Gas vs Diesel 1 Ton

Bobl1958 · May 10, 2016

I have an 04 Chevy 1 ton with 87K for miles I have a 30' flatbed and 24' stock trailer. Used to haul a lot but now just about 10K per year at the most.. Thinking about upgrading and possibly buying a 1 ton gasser. See a Chevy 2011 4 door 1 ton with a gas engine but not sure of the size. Probably 6.0. Most of my hauling anymore is flatland with the draft horses or maybe 10,000# tractor no more tha a hundred miles.
I have hd diesels for years and am wondering if I would regret a gasser? Any thoughts? Pardon the spelling as I am on my phone and no glasses. Thanks for the input - Bob

rrlund · May 10, 2016

Can't speak for the Chevy part,but I ran a Ford diesel for 23 years,went to a gas about a year and a half ago. No regrets. Unless regretting that I didn't do it sooner.

Andy Martin · May 10, 2016

Decided it was best to keep my 94 Dodge Cummins around the farm at 297,000 miles and just leave the bale spike on it all year around. Bought a 2015 Ford F-350 6.2L four wheel single seat pickup on 12-31-14. Very happy with it. I've gone to Colorado once, 7.2 mpg loaded (80 mph). Locally hauling steers to market 11 mpg (65 mph). Running to town with no trailer it gets 14-16 mpg (40-55 mph). I didn't want electronic injectors and DEF. My old Cummins got 22 loaded or empty until it got old, now it gets 18. When I bought the Cummins diesel was cheaper than gasoline. Within a couple of months they reversed position. After I bought the gasser they went back for a while. But the total fuel cost would never justify the additional cost of a diesel for no more miles than i drive now that I'm retired. And I'll never have a $10,000 injector replacement.

RBoots · May 10, 2016

Since I drive truck and used to be a heavy equipment mechanic, I'm partial to diesels. Old ones with little electronics though. Dad had a 6.0 Chevy gas engine in a 3/4 ton with 4.10 axles, it did about 11 mpg all of the time. He got 13 mpg a couple times, highway driving. Towing was 7-10. Not sure what year they discontinued the Chevy 8.1, might have been around 2004?, but everyone I knew that had one of then had oil consumption problems.

Ross

Destroked 450 · May 10, 2016

With only 84k miles on the clock I'd hang on to it for a while longer. If it has rust showing have it fixed and do a repaint, that would be cheaper than a newer truck.

Grampy · May 10, 2016

My newest 'tugger' is a 2014, 3500 Dodge with the 6.4 gasser. Will it pull with the diesel - no. But it pulls better than a 460 Ford I once had and gets better mileage than the 460 did. (not knocking the Ford here, it was a good truck ) Mileage on the Dodge has ranged from 7 to 14 depending on the load and speed of course. I had a short run on one trip that it dropped to 5.5 for a few miles, but it was a hard pull and I was pushing it hard. I just don't put enough miles on the one ton to justify the price of the diesel. It was slightly over 8K more for the cheapest diesel they had on the lot. I don't have any 'numbers', but it would take a long time to save 8K on fuel costs !

notjustair · May 10, 2016

I've got about the same trailers and usage you do, although a few more miles a year. About 150 thousand miles were with a 3/4 ton and gas engine. I bought an 04 dually with the diesel. It's the only pickup I've purchased used. I hate that thing. The gasser did a fine job and has done well as the run around since its "retirement". For all of the junk they have hung on a diesel engine I wouldn't hesitate to run a gasser for trailers.

in-too-deep · May 10, 2016

We have an 04 Ford with a 6.8 v10 gas. It has pulled a lot of beef and some iron around quite well. Plenty of power and so much cheaper than a diesel overall in my situation.

supermpuller · May 10, 2016

You need a 8.1 with a Allison tranny, chevy HD

IAtractorKid · May 10, 2016

It's really up to you. The 6.0 is a great LS based engine and will do everything you mentioned. Will it do it as easily as the diesel, probably not. You would be going from a 5-speed Allison and 3.73 gears to a GM 6-speed with 4.10 gears. An '04 is going to be an LB7 with basically no emissions...I'm not sure how the mileage of a dually compares to that of the 3/4 tons but going to the 6.0 will probably cut your MPG by a fair amount.

