Has anyone went from a 10+ year old diesel to a newer gas truck? Wondering how the power and low end grunt compares. The older diesels had around 300 hp and the newer gas trucks have 400+ hp. Looking at Ford and Dodge trucks. I don’t think the Chevys will hold up to 10 years of pasture use, I could be wrong though.
Diesel to gas rig?
- Thread starter Lucky
- Start date
JMJ Farms
Well-known member
I’ve thought about going back to gas. Sure like my Cummins. But I think it makes sense. Only difference is that if I were to make the switch I’d definitely go to a Chevrolet 6.0 gas. I just don’t know that I will ever be satisfied going back to gas after owning diesels. Curious to others’ experiences.
Horsepower is only part of the equation. Gassers may have 400hp, but even an older diesel will have 500+ ft lbs of torque. New ones are over 1000, stock. A Chevy 6.0 has less than 400.
They will pull, but a diesel will beat them every time. The benefits of a gasser are simplicity, ease of repair, and they're cheaper to buy.
They will pull, but a diesel will beat them every time. The benefits of a gasser are simplicity, ease of repair, and they're cheaper to buy.
I’ve got a 2017 Ram 3500 with the 6.4 gas. I went gas for 2 reasons. 15k less at purchase, cheaper to work on. I can throw the engine away at 250,000 miles and buy a new crate motor for about what it would cost to have a diesal worked on 1 or 2 times. Power??? Powerful enough for me. Would it fit somebody that seriously pulls loads? Maybe not.
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
Ford is supposedly bringing out a 7.3 gas rig 2020 claim it has the torque and mileage of a diesel.
I'm going to assume since you are considering the gas motors you can go either way and don't necessarily need a diesel.
The best way for me to compare the gas vs diesel is if you don't mind puling your load (#10K+) 60 mph or less the gas motors will be fine. They run pretty low gears so they feel very peppy down low but with the new transmissions still drive good at highway speeds.
If you want to hook up and go 70-80 mph for 3 hrs... stay diesel.
Since we have taken over the WTX area I have gotten to get some first hand experience driving all the big three, 3/4 gas motors, and see the dollars it costs to maintain them. All 3 brands are 2015s and newer. The Ford and GM vehicles hold up pretty close to the same and feel about the same as far as power goes. I do think the gms ride a little better but thats probably a personal preference. The dodges by far cost more to maintain and do not hold up as well (we will not be getting any more). The dodges are the new hire vehicles. As soon as the guys get a chance to switch up to a ford or gm they do.
We hired two younger guys a month or so ago and had one dodge and one ford open for their company trucks. The one guy drove a dodge truck for his personal vehicle so I gave him the company dodge truck. First thing he said... why do I get the dodge? I replied... you have one already so I figured you liked them. He said... hell no, that's all I could afford. :lol: He swapped over to and older GM last week when we got the new trucks in.
We have been grabbing up GMs this year because they are cutting some smoking deals on them in anticipation for the new body styles.
The best way for me to compare the gas vs diesel is if you don't mind puling your load (#10K+) 60 mph or less the gas motors will be fine. They run pretty low gears so they feel very peppy down low but with the new transmissions still drive good at highway speeds.
If you want to hook up and go 70-80 mph for 3 hrs... stay diesel.
Since we have taken over the WTX area I have gotten to get some first hand experience driving all the big three, 3/4 gas motors, and see the dollars it costs to maintain them. All 3 brands are 2015s and newer. The Ford and GM vehicles hold up pretty close to the same and feel about the same as far as power goes. I do think the gms ride a little better but thats probably a personal preference. The dodges by far cost more to maintain and do not hold up as well (we will not be getting any more). The dodges are the new hire vehicles. As soon as the guys get a chance to switch up to a ford or gm they do.
We hired two younger guys a month or so ago and had one dodge and one ford open for their company trucks. The one guy drove a dodge truck for his personal vehicle so I gave him the company dodge truck. First thing he said... why do I get the dodge? I replied... you have one already so I figured you liked them. He said... hell no, that's all I could afford. :lol: He swapped over to and older GM last week when we got the new trucks in.
