Towing is where you'll see it paid for quicker. We had a V-10 that got 7 mpg while towing. The diesel gets between 14-18 while towing. That's double the milage, and right now, diesel is cheaper than regular unleaded here. Plus, there's the invaulable thing of not having to downshift on every little hill like with a gasser.

 

I didn't buy mine for any other reason, but I wanted it. I always did like the noise of a cummins diesel. And I have been a turbo fan for ever, so as soon as I could,I ordered one. I think I spent more on add-ons, then I would have if it was not a diesel. I enjoy the truck, and it is easy to justify the money i put into it, a gasser would not have had the same effect. I have had a few friends that bought the dodge with the V-10, and at first they were happy and telling me how much power they have and the V-10 was only 495 extra. But that soon wore off when they got tired of the 6-7 mpg, and gas prices went through the roof. All of them now, have since gotten rid of there V-10's, and took a very big loss doing it. I on the other hand still have my diesel, it is paid for, I still grin every time I start it.

 

My CTD paid for itself the very first time I started it up and heard the "terrible" noise it made - just what I wanted!!

Stan

 

low cost of diesel + better fuel economy + high resale value = ????
I have no idea if my truck has paid for the diesel option yet, I do know my '93 dodge would be worthless if it had a gas engine in it...

 

The first time I hit Monument Hill with the fithwheel and didn't turn into a moving roadblock, it paid for itself. On the monetary side, I used to pay $35 a week for the gasser to drive to work, I now pay $40 every two weeks. It will add up.

 

For me, I figured it would take about 80,000 miles to pay for if you just consider the fuel economy improvement. But on the other hand, this thing takes 12 quarts of oil...I didn't figure any of that in.

I'm with you guys. I WANTED it, and I GOT it! The kids love it, I love it, and my wife doesn't hate it...so I've got it made. Seriously though...I just pulled my boat up to a nearby mountain lake...unbelievable. It was way better than the old F-150. The tranny on that thing would hunt around, and that thing just ate gas when I was towing. I hardly every had to shift out of 6th with my new CTD/6-spd.

Priceless, man...priceless.

 

OK, let me not mislead anyone here. There's nothing I could do to justify "needing" a CTD. I could get by with a v-6 Toyota for crying out loud.

But I have wanted a CTD since I was 15 (1989, remember that?). I still remember the silver 1989 Dodge in the Ads for the new Cummins Turbo Diesel with 400 lb-ft of torque!! Wow! 400 lb-ft! It makes me chuckle to think I have almost double that now.

I got my Cummins because I wanted it- plain and simple. I really couldn't afford a new $32K truck, but I would have traded a Hemi Cuda for this thing-- it's just a fun, more reliable, more practical, etc etc.. on and on. A CTD might be the best kept secret in hot-rodding. My '69 Coronet CERTAINLY didn't have 700+lb-ft, and did NOT get 20mpg!

I really really wanted one, and I figured this would be the only time in my life where I would really be able to get one. It just so happened that there were big rebates going on, and the wife's subaru was on its last legs..

In fact, I feel kind of like I am living in 1971 and bought a new Hemi Cuda. I am going to have lots of stories to tell to my kids about this truck and this incredible engine. Hopefully those will never be one of those "never should have sold it" stories. I hope to have this truck until I die.


I think we would all agree that buying the CTD was as much an act of lust as of sense. Unlike most lust-based purchases, this one is actually very easy to justify!

The funny part is when my mother-in-law found out that we bought a diesel truck she asked me: "are you sure you want a diesel engine? Aren't they notoriously unreliable??" HEHEHE. Well, my CTD has lots of problems, like a chronic low power condition? ??? I also don't understand why it keeps needing more fuel and more boost! IT sure is baffling.

JLH

 

well, i would rather have a hemi 'cuda ;D...i bought for strength, love the noise, love the smell, love the power, etc...How cool is it that you can have 16.5 to 1 compression and run over 30lb of boost through these engines!!! try that on a gasser

 

[quote author=JKE link=board=8;threadid=20195;start=0#msg189769 date=1064607365]
as soon as I started it. ;D
[/quote]
ditto

 

Rattle Rattle - You're on the same page I am

 

Not that this thread needs any more input but I have got to get my 2cents in. I love putting my 1 ton in 1st, easing the clutch and then just sittng back to go around someone stuck in the mud. Stopping in Front of them, hooking up and repeating the aforementioned procedure. Have had several gassers that would bog down to being stuck if I tried that and I am doing this with a 2 wheel drive truck. On a steep boat ramp it is the same procedure and works without hesitation. Pulling a buddies Chebbie home when it lost a fuel pump was all smiles and I almost forgot he was back there. Pulling tandems, 34ft travel trailer and 22ft utility trailer with 2 4 wheelers and hunting stands, always gets me looked at. The way it shakes the entire truck when you goose it at stop lights and yes my son 6 and daughter 5 love it. Before I got mine, my son would test drive with me. After the first couple times he'd always ask if we were going to drive the diesels again. Haven't had any gassers get past 200 to 250k miles without rebuilds and bought my truck with 160k already on it. Didn't hesitate a second when I saw the price. I got my 2001 1 ton 6 speed HO SLT QUAD for 15.8k and still wander waht that salesman was thinking. I'll send him a christmas card next year. ;D

 

Well, I'll chime in too. It's almost paid for when you buy it, because when you trade it or sell it it's worth $5,000.00 more than the same truck with a gasser. So you only have to cover about a K. You can do that in a year with routine maintainence and fuel costs. . Why bother trying to justify... JUST DO IT.

 

Knowing that my horses are safe pulling makes all the difference in the world!

So, the first moment I hooked up my trailer it was paid for.

 

[quote author=greatwhite link=board=8;threadid=20195;start=15#msg191795 date=1065100839]
Well, I'll chime in too. It's almost paid for when you buy it, because when you trade it or sell it it's worth $5,000.00 more than the same truck with a gasser. So you only have to cover about a K. You can do that in a year with routine maintainence and fuel costs. . Why bother trying to justify... JUST DO IT.
[/quote]

Exactly!! ;D

 

I'm with you guys. I WANTED it, and I GOT it! Power to pull! Helped out a fellow RVer with a DuroMax with 5th wheel in tow. He lost all power passing a slow truck on curve in road 7% grade. Talk about being in a bad spot. I used a rated chain and hooked up to him from the back hitch of my 5th ;D ;D. Wondered why GM puts tow hooks on its trucks pulled him to the top so he could get a tow. Just got a Pic of his new Dodge Diesel. ;D ;D ;D PRICELESS