For no more miles than you have on the '04, I would just keep it and save yourself the payment.

GregCO · May 10, 2016

The newer Gassers run really good and pull good as well. I have had the opportunity to drive both gas and diesel pickups and for the price difference I will stick with a gas engine. If I were doing allot of pulling and long trips the diesel would probably pay off, but I don't so for me it won't. I have a chevy 1 ton with the 7.4 Vortec and really like it. Gas mileage stinks but it pulls great. I also have a Dodge 3/4 ton with the 8.0 V10 in it. There again lots of power, but gas mileage suffers if I get to flogging it much.
Honestly if you are set on a newer truck buy the biggest gas engine you can get and you will be fine. Yea you have to feed it a little more often, but the price difference between the gas and diesel engine buys allot of gas and the upkeep is allot less especially if it sits allot and sees mostly short trips. Just my experience.
There are the guys out there that love their diesel pickups and work them hard. For them it works out great. For me I just can't justify one.

Greg

Nick m · May 10, 2016

10 years ago I'd argue with you until I was blue in the face about how dumb it was to buy a gas instead of diesel. Don't think I'd win that argument anymore. That being said, I'll piece my old 01 dodge diesel together for as long as I can to avoid paying ridiculous amounts of money for a newer one. Already put a rust free box and some paint on it. An 04 with only that many miles on it might be worth hanging on to for a while. I have a buddy with 450k miles on an 01 duramax. It's easy to spend or not spend someone else's money though. Drive both and compare then buy what you want. You have to make you happy.

DoubleR · May 10, 2016

I brought a new 2500 HD 6.0 engine 411 gear in 07. I average about 7,000 miles a year usually pulling 8-12,000 lb. loads. It gets anywhere between 7- to 12 miles per gallon pulling. It might get 14 with no trailer on a good day. Its got about 52,000 miles on it, I only drive it to haul and pull. I have a small car to chase parts and run errands with. I'm more than happy with it and it does a good job pulling as far as I'm concerned. The only thing I've done is new brakes and a battery.

When I brought it I sat down with my calculator and did the math. I figured I would get my money back by paying 9800 dollars more for the Diesel after about 95,000 miles on the truck. I still got another 7-8 years to get their. If I was hauling all day long everyday I would look at getting a Diesel but for my use the gasser serves me just fine.

Bobl1958 · May 10, 2016

To add a little, I defiantly love the diesels, but I have put enough injectors in 3 different duramaxes, paid close to $5.00 per gallon for diesel fuel, high dollar services that I am seriously considering saving the money and buying a gas truck.

Can't talk myself out of the dual wheels though cause I do like the stability. Thanks a lot for the replies. May go with a gas if I find the right one.

The 04 I have is certainly nice. Always shedded and looks like new, but it is still 12 years old and stuff will start to happen eventually. I like to keep a newer pulling rig just to hope to avoid a breakdown on the side of the road with horses or other livestock. Maybe not correct thinking but its the way I am. Bob

David G · May 10, 2016

I really doubt you ever get money back on Diesels unless you tow every day.

But I really enjoy mine.

rrlund · May 11, 2016

buickanddeere · May 11, 2016

(quoted from post at 19:13:07 05/10/16) I have an 04 Chevy 1 ton with 87K for miles I have a 30' flatbed and 24' stock trailer. Used to haul a lot but now just about 10K per year at the most.. Thinking about upgrading and possibly buying a 1 ton gasser. See a Chevy 2011 4 door 1 ton with a gas engine but not sure of the size. Probably 6.0. Most of my hauling anymore is flatland with the draft horses or maybe 10,000# tractor no more tha a hundred miles.
I have hd diesels for years and am wondering if I would regret a gasser? Any thoughts? Pardon the spelling as I am on my phone and no glasses. Thanks for the input - Bob

If this was the 1990's the choice would be diesel. Being 2016 the choice is direct injection gasser with a port injected gassed second .
You must be located in a salt free environment . Around here a 2004 is corroded unless meticulously oiled spring and fall.

buickanddeere · May 11, 2016

You may want to consider a tuner for the truck. The factory settings for shift points is annoying. The transmission will shift down at the slightest grade , long before the engine labours.

