Hey guys, i am new to this forum. I currently own a 2004 chev 2500hd duramax crew cab. I am looking at getting a 06 or 07 mega cab but am torn in deciding to get the hemi or the diesel. i haul a 22 ft travel trailer roughly 3 times a year to go camping and haul a double atv trailer every weekend. do i spend the extra dough and get the diesel or go with the hemi. by the looks of thing the guys with the hemi's are saying that they are a little tough on fuel. Normally my wife will be running around town with the kids using the truck when i am not using it on the weekends. How are the hemi's with the MDS? and do all the 2006 and up Hemi's have the MDS. I just cant decide.

 

Definately would go with the diesel with the towing and hauling your doing, better gas milage too!

 

the megacabs don't come with the MDS - if you can afford it I would get the Diesel - for me I don't tow enough to need the diesel and the Hemi fit my needs - plus I got a hell of a deal on this truck but for what you decribed and since you already have an oil burner might as well move into another one. You will love the megacab - and welcome to the site.

 

welcome to the site, boxer.
post the same question on the cummins site....i doubt any of them will say get the hemi. if u have the money, get the cummins.

 

Well, it is kind of like this. The MegaCab is a phenomenal piece of equipment in either gas or diesel. However, the fuel mileage on the HEMI MCab hasn't been that great. Basically, the MCab is a long-bed 3/4 ton chassis and suspension that was converted with a 6.25' bed to accomodate the new, awesome cab. You didn't change the weight, so the HEMI and the 3/4 ton don't work well together for fuel economy. Just likeeveryone hastold you, if you have the cash, the go for the Cummins. Now don't get me wrong, both power plants are great, but anything 3/4 ton or larger needs a Cummins toachieve the full effect of the truck (i.e., towing, hauling, longevity, MPG, etc.) I can get you some more information if you need it for comparison.

 

could there ever be a doubt???? Cummins all the way. I regret not going with the diesel, the dealer had a used 2500 w/ 25k or so miles on it for about 3 grand more than the new truck i wound up buying. Sadly the main reason i didnt buy the cummins was it was a white truck, no offense to anyone here with a white truck but i think they look nasty. Dodge has that pearl color which is ok, but the regular white ugh [:'(]

 

I dont know how long you plan on keeping it, but a Cummins will last a lot longer too...and they dont depreciate as bad.

I LOVE my Hemi, but i tow way too much now, i am making the jump to cummins.

 

The answer is in your question...as many have already said the Mega needs a Cummins to reach its full potential, and since you are coming from a diesel, you probably would miss the torque. The Hemi in a Mega could pull your 22ft TT (assuming it is typical weight for size, under 8000 lbs) easily, but again, you will know the difference of what a diesel can do because you have one now. I went from a Ford PSD to a Dodge Power Wagon with the Hemi and 4.56 gears and I am happy, mostly because I only tow 7000 lbs and I wanted a shorter truck (Quad/shortbed) and don't put enough miles on a year to warrant the additional cost of the diesel and its better mpg. So instead of spending the money on the CTD, I got a loaded PW, about the same price as a basic Mega with the Cummins.

So, if you understand the Hemi will not have as much low end torque, gets lower mpg (but it runs 89 gas), and you are only towing under 8000 lbs, and you would either save money or put it into more options, and you don't put a lot of miles on your truck, consider the Hemi Mega. If you are gonna tow heavier loads, want more torque than you can use, get better mpg, spend more money up front and on service, get the Cummins Mega.

I don't miss the diesel, but you must decide for yourself. The Hemi can be a lot of fun to drive, but it is a different animal.

 

I prefer the Hemi as mine is a weekend only driver with limited heavy towing and mostly highway. I drive about 120 miles on the freeway before I hit my property and go off road for less than a mile.Mine is brand new and the mileage I'm getting isn't much worse than the diesels, on the road about 16 and they say that will improve. Now if your foot is heavy it won't get as good, but if your not towing the Hemi will blast any of the diesels off the line with no problem. Also the hemi has a lifetime warranty and the diesels do not.

It's all in what you want - I love mine...

 

We also got the Hemi PowerWagon 2008-but we tow 9500 - 10000lbs. Our 04' had plenty of power for what we do, but we went with the 6 speed manual for more choices in the hills. I ride a motorcycle in the summer to help offset the price of fuel. If you don't need all the off-road stuff and can afford it - get the ctd. We have not towed yet but I expect it will be better with the 6-speed. Oh yea- It sure is tough on gas.