Gas vs Diesel
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Gas vs Diesel
I am planning on buying a 9,000lb travel trailer (dry). I would use it to primarily go to a camp ground 2 hours away, once per month. However, twice per year, I would drive it to the North Carolina mountains, which are about 9 hours away. I also would like to use the truck as a daily driver to commute around town daily (>25 miles).
1) should I get a gas or diesel engine? I would be willing to drive it at highway speeds for 30mns once or twice a week for the regeneration if the power stroke would be better.
2) would the Godzilla engine handle steep mountain grades while pulling a 9k trailer?
Thanks in advance for the help!
1) should I get a gas or diesel engine? I would be willing to drive it at highway speeds for 30mns once or twice a week for the regeneration if the power stroke would be better.
2) would the Godzilla engine handle steep mountain grades while pulling a 9k trailer?
Thanks in advance for the help!
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Thanks! Yes, I'm looking forward to the debate, and hopefully, some clarity. I've been debating in my mind for some time now.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2023
Posts: 913
Likes: 1,850
From: SE PA
Ok, here you go. Gas - cheaper both initially and in maintenance but mileage is poor. Diesel - better mileage but more expensive initially and in maintenance. Both will pull your trailer with no problems. You must decide what is most important to you.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,653
Likes: 4,739
From: Itinerant
Save the debate and thread closure ... diesel is king.... bla bla bla. 
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1776300-6-7-or-7-3gas.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1776300-6-7-or-7-3gas.html
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 928
Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I'm a diesel guy for towing, but new diesel trucks are not worth it IMHO. They're way, way to expensive and all the emissions control BS on them causes early failure/ low service life.
I like my old Cummins 12 valves (which are basically road going farm tractor engines), but if I was just looking to buy a new truck for your stated use , and not mess with it ,,,, as much as I hate to say it ,,, I'd buy the gasser. IMHO the EPA has ruined / killed the light duty diesel market.
...
I like my old Cummins 12 valves (which are basically road going farm tractor engines), but if I was just looking to buy a new truck for your stated use , and not mess with it ,,,, as much as I hate to say it ,,, I'd buy the gasser. IMHO the EPA has ruined / killed the light duty diesel market.
...
Thread Starter
|
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Trending Topics
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,825
Likes: 1,030
So far all the opinions are fair. Diesels are more expensive to run. With today's diesel emissions, as far as I am concerned, they are not ready for prime time and that would prevent me from buying anything new. I would try and source something without DEF and a DPF.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 928
IMHO buying a pre-emissions diesel is only financially viable for an avid home garage DIY type person that can do all the maintenance / repair work themselves. I see a couple people absolutely going broke in the Excursion forum trying to keep an Excursion going paying shop labor rates.
...
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 700
Likes: 478
Diesel is more powerful and can sustain its power much easier than gas, there's no debate there. With that said the newest godzilla engine has more than enough power to tow your stated weight but you just have to reach for it sometimes at higher rpm where the noise seems to get under the skin of some people and stress them out.
As far as possible diesel expenses, how long do you plan to keep this truck? If youre in and out of the truck in a short window and low mileage chances are you will never run into the diesel emissions repairs or fuel system repairs that cost sometimes upwards of $10,000.
My ultimate suggestion is actually renting the trucks in question and hooking them up to your trailer for the actual experience. Well worth a few hundred dollars to rent a truck instead of hypothetical debate according to other people's personal experience and preference. Some days I have as much as 26,000lbs behind a godzilla and im comfortable with that, others would have a stroke
As far as possible diesel expenses, how long do you plan to keep this truck? If youre in and out of the truck in a short window and low mileage chances are you will never run into the diesel emissions repairs or fuel system repairs that cost sometimes upwards of $10,000.
My ultimate suggestion is actually renting the trucks in question and hooking them up to your trailer for the actual experience. Well worth a few hundred dollars to rent a truck instead of hypothetical debate according to other people's personal experience and preference. Some days I have as much as 26,000lbs behind a godzilla and im comfortable with that, others would have a stroke
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 928
For example, none of my three diesel trucks have an exhaust brake, and sure it'd be nice to have one, but I'm not rushing out to buy them either.
...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 695
I am planning on buying a 9,000lb travel trailer (dry). I would use it to primarily go to a camp ground 2 hours away, once per month. However, twice per year, I would drive it to the North Carolina mountains, which are about 9 hours away. I also would like to use the truck as a daily driver to commute around town daily (>25 miles).
1) should I get a gas or diesel engine? I would be willing to drive it at highway speeds for 30mns once or twice a week for the regeneration if the power stroke would be better.
2) would the Godzilla engine handle steep mountain grades while pulling a 9k trailer?
Thanks in advance for the help!
1) should I get a gas or diesel engine? I would be willing to drive it at highway speeds for 30mns once or twice a week for the regeneration if the power stroke would be better.
2) would the Godzilla engine handle steep mountain grades while pulling a 9k trailer?
Thanks in advance for the help!
Of course, if you want a diesel, then go get one and enjoy it but you don't need it for your use.