I am in the market for a new truck and I am having trouble deciding what exactly will best suit my needs. I will be using the truck to drive to work every day, in the city for a distance of about 10kms, 5 miles one way so only 20kms, 10 miles a day total. I will also be using it three times every month to pull a 30ft camper trailer, bumper pull that is 7400lbs. I take 2 or 3 long trips a year and one of those trips is over 600 miles. In the winter I will not be haulign anything and only be using it to travel to work. Temperatures in my area in the winter range from -5 C in October to -40 C in January- Feb. This I hear can not be good on a diesel.

So it comes down to a 2500 mega cab diesel or a 2500 mega cab gas job??

Any help or input would be greatly appericiated.

Thanks
Phil

 

If your only driving 10 miles a day and looking at a new 6.7 cummins I would say it would be a bad idea. Don't get me wrong I love my truck I have an 07 with the 5.9 diesel which does not have any of the new emmissions junk on it and I pull trailers in the 10,000 lbs range about 3 times a week. The thing with the new emmisions motors is that they need to be worked and worked hard on a regular basis to keep everything working correctly. You are going to have problems with it on your short trips which sounds like it's the majority of your driving. They are awesome though pulling a load. I'm averaging about 15 mpg towing my trailers around town and about 17 on the highway. You could probably expect 8-10 mpg with the gas motor maybe 15-16 empty. Hope this helps alittle. I'm sure someone will chime in with more comments soon.

 

Your kinda in a pickle there. The short trips are not really good for a diesel, but you will not be happy on a 600 mile trip pulling a camper with a gasser. Tough call, but I am still leaning towards the diesel, however I am bias.

 

Yeah I have been talking to some guys at work about the emmissions deal and it doesn't look good. Maybe a hardcore diesel guy will have more insight. I am kinda leaning towards the diesel as well, maybe I can just go for a longer drive after work LOL. I just do not want to purchace a new truck either it being a gasser and not towing as I like or a diesel and it not working well in the short runs around town. Here I thought it was going to be easy until I started researching each unit. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. But will the short runs in and around town have a negitave effect on the life of the diesel? The prices are looking to be good on both at the moment and should be a bit better in September which is when I am looking to get the new unit. Here I thought that color was the hard one to choose LOL.

Thanks for the input keep them comming.
Phil

 

id go with the diesel. 15-16 empty is what they hope for! a quad cab, sure. but not a mega cab hemi, which is what you said you want. just try and use your truck a little more and i personally think it will be ok. the mgs in a mega cab hemi are not good empty, let alone towing something and its going to be underpowered. its not something you want to take on long trips. im not sure how the cold is going to treat the diesel. i also wanted to buy new, an 08 or an 09 2500 CTD early to mid next year. i did my research and have seen thats there are just too many emission sensors and BS on the 6.7. so instead im now looking at an 06 or 07 5.9. you can find them almost new for a very good price. im currently looking at cosmetically almost perfect 06 and 07's with around 30k miles on them for $23k to $27k. a very good deal IMO

 

The temps wont hurt a CTD. You'll be better off using the block heater but it will fire w/o it with out problems. Here is a cluster of threads that go over cold weather questions
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/showthr...ferrerid=55446

 

I woudln't expect 15-16 out of a new 6.7L. If you're gonna buy a diesel buy a used 5.9L. I havn't been impressed that much by the newer 6.7L. same amount of power pretty much and most guys on here speak of 12mpg and 15mpg is a lucky estimate. the short trips are hard on the diesels as well. for you i'd say buy an older 5.9L for you're hauling and a short commuter vehicle for the daily. your hauling will definately benifit from a diesel though no doubt.

 

Given the fact that you could get an incredible deal on a new 2008 Dodge Ram QC Hemi (Fully loaded ones are selling around here for $18-19K, virtually 1/2 price) Thats what I'd buy if I were buying today. As soon as they clear the inventory and introduce the 2009 the prices will go back up, they won't be over producing the 2009 creating a glut of inventory.

 

Thanks for all the replies keep them coming. Ben I can't see myself using two different trucks just for the cost of insurance let alone storage for three vehicles (two trucks and the wifes minivan). There are some very good deals on the 08 6.7's at the moment and I am close to getting one, I just have to find the right one. I am leaning more and more to the Diesel even knowing about the emmissions issues and the short hauls. I test drove an 08 mega cab 2500 6.7 last night and it was a nice truck and rode much nicer than my current truck which is an older single cab short box with air bags. Even the wife drove it and did not say anything about the size compared to her mini van.

I did notice as I was leaving that there were no trailer tow mirrors on this unit but the sales person said it was equipped with the tow package?? I thought that was kind of odd seeing as that package adds the mirrors and the 750 amp and one other small thing I forget at the moment.

Later
Phil

 

Just out of curiosity, what kind of deals are they offering you on the 6.7?