i didnt need the extra hauling capacity to justify a heavy duty model...and there is no diesel 1500...

 

i would have gotten a mega cab cummins but it was to much for me. Had i known that gas was gonna go to $4 i would never have gotten my hemi mega. but i wanted the room with a little one here and that is what i got. i still want a cummins mega though. all the room i can handle and plenty of power. SWEET!

 

The reason we got a diesel was because we hooked up our 25 ft toy hauler fully loaded with 4 bikes and I got 8 mpg's and going up cajon pass on the 15 i got 3 mpg and averaged 40 mph. Now with the long bed 7.3 ford we had 5 bikes in the trailer, 1 in the bed of the truck with a full load of fire wood, probably had close to 9-10k pounds and average 15 mph and cruise at 70 mph on the freeway. for the people that need it, Nothing beats a 3500 diesel, and it doesn't matter what brand, especially stepping up from a baby 1500.

 

Thats one reason why Id like the diesel now. When I bought the hemi it was all I had, then came the boat and the bikes. It pulls the boat fine, and I can get the bikes in the back fine. But ive never tried with both and Im reluctant to.

 

i see that you have conveniently left out the importance of re-sale values.

please include all major points, whether they be pros or cons, when justifying.

also, with fuel prices being where they are now, the higher fuel cost point is null and void. most CTD's are avg. 18mpg. with a 34 gallon tank, thats roughly (and i think im being generous here) 102 miles farther than most gassers per tank (estimating 15mpg to be average). so that 102/15= roughly 7 gallons of gas at about $2.69/gallon, which equals $18.83. now, diesel is about $2.84/gallon. so u take the .15 diff., multiplied by 34 gallons and get....$5.10. an avg. savings of $13.73 per tank.

 

When I was lookin and found what I have now there was also an 03 or 04 2500 CTD quad cab and had to have a lift on it. It was sick! But the down payment was too dang much and I couldn't afford the monthly payments. Really wish would I would have sucked up my pride and got a better job so I could have gotten it, especially with the mileage I get outta this 5.9L.

 

My cousin (who has 2 CTD 2500s) tried to convince me to buy one. However, after reading up on them, and talking to several mechanics, I decided against one.

1) The CTD's in the Ram really aren't meant for short commutes. My commute is 8 miles. Heck, I doubt it would be warm by then.

2) Initial cost.

3) No real need. I pull a trailer every so often, but not regularly. That probably would have been the deciding factor.

Do I wish I would have purchased one? Sometimes....

joe

 

i will say this about a diesel....dont go mudding in one lol! if you like that deep water-y mud, dont buy a diesel. if your afraid to get your hands dirty or cant afford the maintenance dont buy a diesel. they really arent hard to learn, not much more than a hemi, just the fact that you do have to learn it. i dont tow very much, and i drive about 6 miles to work and about 7 miles to school. that being said i am in college now so my truck doesnt tow at all really, but when i was back home there was quite a few times where we needed another truck to tow a 25 thousand pound piece of equipment, and the ole' gasser wouldnt have had a chance.....the cummins......not an issue. and smelly? i love the smell of a diesel! and when i purchased this thing, im not trying to justify it at all, i know i could save a lot more money buying a half ton....BUT for those that go back into the mileage...i figured i spend about 13 cents less per mile. i go home about once a month....500 one way trip....that 1000 miles....and $130 less spent for every 1000 miles...

 

I really just need to haul my wife and her friends around, I think the diesel will fit the bill great.

And next time you see me I will probably be missing a few teeth.

 

Good point mmstar23, seems the few guys in my hunting club always needing to get pulled out are the diesel owners..... Too much weight in the front to off-road worth a flip. I saw one on the beach near Darien, GA one day, the front was buried to the bumper, the back tires were sitting right on top or the sand, spinning away, digging the front in even deeper...