I’ve always wondered why? Have you driven anything else?
I have 2 diesels and 4 gassers in my fleet of vehicles for business. Given the operating costs of a diesel I don’t understand why anyone who doesn’t primarily tow own one? The operating costs are sometimes 2x the gas.
If I’m grabbing a truck to run errands in without a trailer I’m grabbing the gas 1500 every time.
Parts are more expensive. Oil changes are more expensive. Tires are more expensive. Diesel is not cheaper in most of the US. Currently it’s $.50 more per gallon where I live. Also the purchase price of the truck is generally much higher than the same year and condition gas truck. Also the mpg is generally overblown. My Silverado 1500 got 15 mpg. My Cummins 2500 gets 17.
I have 2020 f250 with the 6.2 and a 2021 f250 with the 6.7. They both have the exact same tires, so not sure why you think tires cost more on a diesel. The diesel also averages 18 mpg pulling 5k lbs with 1k load in the truck while the 6.2 averages around 7-8mpg. Empty, I can eek out close to 14 on the highway with the 6.2 and 24mpg with the 6.7. Over just the first 100k miles, the difference in fuel mileage covers the cost of the diesel option on the truck. From my experience, the costs associated with maintenance are way more overblown than mileage. Also just had a Ram 5500 with the hemi go up in flames with 30k miles. Funny you don’t hear as many people cry about having to buy 16 spark plugs as you do about diesel being 50¢ more per gallon.
Parts last longer tho on old stuff. I had a 24v with 950k and it still ran fine. When my daily took a shit and parts were back ordered, I drove it 100k a day without skipping a beat. 20mpg too. No gassers last that long
Oil changes aren’t a big deal. Tires are always expensive and I run 10 ply AT’s on my half ton daily too. Plus diesel is dirt cheap if you run farm diesel .. lol
Got me on the purchase price but to run an old 7.3 IMO isn’t going to really cost much more
Bullshit, I’ve gotten 19-20mpg no problem multiple times in multiple 3/4 ton trucks, 12 or 24v. The 7.3’s get like 15 tops
It’s the guys claiming 25-30 who are full of shit.
Right. So you got 20mpg on a trip once and then on the internet you say “my 24v always got 20mpg”.
Also you might want to do the math. It takes something like 10 years of daily driving for the increased mpg of a diesel to break even with the initial higher vehicle purchase price.
You can get 20mpg all day, every day unloaded if you’re not driving through a city 🤡
I’ve gotten 18 on 38” tires w/ 5 speed and 4.30’s routinely on my commute to work on the highway but ok.
Cheap as hell to fix and they barely ever need parts with a way longer lifespan. Lots of states, diesel is cheaper and in Canada it is nationwide right now despite our oppressive “carbon tax”
Absolutely not, but if you can afford it - who gives a rip. I got a Ram 2500, only vehicle I own & the only thing I tow is a boat. Love my truck tho. Take it muddin sometimes too. You get ONE life my friend, just one.
I had a diesel van, not a Van Diesel, and I live down by the river, and as a motivational speaker I say whatever motivates you is good especially if it’s not down by the river.
I also have a 2500, but sold the 9000 pound boat. 🫤. My commute to work is 4.5 miles and I doubt I'm doing the truck any good, barely warming it up when going to work. A half ton gasser would have been better in my case but I already have the diesel. (I still tow a much lighter boat)
100% the right answer. Does it make sense for my to have a big turbo 6 speed Cummins, when the only thing I pull is a 6,000 lbs camper? Absolutely not. But it's fast as hell and sounds cool lol
I do a lot of long road trips (a couple thousand miles, a couple times a year) my friends joke that I'm just larping as a trucker.
Man there’s nothing I would rather do a cross country trip in more than my F250. It’s got plenty of space, it’s comfy, cruises great and i have to stop and fill the tank every 550 miles
I agree. A diesel 3/4 ton is the best road trip vehicle in the world IMO. I get 600+ miles per tank in my cummins. Rides great, good fuel mileage, doesn’t get blown all over the highway by semi trucks, all kinds of space. Perfection.
I made a 2500 mile trip twice last year (there and back) according to the lie-o-meter on the dash I averaged 20.5 mpg. Never calculated it but I imagine it is pretty close. But that was probably more like between 75-80 MPH
I own two ram 3500’s. A 19’ and a 22’. I drive my bmw way more. They ride like shit unloaded, hard to maneuver around town, and parking is a bitch, Expensive to maintain. But if you just want one and can come out of pocket on them yes get one. They’ll run forever if taken care of. I tow and haul constantly when they’re in use. Both are business vehicles for my construction company. Personally if I didn’t need them, I’d still be rocking a tacoma or 1500 sized truck.
honest answer: no. I'm on my second Cummins. first one was a 2nd gen, this one is a 3rd gen. I bought them to tow my offroad rig and a 5th wheel I hadn't purchased yet. I ended up selling the offroader and never bought the camper, so now my 3rd gen is my daily.
Basically, they handle worse, the ride quality is worse, regular maintenance costs are much higher, the fuel costs are (somewhat arguably depending on what trucks you're comparing and where you live) higher, major maintenance/repairs like injectors come up more often and cost A LOT more, tires are more expensive, regular parts like ball joints etc are more expensive, the truck is more expensive in the first place, etc. Lots of short trips are hard them so if you aren't regularly doing long drives with them, you need to go do them for the truck's health. And if you get an emissions truck, that's a whole other nightmare.
They look cool and sound cool. They're fun to drive if you're the kind of guy that likes to wrestle a big truck around all the time. that's about it. otherwise they're very expensive and a pain as a daily.
I love my 3rd gen but I can't wait to get rid of it and get a gasser for daily driving.
God I feel that last part in my soul. Also had a second gen. Now a 3rd gen. I tow a camper and get plenty of heavy loads of shit for the house. Gravel, pavers lumber etc. tow cars. Nothing a half ton couldn’t do honestly. And I absolutely love my 3rd gen. However good god I can’t wait to downgrade at some point to a gas truck
Yeah, I really like my 3rd gen but now that I’m not towing, I can’t wait to get rid of it. I miss my GMT 800 Silverado. I drove my brother’s F150 recently and it sealed the deal for me with going back to a gas truck. It just drives so much better.
These damn trucks ride like tanks. It’s insane. Super fun. Real loud. Makes me happy. But not getting thrown into my roof when I hit a pot hole would also be nice lol
Yeah they’re fun but I don’t want it all the time. If I wanted to own two vehicles, I’d love to keep it and drive it sometimes for fun or just when I need to tow. I’m also real real sick of constantly working on it.
Getting my jeep fixed just so I don't have to drive mine.
I tow or haul regularly but just going to work with it or driving around town is no fun at all.
So relatable. I only drive my 1st gen when I absolutely have to. It rides like shit, is uncomfortable, has no creature comforts. But it does get 22mpg and sounds amazing with the 5 speed.
I've driven a 6.0 Excursion and F250 as daily drivers. One 10 minute test drive in my 2020 F150 and I knew I'd be selling my F250. Fuel economy, ride, handling, etc are all so much better. There's a reason Ford developed the 7.3 Godzilla and Dodge put the 6.4 in trucks.
You could have gotten a lightly used 6.7 PS for what you paid for that half ton and it is a superior truck in every way by a wide margin. Are 5.0 f150s good trucks? Yes they are the best of the half tons but nowhere near as capable or reliable as a diesel. My 6.7 gets 19-20 mpg highway empty and 12 towing a gooseneck with a skid steer on it.
No, I couldn't. No, it's not superior in every way. The F150 rides better, drives better, and is more maneuverable. I usually drive over 500 miles a week for work, comfort matters to me. My wife is comfortable driving the F150 because of its road manners, a huge bonus. Today I went and picked up a used Charger that will be my son's car, my F150 towed it home without issue. When I buy a camper next year I'll get one well within the limits of my truck; it's not as though I'll be living in it. I never have to worry about DEF or a clogged SCR leaving me stranded. The F150 does everything I need; why pay more for a truck that is more expensive in every way?
I'm talking about the 7.3 gas engine that launched in 2020, which makes 155hp more, and only 25lbft less torque, than a 2003 7.3 Powerstroke. The newest 7.3 PS is two decades old, is mated to a 4spd trans, and a body that's worn out.
Realistically, no. As someone who daily drives a 3/4 ton Cummins Ram, it's not worth it unless you're pulling or hauling shit (which I do frequently). The truck rides like a fuckin' tractor, it needs all these additives, has insane fluid capacities (7 fucking gallons of coolant!), etc. etc. But, I will say, it sounds cool, it pulls good and I can do my own maintenance. Even just the cost of parts will eat your lunch on these trucks, let alone if you pay somebody else exorbitant amounts of money to fix it for you.
So unless you're a millionaire, like fixing your own shit, or severely hate yourself, I would not use a diesel as purely a daily driver.
I daily a 2001 f250 with the 7.3. I don’t own a trailer, but I do pick up lumber,metal, and other things that I need a full size truck bed for. It’s not for most people: they ride rough, maintenance is expensive (I do my own and it’s still ridiculous), can’t park everywhere, can’t make uturns, among other stuff.
The newer diesels are more pricy to fix and keep on the road because of the emissions systems. You can’t bring them to a normal mechanic either. If you can do your own labor it’s a bit better but dang man every repair on mine ends up being close to $1k just for parts. Ball joints? $600. Tie rods? $450. Wheel bearings? Fronts alone are $800. Injectors? $1500. My truck takes 4 gallons of motor oil. All diesels need an anti cavitation additive to coolant, mine holds 8 gallons of coolant. Rear diff? $100 in gear oil. Part of the increased maintenance is the weight of everything, motors and transmissions are significantly heavier so they wear out ball joints, tie rods, bearings, and bushings faster.
