Thinking of going back to a gas burner

[ARhine]

Been the high milleage older truck route and getting tired of the constant work on it. I don't want to spend more than 8-10K on a truck, if I can't write a check for it without a loan I don't want it. With a diesel that means very high milleage rigs so far unless somebody can point me to some bargains.



Gassers with big engines like the dodge V10 or chevy 454s or 8. 0L are cheap now with low milleage. Since I only tow around 8K miles a year the fuel MPG difference would not justify the diesel at the prices I am seing on nicer used rigs. I will be towing around 7-8K lbs and the gas engine would also have no trouble with that.



Whatdya think?

 

[MMeier]

How much for the '93?

 

[fkovalski]

... Whatdya think?

I have been thinking the same idea. I only drive about 25 miles daily for work and have a pop- up camper. A gasser would definetly fulfill my needs. BUT, ask yourself... . will gas prices catch up to diesel in the upcomming months, years that would make a different truck a wash?



I would proly trade mine for a new (or newer gasser) if I were to go through with it. OR i may just keep the truck and get my motorcycle running for commuting.

 

[jwilliams3]

Gas sucks. Shame on you!

 

[ARhine]

I like diesels but unless it says john deere or CaseIH on the side there is nobody to work on them and it is hard to get parts out here in the sticks. My nearest dodge dealer is now 60 miles away, Cummins dealer is 150 miles.



Looking at similar used trucks with same milleage and options there is a big premium in the price to go diesel. Around here it seems to be around %75 higher on comparable trucks.

 

[klenger]

#ad

 

[MMeier]

#ad

LMMFAO @ Ken !!! Thats funny no matter who you are !!! Ken, which side of Tucson are you on, been through there a couple of times in the past week, maybe one of these trips we can meet up and do lunch or something !

 

[klenger]

We live on the east side of town near Houghton Rd, about 7 miles north of I-10, and work near the airport, which is where I'll be when my ship comes in.

 

[RobertP]

i wouldnt trade my diesel for anything.

 

[Dieselnut59]

If ANYTHING I need or want has a diesel option, I go for the diesel. If not, I wait or create the diesel option! Diesel is the only way to go. I can't wait for the new diesel options to become available in the near future. Pee on spark plugs, ignition systems, choke and carburators!

 

[RGardner]

I think his whole point is the economics of the deal. Yea we all love our diesels but they cost more to get into and it seems that at least for now diesel is going to be 15 to 20 cents per gallon higher than gas. You have to puts lots of miles on a diesel to make it pay.

 

[Alphacowboy]

I say toss money into fixing up your old truck right. Do an "overhaul" on it and get it perfect. Replace a bunch of the wearing parts. Basicly, build yourself a new truck on the platform you have. Personally, I wont go back to Gas. All your going to be doing is buying someone elses gas guzling problem. For how much you want to spend, your still going to get a higher mileage gasser thats going to need fixing too. There is no way your going to get a gasser for under 10k with a warranty, so your back to fixing it yourself. You know whats wrong with your truck, keep it and fix it. Hell, buy a little cheap junker car to drive while you tear it apart. That way you can do it up right. I say take the money you were going to spend on the gasser and fix the ol' gal up. I am doing that to my 2000 pickup. It needs some TLC and as soon as I get my new work van up and running, the CTD is going under the knife. Going to basicly build a new truck that looks good again, and doesnt leak anymore. Figured, it wasnt worth the payments on a new one, and it would be cheaper for me to repair mine than take the loss on selling it.

 

[ARhine]

2000, wow thats a new truck to me lol.



Right now was just adding up the parts for the 93. Trans rebuild, steering gear, rotors, calipers, transfercase rebuild, aftermarket turbo, possible injection pump and injector work, a few AC components. Puts me in the $3500 area doing as much as possible myself. Over half what I paid for the truck. Hopefully after that it would be good to go for another 200K miles.



No way I would buy a new truck either. I can't stomach the initial depreciation. Somebody has to buy them though or I wouldn't have anythng to drive

 

[hammersley]

The more expensive fuel gets the faster the

difference in Fuel mileage makes the for example...



Miles 8000 8000

MPG 8 12

$$/gallon $3. 00 $3. 25

Annual Fuel $$$ $3,000. 00 $2,166. 67



If Gas were $1. 5 and diesel $1. 75 this is what you get...



$1,500. 00 $1,166. 67

 

[klenger]

Please note, the following comments are in no way intended to be any reflection on the decision by the original poster for this thread. If he has valid reasons to get a gasser, I have no issues with that decision and wish him the best of luck.



I agree with hammersley above. I see this gas vs diesel debate all the time on rv.net. Alot of gasser lovers keep saying "the diesel guys must be crying in their beer" or something to that effect "now that diesel is over $3. 00 / gallon". They don't seem to see that the higher the price of fuel goes, the faster the payoff for a diesel. The way I figure it, if the total amount of your monthly truck payment plus monthly fuel costs for a diesel truck is the same or less than for a gas truck, then you are already at a break-even point during the life of the loan. After the truck is paid off, the increased economy is free, not to mention you have a truck that's worth a bunch more than a gasser, and has a bunch more power.

 

[WDixon27]

ok, so you spend $4k on yours and you know what you have, or $8k on someone elses and you have no idea how it's going to turn out. unless theres a serious problem below the surface on your ride that's not on the list keeping the extra $4k in the bank would be my path of choice.

i found my truck through ebay (didn't buy it on ebay, he ended the auction and i called about it) for $6200 with 304k, it was straight drove ok and ran ok (not great just ok) i did some basic work and got it running pretty good by just fixing crap he broke trying to fix it (whatever was supposed to be wrong i have no idea), a new lift pump got it running perfect, front brake pads/rotors and hubs, a set of shocks and here i am 11k miles later and id drive it anywhere, i flog the crap out of it and in 3k miles it hasn't used a drop of oil, deals are out there you just need some luck and some skill

Right now was just adding up the parts for the 93. Trans rebuild, steering gear, rotors, calipers, transfercase rebuild, aftermarket turbo, possible injection pump and injector work, a few AC components. Puts me in the $3500 area doing as much as possible myself. Over half what I paid for the truck. Hopefully after that it would be good to go for another 200K miles.



No way I would buy a new truck either. I can't stomach the initial depreciation. Somebody has to buy them though or I wouldn't have anythng to drive

 

[RGardner]

Don't know if you have considered converting a gasser to propane. It seems to be the only "bargin" in fuel right now.

 

[ARhine]

Don't know if you have considered converting a gasser to propane. It seems to be the only "bargin" in fuel right now.

On a long road trip it is a major PITA to get it filled though.



I am just gonna get the G360 rebuilt and drive my truck for now. With fuel prices it only moves if the jeep is on the trailer behind it anyway.



Having a heck of a time finding somewhere to get the trans fixed. Nobody wants to touch it. Might have to spend some money on freight and send it to bluementhals in OK City.