Time for a New Truck: Gas or Diesel? - Page 3 - Montana Owners Club

Slufoot733 · 06-25-2019, 11:57 AM

Diesel.......................period!
Doesn't matter which make.........GM, Ford, Ram..... you choose. They all will do a fine job. But diesel is a must.

JLM · 06-26-2019, 01:22 PM

had a an f250 gas... fuel miles sucked.. traded for 1 ton Diesel.. better mpg and lots better towing up and down hill.

jeepjrn · 06-26-2019, 01:26 PM

No matter what make of truck, stick to a diesel especially so with your rig and annual mileage estimate. Like someone above said, that would be your worst mistake ever to move to gas. Personally with only 130K on your current truck, I’d keep it, lots of good mileage left on that truck and you’ll have loads of extra cash in your pocket. Unless you simply just want a new truck. When a truck gets that age you will have some nickel/dime issues, but compared to the $70,000 price tag, you have about $60,000 in spare change left over.

mtjtb · 06-26-2019, 01:39 PM

Turbo diesel adjusts for altitude. Naturally aspirated Gas engines are gutless up high.

Sac Colorado · 06-26-2019, 01:44 PM

If you have the right rear-end you can move the Montana with a big gasser or diesel.
I drive a lot in the mountains of Colorado and the the diesel is all about the "exhaust brake"!
I drive a 2017 Ram 3500 SRW and the the #1 reason to have a diesel is the exhaust brake, period! Safety! If you have disc brakes on your Montana then maybe a gas truck will work great. But with the electric drum brakes - did I mention "exhaust brake"!, Just me option.

SterlingSilver · 06-26-2019, 01:46 PM

Just communicated with a guy with 400k miles on his Chevy D/A truck. It's all original except for normal scheduled maintenance. Why is the OP even thinking about starting over?

saber707 · 06-26-2019, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astrungis

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?

You need the torque of a diesel for sure....

CaptnJohn · 06-26-2019, 05:47 PM

My wife found a had to have Montana which is a lot heavier than the 2 year old HC we had. I have a 2016 f350 Lariat 4x4 with only 87k miles. Talk around the campfire convinced her we needed a dually. The only thing I like less than a dually is a long bed. In order to give my ears a rest I ordered one. No way would I consider a gasser to pull more than 9-10k. Even then I'd go with a diesel. On my 3rd 6.7 and zero problems.

KBC · 06-26-2019, 05:47 PM

Just the thought 5 & 6 mpg would take the fun out of a trip the extra $8,000.00 or so for the diesel you will get most of that back when sale or trade it.

mtjtb · 06-26-2019, 06:31 PM

I'm pulling my 15 3610RL with my 2002 F350 7.3 diesel.
It hasn't left me stranded anywhere.
I did change the altenator 2 weeks ago and an injector last year.
I can afford to spend up to $4000 a year on repairs, unless I buy a new one. That would cost more than that in payments annually.
Just my choice to do it this way.

MxBound · 06-26-2019, 06:37 PM

I also have a 2002 F350 7.3l.
No new truck for us.

penra · 06-26-2019, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sac Colorado

If you have the right rear-end you can move the Montana with a big gasser or diesel.
I drive a lot in the mountains of Colorado and the the diesel is all about the "exhaust brake"!
I drive a 2017 Ram 3500 SRW and the the #1 reason to have a diesel is the exhaust brake, period! Safety! If you have disc brakes on your Montana then maybe a gas truck will work great. But with the electric drum brakes - did I mention "exhaust brake"!, Just me option.

What is the 'right' rear end? 4.10?

russgarrett · 06-26-2019, 09:55 PM

I just bought a 2019 F 250 Diesel got it last Friday with puck hitch system. It's a Platinum and was just over 80k, which I still cannot believe I purchased it but it came with everything and that includes the Tow Technology Package. Google it. When I first walked up to it I could not believe how big it was to get into. Then on the test drive the tires turned over and when it shifted the tires turned over again and I said Diesels are not supposed to do this ! Maybe I don't get out very much but I never thought a Diesel pickup truck would be the best riding vehicle I have ever driven.
Now the test is to put the 5th wheel behind it and tomorrow the companion hitch will be installed into the Ford puck system which takes about 1 or 2 minutes. There is an available rear camera for the 5th wheel that will show what's behind you and displays and displays it on the truck video system without another screen. The finance manager at the Ford dealership just came from a Chevy dealership and owns a Chevy 2500 Duramax. He said he cannot even tell his 34 foot 5th wheel is even behind him and said the gas mileage is great. He said the Super Duty is the same or a little better. Sounds like whichever truck you buy you will be happy. Now to put it behind my F 250 and enjoy every mile. Get a Diesel !!