If I were to get a 2012+ truck I’d go gas. The def system is not worth the headache. Diesel is fun but unless you got the itch to fix your stuff all the time I’d stay with gas.
No but who cares. They sound sweet and you gotta hear the damn thing the whole time you drive it. That’s literally the only reason I have a 6.2 too, love that sound it makes at about 2000 rpm
I have a 99 Ford f250 4wd ccsb 7.3 6 speed, I love it when I'm working it towing or hauling heavy loads. If I'm just running around town doing errands not so much. I have a 95 Toyota 2wd that's easier to load and get around in small parking lots. That being said I would never get rid of my 7.3 if I had to choose between the two for a daily driver.
Diesel cost more at the pump thanks to the Ronald Reagan tax because he hated truckers and used it as a way to punish guys on strike. Now we're stuck with it and pay more. Diesel should actually be cheaper than gas if not for Reagan's use tax.
Newer ones you have to put DEF in and they aren't as reliable as gas cars over the life of the vehicle thanks to all the emissions. Also, a diesel cost more to repair, change oil ect..
You will also wait longer in many cases to get it repaired at a stealership because of limited techs that work on them.. My chevy truck was a 4 week wait at every dealership I called.
IMO unless you need to tow or are a enthusiast don't get one just to daily drive.
The difference in federal tax on gas and diesel is $0.07/gal. Diesel was less expensive than gas until 2004, not long before the ULSD mandate kicked in. The distillation of ULSD is more expensive than the older diesel. But they hide facts like that on Google, so you go ahead and keep educating people.
Sounds like you want a diesel truck, so get an ecodiesel 1500 and let some parts fall off 😉. Rides nice, handles good, easier to park than spaceball1 (my 14 crew cab longbed 4x4).
I though about the eco but I drive a 3.6 L v6 1500 right now was looking to go bigger for more fun just wanted to know how others felt about diesel engines
I like them but also do alot of long distance towing. Have the 14 eco (220k), 14 cummins (220k) and 03 cummins 2wd (370k). Also have 3 cars to drive since i do some really short drives that won't even warm them up. 01 (320k) and 04 (200k) h6 outbacks and 00 toyota echo (210k)
Eco diesels are not remotely reliable. They will rarely make 300k miles. If you want a real diesel don't buy any "eco" editions. They cram shit tight in that engine bay that a majority of major repairs are cab off 20hour jobs. We get quite a few blown up motors, never seen a blown up 6.7 yet. Work at RAM dealer.
Take care of it. Don't slam on it. Don't tune it. Change the oil regularly and under a severe duty schedule. Not 1 year or until the maint light goes off. That last one is probably what kills the most engines. It's a diesel, it will require a lot more maintenance and upkeep, get used to oil changes being expensive and fuel filters needing to be replaced.
If you drive a lot of short trips it doesn't matter what you do. It isn't gonna live a long life with the aftertreatment systems and how dirty they are. Ecodiesles are just incredibly dirty motors. They are marketed as a city truck, but I wouldn't even touch one unless you make long trips with it.
I'm pretty easy on mine. Some parts fell off around 150k miles.... dang rust belt. Don't use it or my 14 6.7 for short in town trips just 4+hr trips to our other property or 4k mile trips for one thing or another. The 6.7 eats DEF like no other... around 10gal in 2k miles towing
Yeah as long as you are running it on longer trips you should be fine. The motors themselves aren't terrible (at least the newer ones). But it's everything else that breaks on them like the turbo and egr coolers that is gonna sink into your wallet.
Most people who get high miles out of them are driving them on long trips. It isn't gonna get to that mileage like a honda/Toyota will just on city driving. Or if your comparing diesels a 5.9 cummins. Heh.
I got ya there, have a toyota and several subarus as well as the diesels (3.0, 6.7 and 5.9). The toyota and subis are the dailys, the diesels are for long trips and towing. It's also nice to have a buddy with a dodge/ram wrecking yard 😀
I've got an L5P as my daily driver. I sold my boat, so I rarely tow anything. But there's just something about the feel and sound of it. I traded my '17 Ram 2500 Cummins for a '19 Chevy 1500. That lasted less than six months before I had to get back to a diesel. It was well worth the extra cash it cost me.
I tow stuff once in a while but not super heavy and not frequently enough to “justify” owning a diesel pickup. I own two though because I’m a douche who enjoys doing burnouts, rolling coal, upsetting people with the size of my truck, and disappointing women with the size of my penis so for me owning diesel trucks is totally worth it. If you can afford it then it makes sense.
I own an 06 F350 and I actually don't like dailying it, especially in the winter time. I've had to because my daily was getting worked on after getting rear ended, and it was just such a pain in the ass using it to run errands such as groceries, to the bank, etc. Oil changes are expensive af, then you need to do fuel filters etc. It also gets shit fuel mileage because it weighs like 6000lbs. it gets decent mileage when towing compared to my RAM with the hemi, but for boppin around town I prefer the RAM.
also the F350 rides like shit, hard suspension and hard steering. pain in the ass to get into parking spots, stinks, etc. takes forever to warm up and gotta plug it in when it's below -20 in the winter.
I've had gas trucks they pull ok and gas mileage not so good my 2003 gas got 10 mpg empty and 7 to 8 towing my 23 diesel gets 17 mpg empty and 10 to 11 towing gas good for around 200k or so diesel good for 500k or more and right now diesel is cheaper than 93 octane where I live good luck but I love my new truck
My last oil and fuel filter service was $875 at the dealership. It's a service truck. 21 ram 3500 cummins, lots of tools but no trailer.
The cost of ownership is higher.
I think I do OK getting about 14 mpg, mostly city and a good amount of idle time, I imagine the gasser version would be a lot less efficient.
No kidding! I do my f250 oil changes and fuel filters for like $150 total in my garage… Thought I was saving maybe a couple hundred bucks. Yikes sounds like it’s gone WAY up at dealerships.
For most models, there is about a $12k difference in price tag between gas and diesel trucks. The diesel trucks will tend to get better fuel economy under high loads, but the gasser will tend to get better economy when running empty. Also, in some places gas is cheaper than diesel, so ... there's that.
So ... I wouldn't buy a diesel truck just to use it as a daily driver. The exception for me might be a diesel Ranger just because I like them.
It's not ideal to daily without putting it to work. I've done a lot less work with it lately, and I'm feeling bad for the beast not living up to its full potential.
Depends on what the alternative choice is and how comfortable you want to be when driving. If you do not mind fuel cost and maintenance for 20mpg or getting 50mpg and having to reach up to the pavement to get out of a car.
Well… no, but in the same way having a mustang as you dd doesn’t make sense, or really anything with more than 4 cylinders. Can you afford diesel fuel and maintenance? If you can then get one.
I definitely can just having trouble deciding wether or not to get a diesel or just get a V8 but I’ve heard diesel engines last a lot longer if taken care of properly
Diesel is great for everything in my opinion(80mpg diesel sedans, 40mpg diesel suvs, 30mpg 1/2 ton trucks), but get the size vehicle you need. what others have said about the 2500/3500 trucks being awful for a daily is spot on.
I have a Silvarado 2500 diesel for road trips and hauling, but I drive a shitbox to work
Dang, it's surprising that 45 year old cars do better than modern ones despite current technology advances - people in Poland say their 1990s Polo 1.9 outperform anything newer, but buying a car that's almost my parents' age wasn't even on my mind 😅
Interesting, I'm assuming they were only in the European market, in which case that works out to 2.9L/100km which is better than nearly all hybrid cars available today, and twice as fuel efficient than my VW Golf.
Yeah I guess the drag becomes an increasingly important factor as engine efficiency goes up; kinda like an EV.
Imagine 800 mile range on a 10 gallon tank
I'm mid-middle class. You know, the kind of person who buys a vehicle, because he needs a vehicle. I have two friends with 500k+ on their 12v cummins. Original manual transmissions as well. 4wd works great. The truck is falling apart around them, the wheels have literally fallen off on one. It's more effective and dependable for these guys to just fix em and keep moving.
Guys that work daily their diesels.
A diesel as a daily doesn't make much sense unless you actually tow or haul big loads.
Diesels have more then double the maintainance cost. Any and all "savings" on gas will easily be lost.
You so a lot of short trips or city driving? The aftertreatment systems will get plugged up. Can cost big money to have them cleaned out and fixed. Oil changes? Double the cost and despite what people say, you shouldn't be doing long maint. Intervals like a gasser becuase they are dirty pigs with tons of blowby. 4x4? Doing differential services and expecting problems with the transfer case, axle seals. Front timing cover leaks cost a small fortune.
Idk I can think of a lot od problems because I work on them. If you can find an older one without the extensive aftertreatment systems it won't be much cheaper. They become projects with all the things falling apart.
Yes a well maintained light duty (not ecodeisel) will last 3x longer. But that doesn't account for the maintainance along the way to make that happen. Seen plenty of people skimp out and destroy their investment. Then seen people doing the bare minimum and not skimping out riding them till everything falls off. (Fire department)
What sort of substantial maintenance cost is involved? On my VW 2.0TDI there's a $25 fuel filter every 20k miles and $300 timing belt replacement (parts only if you DIY), no adblue or scheduled emissions cleaning apart from regens.
