Need Suggestions - Used Tow Vehicle

[RyeThomas]

I’ve had a Ram Cummins Turbo Diesel since 04. An 04, two 06’s, a 12 (great truck but expensive to maintain), now a 13. All but one have been used, never had any issues. My 13 is by far the best truck I have ever owned by a large margin. I’m all about letting someone else take the hit, then buying used. People can talk about the expense of owning a diesel, but honestly its 2 fuel filters every 15k miles on the Cummins and a CCV filter for $70 every 67.5K. I’ll take $100 extra every 15k for the added capability and the CCV isn’t even worth worrying about dollars wise.
Then add the fact my 6.7 is getting better mileage by a good ways than any Ram 5.7L gas or 6.4L HD gas engine, if you don’t take the hit up front buying new I can’t justify not getting a Diesel (JMO).
Now that said I tow pretty frequently and work my truck.
We can talk about the possibility of Diesel emissions issues as an added cost but theirs a lot of trucks out there with a lot of miles and no issues. You only hear about the few bad ones.
That said it all depends on how much your going to tow and what you really want. Go drive a few and decide, best of luck. Rye.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Lots of good advise here. My only comments are:

1. How often are you going to tow?
2. How much does the newer camper weigh?
3. What is your budget?

Prioritize those items. The answer will come.

I sold my F350 4 years ago because we sold the camper. It was a dually with the 7.3 and an 03 model. Ford switched to the 6.0 later in the model year. It was a perfect fit for my fifth wheel camper. Once we sold the camper I no longer needed that much truck. I ended up buying an 07 Chevy HD 2500 with the 6.0L gasser. It is rated to tow up to 10K. For my use now it is a better fit.

Good buys around here in used trucks are few and far between. My son paid 24K for a 2012 60K mile Silverado 1500 4 door 4WD. That's a lot of money for a truck with 60K miles. New it is north of 50K. It's all relative.

 

[WilliamBos]

Get a Ram 2500/3500 6.4 Hemi - the 6.4 has MDS, so will save fuel when MDS is on.

 

[nikerret]

Need more info on the specifics. With that said, I chose to stay away from the new diesels. Crazy power, but also crazy maintenance. Add the initial cost is quite a bit higher and I don't do a lot of over the road hauls, the gas was the way to go. The Ford 6.2L has been great (except for gas mileage). I usually get 8-9 MPG, but it has the 4.30 rear gears and 4WD. I didn't buy it to save fuel, I bought it to haul and tow. Everything I've put on it has been cake, thus far. Last weekend was a 20' gooseneck with a motorhome hanging off the tail end. Pulled fine, otherwise it was a total cluster-f.

 

[Monster5601]

new diesels. Crazy power, but also crazy maintenance.

Oil and fuel filter change every 15,000 miles, what is crazy about that?

OP. Your question will be better answered in a forum like rv.net. You didn't mention the weight of the newer camper but the general rule of thumb that many users use, under 12,000-pound bumper pull a 2500 with a gas engine. Over 12,000 pound bumper pull then a diesel. If you're moving to a fifth wheel then a one ton diesel. Also consider how often and where you will be driving. You mentioned mountians where a diesel's pulling power and engine braking comes in mighty handy.

 

[nikerret]

Oil and fuel filter change every 15,000 miles, what is crazy about that?
You mentioned mountians where a diesel's pulling power and engine braking comes in mighty handy.

In reverse order: I had forgotten about the exhaust braking. That is a very good thing to have, towing heavy.

As far as the scheduled maintenance on a 2014 F-350 6.2L gas versus a 2014 F-350 6.7L diesel. I looked at just the engine system; not transmission, brakes, suspension, etc. Here's what I found using 7,500 mile oil change intervals over 150K miles:

Gas:
Oil and Oil Filter Changes: 20 (140 quarts of semi-synthetic motor oil)
Air Filters: 5
Coolant Changes: 2 (42.6 quarts)
Replace Spark Plugs (16 of them)

Diesel:
Oil and Oil Filter Changes: 20 (260 quarts of synthetic motor oil, which is recommended, for towing)
Air Inlet Foam Filters: 3
Coolant Changes: 2 (82.2 quarts)
DEF Refils: 20 (100-120 gallons, depending if pickup or chassis cab)
Engine and Frame Filters: 7 sets

Bolded the sections requiring more work or more expensive parts.
To me, it looks like a lot more scheduled maintenance, for the diesel. It requires more, in every category, exception being the spark plugs, for the gas, at 97.5K miles and two fewer air filters.

This doesn't account for anti-gel or other similar items. It also doesn't account for all the extra parts the diesels have: turbos, glow plugs, other diesel-only parts (in one ton applications, today). It also doesn't account for the overall life of a diesel. That extra maintenance and the stronger parts often mean the diesels will run into the several hundred thousand mile marks, with just scheduled maintenance.

Which is best, for you, depends on the application and the time you expect to keep it. Diesels tend to take around 150K to start seeing the savings in fuel mileage eat up the difference in purchase price. However, high mileage diesels have higher resale than the gassers, due to the expectation that a 200K motor isn't as far through it's lifespan.

 

[Monster5601]

As far as the scheduled maintenance on a 2014 F-350 6.2L gas versus a 2014 F-350 6.7L diesel. I looked at just the engine system; not transmission, brakes, suspension, etc. Here's what I found using 7,500 mile oil change intervals over 150K miles:

I own a 2015 RAM Cummins, my son a Duramax. Neither of these tugs requires scheduled maintenance as frequently as Ford Powerstroke, I had no idea they were that maintenance demanding. Good reason to stay clear of them.

My Cummins would require 10 oil changes (12 quarts per change) over 150,000 miles compared to the Powerstroke's 20.
10 fuel filter changes.
Air filters as required.
DEF usage is dependent on how much I'm towing and how often.
Transmission is 150,000-mile service as is the engine coolant, same as my RAM 5.7 Hemi.