F250 vs GMC 2500HD for towing RV

[lineman1234]

To be fair Diesels have glow plugs that are also considered a wear item, though they should last longer then spark plugs.

I had 2 go out on our '17 Duramax at around 100k if I remember correctly. I had them all replaced at that time.

I didn't have a problem on my cummins, but certain years have the killer grid heater bolt. My 2015 was in the middle.
Cummins has a grid heater instead of glow plugs.

The bolt can melt off and drop in and kill the #6 cylinder. No recall but should be.

 

[RV2600RB]

To be fair Diesels have glow plugs that are also considered a wear item, though they should last longer then spark plugs.

I had 2 go out on our '17 Duramax at around 100k if I remember correctly. I had them all replaced at that time.

My Cummins doesn’t have glow plugs.
Rich

 

[Hoopy Frood]

To be fair Diesels have glow plugs that are also considered a wear item, though they should last longer then spark plugs.

I had 2 go out on our '17 Duramax at around 100k if I remember correctly. I had them all replaced at that time.

Not all diesels have glow plugs.

 

[RV2600RB]

Exactly what part of RV’ing isn’t a “luxury”?

We know a couple who dry camped in a tent for 10 years. Probably “splurged” and got 1 or 2 “better” tents along the way. Then they spent the next 10 years in a “fold up” tt. I bet that was “luxury” compared to a tent. They just recently upgrade to a 23’ conventional tt with no slides. Now they are talking “luxury”! We see lots of huge 5th wheels being dragged by $100k+ DRW diesels. Is that “luxury”? Or maybe it’s the few in high-end Class A rigs at $500k or more. Or let’s just go for the $1M+ Prevost!

Totally agree that a diesel is not required for most trailers sans the really heavy stuff. But the whole RV gig is “luxury” at some level for anyone. I can’t afford a Prevost, and I could surely pull my tt with a HD gas truck. I happen to prefer the “luxury” of the diesel, which translates to a more comfortable towing experience for me.

You’ve gotta be happy with your choice, whatever it is

Diesel wasn’t a “luxury” for me. At the time I was purchasing a large, heavy fifth wheel, so it was needed.
Now, it makes towing the TT a breeze (without spring bars).
Rich

 

[jleonard]

To be fair Diesels have glow plugs that are also considered a wear item, though they should last longer then spark plugs.

I had 2 go out on our '17 Duramax at around 100k if I remember correctly. I had them all replaced at that time.

Not all diesels have glow plugs. Cummins has a intake manifold heater for example. Commonly called a grid heater. Think toaster at the air inlet and you can picture it.

 

[JKellerJr]

I didn't have a problem on my cummins, but certain years have the killer grid heater bolt. My 2015 was in the middle.
Cummins has a grid heater instead of glow plugs.

The bolt can melt off and drop in and kill the #6 cylinder. No recall but should be.

My Cummins doesn’t have glow plugs.
Rich

Not all diesels have glow plugs.

Not all diesels have glow plugs. Cummins has a intake manifold heater for example. Commonly called a grid heater. Think toaster at the air inlet and you can picture it.

Ok Ok Ok, I got it. What's worse is I knew that, we've had a couple Rams.

So the majority of diesels have glow plugs. The grid heater is nice that its not a wear part but as @lineman1234 eluded to, it has its own, potentially much larger problem.

IMO diesels will typically pull better than gas at any weight and get better mileage doing it but it comes at a price. The emissions are far more complex and can be problematic. Maintenance will be a bit costlier. Resale is better but so is the original cost, It probably works out very similar in the end.

Pulling heavy it a much easier choice. Pulling light I would go gas. We'll probably will be looking for another HD truck for our business soon. It will pull on average 5-8k lbs and not everyday. 99% chance it will be gas.

We've owned all three. I have an personal aversion to Ford only because of how they treated my dad with his 6.0 POS. (and I won't buy anything with the CP4 fuel pump if I can help it). But everyone has a story like that with each of the big 3. In reality they are all fairly similar and your chances are about equal of getting a good one or a bunch of problems.