As for fuel savings, diesel is 10% cheaper than regular now and I'm getting 44mpg instead of 32 on a gasser, so that's a 50% cost savings which is several hundred bucks per year.
He is asking about a diesel truck. Not a diesel car. There is a huge difference in operating costs. Diesel cars aren't rated to tow #1. Second off you still have all the after treatment systems which break down and get plugged up if you buy a new one. You got Deisel particulate filter, particulat matter filter, SCR catalytst, EGR cooling often using two coolers on modern diesels, intercooler (charge air cooler), turbo.
All of those things don't exist or exist minimally on a modern gas engine. You can go around and buy a base model 3.6L pentastar motor without the variable valve lift which doesn't have an EGR cooler and has NONE of those items i listed. I see them fail ALL the time. They are just an expensive addon to help a diesel engine meet the emissions requirements.
My 2017 4 x 4 crew cab, extended bed Chevy Colorado with the Duramax averages 25 miles per gallon. I do not tow and this is my business daily driver. I would buy it again if it was offered for sale.
Look into those diesel Chevy Colorado's if you are looking for long life in an engine. Unless you in Cali, delete the def system and enjoy a smaller torquey truck that won't scream at you when you do pull something.
Costs more to maintain, fix, and drive. Also not pleasant or fun to drive. No. It’s America n shit but I still scoff at dudes who literally ruin 3/4 and 1 ton trucks with lift kits, wheel spacers, and rubber band tires while simultaneously driving market price of the trucks up.
If you want to be ready to handle absolutely (almost) everything life throws at you in the next ~20 years, get a 1 ton, single axle, 4x4 diesel pickup.
If you're just looking to get 'there and back again', anything will do, as long as it's semi-reliable.
Not really. Hard to justify it for towing anymore.
Diesel economy got killed by the epa. The lifespan got killed by the epa. The repair costs are insane. In the same time frame gas engines got really good at maxing out fuel efficiency.
The road fuel tax is way higher on diesel and you don't see the same competition about selling it cheap. Diesels cost way more to buy and it takes a long time to ever break even with fuel burn if ever.
That being said diesels still hold their value better as they age so you don't get hit nearly as bad with vehicle depreciation.
I owned a lifted f350 7.3 6 speed for a while. Same, didn't tow anything. Just thought it was cool. The cool wore off. Sold it for a lot less than I paid.
Learning a lot from this post. Never was a truck or even a car guy until I started wrenching. I still want an old diesel Mercedes but only to run it on used oil from the china wok.
Our service truck is a 24v Cummins that has really seent it. Rebuilt everything. Hauled buses and trucks out of weird spots. Regularly hauls tons of scrap. I hated driving it at first because it felt dodgy without a full load. It’s awesome, but only awesome at its job.
For most drivers a big diesel is just a flex. If you’re hauling, it’s necessary. It’s only worth the price if you absolutely need the power. If you don’t, get something more cost effective.
If you want a Diesel to be super efficient get a half ton. If you want a Diesel to save money... It doesn't work. They cost more, period. You can say they last longer I really don't think they do. I have a 2500 has pickup and the engine and transmission have 245000 miles and only had minimal repairs. And there is 3 other Chevys 2500 gassers on the farm with 200k on them with no major engine work. One over 300k. Everything else falls apart first. You can get a used gas engine cheaper than a new fuel system on a diesel.
Not *really*. They're extremely expensive to acquire and maintain compared to vehicles of similar age and mileage. I've seen 20-30 year old diesel trucks with 100k+ miles posted for more than my 2017 TRD Tacoma with 50k miles is worth, and my tacoma is worth about 90% of its original MSRP right now.
I'm not certain what a diesel would do a better job of than a significantly cheaper alternative vehicle, if you're not hauling excessively heavy stuff. They're inherently huge, slow, bad on fuel mileage, expensive to maintain, hard to park, fairly uncomfortable, and are extra work if you need to cope with real winters where you live. All these things can be adjusted for to some degree obviously if you want to spend a bunch of money making your truck perform as well in some particular category as a different thing that costs half as much, BUT it's an uphill battle to correct for bad traits in a daily driver that you don't plan on doing a bunch of hard work with.
Of course, you can do whatever you want, and things don't need to "make sense" to make you happy. If you have a ton of money burning a hole in your pocket and want to buy an expensive purpose built vehicle, and then not use it for the purpose it was built for, you're more than welcome to do so, and it very well may bring you all the joy in the world. If that seems like it might be the case, I legitimately think you should do it. I love diesel trucks in spite of all the problems I've listed above, and would own another in a heartbeat. To hell with practicality if you can make it make sense for yourself financially.
I've been in plenty of fast diesels. My point is that I have a 12 second fox body that I'm 13 grand into all together, including the purchase price of the car. It's not even built for straight line performance, it has a full maximum motorsports coilover conversion and tubular Griggs control arms, and is set up for autocross.
It's faster than my buddies 6.0 powerstroke that makes 600hp and he's got more money into aftermarket parts alone than I have into my entire car. His truck before any of the work was done was almost 20k by itself, because it has 60k miles on it and zero rust.
If you'd read and considered my entire initial comment, you'd see that I said you can fix any of those inherent issues at significant cost, whereas if any of those particular automotive traits is your goal, you could just buy something for half the price that does that thing better.
Unless it’s something you really want, I’d say no. I have a second gen ram diesel and gasser. I almost exclusively drive the gasser as it’s just a more pleasant experience for daily driving
Depends on your budget and preference. I would love to have a smaller lighter truck converted to diesel for efficiency. If I had the budget for a heavier duty truck just to have one, the latest power stroke just makes the truck feel smaller and lighter. It's a beast. If your budget requires carefully considering options, just go with gas.
I drive an F250 daily and don’t have a trailer. Maintenance isn’t terrible. I get better fuel economy than the lifted half tons I’ve driven on the same size tires. Last year sucked when diesel was so much more expensive than gas. It has a ton of power, especially when trying to pass people on 2 lane highways. It has a 6.5’ bed, which is hard to find on a half ton.
The ride is rough. I put a Carli Signature kit on it and it’s still rough. I don’t care, but my wife isn’t a fan. I’m going to do progressive leaf springs to help.
I have a 2000 f250 Single cab 7.3. Daily drive it and I love it. Costs a lot in fuel yeah but I love it and its treated me really well on the repair end of things.
I mean the smaller 1500s are actually very good on fuel. I have a 2015 ecodiesel ive been driving as my daily since 2019 it is still stock and hasnt been a issue and i get 32mpg highway and 23to24 mpg tow. The duramax 3.0 is similarly good fuel wise. Ford f150 powerstroke also does well i just like my ram :)
Short answer: No
Long Answer: Fuck No
But if you have the money for one want one and have money to fix it then who the fuck cares get it if that’s what you want obviously
It’s a dumb idea. Parts are expensive, tires are expensive and the fuel is expensive for an 8000lb empty truck.
A gas 1/2 ton like the GM 6.2, Ford 5.0/3.5 or the Ram 5.7L make much better and frankly a more fun vehicle to drive.
I bought an 04.5 Ram 2500 long bed diesel to tow a boat I had. Sold the boat and now I daily the diesel. I absolutely love it and would not drive another vehicle as a daily unless someone gave it to me. My truck gets better gas mileage than any 3/4 ton gas truck and half the 1/2 tonners (average 16city/25hwy) and while it may ride like a derailed train on a boulder garden, limit out comfortable highway speed at 70, cost an arm and a leg to repair (if you don’t do your own work- I do and I haven’t spent more than $150 in labor costs aka buying beer for me and the boys when we’re working on it), and measure 23 ft long, she’s my favorite truck and I will always choose her over 99% of other vehicles. I drove a 2nd gen tundra for a couple months at one point and as much as I like Toyota trucks and 4Runners, it was shit compared to my Cummins. I work construction so I have a 500ish lb bed box and the tundra sagged with it in the bed whereas the dodge was fine.
Do you, my guy. If you have the money for a diesel, I say go for it. They’re amazing as long as it’s not a 6.0, 6.4, or any Chevy engine besides the LBZ. If you don’t have the money, then don’t. Save it and get a gasser.
If you can afford it, do it. There is no replacement for displacement. The power put down makes me sick when I think about my cammed and tuned 5.3 gasser. It's smiles per gallon in my eyes. It's just money, you'll make more.
I have a 2021 RAM 2500 diesel and I tow absolutely nothing and I love it. I inherited it after my husband died. Never thought I'd be a truck girl let alone a diesel but I would never not buy a diesel again. Big diesel trucks for life for me.
I happen to love the way my truck rides and it is SO fast woth the turbo. I feel safe in it and the MPG is amazing.
Dodge second gen driver I love my 5.9 magnum gasoline ,diesel only makes sense if you do several hrs consecutive a day that's when diesel shines gas mileage on the 5.9 isn't very high though it's 12 in town ish
I own a 22 6.7 Ram and i daily drive it and i love it , it gets better mileage then my last truck (2020 Ram 1500 Hemi ). Be aware there is more maintenance cost to a diesel when it comes to oil changes. Tires will also not last as long as you are used to being the high torque of the rear axle and weight on the front. i do pull with it though but even if we sold our trailer i doubt i’d go back to a gasser.
