Gasser or Diesel for hauling 12K?

[Ram-engineer]

Not me, I had a 2016 2500 6.4L with the 4.10 gears I did tow my 5th wheel that weight 11,000 lbs fully loaded it pull it like it wasn't there almost. The wife and I tow the fiver to Las Vegas which is about 1200 miles one way it wasn't bad but I was getting 7 mpg in the hills and on flat I was getting about 8 to 9 mpg.

So now that I just bought my 2017 CTD and man it is a beast, not towing around city I get 14 to 16 mpg, on the highway I got 20.5 when I first bought it and I'm sure to get better when it get broken in.

Towing since I want know until Monday because I have a 600+ miles trip coming but I figure about 11 to 12 mpg, I will let you know when I get back. I bought my CTD about a month or so now and I can say that I love it but I guess that it still too early to tell.

The DEF I had about 3/4 tank when I drove off and I have about 1700+ miles on the truck now and the DEF only move to 1/2 tank.

I got a smoking deal on the CTD I was able to get about $8000 off plus my military discount so I jump on it, I have 3.42 gears on the truck so I'm seeing good mileage oppose someone that might have 3.73 or 4.10 gears.

You sounds like me. Though I just got a 2018 Ctd drove up here to Ohio from WV getting 23.7 mpg. I loved my 6.4 2500 but not being able to pass a gas station got old really fast.

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[Danno]

So you are saying the new fire vehicles don't have a dpf or require def fluid?

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Read the EPA standard pertaining to emergency vehicles.

http://www.fleet.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/brochures/2016/Ambulance_2016_LoRes.pdf

Look at the features- "Epa special emergency vehicle emmisions"

 

[SHOOT2KILL]

Plenty of people have regretted buying a diesel. EPA had to set a separate standard for emergency vehicles on the use of DEF and DPF because it was effecting performance and ability too save life's. Google it... Its a fact.

I had a 2014 CTD threaten to lay down in 200 miles and started counting down. Then there's the DPF cleaning and replacement, that a real pleasure and I couldn't find anything else to spend my money on...

YEP...I regretted buying all 5 of my diesels...One word to the wise...If you are self-employed and need an H.D. diesel to run your business....LEASE IT...Because when the warrenty ends and they break, (don't fool yourself...it WILL break) they cost boooCooo coin to fix.....The last 3 diesel I owned, I leased them. It was a wonderful feeling to give them back to the dealer when the lease term ended...

 

[Bigdaddy]

You sounds like me. Though I just got a 2018 Ctd drove up here to Ohio from WV getting 23.7 mpg. I loved my 6.4 2500 but not being able to pass a gas station got old really fast.

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Yes sir, when we was taking our trip back to Vegas even the wife was saying that it seem like that we just stop for gas but I was filling up after I reach a half of tank so yeah I didn't want to take a chance running out of gas. I did have a 5 gallons gas can in the back bed but I didn't need it.

I have a 600+ trip coming up here on Monday so I will see what kind of mileage I will get and it's a combo of mountain and hills so this is the real test.

 

[Ghetto Fab.]

Ok, ok, ok....

Bought a truck.

I had not realized the towing capacity was so high on a gas ram truck, espicially the 6.4s. So far I still haven't seen any 4.10 trucks except for one stripped down work truck. The truck market in my area is really inflated, so I'm searching a 500mile radius to find deals. For example, just south of me is a 5.7 2500 with 50k miles and an asking price $1k over a brand new 2018 6.4 2500 out of oregon. Really considered going with the new truck, but found a 2014 CTD with only 24k miles and a camper shell for slightly more. I couldn't pass it up and even though it was a drive went to go look at it. Towed an empty trailer up with my chevy and towed the chevy home with the new truck.

So far I'm really impressed with the new truck! Towed 8k lbs like my old chevy towed an empty trailer! Even though its a Tradesman its still got a lot of features that my current chevy didn't have.

Thanks for all the suggestions and advice. In the end I bought the best deal I could find.

Kevin

 

[Bigdaddy]

I can't see it? Congrats anyway.

 

[hounddog]

My bro has a CTD and the best he has seen is 18 so seems like there are many discrepancies. Same goes for our 6.4s. I average 10.5-11mpgs and there are others who say they average 14-15. At the end of the day we all know the diesel is better for towing. That's not what this thread is about. The OP wants to know which would suit him best. I'd say the 6.4 with gear upgrades. But if you don't want to deal with the upgrades then just get a 3500 CTD.

But you can't just say he has a Cummins and do it with a straight face. A Cummins in a what? 2500? 25.7 mpg from Cape coral to my home in michigan recently. That's good for about 790 range. 12.8 towing my 14,000 lb 5th wheel on my last trip. MY duallys get 21 MAYBE 22. The one dually we have with 4.10. gets 18 maybe 19 at best but will get 13.8 pulling 14k to 16k 5th wheels all the time. I have a transport company and the only trucks we use are rams. After they went to a full 4x4 disconnect the fuel economy went way up.

 

[skHemi64]

Good that OP settled on a truck.
Still, I'm not doing little truck diesels anymore. When they run, they run good. When they break, expensive. Had a '96 7.3 PS, 03 6.0 PS, and a 06 5.9 Cummins. Every breakdown cost $2k to $4k. The 5.9 engine totaled itself on the interstate. Gotta pay to play. 20 years with little truck diesels and not going back.

 

[2011ram2500]

You could probably get away with gas, but thats on the upper limit. If you can, just get the diesel. 12k is a lot of weight.

 

[sandawilliams]

But you can't just say he has a Cummins and do it with a straight face. A Cummins in a what? 2500? 25.7 mpg from Cape coral to my home in michigan recently. That's good for about 790 range. 12.8 towing my 14,000 lb 5th wheel on my last trip. MY duallys get 21 MAYBE 22. The one dually we have with 4.10. gets 18 maybe 19 at best but will get 13.8 pulling 14k to 16k 5th wheels all the time. I have a transport company and the only trucks we use are rams. After they went to a full 4x4 disconnect the fuel economy went way up.

Your evic means little in the world of fuel mileage. It's just a feel good gauge.

 

[quickster2]

You could probably get away with gas, but thats on the upper limit. If you can, just get the diesel. 12k is a lot of weight.

The weight is not the issue assuming the truck is properly equipped. I would make the decision on miles driven per year and length of ownership. It comes down to $$$ and being able to recoup the diesel investment over the life of the truck. Some will opt for the diesel to have the Cummins badge on the side and enjoy a big rig appeal. For my usage I spent my personal money on gas. I've driven and towed with several gas and diesel trucks in the past.