YMMV

 

[mwdilday]

I had been a Ford guy my entire life. I owned 5 Ford trucks two of which were diesels. My last Ford F350 Dually was the last ford I will ever own. Here are the issues I had:

Moon roof would not close without pushing on it. Never could fix it.
Rear camera lens fogged and no replacement
Rim corrosion at valve stems due to aluminum rims with stainless stems
Oil leak 3 times in first 50,000 miles
Death Wobble fixed by adding a damper
Tailgate opening by itself
Rubber trim under window failing year 5
Rain leak in cab
Mirrors would not adjust because of the design
Leak at drivers grab handle
Rubber trim bottom of windshield kept coming out
Ford still uses the CP4 pump

Most of these issues were never fixed and still existed when I traded the truck.

 

[lineman1234]

Ok Ok Ok, I got it. What's worse is I knew that, we've had a couple Rams.

So the majority of diesels have glow plugs. The grid heater is nice that its not a wear part but as @lineman1234 eluded to, it has its own, potentially much larger problem.

IMO diesels will typically pull better than gas at any weight and get better mileage doing it but it comes at a price. The emissions are far more complex and can be problematic. Maintenance will be a bit costlier. Resale is better but so is the original cost, It probably works out very similar in the end.

Pulling heavy it a much easier choice. Pulling light I would go gas. We'll probably will be looking for another HD truck for our business soon. It will pull on average 5-8k lbs and not everyday. 99% chance it will be gas.

We've owned all three. I have an personal aversion to Ford only because of how they treated my dad with his 6.0 POS. (and I won't buy anything with the CP4 fuel pump if I can help it). But everyone has a story like that with each of the big 3. In reality they are all fairly similar and your chances are about equal of getting a good one or a bunch of problems.

YMMV

My post was agreeing with you on wear items. I just mentioned that the ram wear item is different and has a potential problem that has been on ram cummins forums with pictures. Chances of a problem are small, but catastrophic if it happens.
Seems in 2020-2021 there was a recall on the grid heater starting the vehicle on fire parked or running. Must have been a stuck relay.

Seeing pictures of a grid heater on the cummins, its a wonder how it even works when its very coated with soot from the EGR.

As you, i dont understand the added 3 after my 1.

I still like cummins and if going with another diesel will go cummins or duramax, but not until ( they ) get the emissions in better reliable order.

 

[jlk111]

I don't live in the North so not an issue for me. Gassers have spark plugs that need replacing so the cost of DEF vs plugs and labor is probably a wash.

I'm not here to debate Gas vs Diesel. That horse has been beaten beyond death on this forum and others.

The point I was trying to get across was in the grand scheme of diesel maintenance/operational cost, DEF is negligible.

Enjoy your Gasser or Diesel, which ever you prefer.
Camp on!
Rich

Nice comment. I have driven Cummins for the last 396k and have had extremely good luck with 2 different ones. Drove Chevrolet before that with good luck. Looking at a new 2024 gas 6.8 F-super-duty with the 10-speed. Any reports out there on fuel economy and axle ratios? Keeping the Dodge one ton for any heavy pulling/hauling but looking for more of a daily driver that can pull our RL-2500 or side by side to our cabin. I have been approved to get a one-ton diesel if I wanted, but heard the "do we really need two, one-ton diesels?" comment. I was impressed with the wife's 2019 F-150 with the 5.0 liter pulling 2 ton of hay in the trailer, but looking at the F-250 with the 6.8 gas. I told my wife I would get an auto trans on the next vehicle (she don't like the close rails on my Dodge manual 6 speed) so she would haul my carcass home if I "mysteriously" die on a trip. Curious on any owner comments. Thanks.