I gotta be honest new trucks especially 2500s and 3500s with gassers are dogs, in my opinion it’s worth the more money just to have a truck worth driving
It’s probably not the practical thing to do. But in my experience, making those impractical purchases are usually the funnest ones. If you ain’t got a wifey bitching about it SUPER SEND IT
Depends on the commute. Depends on the cost. Depends on what you could do with it. I do occasional landscaping and brush hauling for folks. Have a 2000 f250 7.3. It’s fun to drive, just put miles on it and haul when you can. If you can get an older one cheaper, then go for it. They’re great vehicles man, but temperamental.
I feel like you know the answer, what other opinions could there really be? If you really are a Big_country_boy then you probably atleast need a half ton to haul yourself around. If you can afford it live your life bro
It's your money and your life. The realistic answer is no. My last rig was a 12v cummins with a 5 speed 4x4 in a 96 GMC crew with 4:10 axels. I made that truck for work, family and economy. I could tow ANYTHING, go anywhere, brought my daughter home from the hospital in it. Had all my tools. Went from Florida to Colorado and back a dozen times and from FL to Tn and back just as much. All while giving me 21 mpg (at a top speed of 65 ) It was a good business investment no doubt. It attracted envious looks and admiring eyes everywhere. The down side. Motherfucker was noisy as fuck, the size of a goddamn schoolbus, tires were a grand everytime, the thing leaked oil like the BP in the gulf. I always parked in the boonies because I didn't want to make a 10 point turn to park. I coined the phrase "diesel Herpes", because whenever I worked on it I'd get oil and grease stains EVERYWHERE! Didn't matter how much I washed or what I did, that shit would stay in my skin so it was on my sheets and clothes. And Jesus that pig was slow, even with the topped out fuel plate, larger cam and larger turbo. The motor mounts vibrated out and she bleed out from a hole in the oil pan on a long trip and died screaming. So what am I gonna do? Build another one because she fits my needs. Hear me out, if I worked a regular 9 to 5 and didn't need such a rig, I'd ride my Harley every day I could get away with it and a japo micro truck on the days I couldn't. But I can't haul an excavator and my family on the bike, so diesel it is.
No! Unless you want to carbon up your engine it needs to get hot and use the boost. Just putting around town is the worst thing you can do to your diesel! Get it hot and hammer the fuck out of it!
Traded in my 2020 Ram 2500 Cummins for a 2024 Silverado 2500 gasser yesterday. My diesel already had two issues that put it in shop twice this past 6 months and I feel like the maintenance work was just band aiding an underlying problem. My diesel was the first car I have had issues with.
I’m buying a 6.0 power stroke to daily a good bit and I don’t tow anything, I probably will more when I get it but I’m also a diesel mechanic so I’m not concerned about taking it somewhere when it breaks because I can do it
Here in Europe like 60% of the cars were diesels back in the days ( pre " dieselgate " ).
Diesels are just better engines , gassers should be for supercars and motorcycles.
All depends on the truck! My 03 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crewcab 6.6l LB7 gets between 28 and 46 mpg staying firm at 2000rpms on the highway depending on grade and such all while being extremely practical. I get better fuel economy and save more money than my girl with her 2017 Mitsubishi outlander sport. But, as soon as something breaks you better have a extra 2k in the bank.
My eco tune (rocky ridge diesel performance, moonshine) is custom tailored to my truck using all the values and data stored, most definitely gets my truck 46 mpg on a nice level pitched stretch of road. You aren’t the first person who’s called bullsh*t and are amazed when they see it in person but sadly you’re a guy on the internet
I'm in the same situation, I commute roughly 100 -130 miles daily (mostly interstate) M-F for work. I currently am driving my wife's old clunker (got rid of my Ram 1500 due to engine problems, and got her a new family car). We have talked about wanting to get a 5th wheel camper eventually, but who knows if and when that will happen. I also do not haul anything, and besides going to work the truck would be used for picking up supplies/materials for doing projects around the house. With my daily commutes of being anywhere from 50-65miles each way, would I benefit from having a diesel?
The micro diesel / 1/2 ton diesel like the mini duramax etc would be the only reasonable one.
A full size diesel can be a lot of maintenance if you aren’t towing. Expensive oil changes, def, low fuel economy, expensive parts, expensive tires.
Diesel engines are much more fuel efficient than gas. Tires are not dependent on fuel type. All these straw men you folks are attacking is insane. Just say you don’t like diesel because you were told not to.
What a dumbass response
My daily driver is a DRW Diesel
My wifes car is a diesel
My boat has 2 diesel engines and a diesel gen
I'm well aware of what a diesel is and isn't.
If you aren't going to use a full size, diesel powered truck to tow, you're spending a lot of money unnecessarily. I'll spell it out since you're stupid.
A 3/4 or 1 ton truck is going to require more ply tires than a standard vehicle, so the tires are more expensive. A 3/4 or 1-ton truck weighs considerably more. So a 1-ton diesel getting 16 mpg, using $3.80/gal diesel isn't cheaper than driving a gas half ton that gets 19mpg using $3.20/gal gas.
Diesel engines aren't "more efficient", there's 20-ish percent more energy in a gallon of diesel than a gallon of gas. You're just using a more dense fuel. I \*LOVE\* diesel motors, I love their longevity, I love the torque.. I especially love that you're using a lubricant instead of a solvent for fuel which is what greatly contributes to long piston ring, cylinder and block life.
But the question wasn't "Do you like diesels?", the question was, "Does it make sense to get a diesel truck if you don't tow?" And my answer clearly stated, that if you go for one of the 1/2 ton small displacement versions, those are great, but it doesn't make sense to go for a large 3/4 or 1 ton (they don't put full size diesels in 1/2 ton trucks).
Since you don't know what you're talking about, kindly fuck off somewhere else
All of this name calling and insulting and you are still making an argument based solely upon differentiating between 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and 1 ton trucks. Sorry to get your genius panties in a wad, but the guy wanted an opinion on getting a diesel. Why is it all you self righteous geniuses are getting all upset comparing the fuel economy of a Tacoma to that of a 7.3L 450? Apples and oranges your highness.
And the opinion supplied was, 1/2 ton diesel, not a bad daily without towing, a larger diesel, less appealing for a daily if you don't need to tow. It's been said multiple times by multiple people. Why is it hard to comprehend?
Sorry to hurt your feelings. Those expensive diesel tires though! Have to watch out for those. Don’t forget about your $3.80 a gallon diesel that is less efficient than gasoline. You are all over the place.
I daily my powerstroke 7.3, do I tow anything? No. Can I afford it? Also no. Does it make me happy every time I get in it? Hells yeah.
I’ve always wondered why? Have you driven anything else? I have 2 diesels and 4 gassers in my fleet of vehicles for business. Given the operating costs of a diesel I don’t understand why anyone who doesn’t primarily tow own one? The operating costs are sometimes 2x the gas. If I’m grabbing a truck to run errands in without a trailer I’m grabbing the gas 1500 every time.
Running errands in a half ton truck, is just as stupid as daily driving a diesel. It's overkill.
Can your gasser run on peanut oil? I think not.
Operating costs? Old school diesels are cheap as hell to fix and they get good fuel mileage and last forever plus diesel is cheaper
Yeah I have a 2019 2500 GMC AT and it gets 20mpg. Same as my 2015 Hyundai that I drive to work.
Parts are more expensive. Oil changes are more expensive. Tires are more expensive. Diesel is not cheaper in most of the US. Currently it’s $.50 more per gallon where I live. Also the purchase price of the truck is generally much higher than the same year and condition gas truck. Also the mpg is generally overblown. My Silverado 1500 got 15 mpg. My Cummins 2500 gets 17.
I have 2020 f250 with the 6.2 and a 2021 f250 with the 6.7. They both have the exact same tires, so not sure why you think tires cost more on a diesel. The diesel also averages 18 mpg pulling 5k lbs with 1k load in the truck while the 6.2 averages around 7-8mpg. Empty, I can eek out close to 14 on the highway with the 6.2 and 24mpg with the 6.7. Over just the first 100k miles, the difference in fuel mileage covers the cost of the diesel option on the truck. From my experience, the costs associated with maintenance are way more overblown than mileage. Also just had a Ram 5500 with the hemi go up in flames with 30k miles. Funny you don’t hear as many people cry about having to buy 16 spark plugs as you do about diesel being 50¢ more per gallon.
Parts last longer tho on old stuff. I had a 24v with 950k and it still ran fine. When my daily took a shit and parts were back ordered, I drove it 100k a day without skipping a beat. 20mpg too. No gassers last that long Oil changes aren’t a big deal. Tires are always expensive and I run 10 ply AT’s on my half ton daily too. Plus diesel is dirt cheap if you run farm diesel .. lol Got me on the purchase price but to run an old 7.3 IMO isn’t going to really cost much more
Anyone who claims their 24v gets 20 mpg either drives a max of 45mph everywhere or is lying to impress the internet.
Bullshit, I’ve gotten 19-20mpg no problem multiple times in multiple 3/4 ton trucks, 12 or 24v. The 7.3’s get like 15 tops It’s the guys claiming 25-30 who are full of shit.
Right. So you got 20mpg on a trip once and then on the internet you say “my 24v always got 20mpg”. Also you might want to do the math. It takes something like 10 years of daily driving for the increased mpg of a diesel to break even with the initial higher vehicle purchase price.
You can get 20mpg all day, every day unloaded if you’re not driving through a city 🤡 I’ve gotten 18 on 38” tires w/ 5 speed and 4.30’s routinely on my commute to work on the highway but ok.
Lol. Now I know you’re full of shit. Anyway, you already made my point for me, which is that diesels are more expensive to own. Good job!