Tx.Ricefields · May 11, 2016

Another thing to think about is the resale value. The diesel will get a good part of the up front money back. Check the price of a 10 yr. old gas verses a 10 yr. old diesel.
Bottom line, if a Chevy Luv fits your needs, it's the right truck for you.

BarnyardEngineering · May 11, 2016

In a Chevy, yes, it will be a 6.0L. Chevy stopped putting the 8.1L in trucks in early 2007. The 6.0L is the only gas option in 3/4 and 1-ton trucks since the 2007 new body style came out.

The 2004 Duramax doesn't have the ludicrous power of the current ones. That was when the Duramax was just starting to pull ahead of the 8.1L gasser as far as power and torque went.

A 2011 6.0L gasser can easily keep up with a stock 2004 Duramax as long as you are not afraid to let it downshift and rev up. So many people think the engine is going to explode if it runs more than 2000RPMs. That's just plain stupid thinking.

You only get "most" of your investment back out of the diesel when you go to sell it. Not all. If you buy a gasser you get 100% of your diesel investment back because you never spent it in the first place.

Used 3/4 and 1 ton truck prices are INSANE right now, and probably will be for the foreseeable future. There were a few years where high gas prices and bad economy killed the HD truck market and now there's a shortage of good used ones out there. Gas or diesel, you will be able to resell a nice truck at a premium price.

Bobl1958 · May 11, 2016

You are right, here in KS we don't have the salt to deal with on a consistent basis. That plus I don't drive it when the weather looks bad, it still looks like new. Most vehicles here that get any care at all will look good for years. Bob

rrlund · May 11, 2016

But if you're buying used,is it worth paying $5000 more because it might be worth an extra $4000 when you're done with it? You'd loose $1000 plus having to pay more for fuel for the life of it.

It's like paying more for a used John Deere because it'll have more resale value. But you paid more for it in the first place,so what did you gain? It only works that way when you're buying new.

merlynr · May 11, 2016

.
I did the same thing DoubleR did but in 97 when I was torn between a 7.5 gas and 7.3 diesel and at that time the diesel was a tad over $4k higher. Doing fuzzy math at the time I figured 90K miles to break even on fuel. Well I went with the gasser and I still have it with about 109K on the clock. It's just for pulling and hauling. Got this old explorer for running around and with the back seat down it's like a ranger with a bed cover.

SC Farmall · May 11, 2016

I own a 6.0L GM, its ok with a 10K load behind it but its not nearly as easy as a new Diesel. That 2011 may have a 6.2, the 6.2 was released in 2007 IIRC. The 6.2 has almost 75 more horses than the 6.0, and the torque numbers are comparable to the older diesels.

mmfan55 · May 11, 2016

It seems more and more "hobby haulers " are going back to gas. Unless a person is putting thousands of miles per year on it : it will take several years to recover the additional diesel expenses. Diesel will outpull gas and get better fuel mileage: but: that performance comes with a price.

JimEvans · May 11, 2016

Wow. I always read these threads with interest, and this is the first one I have seen where the majority said go with the gas. I agree. I have a 2004 LLY Duramax dually. Mileage is not impressive, but it has plenty of power for me. I hope it will be a long time yet, but my next truck will be a gas. The cost of maintenance and the cost of all the emission equipment is too much compared to a gas engine.

Tom in Mo. · May 11, 2016

I ran diesels from 1985 until in 2009 when i bought a new chevy with the 6.0 gas engine. it was a great truck except when it was time to tow. It would pull fair as long as you could stand the engine revving up around 3500 to 4500 plus rpm. After 50,000 miles I traded it off on a used Dodge with a Cumins and have never been more pleased. The gassers don't have the nuts.

Jon Hagen · May 11, 2016

Gas engine pickups are a whole new game now with the 6 speed automatics, all those gears are way better at keeping that gas engine in it's happy range without lugging or over revving. I use an 11 F 150 with the 6 speed and Ecoboost 3.5. It pulls far more than anything rated for a tow package 1/2 ton. Too light for the goose neck trailer loaded with tractors and other toys I know, but is a joy in how well it tows that load. I would not consider a diesel for my 4-5,000 of towing per year.

Gas vs Diesel 1 Ton

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