Diesel vs Gas HD

[Global Driver]

Okay ya'll, don't rake me over the coals.

I have spent weeks searching for the right truck. As soon as I find a diesel and make the call....poof, It Gone!! There are tons of GMC HD gas trucks available at a good price compared to their diesel counterparts.

Passport 28BH (5450 lbs + 1000lbs of stuff and add ons)
Dear Family - Me, DW and 5 kids (14, 13, 10, 8, 6) roughly 900 lbs
Gear - 1000 lbs

Thoughts on HD Gas? Thanks ya'll

[Javi]

Originally Posted by Global Driver

Okay ya'll, don't rake me over the coals.

I have spent weeks searching for the right truck. As soon as I find a diesel and make the call....poof, It Gone!! There are tons of GMC HD gas trucks available at a good price compared to their diesel counterparts.

Passport 28BH (5450 lbs + 1000lbs of stuff and add ons)
Dear Family - Me, DW and 5 kids (14, 13, 10, 8, 6) roughly 900 lbs
Gear - 1000 lbs

Thoughts on HD Gas? Thanks ya'll

Frankly with no more trailer than that a gas motor will be fine with the right gear ratio...

But........... what about the next trailer you'll buy next year.

[Global Driver]

Originally Posted by Javi

Frankly with no more trailer than that a gas motor will be fine with the right gear ratio...

But........... what about the next trailer you'll buy next year.

HA!! Thats why I've been on the hunt for the diesel.
But we may have to stick to the camper we have for an extra couple of years, or till the diesel bubble pops and I can find realistic purchase

[sourdough]

Ohhh boy. The gas vs diesel quandary.

As most know I'm a committed gas guy...to a point and try to make my situation workable with a gas powered truck. In your case, with a 7500lb. gvw trailer (1999 carrying capacity which I would think you would hit with 5 kids) and THEN trying to carry 7 people in a truck with associated gear (1000lbs) I think you are stretching a gas engine as you look to the future. Those kids are going to grow...maybe a LOT. Not being ugly but how do you plan on fitting 7 folks in the cab of a truck; even a mega cab?

So just thinking off the top of my head; approx. 975 tongue weight at gvw; 900 for folks per your estimate (that will grow); 1000 in truck = 2875. Looks plenty doable for a 1 ton SRW gas with a payload of 4k or so. But, as Javi asked, what about the NEXT trailer of which it sounds like there will be? That's something to consider with a large family at your stage in the growing process.

I don't know about GM HD trucks and not trying to start a truck brand conversation but was looking yesterday for a possible new truck for myself; Ram 3500 diesel (). Could not find anything configured like I wanted anywhere close BUT did find a load of Ram 3500 diesel duallys at my local dealership. I'm not in the market for a dually but it m ight fit your plans or not. I do know trying to find the "right" truck equipped like you want on a lot can take a year or more to find....even cross country - btdt. Good luck on the hunt.

[Global Driver]

In a typing fury I put the weights at which we have in the Suburban. The truck would carry myself and maybe my boys.
The DW and our girls would travel in the Suburban behind us.

This would only further decrease the weights as I can distribute gear. I would have to upgrade the truck if we upgrade the trailer.
The 28BH has the double over double bunk and the sleepable couch and dining table.
We sleep just fine as for now. But yes....they do grow fast!

[Mayne_Doc]

Hi. I followed the advice of the kind people on this forum and ordered a duelly diesel Ford F350 when I originally was going to order a SRW gas Ford F350.

I will be towing a 38ft 5er so 17000 lbs. You aren't close to that BUT follow the sage advice of "it's better to have more than you need" than be at the top of the towing capacity range. You have a big family to keep safe! My guess is that you will want to upgrade to a bigger camper someday so why not bite the bullet now.

I will be forever grateful to the guys and gals on this forum for making me change my mind.

Order the truck you need if it is not on the lot.

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by Global Driver

Okay ya'll, don't rake me over the coals.

I have spent weeks searching for the right truck. As soon as I find a diesel and make the call....poof, It Gone!! There are tons of GMC HD gas trucks available at a good price compared to their diesel counterparts.

Passport 28BH (5450 lbs + 1000lbs of stuff and add ons)
Dear Family - Me, DW and 5 kids (14, 13, 10, 8, 6) roughly 900 lbs
Gear - 1000 lbs

Thoughts on HD Gas? Thanks ya'll

Not trying to disparage gas trucks because I do have a Ram 1500 Hemi also but the diesel trucks hold their value much much more then gas trucks.. had a 2012 ram 2500 Laramie diesel with close to 100,000 miles an sold/traded it dec 2020 for $34000 I believe .. think I paid a
little over $55000 for it 8 years prior.. and I did my deal on my truck and then introduced the trade so they didn’t pad the price of new truck to offset trade . A diesel truck can have rust and still bring good money although mine was in great shape
Edit: trade received $30500

[sourdough]

If removing several family members and the associated gear the Suburban will be carrying any of the big 3 gas 1 tons with the big gas engine should work just fine as long as you keep in mind that the future might hold a new truck if you go with a larger trailer; and that may never happen since one of the kids is 14 now and won't be long before he/she will be heading out somewhere - maybe college.

Find that 6.6 GM 1 ton truck with the options you need and pounce on it, the.....happy camping!

[firestation12]

For me the issue is fuel mileage with a gasoline engine. If the truck has a 26 gallon fuel tank and the loaded truck gets 8 mpg, then you'll be looking to buy fuel every 160 miles (leaving a a reserve 40 miles). Traveling turns into a nail biting experience.

