Thinking of upgrading to a 2500 should I get Gas or Diesel?"

OCVstar · Apr 24, 2023

David James said:
That sounds like you made a good choice as it stands. You don’t need a HD truck to pull a 3k pound trailer plus your passengers. I would’ve gotten a V8 rather than the 6, because you give up little in economy and have a whole lot more grunt. However, if you don’t need but simply “want” a 2500, the gasser saves you almost $10k up front plus burns regular gas and uses less maintenance. That’s presuming you don’t amp up your towing to HD needs and start driving long hauls. My suggestion would be to consider, however, the Ford 7.3 or 6.8 gas 250 over the 6.4 Dodge. Simply more capable. I’d say the same about the new GM gasser in their 2500. More torque and quite reliable. One last thing: you’ll get murdered on a trade on your 22 Ram.

OCVstar · Apr 24, 2023

I traded my 2019 5.7 for a 2021 6 cylinder etorque. No real mpg savings. I could get in the low 20mpg on the highway if I kept it about 60 with the 5.7.
However…. No regrets. The 6 cylinder has plenty of power and decent mpg. Plus the 4 door crew is beautiful.

Zaraspook · Apr 24, 2023

VernB said:
Help Please, I bought a 2022 1500 BH with the 3.6 eTorque and am hauling a fiberglass boat and trailer (approx weight 3000lbs). I fear I should have bought a HD truck and am considering doing so. I'll be taking 1 or 2, 1000 mile trips per year hauling the boat/trailer. The remainder of the time I'll be using the truck as my primary vehicle and usually do 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year running here and there. If I do buy the 2500 what kind of fuel mileage can I realistically expect with the 6.4 Hemi or the 6.7 diesel? Any input or lessons learned will be greatly appreciated.

-Although I just got a 2022 6.4 it gets 15 mpg. This Bothered me then I found out from a close friend who has a diesel (20mpg) and he told me the price he had to pay for regular Maintenance, $600 and to make sue the warranty stays in tact the first 30k it needs to be done by and authorized dealer. If you figure the Maint costs over that time it comes within a frogs hair of beinng the same. ther is alot more to the Maint on a Diesel fuel filters etc.

mtnrider · Apr 24, 2023

Zaraspook said:
-Although I just got a 2022 6.4 it gets 15 mpg. This Bothered me then I found out from a close friend who has a diesel (20mpg) and he told me the price he had to pay for regular Maintenance, $600 and to make sue the warranty stays in tact the first 30k it needs to be done by and authorized dealer. If you figure the Maint costs over that time it comes within a frogs hair of beinng the same. ther is alot more to the Maint on a Diesel fuel filters etc.

Your friend is getting the wool pulled over his eyes and screwed..... Dealer is taking him for a ride big time. Maintenance is nowhere near that cost. It's the same as a gas truck + $100 fuel filters.

.

StNick · Apr 24, 2023

You really need to think about going to a 6.7 Cummins. It doesn't sound like you really need it and while they are really great (I have a 94 5.9 and love it), the price penalty up front can be close to 10K, the fuel is more expensive because of the added refinement required, and they require DEF, and replacing the Carbon filter is expensive. Mine doesn't have a carbon filter or need DEF. I'm not sure I would buy another Diesel and definitely wouldn't buy a new one (don't really need the power/torque of a diesel), and don't like automatics (mine is a 5-speed).

Danny Phillips · Apr 24, 2023

I thought we were going to tow a lot more than we did. I have a 2015 2500 CTD. Just running around Payson, AZ we get about 14 mpg. Had I known I wasn't going to be towing our fifth wheel (over 12000 lbs) I would have bought a gasser. I made a 3000 mile trip to WA state and got almost 16 mpg. My 98 2 WD CTD got 22 mpg on the freeway towing a small 5th wheel.

Riccochet · Apr 24, 2023

mtnrider said:
Your friend is getting the wool pulled over his eyes and screwed..... Dealer is taking him for a ride big time. Maintenance is nowhere near that cost. It's the same as a gas truck + $100 fuel filters.

.

Have you been to a dealer lately? They've all jacked their prices up on service. Just had the oil changed and tires rotated on my 6.4 to the tune of $191. I called 3 different dealers, all the same. It's about $600 on the diesel now.

GTyankee · Apr 24, 2023

Too bad that Chrysler dropped the 4.7L
it would have been the perfect engine for you

Now Chrysler is dropping the baby diesel, 3.0L eco-diesel
It would have also been a good engine for you

I am going to drive my eco-diesel until the engine needs rebuilding
or replacing & the body is still in good shape

i will either rebuild or replace the engine

mtnrider · Apr 24, 2023

Riccochet said:
Have you been to a dealer lately? They've all jacked their prices up on service. Just had the oil changed and tires rotated on my 6.4 to the tune of $191. I called 3 different dealers, all the same. It's about $600 on the diesel now.

