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Old 06-20-2019, 06:25 PM   #1
astrungis
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Time for a New Truck: Gas or Diesel?

Hi everyone,

I have a 2011 Chevy HD 3500 Dually Duramax/Allison with about 130K on it and probably travel anywhere from 7-11,000 a year Rv-ing. I haven't been completely happy with the Chevy (DEF recall, water pump recall, a bad transmission control module and now a "Service Trailer Brake System" module issue). My wife is a proponent of a gas truck - brand unknown and I think maybe doing away with the dually but still do a one-ton diesel.

We have a FB3921 at 42' and can't imagine towing that with a gas engine and no exhaust brake like on a dually. How many of you do a gas tower? Is the trailer as heavy as the one I have? And diesel towers: What are your thoughts?
 
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Old 06-20-2019, 06:30 PM   #2
richfaa
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Montana 2013 3402 Big Sky.F-350 LB,CC, Dually diesel. Pulled a 06 Montana 3400 with a Ford,LB,CC, Dually V-10 for our first road trip west when we returned we traded for the F-350 diesel.
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Old 06-20-2019, 06:37 PM   #3
Skw774
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Don’t do it. Diesel is the only way to pull these beasts
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Old 06-20-2019, 06:54 PM   #4
scattershot
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Diesel. The new ones have a tow/ haul mode which helps with long descents. I just ordered a Ford F350, which has 400 horsepower and 900 lb/ft of torque. I may be a little,off on the numbers, but I don’t know of a gasser with that much.
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Old 06-20-2019, 06:56 PM   #5
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If you were only pulling a thousand miles a year a gasoline engine would be fine but 7 to 11,000 miles don’t even think about a gasoline engine. You would probably stop on your first trip and swap for a Diesel.
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Old 06-20-2019, 07:17 PM   #6
1retired06
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agree, diesel is a far better choice, for that many miles.
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Old 06-20-2019, 07:21 PM   #7
Mikendebbie
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Diesel!

I have the same unit -3921FB. I can not imagine towing this thing with a gas engine. I will admit that I have not ever tried one of the new big ford or Chevy late model gas one-tons - but I had a 97 Chevy 3500 with a 5.7 (350) and it barely had enough go juice to pull my 30’ Alpenlite which I think was 12,000 lbs or so. Traded it in for an 03 Chevy 2500 duramax. I understand your frustration with the Chevy and it’s issues. My DW put her foot down on the 03 at 265k miles and said I’m not going to travel anymore unless we get a new truck because this one breaks everytime we go on a trip. We spent more time in mechanic shop lounge than on vacation.

Anyway - there is no such thing as the perfect tow vehicle or the perfect RV. They all have problems. Someone here will have better real life experience than me but I can’t imagine a gas truck capable of towing a 3921FB. My previous RV was a 11,000 lbs Laredo travel trailer. My then 2014 Chevy 3500 SRW long bed handled it like a champ. The 2014 adequately handled the 3921FB for a year...then we decided to move up to a dually and the difference is stunning. It’s a totally different feel. Stick with a dually if you can!
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Old 06-20-2019, 07:29 PM   #8
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If Ford would make 6L Ecoboost truck I would be the first in line to get one. It could have 600 HP+ and 800 TK+. Until that happens I’ll stick with the diesel.
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Old 06-20-2019, 07:51 PM   #9
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The 2020 ford will have a new 7.3 liter gas engine available. Power figures have not been released as of yet but is suspose to slot in between the current gas offering at something like 385 hp and 430 pounds of torque and the diesel at about 450 hp and 935 pounds of torque. If you are serious about going gas I would hold off until at least the power figures are released for the 7.3. I think that if they can get the torque in the 650 to 700 ft pound range it would be a very viable option. By the way it will not be turbocharged. One less system to give you problems.
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Old 06-20-2019, 07:54 PM   #10
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Another vote for diesel and one more thing to think about. With the tongue weight of your rig you will probably find that even if the truck says on the door your fine when you weigh each wheel you may find that you can't buy tires to handle the weight. You can guess how I know.
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Old 06-20-2019, 08:01 PM   #11
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You will never regret anything more than getting a gas truck for that load.
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Old 06-21-2019, 02:07 AM   #12
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You're a brave man with gas you want pass to many gas station they do have gas 6.4L gas and you probably want have too many problem, up hills and in the mountains it will scream like a pig but if you don't mind the high rpm go for it.
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Old 06-21-2019, 04:57 AM   #13
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X2 Diesel & Dually!
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Old 06-21-2019, 04:57 AM   #14
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If you want a gas engine, get a small trailer. Otherwise, diesel all the way.
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Old 06-21-2019, 06:23 AM   #15
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I have a 96 Dodge dually v10, and a 2002 Ford 7.3l with full banks towing upgrade.
There is no comparison between the 2.
488 ci of gas motor doesn't come close to the fuel economy, power, and torque of the diesel.
Get the diesel !!
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Old 06-21-2019, 06:55 AM   #16
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diesel...of course.


If you wanted to try another Chevy, I'd wait until the 2020s come out and order one. That is if you can pay the $70K....
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Old 06-21-2019, 07:49 AM   #17
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Diesel, without a doubt. We've had both, so we know. Two advantages to diesel that often is not mentioned are:

1. you can fuel up where the trucks fuel up. They fit, you fit. No more trying to squeeze into regular gas stations and risking damaging your rig.

2. The hill descent thing. Great for going down the mountain (after the powerful engine has gotten you up there).
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Old 06-21-2019, 08:20 AM   #18
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I guess it proves there's a Lemon in everything. Had an 2011 Silverado 3500HD Dually Duramax/Allison that I put 115,000 miles on, with 90% of that towing heavy. No recalls and only issues were an EGR Cooler and the two Nox sensors. Still had the OEM Brake pads when traded.
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Old 06-21-2019, 09:02 AM   #19
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Diesel. I absolutely love the exhaust brake on our Ram 3500. Coming down long 6% & 7% grades from Flagstaff and I never had to use the regular brakes. I would not want to do that road with a gasser!
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Old 06-21-2019, 09:59 AM   #20
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The thought of 5-6 mpg and 3000 rpm for less power would be hard to justify.
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