I'm 6 months into my first diesel and I can tell you my last truck was the last gasser I will ever own.

If you need talked into a diesel, you don't want one. If you're truly on the fence, hook your 5000 pounds up to one and watch it just toy with it; you probably will forget you're towing.

Off-roading is a whole different animal. I've noticed that the front end sinks very easily (and with a 1000 pound engine, it should). Plan on some good nubby tires and let 'er rip.

They're pricey, they stink, they're noisy....

...but they can pull a house clean off of its foundation at an idle.


Besides, who doesn't like the smell of diesel fumes while the turbo is singing away?? That's half the fun!

 

You either want one or you don't.
TRUST ME: YOU WANT ONE!!! YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!!!
TOMMY

 

This man knows what he is talking about!!! Also, it puts a smile on my face when I pull up to a car at stop light and they put their windows down because my 12V is rattling them crazy

 

I've had my 2nd Gen. for a little over a year now, and the Cummins engine is something that has to be experienced. As the one poster said, it will toy with almost anything you try to tow. The only thing I don't care for with my diesel, or any diesel for that matter, is cold weather operation. Below 20 deg., it takes forever to warm up, and you need to keep it plugged in for starts at lower temperatures. It won't warm up on idle below 20...ever. And you shouldn't idle for long in cold weather anyways for "washdown" reasons where the fuel dilutes the oil. So, on cold days, I drive for 20 minutes before I have good heat (and listen to the wife . If you can plug in easily enough on cold days, it won't be a problem. The truck is happy when the bed is so full of oak firewood that it looks like the Grinch Christmas sleigh. And it doesn't even know it's there. They are unique machines that require attention, but once you get attached to one............you're done.

 

You'll never go back...

 

Get the fast idle/3 cyl. idle turned on! Warms faster than a big gasser! With my E brake it's warm by the end of my lane.

 

One big benefit that I've noticed is not having to refuel as frequently - about every other week for me! Now this depends on how you drive it and if you can maintain your self control (600ft-lbs torque ). I've been been in love with the Dodge w/CTD ever since they came out with the newer body style in the early nineties and finally decided to indulge myself after 15 or so years of dreaming. Drove a few this fall finally prior to buying and fell in love with the power, diesel clatter and turbo whistle. No regrets after 4 months of owning my used 2005.

Another factor to consider is the higher resale and demand for diesels.

My wife (drives 06' Golf TDI) and I both drive diesels on a daily basis and love them for thier economy, and personality.

I'm pretty much done with gas and I don't think I even would consider buying a vehicle if it's not offered with a diesel engine.

 

When I was looking for my truck the criteria was :
It had look like a truck
Ride like a truck
Manual transmission
Sound like a truck
Smell like a truck

There was no other choice but a DCTD 2nd gen, black dually, 24 valve with 5 spd and 4.10, straight pipe. Nothing is more truck than this.

 

YUP What he said!!

I tow 5-6k daily depending on what I'm doing. It dern near killed my 1/2 ton gasser!!!

Until you drive one under load you really have no clue! I have no fear of passing on the highway! LOADED to the gills!

It is flat out amazing to me that I can make it from here to
Tahoe at 60mph, (6k vertical in less than 90 miles), without the transmission shifting out of overdrive while towing 6k lbs!

I will never ever, ever go back to a gasser! Even If Chrysler is bought by GM!

Rick

 

In November 2006 I did the same thing. I needed a new truck thought I wanted a diesel. Well I bought one and will never look back. Like others have said it is fun to drive and the towing is great. In fact I just bought a Travel Trailer to pull with it (10,000 loaded), more impressed with it now.

 

I'm another one who needed a new truck that could pull. In July '06, I bough my first diesel (the one in my sig). I love how I can let the truck idle in 6th gear going down my street at 30 mph with a 5500# trailer. It seems that it could do that all day long without getting tired. Also, highway towing is a dream. I set the cruise at 70 in 6th gear, and it doesn't care if the road is level, or going up a steep hill, it just keeps going like nothing has changed.

So, if you need the strength to tow, get a diesel - and make it a Cummins.

 

I drove a 87 suburban, 350, TBI. It got 10-12 mpg. I paid $75 a week for gas. Now I pay $50 a week and can go almost twice as far with the pedal all the way down I always wanted a diesel 4x4 dually with a stick but was somewhat persuaded by a friend to go chevy. Well I saw my truck, the one in my sig, drove it once and loved it!! It is not what I wanted to a tee but it is probably the best purchase I've ever made.
Go with diesel.

 

I did a outfitted elk hunt one time. We loaded 3 horses on the trailer and pulled them up the mountain with authority. I had never seen such raw torque at work. It was "the mighty cummins 5.9" in all her glory. I was hooked. I pull a 24tt for trips. If you pull or work the truck hard, a gasser is like doing lawn work with real old folks. It just seems to be such a strain. Get a real truck engine. You will never go back to gassers.

 

When it came time to get a new truck, in my mind I thought about a diesel.
The DW wasnt so keen on the idea until we talked to a dealer.
He asked what we were going to pull with it. We told him and when she was shown the capacity of the diesel, she said" Maybe we should get one"
My heart leaped and we got the best and last truck Ill ever own.
Personally, I like the fact that it will pull just about anything that I could hook to it.

 

its fun to go up a hill faster than u can come down it also.