[notanlines]

With that number of growing youngsters I simply can't spend your money for you. You have a budget to stick with and you need to stick with that first. But keep in mind the idea of buying bigger next year, resale of the truck, and also that every time you start that pickup you will know in your heart you wanted a diesel.
One of our more distinguished members one said " You can always buy the gas and then drive through the neighborhood with the windows down and have the boys make a sound like a diesel." Yes, that member was Javi. I better give credit where credit is due.

[Laredo Tugger]

Originally Posted by notanlines

With that number of growing youngsters I simply can't spend your money for you. You have a budget to stick with and you need to stick with that first. But keep in mind the idea of buying bigger next year, resale of the truck, and also that every time you start that pickup you will know in your heart you wanted a diesel.
One of our more distinguished members one said " You can always buy the gas and then drive through the neighborhood with the windows down and have the boys make a sound like a diesel." Yes, that member was Javi. I better give credit where credit is due.

Yes Jim,
They can also drive around the neighborhood with a playing card held in the spokes held with a clothes pin and make a sound like...... your Harley.
Sorry bro, just couldn't resist kidding you a bit.
RMc

[Laredo Tugger]

Originally Posted by firestation12

For me the issue is fuel mileage with a gasoline engine. If the truck has a 26 gallon fuel tank and the loaded truck gets 8 mpg, then you'll be looking to buy fuel every 160 miles (leaving a a reserve 40 miles). Traveling turns into a nail biting experience.

Agreed, getting gas with a TT is not fun, ask me how I know. Most "gas stations" are set for single vehicles and during the summer travel season those end pumps become even harder to "acquire". Especially when some schmuck parks at the pump and goes inside to have a sandwich and use the facilities. Yes, they are out there.
Happy camping,
RMc

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Laredo Tugger

Agreed, getting gas with a TT is not fun, ask me how I know. Most "gas stations" are set for single vehicles and during the summer travel season those end pumps become even harder to "acquire". Especially when some schmuck parks at the pump and goes inside to have a sandwich and use the facilities. Yes, they are out there.
Happy camping,
RMc

Around here most have the deisel and gas pumps on the same island. If some jerk gets out and walks in witha $10 bill to pump a couple of gallons 9t PO's me. When the idiot pumps the gas, then goes back in to use the can, get coffee, buy groceries and scratch off lottery tickets I want to scream.

A few times I've been able to back up nearly oj top of their bumper and been able to get the deisel hose to strech enough to fill. I'll wait for them to come out THEN start pumping with the nozzel set on the lowest flow setting. I'll get my 30 + gallons, shut off the pump, then get the Deisel Kleen out from the back and measure and dispense the additive. By that time there's usually someon behind the jerk not willing to give up their "covented" spot in line. Then I'll drag myself into the truck, start the truck and let it idle while I record the fuel milage, buckel up, adjust the mirrors, etc.

Thankfully, a few stations in my world have remodeld and installed seperate deisel only pumps. They get my money now. While on the road I'll pay the premeium at a truck stop if I have to refule while hitched.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Laredo Tugger

Agreed, getting gas with a TT is not fun, ask me how I know. Most "gas stations" are set for single vehicles and during the summer travel season those end pumps become even harder to "acquire". Especially when some schmuck parks at the pump and goes inside to have a sandwich and use the facilities. Yes, they are out there.
Happy camping,
RMc

In many of the areas we travel (rural) that diesel handle is sitting in the same pump as the gas handles....in the same little station.....with the same hard to access end pumps. In the case of diesel the problem is compounded because many of those "pumps" don't have the diesel dispenser, just a select few. Determining which one, while trying to negotiate the traffic and position yourself in advance just complicates the issue.

And yes, those schmucks are REALLY out there right now. The gas lanes have become primary "parking" lanes for those that don't want to fight for a parking space, then they disappear inside for what seems like hours while you sit there with 60' of vehicle clogging things up. Or, the folks from CO in an old HD truck....SEVEN of them, going in one after the other to get cokes, use the bathroom etc. I finally went to the window of the truck and told the woman to go wait in the parking lot for the brood to finish in the store so I could get my vehicle out of the way....she did.....with her sandwich in her hand.

[Ken / Claudia]

There is a reason why diesels move off the lot and gassers sit in the HD pickup sales. You can place an order for Fords and Rams at least 2 friends did that recently.

[wiredgeorge]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Ohhh boy. The gas vs diesel quandary.

As most know I'm a committed gas guy...

I don't know why but the thought of the Danny and the gas comment kind tickled my funny bone!

To the OP, the economic bubble will burst with the current economic policies in place and you will find a LOT of diesel trucks for sale; probably through the repo lots as folks are unable to make the monthly payments. With fuel prices and everything headed expensive and more expensive and tax hikes hitting, the prosperity of the past few years is probably passed. Not wanting to get political by the way... just my view.

[gearhead]

Not sure about other brands but I think the new Ram has an option for a 55 gallon tank. Get it no matter which motor.

[sourdough]

[QUOTE=wiredgeorge;444111]I don't know why but the thought of the Danny and the gas comment kind tickled my funny bone!


Well, maybe it was that big pot of pinto beans with jalapenos I had just made and consumed that was "weighing" on my mind as I typed, errr......well

[notanlines]

Laredo, mine’s old and slow (and stock quiet I might add) but if I only had my old baseball cards back from the bicycle days of 1960!
And I have a personal hatred of those @&$6?’s inside eating!

[BigBobIa]

Had to fuel the generator/gas station on my toy hauler today. Finding a gas pump I could get into close enough and get out of was fun