percheron is 2,000 lbs — plus cargo. And if we’re going up hills, I want that power.

[lilitiger2]

you could just throw money to the wind and come out to beautiful big sky country for this baby…http://montana.craigslist.org/cto/3075191120.html

have a gorgeous trip and drive it home! you could sell the topper and still have a tricked out truck!!