 

[BigSwick]

Nice comment. I have driven Cummins for the last 396k and have had extremely good luck with 2 different ones. Drove Chevrolet before that with good luck. Looking at a new 2024 gas 6.8 F-super-duty with the 10-speed. Any reports out there on fuel economy and axle ratios? Keeping the Dodge one ton for any heavy pulling/hauling but looking for more of a daily driver that can pull our RL-2500 or side by side to our cabin. I have been approved to get a one-ton diesel if I wanted, but heard the "do we really need two, one-ton diesels?" comment. I was impressed with the wife's 2019 F-150 with the 5.0 liter pulling 2 ton of hay in the trailer, but looking at the F-250 with the 6.8 gas. I told my wife I would get an auto trans on the next vehicle (she don't like the close rails on my Dodge manual 6 speed) so she would haul my carcass home if I "mysteriously" die on a trip. Curious on any owner comments. Thanks.

I have a 2023 F350 with the 6.8. On a recent trip without a trailer I got 19.6 on the highway, hand calculated. I haven't towed enough for a report. 3.73 axle, 4WD. Be aware the 6.8 uses the F150 tranny.
Brandonford.com is having a sale on super duty trucks in Tampa. Drive a little, save a lot.
So far I like it. But only 5000 miles.

 

[jlk111]

I have a 2023 F350 with the 6.8. On a recent trip without a trailer I got 19.6 on the highway, hand calculated. I haven't towed enough for a report. 3.73 axle, 4WD. Be aware the 6.8 uses the F150 tranny.
Brandonford.com is having a sale on super duty trucks in Tampa. Drive a little, save a lot.
So far I like it. But only 5000 miles.

Thanks, Dean. I went and drove the 6.8 and 7.3 yesterday and felt a big power difference with the 7.3. I'm sure the 7.3 will get worse mileage compared to your 6.8. I really like your mileage numbers. I drove a diesel for so long I wanted the 7.3 for more power. I have a 2007 Dodge one-ton pickup for any heavy hauling but want a better ride with the 3/4 ton. The 7.3 will be our travel vehicle and plenty adequate for our 2500RL or the side by side. We spent a month traveling in our 2500RL and have no desire to get anything bigger. We boondock in a lot of out of the way places.
I hope to get 12/14 MPG empty if I end up getting what I am dealing on right now. I got bids on 2 different 2024 F-250 XLT 6.7 with $6,850 off an MSRP in the low $70k. Hoping to transfer close to that discount to a gasser.

Did a lot of thinking and don't need a diesel as we no longer tow a big gooseneck horse trailer with living quarters. I opened the hood on the 6.7 diesel and doubt there is room for a volleyball to be shut under the hood. Full of a lot of unnecessary components needed to make the motor run. The diesels seem to be getting EPA'd out of existence. I knew this was coming when I bought my pre-def 2007 Cummins, keeping it. On the 6.8 and 7.3 you can actually see the spark plugs, coil packs, injectors..... Accidentally drove a Lariat, there went the savings from diesel to gas engine but was far more comfortable for my wife. We hope to hear early this week on a price.

 

[Fivecodys]

I have had both a gasser and now a Duramax. I personally like the diesel towing experience better. Is it worth the extra expense? To me it was but that's just me. I do love the sound!
I also have become a big fan of the exhaust breaking feature.

We get 10-12 MPG when towing. Always better MPG when we go through our 1st tank of non-California diesel.

When pulling with the gas truck it was always 8-10 MPG.

I agree with a prevoius poster that my truck really drinks DEF fluid when towing in the mountains. Just came back from a 8 day trip to Utah and I got a low def warning about 60 miles from home. I filled it up before we left and we traveled about 1,700 miles. I imagine some of this is due to the higher MPH we are allowed to tow at in other states. I always carry an extra cube of DEF so no big deal.

We keep our vehicles for 15-20 years so the extra 10 grand for the diesel was not a big deal to me.

You know it really comes down to buying what you want and what makes you happy.
The research has always been my favorite part of buying a new vehicle.
Fave fun and safe travels!