I know this is not a diesel question per se but it does apply to the 3rd gen trucks, and this forum is a great source of information, so....

I've read / heard that the Hemi motor is going to be bored out to 6.1 or 6.2 liters and used in the 2500/3500 trucks. Any idea when that is going to happen? From what I understand, it will make upwards of 400 horsepower and in the 400's on torque.

Now, I'd like a diesel as much as the next red-blooded American male, but the $5K+ premium that Dodge is asking is tough to justify based on my use. Truck will be a daily driver (roughly 30-40 miles a day) and used to tow a boat short distances on weekends, maybe 3-4 longer trips during the year. Boat and trailer will be in the ~10K lbs range.

So, I'm thinking a solid V8 might be enough; the wife has the Hemi in her new Durango and that thing moves with a purpose.

 

It's probably the same hemi that's going into the chrysler 300 srt-8. I think it was 420HP or so. I still wouldn't buy a gasser in a HD pickup. The money you save up front, you lose when you sell.

 

I'm on the fence; I've seen folks run the calculations showing you would need X miles to break even based on gas mileage v. maintenance, etc.

As for resale, if I'm paying $5K less up front, I figure I'll be getting $5K less at trade time. That doesn't worry me too much; hard to say what will be happening in the world 5-7 years from now.

I think it is the 300 SRT-8 motor (and that will be one helluva car!), just wondering what the availability looks like.

 

I thought the same way as you originally, and bought a 2500 with a hemi. What a mistake! Gas mileage was horrible (12 MPG avg), and the truck is way too heavy for the engine. It is waaay heavier than the Durango! Anyway, I finally sat down, and figured out that the increased fuel economy, and the traditional lower price of diesel (today's prices will come down) the truck would pay for itself in 3 years. Now, granted, I do put about 25K+ per year on my truck, so that wouldn't be typical of savings. Think about a truck that can last for up to one million miles, and still pull that 10K boat of yours.

By the way 10K is at the upper limit of the hemi's towing range, while near the midrange for the diesel. Not real good for the gasser's tranny.

Anyway, you really need to reconsider that $5K is hard to justify.

 

But that's just the thing, you pay 5K less and get 10K less. I sold my '99 CTD for $20,500 a few months ago, with a broken tranny. I would have been lucky to get $8-12K for it if it was a gasser. Plus, towing with a gasser sucks. Sure that hemi will put out some torque, but it can't match the CTD torque at low RPM. So when you're towing your boat up the mountains at 65mph the gasser will have to downshift to get the RPM's up. The CTD will just chug along. Hey I know I'm biased, but look at what board you posed the question!

 

My feeling is that if someone 'needs' a 3/4 or 1 ton HD truck then they should also get it with a diesel.

I don't think I've ever heard a good reason for waisting a HD truck on a gasser. I'm happy to hear it if someone has a good reason.

Preconceptions or other personal preferences might make you think you want a gasser, but in my opion, it's not the right tool for the job. Maybe even fear of something unknown (diesel) has a factor in the decision.

I know dodge has had a V10 in the 2nd gen 3/4 and 1 ton trucks, I know Ford still does, and Chevy has that huge 8.1L v8 (does it come with a tanker truck to follow you around?), but if the job requires that the truck has to be more then a 1/2 ton, then get the engine to match. With the exception of the Ford 6.0 in it's present state, these new diesels seem to have advanced beyond the loud, stinky, slow and dirty engines of a few years ago (not that any of those things are bad, I certinly never had a problem them).

So my conclusion is, if someone thinks they need a 3/4 or 1 ton truck, they should do their self and the truck a favor and get the diesel (especially if it's a Cummins). If they don't need a HD truck then enjoy the Hemi in a 1/2 ton where it belongs.

I do not mean to offend anyone (too much ) in this message, just my opinion.

-Sam

 

Just curious......but a 10,000lb boat is nothing to sneeze at. What kind a boat is it? Again just wondering cause a boat that big will have some pretty good wind resistance too.

IMHO you will definitely be working that gasser pretty hard. Go for the CTD!

 

Any thought I had of going with another gas engine went out the window whenever my V-10 Superdoody would drop into 2nd (!) at 60 mph struggling to maintain speed uphill while towing! The subsequent fuel stop, and the 8 mpg calculation sealed the deal for me.

My 600 will maintain speed up the same grade without dropping out of O/D, and get me nearly twice the fuel mileage in the process.

For some reason, that extra $40.00 per month payment doesn't seem too big a deal when your truck is screaming at redline, and the fuel guage is dropping quicker than your ego as Diesel Pickups are blasting past you on both sides up a hill.

 

Good points all. Still on the fence but leaning toward the CTD (sometimes you have to ask the question, just to ask the question )

 

'02 1500 qc 4x4 gasser 11 city 15 hwy
'04 2500 qc 4x4 ctd 16 city 21 hwy

Now you also have to expect even lower gas mileage from a gasser in a much heavier truck 2500 vs. 1500. Plus take it from us the diesel is much more fun. My last three trucks prior to this one were all purchased gas even though the little voice was saying"you really want a diesel". So I wasted several dollars trading and several dollars in fuel. Listen to the voice!

 

Dockrocker,

The 6.1 HEMI has 425 HP and 400+ft/lbs torque, would work quite well in a truck. I towed a 12,000 boat with my 440 truck, it would go like hell, but used fuel faster. It was faster than my CTD even when towing, but I am BOMBING the CTD now and that will not be the case soon. That being said I would never own another truck unless it had a diesel!!

The cost is prohibitive, but in the long run you will be happier with the CTD. Good luck, those HEMI trucks are very nice, my brother has the 5.7 2500, but it does not tow like my CTD.

 

I agree with everyone else, if you want a 3/4 or 1ton and only tow once or twice a year then maybe just maybe (NOT 4 ME) the gasser is the way to go.
I will still buy the diesel anyway. This may be my first but it won't be my last

I just can't keep that grin off my face when I run by all those gassers trying to get up those little hills when I pass them by

 

I don't doubt that a 6.1 liter Hemi Ram will outrun a stock CTD in a drag race, but what would it take to get a reliable 600 lb/ft of torque out of a gas motor? Oh yeah, and it has be stingy on fuel and have a warranty too!

 

Once you drive a gasser off the lot, resale value is shot. My dad had an 02 1/2 ton that he traded in on his 04. It had 40,000 miles on it. He got 17,000 for it, and he paid 29,000! Gauranteed if it was a Cummins he would have gotten way more. He sold his 97 1/2 ton with 190,000 miles on it, it ran like a top, for $4900 not trade in, he sold it. When I bought mine I couldn't find a Cummins with 200,000 miles on it for less than $9,000. It really pays off in the long run. Don't even get me started on the fun factor I nailed 2 low riders today with soot right in their window