Sac Colorado · 06-26-2019, 10:36 PM

penta, the "right" rear end depends on a lot of factors. My '17 RAM 3500 4x4 cummins diesel has 900 lb/ft of torque and it has a 3.42 rear-end. It has no problem moving my 14,000 lbs Montana - usually get 10 - 11 mpg. When I'm empty I have gotten 28 mpg on a 1000 mile road trip - that 3.42 really helps with the mpg. My truck has a 3500 payload and 17,500ish max towing capacity. If you get a RAM 3500 diesel dually then you get a 4.10 rear end and properly equipped I think It's rated to pull 35,000ish pounds. BIG DIFFERENCE! I've seen pickup trucks with gas engines that have 4.10 or 4.30 rear-ends. Those gas engines (even the big ones don't have that much torque - maybe 420 - 450 lb/ft of torque. You need a low rear-end to get a big heavy load moving. It's very similar to the gearing on a bike. If you are big and powerful (big quads) you can get that bike moving in a high gear. If you quads aren't that powerful you need to shift to a lower gear (lower rear-end) to get that bike moving or climb that big hill. I hope some of my rambling helps. Sac Colorado

CaptnJohn · 06-26-2019, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by russgarrett

I just bought a 2019 F 250 Diesel got it last Friday with puck hitch system. It's a Platinum and was just over 80k, which I still cannot believe I purchased it but it came with everything and that includes the Tow Technology Package. Google it. When I first walked up to it I could not believe how big it was to get into. Then on the test drive the tires turned over and when it shifted the tires turned over again and I said Diesels are not supposed to do this ! Maybe I don't get out very much but I never thought a Diesel pickup truck would be the best riding vehicle I have ever driven.
Now the test is to put the 5th wheel behind it and tomorrow the companion hitch will be installed into the Ford puck system which takes about 1 or 2 minutes. There is an available rear camera for the 5th wheel that will show what's behind you and displays and displays it on the truck video system without another screen. The finance manager at the Ford dealership just came from a Chevy dealership and owns a Chevy 2500 Duramax. He said he cannot even tell his 34 foot 5th wheel is even behind him and said the gas mileage is great. He said the Super Duty is the same or a little better. Sounds like whichever truck you buy you will be happy. Now to put it behind my F 250 and enjoy every mile. Get a Diesel !!

I have not even seen a Limited on a lot! They have about every creature comfort option imaginable. Every bell and whistle too congrats on the new truck! What is your yellow sticker payload number? How about a picture too!

barryn · 06-27-2019, 12:03 AM

My PVA told me when I went to pay my Taxes, " If you want to play, you got to pay" so I look at it this way, you do what you can to get the job done. Different stroke for different folk. I put a 60 gal fuel tank under my 2500 Ram Diesel 2010. Only stop to stretch leg or two and pee the dog, no more looking for fuel point. Go from point A to point B no problem. Happy, happy, happy, I am and I don't have to touch that nasty stuff twice, and OH! my truck loves Lucas Fuel Treatment. Towing light always to much stuff. Only carry two chairs, 3720 Montana Legacy RL 2015 paid to much for it new but that's the way it is, We get 10.5-11.8 running 55-60. Tires are 17s Michelin. Trailer Max weight is 16k, we are running at 14k loaded. Buy it as you need it, not want it.... be safe and take your time, a lot of people running for President. Food for thought, Insurance company's and Government always looking to get mo money...they are looking at the people with the diesel trucks to put us in a commercial insurance class. I think this is why gas trucks are being made, for when the law goes in effect. Call up any ins co. an ask them what class is a 450 or 4500 ins, under. Look I'm just saying, future outlook. 350 and 3500 towing 3 and 4 car hauler up and down interstate.

russgarrett · 06-27-2019, 06:25 AM

Not sure about a yellow sticker but where is it? Should be 19,000 of the bumper, 27,500 5th wheel and 35,000 Gooseneck but the 27,500 is what I care about. Dealers know less about specifics on trucks. I wanted pre collision and lane keep and tow technology features. No moving violations or wrecks in over 30 years but tomorrow could be the first. Really no difference between limited and Platinum but nicer leather seats and higher price. Dealer was telling me how Ford increased prices for really nothing more than the name or Platinum, King Ranch, etc...

Fred S. · 06-27-2019, 08:05 AM

We just purchased a 2019 Silverado 3500HD DRW diesel, was towing our 2017 3791RD with a Silverado with the 6.0 gas engine, what a difference. For all you Chevy guys the dealership told me oil changes every 5,000 miles and filters every 15,000 miles also told me to top off the DEF every 2,000 miles does this sound about right.

barryn · 06-27-2019, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred S.

We just purchased a 2019 Silverado 3500HD DRW diesel, was towing our 2017 3791RD with a Silverado with the 6.0 gas engine, what a difference. For all you Chevy guys the dealership told me oil changes every 5,000 miles and filters every 15,000 miles also told me to top off the DEF every 2,000 miles does this sound about right.

I change fuel filter every oil change. This may be an overkill for some people but diesel is naturally nasty. And the engine likes clean diesel.

barryn · 06-27-2019, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sac Colorado

If you have the right rear-end you can move the Montana with a big gasser or diesel.
I drive a lot in the mountains of Colorado and the the diesel is all about the "exhaust brake"!
I drive a 2017 Ram 3500 SRW and the the #1 reason to have a diesel is the exhaust brake, period! Safety! If you have disc brakes on your Montana then maybe a gas truck will work great. But with the electric drum brakes - did I mention "exhaust brake"!, Just me option.

Exhaust brake no joke, worth every penny, now my truck disc brakes have rust on them.

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