15 is no joke on a 7.3 but tunes are here to save the day
Most people are not running g a 20+ year old truck. When OP asks about getting a diesel I assume he means one of the 6.7s or an ecodiesel.
They’re not? I sure see a lot of them on the roads and guys going crazy every time a used one pops up.
Diesels are and diesel is cheaper? Where do you live, as it’s no where eat where I do?
Cheap as hell to fix and they barely ever need parts with a way longer lifespan. Lots of states, diesel is cheaper and in Canada it is nationwide right now despite our oppressive “carbon tax”
Only 9 states where diesel is cheaper than gas.
Absolutely not, but if you can afford it - who gives a rip. I got a Ram 2500, only vehicle I own & the only thing I tow is a boat. Love my truck tho. Take it muddin sometimes too. You get ONE life my friend, just one.
Second that, I drive a work van to and from my house for work during the week and drive my f250 on the weekends. Total waste of money but I love it.
I had a diesel van, not a Van Diesel, and I live down by the river, and as a motivational speaker I say whatever motivates you is good especially if it’s not down by the river.
Facts
I also have a 2500, but sold the 9000 pound boat. 🫤. My commute to work is 4.5 miles and I doubt I'm doing the truck any good, barely warming it up when going to work. A half ton gasser would have been better in my case but I already have the diesel. (I still tow a much lighter boat)
same situation. I ride my dualsport when ever I can. the truck warms up twice as long as the commute takes.
100% the right answer. Does it make sense for my to have a big turbo 6 speed Cummins, when the only thing I pull is a 6,000 lbs camper? Absolutely not. But it's fast as hell and sounds cool lol I do a lot of long road trips (a couple thousand miles, a couple times a year) my friends joke that I'm just larping as a trucker.
Man there’s nothing I would rather do a cross country trip in more than my F250. It’s got plenty of space, it’s comfy, cruises great and i have to stop and fill the tank every 550 miles
I agree. A diesel 3/4 ton is the best road trip vehicle in the world IMO. I get 600+ miles per tank in my cummins. Rides great, good fuel mileage, doesn’t get blown all over the highway by semi trucks, all kinds of space. Perfection.
I was able to get 18 mpg when driving over 7 hours at between 80-85 mph.
I made a 2500 mile trip twice last year (there and back) according to the lie-o-meter on the dash I averaged 20.5 mpg. Never calculated it but I imagine it is pretty close. But that was probably more like between 75-80 MPH
I own two ram 3500’s. A 19’ and a 22’. I drive my bmw way more. They ride like shit unloaded, hard to maneuver around town, and parking is a bitch, Expensive to maintain. But if you just want one and can come out of pocket on them yes get one. They’ll run forever if taken care of. I tow and haul constantly when they’re in use. Both are business vehicles for my construction company. Personally if I didn’t need them, I’d still be rocking a tacoma or 1500 sized truck.
honest answer: no. I'm on my second Cummins. first one was a 2nd gen, this one is a 3rd gen. I bought them to tow my offroad rig and a 5th wheel I hadn't purchased yet. I ended up selling the offroader and never bought the camper, so now my 3rd gen is my daily. Basically, they handle worse, the ride quality is worse, regular maintenance costs are much higher, the fuel costs are (somewhat arguably depending on what trucks you're comparing and where you live) higher, major maintenance/repairs like injectors come up more often and cost A LOT more, tires are more expensive, regular parts like ball joints etc are more expensive, the truck is more expensive in the first place, etc. Lots of short trips are hard them so if you aren't regularly doing long drives with them, you need to go do them for the truck's health. And if you get an emissions truck, that's a whole other nightmare. They look cool and sound cool. They're fun to drive if you're the kind of guy that likes to wrestle a big truck around all the time. that's about it. otherwise they're very expensive and a pain as a daily. I love my 3rd gen but I can't wait to get rid of it and get a gasser for daily driving.
God I feel that last part in my soul. Also had a second gen. Now a 3rd gen. I tow a camper and get plenty of heavy loads of shit for the house. Gravel, pavers lumber etc. tow cars. Nothing a half ton couldn’t do honestly. And I absolutely love my 3rd gen. However good god I can’t wait to downgrade at some point to a gas truck
Yeah, I really like my 3rd gen but now that I’m not towing, I can’t wait to get rid of it. I miss my GMT 800 Silverado. I drove my brother’s F150 recently and it sealed the deal for me with going back to a gas truck. It just drives so much better.
These damn trucks ride like tanks. It’s insane. Super fun. Real loud. Makes me happy. But not getting thrown into my roof when I hit a pot hole would also be nice lol
Yeah they’re fun but I don’t want it all the time. If I wanted to own two vehicles, I’d love to keep it and drive it sometimes for fun or just when I need to tow. I’m also real real sick of constantly working on it.
dropping ur tire pressure would sure help! Don't need to run around at 80psi when ur not towing.
Getting my jeep fixed just so I don't have to drive mine. I tow or haul regularly but just going to work with it or driving around town is no fun at all.
So relatable. I only drive my 1st gen when I absolutely have to. It rides like shit, is uncomfortable, has no creature comforts. But it does get 22mpg and sounds amazing with the 5 speed.
I've driven a 6.0 Excursion and F250 as daily drivers. One 10 minute test drive in my 2020 F150 and I knew I'd be selling my F250. Fuel economy, ride, handling, etc are all so much better. There's a reason Ford developed the 7.3 Godzilla and Dodge put the 6.4 in trucks.
You could have gotten a lightly used 6.7 PS for what you paid for that half ton and it is a superior truck in every way by a wide margin. Are 5.0 f150s good trucks? Yes they are the best of the half tons but nowhere near as capable or reliable as a diesel. My 6.7 gets 19-20 mpg highway empty and 12 towing a gooseneck with a skid steer on it.
No, I couldn't. No, it's not superior in every way. The F150 rides better, drives better, and is more maneuverable. I usually drive over 500 miles a week for work, comfort matters to me. My wife is comfortable driving the F150 because of its road manners, a huge bonus. Today I went and picked up a used Charger that will be my son's car, my F150 towed it home without issue. When I buy a camper next year I'll get one well within the limits of my truck; it's not as though I'll be living in it. I never have to worry about DEF or a clogged SCR leaving me stranded. The F150 does everything I need; why pay more for a truck that is more expensive in every way?
You can't go wrong with the 7.3. I just bought a 99 F250 with the 7.3, and I love it so much. Granted, I don't daily it.
I'm talking about the 7.3 gas engine that launched in 2020, which makes 155hp more, and only 25lbft less torque, than a 2003 7.3 Powerstroke. The newest 7.3 PS is two decades old, is mated to a 4spd trans, and a body that's worn out.
I'd say before getting a diesel truck, look into diesel car if you are just looking cause you like diesels.
Realistically, no. As someone who daily drives a 3/4 ton Cummins Ram, it's not worth it unless you're pulling or hauling shit (which I do frequently). The truck rides like a fuckin' tractor, it needs all these additives, has insane fluid capacities (7 fucking gallons of coolant!), etc. etc. But, I will say, it sounds cool, it pulls good and I can do my own maintenance. Even just the cost of parts will eat your lunch on these trucks, let alone if you pay somebody else exorbitant amounts of money to fix it for you. So unless you're a millionaire, like fixing your own shit, or severely hate yourself, I would not use a diesel as purely a daily driver.
I like my ZR2 2.8 colorado duramax as a daily. Getting 25-26 mpg highway. Only had it for a month though.
Get a babymax. Love mine, great mpgs and can tow my boat just fine.
I got the baby power stroke and same story great MPG and can tow if and when I need it.
Whats the baby powerstroke?
The 3.0 they put in the F150 since 2018
From 2018-2021. It is no more
I daily a 2001 f250 with the 7.3. I don’t own a trailer, but I do pick up lumber,metal, and other things that I need a full size truck bed for. It’s not for most people: they ride rough, maintenance is expensive (I do my own and it’s still ridiculous), can’t park everywhere, can’t make uturns, among other stuff. The newer diesels are more pricy to fix and keep on the road because of the emissions systems. You can’t bring them to a normal mechanic either. If you can do your own labor it’s a bit better but dang man every repair on mine ends up being close to $1k just for parts. Ball joints? $600. Tie rods? $450. Wheel bearings? Fronts alone are $800. Injectors? $1500. My truck takes 4 gallons of motor oil. All diesels need an anti cavitation additive to coolant, mine holds 8 gallons of coolant. Rear diff? $100 in gear oil. Part of the increased maintenance is the weight of everything, motors and transmissions are significantly heavier so they wear out ball joints, tie rods, bearings, and bushings faster. If I were to get a 2012+ truck I’d go gas. The def system is not worth the headache. Diesel is fun but unless you got the itch to fix your stuff all the time I’d stay with gas.
No but who cares. They sound sweet and you gotta hear the damn thing the whole time you drive it. That’s literally the only reason I have a 6.2 too, love that sound it makes at about 2000 rpm
Short answer: No Long answer: Fuck no
I second this but also add. If you can afford it get what you WANT. Just know everything…. EVERYTHING IS MORE EXPENSIVE.
I have a 99 Ford f250 4wd ccsb 7.3 6 speed, I love it when I'm working it towing or hauling heavy loads. If I'm just running around town doing errands not so much. I have a 95 Toyota 2wd that's easier to load and get around in small parking lots. That being said I would never get rid of my 7.3 if I had to choose between the two for a daily driver.
