Towing a 7000lb trailer - questions about the difference between gas or diesel truck.

[Dan_69GTX]

Looking at getting a newer truck. Just started looking. Now I wish I would have kept up knowledge with the newer stuff...oh well.

Considering a gas instead of diesel this time. What has your experience been or know of regarding a Dodge gas truck (1500 or 2500) pulling a 7000 lb travel trailer?

I'm asking cause a newer gas truck is the price of an older diesel truck. Do I want older and diesel or newer and gas?

Thanks for your input!

 

[TFucili]

I went through this deliberation, and bought a 2500 with 6.4 Hemi about 1.5 years ago. For me, it boiled down to my daily drive is very,very short trips, which I really don't feel are good for a diesel. Second, I don't tow nearly as often as I used to, and generally not too heavy. Combined with the lower entry fee, this time I went with the gasser. I don't regret my purchase, but--full discolsure--if you think the gasser will pull anything like a Cummins you will be sorely disappointed. It has to wind out to pull, and if you tow fast(lots of 75 MPH speed limits here)or in the hills, the MPG will sink like a lead balloon.

 

[mwilson]

I don't think I could ever go back to a gasser if I was towing a lot.

My opinion is.......

I would either buy a 3rd gen up to a 2006 or early 2007 model with the 5.9 OR jump to a 2013 and up with the DEF...

 

[jgillott]

Is I've detailed in another thread in this forum, I have a 2010 ram 1500 gasser that I have been completely satisfied with front to back except that the engine started using oil at 85k. It has 100k on it now and nothing is going to save it other than a rebuild.

I'm a stickler about maintenance, and maybe I just got a bad one off the lot, but I expected a little more mileage before this type of problem surfaced, even in a truck that does some work.

 

[RustyJC]

If you're never going to be towing over 7K lbs, have you considered a 1500 EcoDiesel? Sort of a middle ground between a 1500 with a Hemi and a 2500 with the Cummins 6.7L. Personally, after our 1996 3500 V-10/47RE, I gave up on gassers for towing. Although it was a reliable truck with minimal problems, the 3500-4000 RPM on hills and 6.5 MPG when towing convinced me to go to the Cummins with our 2002 3500 ETH/DEE.

Rusty

 

[schmeg]

If you're never going to be towing over 7K lbs, have you considered a 1500 EcoDiesel? Sort of a middle ground between a 1500 with a Hemi and a 2500 with the Cummins 6.7L. Personally, after our 1996 3500 V-10/47RE, I gave up on gassers for towing. Although it was a reliable truck with minimal problems, the 3500-4000 RPM on hills and 6.5 MPG when towing convinced me to go to the Cummins with our 2002 3500 ETH/DEE.

Rusty

What he said. I just Traded a 2015 Ecodiesel for my '16 CTD. I traded only because we are going to be upgrading to a 5'er in the near future and need the CTD for that. I currently have a 35' 6500lb dry Passport TT that I camp in. The ED pulled it just fine. I would get 13MPG pulling at 60-65MPH. 24-28 MPG unloaded. I usually towed cruising at 2100RPM locking out 8th gear. Hills, I would pull 2800RPM. No need to above that. Just making heat and noise. No, its not a Cummins. Not even close. Its a damn sight better than a gasser. I did add stiffer rear springs and airbags. The stock suspension is way soft. It was a nice truck. But 7K-8K is about all you want to tow with that truck safely. You'll probably want a GDE tune to go with that ED. It cleans things up a lot by shutting off EGR and gives you a turbo brake feature that works OK. The ED I had was a Tradesman 4x4 CC with all the options you need, none that you don't. No fancy electronics or cooled seats. You can usually get these for mid to high $30's. My new Dually was sticker at 51K. They came in at 44K. If trading, you should be able to get 6-7K off sticker and get book on your trade. If not trading, then at least 10K off the sticker. Just be willing to shop and travel.

 

[RVTRKN]

At the risk of getting sucker punched here in TDR, there is another otption! Look into the Titan XD with the 5.0 V8 Cummins Aisin combo. It's the same cost as a Eco Diesel but has more capability than the Eco Diesel. The HP/TQ is the same as a 04.5 5.9 CTD. I have test driven one, and I liked it a lot.

