Im getting ready to purchase a Dodge 2500 quad cab. I'm torn between a Hemi and and a diesel because of the price. Gas is 1.99 and diesel is 2.41 what benifits if any will I gain if I go to a Cummins? 6 large is alot of money .

 

I too had these same wonderings about a year ago. Diesel wasn't nearly as expensive compared to gasoline then as it is now. Even if the fuel wasn't as expensive as it is, you still get the benefits of a longer lasting engine (owners with over 1,000,000mi.), less maintenance and the maintenance that is done is less frequent, butt-loads more torque for whatever you want to use it for, better fuel economy (my friend just got rid of his 1/2 ton 2WD Hemi and he was only getting around 10-12mpg around town, I get 16-17mpg), and an engine design that's stood the test of time and has proven reliability. All this and not to mention how relatively cheap and simple it is to get even more muscle out of these engines if you choose to go that route.

 

Depends on what you plan to use the truck for

 

street price was less than 6K when I got mine last year
what do you need? I needed some pulling power for an RV and I'm really glad I got the Cummins.
what do you want? I did spreadsheets and breakeven analysis etc, then at the end of the day I decided I wanted a big kids toy. This truck did not disappoint.
I've only heard of one person who owned diesels who happily went back to gas (and he had a bad case of the 70mph vibe and got frustrated). After this first diesel I'm hoping to own a few more before I'm done driving.

 

And how long you plan to keep it.

 

I'll keep it at least 10 years. I'm a preventitive maintance freek.I need a 3/4 ton because I do elecrical work and I need a quad cab for the family

 

do you travel alot? with the diesel, you can legally run an auxillary tank.
Another consideration, do you want an engine design thats 30 years proven or 2 years?
Right now gas is cheaper, 6 months ago, diesel was cheaper, what will be cheaper next year?
My bosses 2500 QC w/ a hemi averages 15 mpg with mixed driving unloaded.

 

Get the Cummins if you plan on keeping it that long - it will be less problematic. Plus hemi's are fruity

 

I used to tow the old travel trailer with a 1/2 ton gasser cheby, 8 mpg, bought the dodge, 14-15 mpg. Sure 6k is a lot of money up front, sure diesel is 40 cents more right now, but I am not straining the truck when towing, and like Fronty said, maybe the prices of fuels will flip flop. I can only hope.

I will say, I am very pleased with the decision to buy the CTD.

 

Last July I traded in a 2000 Ram 1500 4x4 for my CTD. I haven't looked back. My 1500 got 14 mpg on a good day (360), and towing TT I probably got about 7-8 mpg. I average 19+ with the CTD. Haven't pulled the TT enough to see towing miles yet, but I do know you can hardly tell it's back there . We are planing a trip in 2 weeks during the kids spring break - can't wait! This morning deisel was $2.11 here and reg gas was $1.92 so I think I'm still ahead of the game.

 

repeat after me CTD...CTD...CTD...CTD
seriously,if you are planning to keep the truck a long time the CTD wins hands down.if you can find one go for a SRW as you get a 9900GVWR for a few hundred more.

04.5 600 CTD 6sp. 3500 SRW LWB 4x4 Atlantic Blue Quad cab SLT

and youll love to hear the turbo whistle when you slam the skinny pedal to the floor.

 

i too think you would be better off going diesel.
i had lots of full size trucks, gasers, and when towing they suck back the fuel, the diesel seems to stay the same, doesn't jump up and down in the mpg.load it up and go, the more the load , the better they like to be worked.the hemi is a gas hound, you will be filling it up 3 times a week compared to once a week, depending on the miles you put on in a day, but you get the picture.
the only time i would not suggest a diesel, is if you drive like 3 miles to work , and back, and it never really gets hot, they don't like that.
they like to be worked!!!!!

 

one other thing is that if you decide to trade you will realize mo money just like a 4x4 rig they hold their value.

 

I had exactly the same concerns last month...I had a 2003 Hemi 1/2 ton that was too small for the new 5th wheeler we bought. I looked long and hard at the Ford V10, but I loved my Ram. I opted for the Ram Cummins over the Hemi and am a happy camper. Yes, diesel is currently more expensive, but my Hemi never got over 12.5 mpg back and forth to work, and the Cummins get almost 18 on the same trip...

Having driven both, I content that for pullling and towing, there is NO COMPARISON...the Hemi is only a 5.7 V8, and is a great motor but can't tow like the Cummins...absolutely no comparison.

With the diesel I get almost 13mpg towing my 5th wheeler...I know the Hemi would have gotten a lot less than 10mpg.

Having said all of that, if I ever decide to go back to a gas engine, there is no doubt it will be a HEMI...I loved the truck and the motor, and it had a loud Magnaflow muffler on it and at 5,000 rpm it ran like it was on fire!!!

 

Keep in mind you'll get that 6k and then some back when you trade/sell that Cummins. Meanwhile, even if the higher cost of diesel makes the increased fuel economy a wash, you'll have a heck of a lot more power for towing.