Ray Pickle

I think you hit the nail on the head, if you are concerned about high rpm, slow down climbing the steepest grades. As you are well aware loaded semi trucks can sometimes be WAY under the posted min speed. So why beat the eyes out of truck to attempt to maintain an arbitrary mph? What do you figure the time lost is climbing Loveland pass at 40 mph vs 55 mph? Its about 7 miles right? So 40 mph is a mile about every 1. 30 sec. And 55 mph is a mile in about 1. 05 sec. So you will lose around 3.25 to 3.5 minutes in your ascent. It probably took that long to write this. My point being speed up a mountain is irrelevant to anything other than ones ego. Speaking of ego someone with more time on their hands will probably check the, math in my head, on those calculations!! I think they are close enough to demonstrate my point?

I have no idea what juat happened there! Good luck Rabbittown, I think you will be hapoy with your decision.

It is an obvious conclusion that a gas engine will wear out premature if it " lives" at 5k rpm. I cannot fathom a scenario where that would be the case. I have pulled a number of passes in the rockies from monarch pass, from Dubois to Tetons, up and through Eisenhower tunnel, saw 5k for short duration on both Monarch and Eisenhower while keeping speed close to 50 mph. It was unnecessary but when you have a long days drive sometimes you do stuff like that! The wear effect that had on my engine was minimal and I have zero concerns about its long term durability as a result of how it is being used. Will it last as long as an unloaded truck that only cruises highways making deliveries and racking up huge annual miles, probably not. But I am expecting it will last a long time and be very economical to maintain. I base my opinions on the experience of 42 years in the automotive repair field, it may not make me any more knowledgeable than anyone else but there is a possibility. I would further agree with the obvious conclusion that a diesel has more torque than a like sized gas engine and that a corvette is faster than a chevette!

Gas engines peak h.p. and torque occur at higher rpm than that of diesel, why I agree a lower gear ratio would help, high rpm operation will be necessary when max power is required. Diesel engines operate the same way but their peak torque and h.p. are achieved at far lower rpm. I have pulled a 12k fiver over all the terrain this country has to offer and wouldn't change a thing. My truck has 31k on the clock approximately 13k of it pulling fiver, if that maybe 40 miles of that pulling summits in the rockies. In those 40 miles a diesel would definitely be better otherwise I will stick with my gasser to live with for the 99% of the rest of my driving.

I stand behind what I said, " like equipped trucks," "gvwr and payload are already higher".

Tge GM doesn't need a "camper pkg" its payload and GVWR are already higher than either Ford or Ram for like equipped trucks.

Based only on my 5th wheel towing experience, I believe the 6.6 gasser will easily handle your defined load with a 1 ton dually. I have no complaints towing 12k fiver with 3k in the bed of truck using a 20' 2500. I further agree that the Chevy easily rides better than the Ford and squats slightly less under load.

I would not worry one iota about trade in value, gas engined hd will actually depreciate less than a diesel accorsing to all the dealer guides. Nada, Edmunds, etc

Used 85 when in altitude in Colorado last month while towing 12k fiver, there was no noticeable difference in power or mileage. Thats why it exists. I would not use it at low elevations nor do I believe its generally available at low elevations away from mountainous regions? "E85" being the exception and new gasser is not designed to run on that.

30,000 miles half towing 12k, and si far so good.

As an aside,none of them get good mileage but all the testing reviews I have seen indicate g.m. does better than 7.3 Ford

Curious why a 6 speed is a deal breaker? A gas 2500 w/6 speed will pull much better than a unmodified ecodiesel and be significantly more stable. In a gas engined truck a 6 speed, vs. 8,9, or 10 gear ratios is not a significant performance inhibitor. The unavailability of an optional lower gear ratio is possibly more problematic for some. My 12k fiver would be better served with a 4:10 diff ratio, but the 3:73 does well, better than my 16' 2500 with 6.l and 4:10.

Amen! To that.

Most places in the country diesel is slightly more. There have been times in the not too distant past when diesel was up to 50% more. Regardless, if you want or need a diesel that is great for you! If you want to answer the question without equivocation then gas is the lower cost option to OWN, assuming it is capable of the need. Do lower cost options have compromises, yes! To higher cost alternatives have compromises, yes!

Ditto nards444 comments, and add that taller tires reduce the numeric axle ratio and lift increases driveshaft angle. Neither "helps" gas mileage. If the mod is for cosmetics its a gift that keeps giving! If you off road in situations that require the additional ground clearance, its the price of admission.

Topic was gas v. diesel cost of ownership. If the gas truck will perform the needs of poster it will be cheaper to own. If someone wants a bigger, house, bigger rv, boat, et.al. its the great american way. At least it used to be! But it is a want not a need and based on the posters question he is looking to fill a need.

What would the 10 k difference be worth if you held it instead of spent it during ownership length of truck? In other words , carrying cost?

I have heard a couple of folks mention that you recover some front end cost at resale. That is not the case according to Edmunds or Kbb. In fact the gas depreciates slightly less than diesel variants. Possibly due to relatively fewer available and the percieve potential of major repair expense of diesel due to inability of major manufacturers to sort emmission controls out dependably to date.

Curt q16 slider transferred from my 16'2500. Needed new frame rail mounts only.

Sorry no help here, 24k on truck and trans has been flawless. If you can duplicate during a test drive make an appointment with dealer and have tech go for ride with you.

Had 6.l in a 2500 prior to 6.6. You can't fairly compare just the powertrain/engine betwewn a Slade and a H.D. truck, but between moving uo to an H.D. truck and the 6.6 and 6 apeed trans., from a Slade it qill be night and day.

Journalist opinions that seem to be parroted by others next thing you know its gospel. Try to see out of a Ram at night while backing, that big screen doesn't seem so nice then. Heck they are all hard to see out of due to all the ambient light in the interior! I think its better than Ford but not as opulent as Ram. To each his own but being way behind is a bit of a stretch.