Like I said, he is getting taken by the dealer. The cost of the parts to do it yourself is only a fraction of that. And the whole "has to be done by the dealer or warranty is void" is BS, they are preying on people that don't know any better and that fall for "a diesel is difficult to maintain" crowd.

The reality is you are doing 2x the maintenance (oil) on the gas to every 1 on the diesel. So at $191 (lets round to $200 to make it even) x2 you are $400 a year at the dealer vs $600 for the diesel. That extra $200 would be $100 for the fuel filters and $100 labor to put them in. Do it yourself and can save a lot on either vehicle but the overall difference is not as great as some like to believe.

.

2020PW · Apr 24, 2023

If you’re looking at the 6.7 get the 3500, 6.7 in the 2500 has an embarrassing payload. I wish I could break 20mpg with the 6.7, reality is 15-18mpg. You will need deep pockets for maintenance, eats tires due to the engine weight and torque.

2Tallguy · Apr 24, 2023

VernB said:
Help Please, I bought a 2022 1500 BH with the 3.6 eTorque and am hauling a fiberglass boat and trailer (approx weight 3000lbs). I fear I should have bought a HD truck and am considering doing so. I'll be taking 1 or 2, 1000 mile trips per year hauling the boat/trailer. The remainder of the time I'll be using the truck as my primary vehicle and usually do 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year running here and there. If I do buy the 2500 what kind of fuel mileage can I realistically expect with the 6.4 Hemi or the 6.7 diesel? Any input or lessons learned will be greatly appreciated.

For your use a gasser wil be fine. The diesel will get +5mpg easy but wil never pay for itself. I have a 2007 5.9 Ram 2500. I carried a 2200# popup around for 15 yrs now. The camper's been sold so the truck will go u for sale in a year. Im digging the handling and performance for now.

06 Dodge · Apr 24, 2023

Riccochet said:
Have you been to a dealer lately? They've all jacked their prices up on service. Just had the oil changed and tires rotated on my 6.4 to the tune of $191. I called 3 different dealers, all the same. It's about $600 on the diesel now.

Wow, my dealer will install my oil, oil filter & rotate the tires for $49.95, yes I could change the oil my self but for the low cost they can do it for me and I don't have to lay on the ground doing it, then store the old oil until garbage day and I have a record of service if I ever need warranty work, as for fuel filters buy OEM an do them my self and I keep good receipt of purchase...

dhay13 · Apr 24, 2023

My dealer charges me about $125 for oil change in my 6.4. We just got my wifes oil changed in her Subaru at a local Valvoline quick change. Oil change and 4 qts of oil and new air filter was $125. Air filter was $30 so $95 for oil change

nlambert182 · Apr 25, 2023

Scndthief said:
Something I have not seen mentioned is the cost of maintenance, I had a powerwagon with the 6.4 and now have a 2500 with the cummins, the maintenance costs of the diesel need to be worth it for how you are working it.
The mileage is better and I tow alot but if I had it to do over again I might just get a 6.4 for the reduced cost of maintenance over the long haul.

I mentioned this in another thread (I did the math in a spreadsheet over the long haul before ever buying one), but the cost of maintenance on the Cummins isn't really much different over the long haul than the gas burner equivalent. I don't let that factor into my decision as to whether or not I go diesel over gas. After owning 2, I can say for certain in my case that my math worked out.

Oil changes cost more but are half as frequent. My 16 3500 cost me $94.50 changed at 15k miles. My 18 Hemi cost me $58.40 changed at 5k miles. So it cost me an additional $80.70 to go 15k miles.

Fuel filters are about $100 every other oil change. But diesels have no coil packs or spark plugs.

Trans fluid changes are roughly the same cost. The 68RFE intervals are 60k severe duty or 120k miles normal duty. The 8 speeds are 60k miles.

The Cummins doesn't suffer from potential lifter/cam issues nor header bolt issues.

The only real cost adder is the DEF system, but you have to pay to play on that one. Delete it or fix it and roll on. I think you'd be hard pressed to find nearly as many Hemis on the road at 400k+ miles as a Cummins (still on stock everything in the engine) so if longevity is a real concern it makes a lot of sense to go with the Cummins.