We have been grabbing up GMs this year because they are cutting some smoking deals on them in anticipation for the new body styles.
Luckiamute
Well-known member
We might all be making the switch from diesel to gas if this growing Democratic party Socialist movement continues. I heard from someone that their proposed "Green New Deal" platform includes eliminating diesel fuel/engines in the U.S. It would devastate agriculture in this country. But that's a topic for another forum ...
I have two diesel pickups now, an 07 and a 18. Other than an old feed truck I haven’t owned a gasser in 20 years. I’m thinking of selling the older diesel and buying a new gas pickup to replace the old feed truck with. I’ll probably be driving it 75% of the time and am scared I won’t be happy with it compared to the diesel. It’s geetting to where keeping up 2 diesels is just too expensive though.
True Grit Farms
Well-known member
With the power and torque of the new gas engines I'd give one a try. My old 1999 Powerstroke is a gutless wonder compared to today's diesel engines. But it'll pull everything my Cummins will, just not as fast or as easy.
Brute your full of it, and by the way Dodge doesn't make trucks anymore. When I was a young buck seeing a Dodge truck on the road was rare.
Brute your full of it, and by the way Dodge doesn't make trucks anymore. When I was a young buck seeing a Dodge truck on the road was rare.
I switched from diesel in 2007, bought the 5.7 Hemi, I don't think I will ever own another diesel that hemi is a pulling truck and I now have 250000 + miles on it and never did any thing major to the engine. I went last week and looked at the new Dodge 6.4 Hemi and will probably buy one in the next few weeks. Now days the problem I see is not in the engine its all the under side of the truck that wears out and that does not matter if its gas or diesel, diesel may ever wear out faster due to
weight ???
weight ???
True Grit Farms
Well-known member
shaz said:
NO, old habits are hard to break.
BRYANT said:
#700-1000 difference in weight on the front axle of a Dodge diesel vs gas, depending on the year. That's a pretty significant amount bouncing thru the pasture.
I'm looking at buying a Chevrolet 3/4 gas next year. My thinking is I will drive it for a year and a half or so and put 100K miles on it or so then make it my ranch truck. Ill put some Michelins on a diesel and drive it back and forth to work to rack up the miles. Ill have it to do any heavy pulling.
The only think I fault a gas motor on is the resale if you rack up a lot of miles a year.
The only think I fault a gas motor on is the resale if you rack up a lot of miles a year.
Sounds like gas may be the way to go for a feed truck. I may go drive one this week to see. My old gasser feed truck is a gutless wonder, I’m not sure it’ll pull your hat off.
I’m not sure I’ll ever be without a diesel pickup again. They just pull to good and don’t stay wound up while doing it. I probably don’t really need one but it’s nice to have when you do. I just think a gasser might be better for a feed truck. Now should I get a regular or extended cab?
I’m not sure I’ll ever be without a diesel pickup again. They just pull to good and don’t stay wound up while doing it. I probably don’t really need one but it’s nice to have when you do. I just think a gasser might be better for a feed truck. Now should I get a regular or extended cab?
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
Lucky said:
My sons company runs a fleet of one ton service trucks. They dumped all the diesel two years ago and went gas.
slick4591
Well-known member
A few months ago I traded a '08 Duramax for a new F250 6.2. I'm averaging around 12mpg (around town) in the Ford when I was getting closer to 16mpg with the Chevy. Took me a bit to get used to the take off power between the two, but the Duramax sure out performed pulling a load at highway speeds. Just took a 800+ mile trip pulling a 16' flatbed hauling a hay mower back and averaged around 13mpg.
It want surprise me with all the problems people are having with tractors: injectors, partical filters, computer boards, sensors, cost of diesel if a lot of farm tractors will come back with a gas option.
jltrent said:
I agree. Tractors just have too much stuff to go wrong now days. I would like to get a little bigger cab but don’t want to deal with the DEF fluid. I really think it’ll clog up and cause trouble if not used frequently.
