I am looking into replacing my 2014 Toyota Tundra with a new(er) truck. Since retiring, my truck sits in my garage/shop unless we are traveling with the camper. My travel trailer is ~7,000 lbs. and my Tundra has a towing capacity of 9600 lbs. I would like to get something that has a higher capacity than I currently have, which pretty much puts me into the 3/4 ton category. So here is my question: Is the extra initial cost and the operational/maintenance costs of a diesel worth it for a vehicle that is probably only going to be on the road part time?
Gasoline Engines: Generally, gas trucks are cheaper upfront and have lower maintenance costs. However, they tend to have lower fuel efficiency and towing capacity compared to diesel engines.
Diesel Engines: Diesel trucks are more fuel-efficient and have higher torque, making them better for towing heavy loads. They are more expensive initially and can have higher maintenance costs, but they often last longer and perform better under heavy loads
My intuition from my family’s rv days is the diesel investment won’t pay back with the use you’re describing. Save the bucks, and spend an extra week or two camping.
And that expense extends to every time you fill the tank on modern diesels!!
Do your research, not only what the required maintenance is, but also on Recalls and common Engine and Transmission failure problems many of the newer diesels experience.
MOST manufactures have issues, not just one or two of them.
A lot of great short videos, (especially diesel related), at this site.
Dave’s is based in Utah, and has an engine shop that specializes in diesels, as well as all other vehicles.
If you are set on getting a Power Smoke, there are specific models and sizes that have a lot of issues. I can’t recall which ones at the moment, but checking out various forums can give you an idea. As mentioned, stay away from anything with a DEF system. Look at older trucks, especially if it’s just for camping or occasional driving.
If you are considering a GM Dirtymax, same thing. Specific models and years had specific issues. Early 2000 models were paired with an Allison transmission and if taken care of , will last an eternity. Again stay away from newer trucks that require DEF.
Looking at Dodge? Look the other way… Yeah Chrysler put Cummins engines in there trucks, but the rest of the drivetrain was a joke. The best model years however were when Mercedes owned Chrysler. It was only a brief period, but the overall chassis components were beefier and had less issues.
As far as gassers, again stay away from anything built after 2008 in the big 3. That’s about the time they all started putting all that emissions crap in them. The newer GM engines have DoD (Displacement on Demand)or what they now call Active Fuel Management (AFM). It will F up the engine after about 150K miles. Any Ford Ecoboost engine is garbage, and the newer transmissions will only last about 40K before taking a sh… Dodge is… well… Dodge. Yeah the Hemi is ok but the rest of the truck .
Another aspect of the diesel, the pumps at the station are always a mess. I had an F-350 with the Powerstroke and always needed to have gloves in the truck so your hands aren’t full of diesel after refueling. But of course there wasn’t much you could do about your shoes, as you stand in a puddle of diesel on the ground. Other than that though, it was fun to hear the turbo whistle.
Never trust a turbo powered engine. Great when they work, $$$$$$$$$ when they fail. That whistle noise they make is cool…until it’s the sound of your bank account having to replace them.
My construction company has both types of pickups, but I prefer gas for a very specific reason. I like the light frontend that a lighter gas engine provides.
We run a pre-DEF F250. Fuel mileage is better than my gas powered avalanche but the maintenance bills average around $2000 per year. That’s in addition to the oil changes which run $150-$200.
It is a 6.0 liter.
The 7.3 is a better engine but those trucks must be old since they quit using the 7.3 in 1999 or 2000. So even if the engine is doing fine the rest of the truck is probably wore out.
The diesel has been a good truck over all. We tow our tool trailer regularly along with the occasional flatbed with a broken car etc. But the next one will be gas.
I have a 2018 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost with the heavy tow/haul package. It’s rated to pull 12,500 but you never want to max it out. I just pulled a 32’ travel trailer weighing 8,000lbs from Oregon to Tennessee no problem. Gas is definitely going to be the cheaper route when it comes to everyday use and maintenance and if the only reason you’re considering a 3/4 ton over a 1/2 ton is for pulling a 7,000lb trailer, I would stay with a 1/2 ton that has a higher towing capacity. However, there will be a noticeable difference in the way the truck handles when towing that load. A 3/4 ton is going to be more stable and track straighter, and there will be less stress on the transmission. Not sure what the cost of diesel is where you are, but here in east Tennessee it’s a dollar more per gallon.
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