Riccochet · Apr 25, 2023

nlambert182 said:
I mentioned this in another thread (I did the math in a spreadsheet over the long haul before ever buying one), but the cost of maintenance on the Cummins isn't really much different over the long haul than the gas burner equivalent. I don't let that factor into my decision as to whether or not I go diesel over gas. After owning 2, I can say for certain in my case that my math worked out.

Oil changes cost more but are half as frequent. My 16 3500 cost me $94.50 changed at 15k miles. My 18 Hemi cost me $58.40 changed at 5k miles. So it cost me an additional $80.70 to go 15k miles.

Fuel filters are about $100 every other oil change. But diesels have no coil packs or spark plugs.

Trans fluid changes are roughly the same cost. The 68RFE intervals are 60k severe duty or 120k miles normal duty. The 8 speeds are 60k miles.

The Cummins doesn't suffer from potential lifter/cam issues nor header bolt issues.

The only real cost adder is the DEF system, but you have to pay to play on that one. Delete it or fix it and roll on. I think you'd be hard pressed to find nearly as many Hemis on the road at 400k+ miles as a Cummins (still on stock everything in the engine) so if longevity is a real concern it makes a lot of sense to go with the Cummins.

Depends on if you're putting on the miles in a years. I rarely put on more than 6000 miles in a year. So the oil would be getting changed every 12 months regardless of gas or diesel. If you're driving 12-15k a year, sure, gas will have 2 oil changes to the 1 on the diesel.

So, yeah, depending on driving it's potentially a wash when it comes to general maintenance. It's when you get out of warranty that you see a massive delta in the cost of repairs for gas versus diesel. Moot if you're trading your truck every 3-5 years.

kollie01 · Apr 25, 2023

I have a 2022 2500 with 8 ft bed and crew cab 6.4 and get 11 to 14 mpg around town. On the road w/o 5th wheel I got 17. With the 5th wheel I got 10. Hope that helps.

jejb · Apr 25, 2023

Zaraspook said:
-Although I just got a 2022 6.4 it gets 15 mpg. This Bothered me then I found out from a close friend who has a diesel (20mpg) and he told me the price he had to pay for regular Maintenance, $600 and to make sue the warranty stays in tact the first 30k it needs to be done by and authorized dealer. If you figure the Maint costs over that time it comes within a frogs hair of beinng the same. ther is alot more to the Maint on a Diesel fuel filters etc.

As mtnrider said, this is complete BS for the factory warranty. The Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act makes it illegal to demand a consumer use a particular dealer or parts to keep their warranty intact. As long as the maintenance is done on schedule and any parts used meet OEM specs, you are protected.

Some dealers have their own warranty programs, outside of the factory coverage. I've seen them state that those only hold if you have your maintenance done there. Not sure if they are legal or not.

ppine · Apr 25, 2023

A diesel will pay for itself. They last longer, get better mileage and hold their value much better than gas trucks.

A truck is a long term investment, especially now. I had my last diesel truck for 20 years. With a diesel you can always move up to a larger rig. How do you know what you will be towing 5 years from now?

Some people seem to like the just enough truck approach. A well appointed 1/2 ton gas truck is only about $10k less than a diesel truck. It is not even close. A used diesel truck with 150k miles on it is worth at least twice what a used gas truck is worth with the same mileage.

sherjam11 · Apr 25, 2023

VernB said:
Help Please, I bought a 2022 1500 BH with the 3.6 eTorque and am hauling a fiberglass boat and trailer (approx weight 3000lbs). I fear I should have bought a HD truck and am considering doing so. I'll be taking 1 or 2, 1000 mile trips per year hauling the boat/trailer. The remainder of the time I'll be using the truck as my primary vehicle and usually do 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year running here and there. If I do buy the 2500 what kind of fuel mileage can I realistically expect with the 6.4 Hemi or the 6.7 diesel? Any input or lessons learned will be greatly appreciated.

I have a 2017 2500 Laramie Long Horn, Empty 20-22 mpg with a Cummins. I pull a 35' Fitth Wheel 3-4 time a year, 250=1000 miles in one direction. With the 5th wheel attached 14-15 mpg. In th south where I am at, currently the price of diesel is running close the same price of premium. At the end of the day I recommend Cummins.

Choupique · Apr 25, 2023

Regarding cost of ownership, it's generally a wash between gas and diesel of same model truck. The diesel will bite you very hard if there's a major failure. You can put a whole engine in a gas truck for what a fuel system failure on the diesel will cost you. Those failures are rare though, and the odds are in your favor that over the life of the truck whether you resale or not, the total cost will be a wash.

Thinking of upgrading to a 2500 should I get Gas or Diesel?"

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