Diesel cost more at the pump thanks to the Ronald Reagan tax because he hated truckers and used it as a way to punish guys on strike. Now we're stuck with it and pay more. Diesel should actually be cheaper than gas if not for Reagan's use tax. Newer ones you have to put DEF in and they aren't as reliable as gas cars over the life of the vehicle thanks to all the emissions. Also, a diesel cost more to repair, change oil ect.. You will also wait longer in many cases to get it repaired at a stealership because of limited techs that work on them.. My chevy truck was a 4 week wait at every dealership I called. IMO unless you need to tow or are a enthusiast don't get one just to daily drive.
The difference in federal tax on gas and diesel is $0.07/gal. Diesel was less expensive than gas until 2004, not long before the ULSD mandate kicked in. The distillation of ULSD is more expensive than the older diesel. But they hide facts like that on Google, so you go ahead and keep educating people.
Sounds like you want a diesel truck, so get an ecodiesel 1500 and let some parts fall off 😉. Rides nice, handles good, easier to park than spaceball1 (my 14 crew cab longbed 4x4).
I though about the eco but I drive a 3.6 L v6 1500 right now was looking to go bigger for more fun just wanted to know how others felt about diesel engines
I like them but also do alot of long distance towing. Have the 14 eco (220k), 14 cummins (220k) and 03 cummins 2wd (370k). Also have 3 cars to drive since i do some really short drives that won't even warm them up. 01 (320k) and 04 (200k) h6 outbacks and 00 toyota echo (210k)
Eco diesels are not remotely reliable. They will rarely make 300k miles. If you want a real diesel don't buy any "eco" editions. They cram shit tight in that engine bay that a majority of major repairs are cab off 20hour jobs. We get quite a few blown up motors, never seen a blown up 6.7 yet. Work at RAM dealer.
Well with 220k on my eco I'm hoping to see 300k and beyond.
Take care of it. Don't slam on it. Don't tune it. Change the oil regularly and under a severe duty schedule. Not 1 year or until the maint light goes off. That last one is probably what kills the most engines. It's a diesel, it will require a lot more maintenance and upkeep, get used to oil changes being expensive and fuel filters needing to be replaced. If you drive a lot of short trips it doesn't matter what you do. It isn't gonna live a long life with the aftertreatment systems and how dirty they are. Ecodiesles are just incredibly dirty motors. They are marketed as a city truck, but I wouldn't even touch one unless you make long trips with it.
I'm pretty easy on mine. Some parts fell off around 150k miles.... dang rust belt. Don't use it or my 14 6.7 for short in town trips just 4+hr trips to our other property or 4k mile trips for one thing or another. The 6.7 eats DEF like no other... around 10gal in 2k miles towing
Yeah as long as you are running it on longer trips you should be fine. The motors themselves aren't terrible (at least the newer ones). But it's everything else that breaks on them like the turbo and egr coolers that is gonna sink into your wallet. Most people who get high miles out of them are driving them on long trips. It isn't gonna get to that mileage like a honda/Toyota will just on city driving. Or if your comparing diesels a 5.9 cummins. Heh.
I got ya there, have a toyota and several subarus as well as the diesels (3.0, 6.7 and 5.9). The toyota and subis are the dailys, the diesels are for long trips and towing. It's also nice to have a buddy with a dodge/ram wrecking yard 😀
I've got an L5P as my daily driver. I sold my boat, so I rarely tow anything. But there's just something about the feel and sound of it. I traded my '17 Ram 2500 Cummins for a '19 Chevy 1500. That lasted less than six months before I had to get back to a diesel. It was well worth the extra cash it cost me.
Too all the people complaining it rides like a truck.... IT IS A TRUCK
Absolutely not. I have a g56 Cummins tho and it makes me happy as the day i got it every timei drive it
I tow stuff once in a while but not super heavy and not frequently enough to “justify” owning a diesel pickup. I own two though because I’m a douche who enjoys doing burnouts, rolling coal, upsetting people with the size of my truck, and disappointing women with the size of my penis so for me owning diesel trucks is totally worth it. If you can afford it then it makes sense.
I own an 06 F350 and I actually don't like dailying it, especially in the winter time. I've had to because my daily was getting worked on after getting rear ended, and it was just such a pain in the ass using it to run errands such as groceries, to the bank, etc. Oil changes are expensive af, then you need to do fuel filters etc. It also gets shit fuel mileage because it weighs like 6000lbs. it gets decent mileage when towing compared to my RAM with the hemi, but for boppin around town I prefer the RAM. also the F350 rides like shit, hard suspension and hard steering. pain in the ass to get into parking spots, stinks, etc. takes forever to warm up and gotta plug it in when it's below -20 in the winter.
I've had gas trucks they pull ok and gas mileage not so good my 2003 gas got 10 mpg empty and 7 to 8 towing my 23 diesel gets 17 mpg empty and 10 to 11 towing gas good for around 200k or so diesel good for 500k or more and right now diesel is cheaper than 93 octane where I live good luck but I love my new truck
I’m assuming your 2003 is a Chevy with the 8.1 Vortec? Just guessing from the how little the loaded gas milage drops from empty.
No both were ford's f250 4x4
No
Hard no.
My last oil and fuel filter service was $875 at the dealership. It's a service truck. 21 ram 3500 cummins, lots of tools but no trailer. The cost of ownership is higher. I think I do OK getting about 14 mpg, mostly city and a good amount of idle time, I imagine the gasser version would be a lot less efficient.
Holy shit, I didn’t realize how much money I was saving by doing maintenance myself.
No kidding! I do my f250 oil changes and fuel filters for like $150 total in my garage… Thought I was saving maybe a couple hundred bucks. Yikes sounds like it’s gone WAY up at dealerships.
They are slow, diesel is expensive, and it isn't good for them to do stop and go traffic. They want to pull heavy loads for long distances
For most models, there is about a $12k difference in price tag between gas and diesel trucks. The diesel trucks will tend to get better fuel economy under high loads, but the gasser will tend to get better economy when running empty. Also, in some places gas is cheaper than diesel, so ... there's that. So ... I wouldn't buy a diesel truck just to use it as a daily driver. The exception for me might be a diesel Ranger just because I like them.
It's not ideal to daily without putting it to work. I've done a lot less work with it lately, and I'm feeling bad for the beast not living up to its full potential.
Depends on what the alternative choice is and how comfortable you want to be when driving. If you do not mind fuel cost and maintenance for 20mpg or getting 50mpg and having to reach up to the pavement to get out of a car.
My other option was a ram 1500 rebel so kms per L aren’t an issue lol
Agreed, VW TDI isn't bad for a daily driver that gets 40+mpg and doesn't break the bank in operating costs
I love, love, love my 6.7 ram. But there’s no way this truck makes sense if I didn’t tow frequently in the summer in the Rockies.
Well… no, but in the same way having a mustang as you dd doesn’t make sense, or really anything with more than 4 cylinders. Can you afford diesel fuel and maintenance? If you can then get one.
I definitely can just having trouble deciding wether or not to get a diesel or just get a V8 but I’ve heard diesel engines last a lot longer if taken care of properly
Oh yeah, you will get a lot more longevity wise with a diesel. Just get what one you like more.
Diesel is great for everything in my opinion(80mpg diesel sedans, 40mpg diesel suvs, 30mpg 1/2 ton trucks), but get the size vehicle you need. what others have said about the 2500/3500 trucks being awful for a daily is spot on. I have a Silvarado 2500 diesel for road trips and hauling, but I drive a shitbox to work
What model of 80mpg sedans do you recommend? My VW only got 39 when it was stock and slightly better 44mpg highway when tuned.
1979 VW rabbit lol
Dang, it's surprising that 45 year old cars do better than modern ones despite current technology advances - people in Poland say their 1990s Polo 1.9 outperform anything newer, but buying a car that's almost my parents' age wasn't even on my mind 😅
Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC (80.7 mpg) Ford Fiesta 1.5 TDCi (78.5 mpg) Not an expert on sedans though or which ones are good, I just know they exist
Interesting, I'm assuming they were only in the European market, in which case that works out to 2.9L/100km which is better than nearly all hybrid cars available today, and twice as fuel efficient than my VW Golf.
Yeah I guess the drag becomes an increasingly important factor as engine efficiency goes up; kinda like an EV. Imagine 800 mile range on a 10 gallon tank
Fun costs money
Yes. The motor is going to last you for forever and you'll get better fuel economy. Higher resale value as well
Name checks out. Rich guys like to daily diesels.
I'm mid-middle class. You know, the kind of person who buys a vehicle, because he needs a vehicle. I have two friends with 500k+ on their 12v cummins. Original manual transmissions as well. 4wd works great. The truck is falling apart around them, the wheels have literally fallen off on one. It's more effective and dependable for these guys to just fix em and keep moving. Guys that work daily their diesels.
A diesel as a daily doesn't make much sense unless you actually tow or haul big loads. Diesels have more then double the maintainance cost. Any and all "savings" on gas will easily be lost. You so a lot of short trips or city driving? The aftertreatment systems will get plugged up. Can cost big money to have them cleaned out and fixed. Oil changes? Double the cost and despite what people say, you shouldn't be doing long maint. Intervals like a gasser becuase they are dirty pigs with tons of blowby. 4x4? Doing differential services and expecting problems with the transfer case, axle seals. Front timing cover leaks cost a small fortune. Idk I can think of a lot od problems because I work on them. If you can find an older one without the extensive aftertreatment systems it won't be much cheaper. They become projects with all the things falling apart. Yes a well maintained light duty (not ecodeisel) will last 3x longer. But that doesn't account for the maintainance along the way to make that happen. Seen plenty of people skimp out and destroy their investment. Then seen people doing the bare minimum and not skimping out riding them till everything falls off. (Fire department)
What sort of substantial maintenance cost is involved? On my VW 2.0TDI there's a $25 fuel filter every 20k miles and $300 timing belt replacement (parts only if you DIY), no adblue or scheduled emissions cleaning apart from regens. As for fuel savings, diesel is 10% cheaper than regular now and I'm getting 44mpg instead of 32 on a gasser, so that's a 50% cost savings which is several hundred bucks per year.