 

[schmeg]

The lower trim levels of the ED are quite a bit less. Upper trim levels, yes. They are on equal footing. Problem is, for similar money of a Titan, your into a Tradesman CTD. Its matter of priorities. If you want the higher trim levels, then you will pay out the nose for either vehicle. How did you like the new Cummins 5.0?

 

[RVTRKN]

I liked it a lot.

It reminded me of my 04.5 2500 CTD, but even at the lowest trim level it's too much for me. I needed a daily driver for my new job, but needed a little more economical vehicle. I settled on the new 2016 Tacoma TRD 4X4 off-road truck. It's 20 MPG on regular gas and 6K pound towing capability gave me an inexpensive option, that gave me the best of both worlds. The cost of any of the other options that I like, were $15K more in cost.

This won't help the OP though, with his 7K pound trailer. My boat only weights in @ 3500 pounds. The Titan XD would be my only choice in 1500 Diesel, as the Titan XD is a lot more capable in HP/TQ than a ED.

 

[Newsa]

The 3.0 Ecodiesel has more power and torque than a first gen 5.9. The Titan with the 5.0 Cummins has more power and torque than a second gen.

I didn't know the ecodiesel had a turbo brake. Never looked that closely at it. Or maybe it is a simulated EB of some type?

Pretty sure the Titan 5.0 doesn't have an actual exhaust brake. But i think it does have downshifting to attempt braking (not effective i hear)

 

[HPSimpson]

The 1500 eco-diesel doesn't have exhaust brake, only way to get that is to install and modified the engine controls thru the GDE must be above 2700 rpm for this to work, remember the exhaust valves are hydraulic, not good at all.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Lots of great posts! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas! Keep them coming!!

 

[Ace85340]

I had a Ram 1500 sport with 5.7 and highway gears. I would guess my toy hauler was about 7k loaded up. (5500 dry weight on the sticker)
I towed all over the US, even through Colorado several times over the steepest mountain passes there are.
It was bone stock except for the air bags that insert in the rear coils. Without those, it squatted way down.

I traded that in on a 3500 with 6.4 because we upgraded to a 5th wheel. The 6.4 bogged down trying to go over the overpasses and on I15 through Utah it was 25mph up the grades.
Just traded that in on a 6.7 Cummins with Aisin and 4.10s. I hope this one tows better but I won't know until our next trip in a couple months.
The 6.4 felt really slow even empty. I know the 3500 weighs more than a 1500 but the 1500 takes off like a sports car when it's not towing. The 6.4 had 3.73 gears.

So, If I went back down to a 7k trailer, I would go with a 1500 5.7 but anything bigger or full-time towing, I would go with the Cummins.

 

[RVTRKN]

Yes, the larger heavier gears as well as heavier truck can do that. I went from a 92 Dakota 318 to a 94 HD2500 5.9 gasser, and it was more sluggish. But what is your GCVW when coupled to your 5ver?

 

[schmeg]

At altitude, the diesel is always going to trump the gasser due to minimal loss in HP from loss of barometric pressure. At 9000 feet, you loose nearly 30 percent in an already underpowered powerplant in a heavy vehicle towing a heavy object up a 6 percent grade. That in itself makes the diesel worth every penny if your going long distance. I'm on my second diesel. There is no way I would tow with gas now. Even a half ton. The ED with 3.92's and a GDE tuned ECU and heavy rear springs makes a great package for towing moderate weights. I really enjoyed mine. I just needed more truck.

 

[NIsaacs]

At altitude, the diesel is always going to trump the gasser due to minimal loss in HP from loss of barometric pressure. At 9000 feet, you loose nearly 30 percent in an already underpowered powerplant in a heavy vehicle towing a heavy object up a 6 percent grade. That in itself makes the diesel worth every penny if your going long distance.

You might consider the F-150 with the Eco-Boost, they are running little dude's, very competitive in the stock gas sled pulling competition.

Nick

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Thanks to all who responded. I ended up staying with the CTD in a 2016 Big Horn 2500.

 

[RVTRKN]

That's a good choice, please posts some pictures.