Hi all. Newbie here. First post so, hi!

I'm in the market for a new truck. I searched but couldn't really find the answer I was looking for, so I thought I would post. I'm sure you all can help me out.

I'm a bread man for a living, independent distributor. I am planning on getting rid of my Isuzu box truck (gas) and getting a truck and trailer. I am unsure of though if I should get the diesel or gas as I've never towed before, nor had a diesel.

I'll be towing a 20ft 9,000lb enclosed trailer every day. This will be through the hills of SW VA. It is a 45 minute 60mph 4lane drive to my first stop, so the regen is not an issue with the BlueTec. I will be frequent stop and go of course. Prefer not to idle while at a stop if possible. I average 12 stops per day, 5 days a week, around 650 miles a week.

I plan on getting a 2500 Quad Cab 4x4, automatic, 4:10 rear end.

Is it worth paying the extra $6500 or so to get the diesel for these benefits?

• Easier to maintain
• Slight increase in fuel economy
• almost double the ft/lb torque over the 5.7L Hemi

I am a bit confused and can use any and all advice. I've done my best to do some research, but am still unsure. I want to get the best bang for my buck, but at the same time get something that will last with the miles I put on it, and the 5 day towing that will be done. It will also be my daily driver when I am off 2 days a week. (advantage of being self-employed LOL.)

Thanks in advance for everything. If you need any more info, feel free to ask! I look forward to becoming a regular part of the forum!

K.R.

 

you can get the lifetime warranty, unlimited mileage with the hemi,but not the diesel. just something to consider.

 

I'm no expert, but I've been reading a lot and I stayed in a Holiday Inn recently....

I'd say get the diesel for sure. And, I'd try to get a 5.9 if you can find one. The 6.7 is a great truck, and if you are working it hard, you shouldn't have any issues drivers like me have who don't tow often, but the emissions stuff and some of the growing pains could haunt you like they have others.

You will get better mpg with the diesel while towing they with the gasser. It will pull the hills with a lot less effort as well, this is where you will see the diesel shine over the gasser for sure.

ben

 

I do the exact same thing you do.. I work for Flowers Baking and have been delivering out of a truck and trailer for the last four years. Once you get out of the box truck you will never look back. A lot cheaper to work out of and easier.

 

Oh yeah, diesel all the way.. I had my old truck in the shop for a lift pump failure and used my father-n-laws f-150 to tow for a couple days and it was completey miserable going through the hills of WV.

 

If your going to be pulling 9,000 Lbs 5 days a week then buy the diesel. A diesel engine will pull that weight much easier then any Hemi and it should get better fuel mileage then the Hemi when towing that weight.

From what I've read and been told idling more then 5 minutes hurts the new 6.7L engine. But if you need to idle then have them set up the high idle that works with the cruise control so that when its parked you can set the engine speed above 1100 Rpm's so as to not hurt the engine.

Good Luck!

 

Have you considered a Freighliner Walk-in Van Chassis or looking at other alternatives?
http://www.freightlinerchassis.com/wvHome.asp

 

Diesel, but a 5.9L 2006/2007 for better fuel economy and its cost less and you get the same truck just a different motor and transmission. Your not suppos to idle a 6.7L but I got 3 now and I don't treat them any different that any other truck in my fleet, they get additives are run hard and idle lots (but I do use the high idle) althought last week my *&$# of an employee shut off his phone and slept in the truck with the air on for 2 hours idiling,as i watched on the gps.

 

Thanks all. This is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for.

I'm with Flowers as well and I've about had it with my box truck, the height of the rear bumper, the rough ride, the stupid exhaust manifold leak issue, and paying gas twice due to driving to the warehouse. I don't have room to park my box truck at my house, but do a trailer, and that will save me time driving 15 miles past my house to the warehouse in Bluefield, then back 15 miles to my house in Princeton in my personal truck. I will just have one truck for it all.

The hills is what worried me, as once I get to my territory, it is in a river valley and is fairly flat, a few mild hills. But of course hills galore on the way in/out of the valley. I'm also up for getting the most MPG I can, as right now I get 9 with the 6.0L V8 Chevy that is in my Isuzu truck.