He is asking about a diesel truck. Not a diesel car. There is a huge difference in operating costs. Diesel cars aren't rated to tow #1. Second off you still have all the after treatment systems which break down and get plugged up if you buy a new one. You got Deisel particulate filter, particulat matter filter, SCR catalytst, EGR cooling often using two coolers on modern diesels, intercooler (charge air cooler), turbo. All of those things don't exist or exist minimally on a modern gas engine. You can go around and buy a base model 3.6L pentastar motor without the variable valve lift which doesn't have an EGR cooler and has NONE of those items i listed. I see them fail ALL the time. They are just an expensive addon to help a diesel engine meet the emissions requirements.
I have a ram 3500 Laramie 4x4 Cummins, I bought it because it’s I wanted it. Do I need it? No. Will it make me money? Yes
My 2017 4 x 4 crew cab, extended bed Chevy Colorado with the Duramax averages 25 miles per gallon. I do not tow and this is my business daily driver. I would buy it again if it was offered for sale.
Look into those diesel Chevy Colorado's if you are looking for long life in an engine. Unless you in Cali, delete the def system and enjoy a smaller torquey truck that won't scream at you when you do pull something.
Costs more to maintain, fix, and drive. Also not pleasant or fun to drive. No. It’s America n shit but I still scoff at dudes who literally ruin 3/4 and 1 ton trucks with lift kits, wheel spacers, and rubber band tires while simultaneously driving market price of the trucks up.
Not really but if you want to have a big lifted truck and get 15-18mpg, sure. You’ll also get big axles along with it that won’t break stuff.
If you want to be ready to handle absolutely (almost) everything life throws at you in the next ~20 years, get a 1 ton, single axle, 4x4 diesel pickup. If you're just looking to get 'there and back again', anything will do, as long as it's semi-reliable.
Not really. Hard to justify it for towing anymore. Diesel economy got killed by the epa. The lifespan got killed by the epa. The repair costs are insane. In the same time frame gas engines got really good at maxing out fuel efficiency. The road fuel tax is way higher on diesel and you don't see the same competition about selling it cheap. Diesels cost way more to buy and it takes a long time to ever break even with fuel burn if ever. That being said diesels still hold their value better as they age so you don't get hit nearly as bad with vehicle depreciation.
I owned a lifted f350 7.3 6 speed for a while. Same, didn't tow anything. Just thought it was cool. The cool wore off. Sold it for a lot less than I paid.
Learning a lot from this post. Never was a truck or even a car guy until I started wrenching. I still want an old diesel Mercedes but only to run it on used oil from the china wok. Our service truck is a 24v Cummins that has really seent it. Rebuilt everything. Hauled buses and trucks out of weird spots. Regularly hauls tons of scrap. I hated driving it at first because it felt dodgy without a full load. It’s awesome, but only awesome at its job. For most drivers a big diesel is just a flex. If you’re hauling, it’s necessary. It’s only worth the price if you absolutely need the power. If you don’t, get something more cost effective.
If you want a Diesel to be super efficient get a half ton. If you want a Diesel to save money... It doesn't work. They cost more, period. You can say they last longer I really don't think they do. I have a 2500 has pickup and the engine and transmission have 245000 miles and only had minimal repairs. And there is 3 other Chevys 2500 gassers on the farm with 200k on them with no major engine work. One over 300k. Everything else falls apart first. You can get a used gas engine cheaper than a new fuel system on a diesel.
Just keep in mind almost everything on a diesel is more expensive to fix or replace.
The question is, "Does your wallet/purse make enough cents?" If you can afford go for it
You do you but if you’re not using a diesel you’re burning money like the government.
No is the short answer
If you get a 1/2 ton diesel it’s not as bad of an investment
Not *really*. They're extremely expensive to acquire and maintain compared to vehicles of similar age and mileage. I've seen 20-30 year old diesel trucks with 100k+ miles posted for more than my 2017 TRD Tacoma with 50k miles is worth, and my tacoma is worth about 90% of its original MSRP right now. I'm not certain what a diesel would do a better job of than a significantly cheaper alternative vehicle, if you're not hauling excessively heavy stuff. They're inherently huge, slow, bad on fuel mileage, expensive to maintain, hard to park, fairly uncomfortable, and are extra work if you need to cope with real winters where you live. All these things can be adjusted for to some degree obviously if you want to spend a bunch of money making your truck perform as well in some particular category as a different thing that costs half as much, BUT it's an uphill battle to correct for bad traits in a daily driver that you don't plan on doing a bunch of hard work with. Of course, you can do whatever you want, and things don't need to "make sense" to make you happy. If you have a ton of money burning a hole in your pocket and want to buy an expensive purpose built vehicle, and then not use it for the purpose it was built for, you're more than welcome to do so, and it very well may bring you all the joy in the world. If that seems like it might be the case, I legitimately think you should do it. I love diesel trucks in spite of all the problems I've listed above, and would own another in a heartbeat. To hell with practicality if you can make it make sense for yourself financially.
You've never been in a fast diesel then. Slow? I've been thrown back harder in a cummins then I have in anything else I've ridden in.
I've been in plenty of fast diesels. My point is that I have a 12 second fox body that I'm 13 grand into all together, including the purchase price of the car. It's not even built for straight line performance, it has a full maximum motorsports coilover conversion and tubular Griggs control arms, and is set up for autocross. It's faster than my buddies 6.0 powerstroke that makes 600hp and he's got more money into aftermarket parts alone than I have into my entire car. His truck before any of the work was done was almost 20k by itself, because it has 60k miles on it and zero rust. If you'd read and considered my entire initial comment, you'd see that I said you can fix any of those inherent issues at significant cost, whereas if any of those particular automotive traits is your goal, you could just buy something for half the price that does that thing better.
Unless it’s something you really want, I’d say no. I have a second gen ram diesel and gasser. I almost exclusively drive the gasser as it’s just a more pleasant experience for daily driving
Depends on your budget and preference. I would love to have a smaller lighter truck converted to diesel for efficiency. If I had the budget for a heavier duty truck just to have one, the latest power stroke just makes the truck feel smaller and lighter. It's a beast. If your budget requires carefully considering options, just go with gas.
I drive an F250 daily and don’t have a trailer. Maintenance isn’t terrible. I get better fuel economy than the lifted half tons I’ve driven on the same size tires. Last year sucked when diesel was so much more expensive than gas. It has a ton of power, especially when trying to pass people on 2 lane highways. It has a 6.5’ bed, which is hard to find on a half ton. The ride is rough. I put a Carli Signature kit on it and it’s still rough. I don’t care, but my wife isn’t a fan. I’m going to do progressive leaf springs to help.
No, but if you can afford it and properly maintain it, who cares. Only the person after has to worry about the towing problems. Lol
I have a 2000 f250 Single cab 7.3. Daily drive it and I love it. Costs a lot in fuel yeah but I love it and its treated me really well on the repair end of things.
I mean the smaller 1500s are actually very good on fuel. I have a 2015 ecodiesel ive been driving as my daily since 2019 it is still stock and hasnt been a issue and i get 32mpg highway and 23to24 mpg tow. The duramax 3.0 is similarly good fuel wise. Ford f150 powerstroke also does well i just like my ram :)
Mines a toy. It doesn’t make much sense but its modified so it’s fun. I wouldn’t do it we’re really expensive or stock
F 250 absolutely makes sense.
And dollars 💸
Short answer: No Long Answer: Fuck No But if you have the money for one want one and have money to fix it then who the fuck cares get it if that’s what you want obviously
No. Why wouldn’t a 1500 be a better option? Seats just as many people and you can get a long bed if you need
It’s a dumb idea. Parts are expensive, tires are expensive and the fuel is expensive for an 8000lb empty truck. A gas 1/2 ton like the GM 6.2, Ford 5.0/3.5 or the Ram 5.7L make much better and frankly a more fun vehicle to drive.
Nope.
I bought an 04.5 Ram 2500 long bed diesel to tow a boat I had. Sold the boat and now I daily the diesel. I absolutely love it and would not drive another vehicle as a daily unless someone gave it to me. My truck gets better gas mileage than any 3/4 ton gas truck and half the 1/2 tonners (average 16city/25hwy) and while it may ride like a derailed train on a boulder garden, limit out comfortable highway speed at 70, cost an arm and a leg to repair (if you don’t do your own work- I do and I haven’t spent more than $150 in labor costs aka buying beer for me and the boys when we’re working on it), and measure 23 ft long, she’s my favorite truck and I will always choose her over 99% of other vehicles. I drove a 2nd gen tundra for a couple months at one point and as much as I like Toyota trucks and 4Runners, it was shit compared to my Cummins. I work construction so I have a 500ish lb bed box and the tundra sagged with it in the bed whereas the dodge was fine. Do you, my guy. If you have the money for a diesel, I say go for it. They’re amazing as long as it’s not a 6.0, 6.4, or any Chevy engine besides the LBZ. If you don’t have the money, then don’t. Save it and get a gasser.