As for idling, I honeslty would rather not idle. So the 6.7 not being made to idle works for me. As for getting a used one with the 5.9 in it, honeslty, with the rebates and the way the truck market is right now, I can get a new one for the price of a used one.

So if I do go with the diesel, what kind of MPG can I expect. I see on here people having 12-18 while towing. I know I have stop and go, but a lot, almost 60 miles a day is nothing but highway. I'm sure that will help overall.

Snapp, what kind of trailer do you have? Ball? Gooseneck? I'm looking at a 20ft ball trailer, most likely a Homesteader. PM or email me if you have some good advice/info for me.

Thanks for all the input everyone. I really appreciate it. Oh, and to the guy who suggested something like the Sprinter or Freightliner version, that wouldn't work for me, as I plan on just having one truck period, not a personal truck and a work truck. Thanks though!

 

kcrowe, I have a 20ft by 8.5ft rear bumper haulmark trailer. I get around 13.5 mpg in the 6.7 4x4. I also drive 23 miles to the warehouse to load the trailer and 23 miles back to my territory to deliver (16 stops total exept for Saturday) unfortunately they will not let us overnight anymore due to the fact they want the stale bread and paperwork turned in nightly. I used to park my truck and trailer at home saving me tons of fuel.
I drive exactly 575 miles a week.
We get are bread from the bakery in Blufield, if you know Bob Brown tell him nick from ashland KY says hello!!!

 

Thanks Nick for that info!!

I found one at White's in Charleston that has everything I want, so we will see what happens in the next week or so.

No overnight huh? That's crazy. I even have a home charger for my handheld and printer. Used to just t-com in the morning when I could park here at the Princeton thrift store. Now we can't do that..long story...so I have to drive to Bluefield when I'm done. Stinks. Glad someone else knows my feeling. lol. We have 3 guys that overnight out of the 11 in our warehouse.

I don't know Bob but know of him. I'll send him the message!!

Who would have guessed that another Flowers guy would be helping me on here when I posted. haha. I appreciate the help.

Looks like the Cummins is the way to go. Based on my figures that will save me about $360 a month. The gas would save me $440. It will take a while to make up the difference, however with power and reliability of the engine, lifetime warranty or not, I think it would be best to go that route.

I'll keep everyone posted. If anyone else has any other suggestions/thoughts that I haven't considered, please let me know!! haha.

Thanks!
K.R.

 

DO your figures include the higher price of diesel? I also think your mind is convincing you that you can get a new one for the same price as used (I know I did that to myself many times!!). Just want to make sure you dont kick yourself down the road.

Me personally, I would get diesel.

Oh, and get the Jake Brake. If you tow that much, it will be well worth it!

 

Yup. My figures are with gas at $4.10 and diesel at $5.00, which neither are that high right now. Even at those prices I still will save $340.00 per month by getting a diesel and trailer over what I pay now with having a personal truck and the box truck.

My sister's father in law owns a car lot, and with the prices that these trucks are going for at auction, even with the bottom having fallen out, I still am better off buying a new one. There is only about a $1500.00 difference. I'm willing to pay that much more for a new one, easily. I mean there is a $4500 rebate on these things, plus with the new redesign coming out this fall, the fact this particular truck I'm looking at has been on the lot for months, I should be in good shape.

I'm hoping to head down the road this weekend to try and work out a deal.
Thanks for the post!

 

Make your initial offer $15K off MSRP for the truck. You should easily be able to negotiate $12-13K off MSRP that way. There have been alot of stories across the country lately of guys offering $12K off MSRP for a new Dodge diesel and the dealer saying "DONE!" with no negotiation. Now is the time to get a really good deal on one.

 

WOW. I know the dealer gets a holdback from the manufacturer for the truck just sitting on their lot, so even below invoice they make money but I didn't think people would go that low. I was planning on offering invoice minus the rebate. The sticker is $46,6k, invoice is $41,3k. So it would be $36,8k.

Maybe I should go lower. I mean you can always go up, but not down on your negotiations. lol.