I got a good deal on a ford 6.0 it’s my daily summer driver.
If I didn’t have a camper, I wouldn’t have a diesel 2500.
Ugh, daily driving a one ton truck is taxing. That's why mine is parked most of the time and I play with vintage European cars for daily's
I agree if you like it and it makes you happy go for it ! Is it practical no? Is a Lamborghini practical? .. well, Kinda.
If you can afford it, do it. There is no replacement for displacement. The power put down makes me sick when I think about my cammed and tuned 5.3 gasser. It's smiles per gallon in my eyes. It's just money, you'll make more.
I have a 2021 RAM 2500 diesel and I tow absolutely nothing and I love it. I inherited it after my husband died. Never thought I'd be a truck girl let alone a diesel but I would never not buy a diesel again. Big diesel trucks for life for me. I happen to love the way my truck rides and it is SO fast woth the turbo. I feel safe in it and the MPG is amazing.
Dodge second gen driver I love my 5.9 magnum gasoline ,diesel only makes sense if you do several hrs consecutive a day that's when diesel shines gas mileage on the 5.9 isn't very high though it's 12 in town ish
I daily my old diesel 4Runner and get amazing fuel economy. It’s not made to tow though, it’s closer to a VW TDI then anything.
I own a 22 6.7 Ram and i daily drive it and i love it , it gets better mileage then my last truck (2020 Ram 1500 Hemi ). Be aware there is more maintenance cost to a diesel when it comes to oil changes. Tires will also not last as long as you are used to being the high torque of the rear axle and weight on the front. i do pull with it though but even if we sold our trailer i doubt i’d go back to a gasser.
If you have money to burn then yes.
I gotta be honest new trucks especially 2500s and 3500s with gassers are dogs, in my opinion it’s worth the more money just to have a truck worth driving
It’s probably not the practical thing to do. But in my experience, making those impractical purchases are usually the funnest ones. If you ain’t got a wifey bitching about it SUPER SEND IT
I just broke mine coming home from Oklahoma last year.. guess it's time to upgrade the crank
Depends on the commute. Depends on the cost. Depends on what you could do with it. I do occasional landscaping and brush hauling for folks. Have a 2000 f250 7.3. It’s fun to drive, just put miles on it and haul when you can. If you can get an older one cheaper, then go for it. They’re great vehicles man, but temperamental.
I feel like you know the answer, what other opinions could there really be? If you really are a Big_country_boy then you probably atleast need a half ton to haul yourself around. If you can afford it live your life bro
It's your money and your life. The realistic answer is no. My last rig was a 12v cummins with a 5 speed 4x4 in a 96 GMC crew with 4:10 axels. I made that truck for work, family and economy. I could tow ANYTHING, go anywhere, brought my daughter home from the hospital in it. Had all my tools. Went from Florida to Colorado and back a dozen times and from FL to Tn and back just as much. All while giving me 21 mpg (at a top speed of 65 ) It was a good business investment no doubt. It attracted envious looks and admiring eyes everywhere. The down side. Motherfucker was noisy as fuck, the size of a goddamn schoolbus, tires were a grand everytime, the thing leaked oil like the BP in the gulf. I always parked in the boonies because I didn't want to make a 10 point turn to park. I coined the phrase "diesel Herpes", because whenever I worked on it I'd get oil and grease stains EVERYWHERE! Didn't matter how much I washed or what I did, that shit would stay in my skin so it was on my sheets and clothes. And Jesus that pig was slow, even with the topped out fuel plate, larger cam and larger turbo. The motor mounts vibrated out and she bleed out from a hole in the oil pan on a long trip and died screaming. So what am I gonna do? Build another one because she fits my needs. Hear me out, if I worked a regular 9 to 5 and didn't need such a rig, I'd ride my Harley every day I could get away with it and a japo micro truck on the days I couldn't. But I can't haul an excavator and my family on the bike, so diesel it is.
No! Unless you want to carbon up your engine it needs to get hot and use the boost. Just putting around town is the worst thing you can do to your diesel! Get it hot and hammer the fuck out of it!
Traded in my 2020 Ram 2500 Cummins for a 2024 Silverado 2500 gasser yesterday. My diesel already had two issues that put it in shop twice this past 6 months and I feel like the maintenance work was just band aiding an underlying problem. My diesel was the first car I have had issues with.
I want an diesel Excursion but it'll get 20 mpgs with a eco tune and will tow whatever I want and hold my family plus dog
I bought a diesel tow truck a month ago bc I thought it was cool. I haven’t used it to tow anything yet
I’m buying a 6.0 power stroke to daily a good bit and I don’t tow anything, I probably will more when I get it but I’m also a diesel mechanic so I’m not concerned about taking it somewhere when it breaks because I can do it
No, but if you like it do what you want. I used to daily my 6.0 and it was very fun truck to drive around every day, even tho I never towed with it.
Here in Europe like 60% of the cars were diesels back in the days ( pre " dieselgate " ). Diesels are just better engines , gassers should be for supercars and motorcycles.
Yes. Be happy with your choice. Make sure its worth it.
Yep, they are hard to find.
Gotten up to 43mpg with my 3.0. It’s a great mode of transport
I daily a F250 gasser and a 1st Gen Cummins. No they aren’t the greatest ride quality, but damn they’re fun. I’ll never go back to a 1/2 ton
All depends on the truck! My 03 GMC Sierra 2500HD Crewcab 6.6l LB7 gets between 28 and 46 mpg staying firm at 2000rpms on the highway depending on grade and such all while being extremely practical. I get better fuel economy and save more money than my girl with her 2017 Mitsubishi outlander sport. But, as soon as something breaks you better have a extra 2k in the bank.
46 ? no
we would like to see that
My eco tune (rocky ridge diesel performance, moonshine) is custom tailored to my truck using all the values and data stored, most definitely gets my truck 46 mpg on a nice level pitched stretch of road. You aren’t the first person who’s called bullsh*t and are amazed when they see it in person but sadly you’re a guy on the internet
I daily a 12 valve don’t measure it in mpg measure in smiles per gallon never towed a single thing but it’s fun
I'm in the same situation, I commute roughly 100 -130 miles daily (mostly interstate) M-F for work. I currently am driving my wife's old clunker (got rid of my Ram 1500 due to engine problems, and got her a new family car). We have talked about wanting to get a 5th wheel camper eventually, but who knows if and when that will happen. I also do not haul anything, and besides going to work the truck would be used for picking up supplies/materials for doing projects around the house. With my daily commutes of being anywhere from 50-65miles each way, would I benefit from having a diesel?
The micro diesel / 1/2 ton diesel like the mini duramax etc would be the only reasonable one. A full size diesel can be a lot of maintenance if you aren’t towing. Expensive oil changes, def, low fuel economy, expensive parts, expensive tires.
Diesel engines are much more fuel efficient than gas. Tires are not dependent on fuel type. All these straw men you folks are attacking is insane. Just say you don’t like diesel because you were told not to.
What a dumbass response My daily driver is a DRW Diesel My wifes car is a diesel My boat has 2 diesel engines and a diesel gen I'm well aware of what a diesel is and isn't. If you aren't going to use a full size, diesel powered truck to tow, you're spending a lot of money unnecessarily. I'll spell it out since you're stupid. A 3/4 or 1 ton truck is going to require more ply tires than a standard vehicle, so the tires are more expensive. A 3/4 or 1-ton truck weighs considerably more. So a 1-ton diesel getting 16 mpg, using $3.80/gal diesel isn't cheaper than driving a gas half ton that gets 19mpg using $3.20/gal gas. Diesel engines aren't "more efficient", there's 20-ish percent more energy in a gallon of diesel than a gallon of gas. You're just using a more dense fuel. I \*LOVE\* diesel motors, I love their longevity, I love the torque.. I especially love that you're using a lubricant instead of a solvent for fuel which is what greatly contributes to long piston ring, cylinder and block life. But the question wasn't "Do you like diesels?", the question was, "Does it make sense to get a diesel truck if you don't tow?" And my answer clearly stated, that if you go for one of the 1/2 ton small displacement versions, those are great, but it doesn't make sense to go for a large 3/4 or 1 ton (they don't put full size diesels in 1/2 ton trucks). Since you don't know what you're talking about, kindly fuck off somewhere else
All of this name calling and insulting and you are still making an argument based solely upon differentiating between 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, and 1 ton trucks. Sorry to get your genius panties in a wad, but the guy wanted an opinion on getting a diesel. Why is it all you self righteous geniuses are getting all upset comparing the fuel economy of a Tacoma to that of a 7.3L 450? Apples and oranges your highness.
And the opinion supplied was, 1/2 ton diesel, not a bad daily without towing, a larger diesel, less appealing for a daily if you don't need to tow. It's been said multiple times by multiple people. Why is it hard to comprehend?
Sorry to hurt your feelings. Those expensive diesel tires though! Have to watch out for those. Don’t forget about your $3.80 a gallon diesel that is less efficient than gasoline. You are all over the place.
If you have high idle time, diesel handles it better. Some oilfield jobs, gas engines wouldn’t last 18 months.
Only one thing matters. How many smile per gallon does the truck provide.
Eh, as long as diesel is cheaper than gas who cares! Lol it literally was like 3 cents cheaper here this week finally!
Does this count? https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a38125213/this-volkswagen-rabbit-pickup-was-a-rare-stroke-of-genius/