One thing to keep in mind on the Gas vs. Diesel thing is the added cost to maintain them. (2 batteries, more oil, ect.) If you need to replace a starter or a fuel pump, these items are significantly more money than their counterparts for a gas engine.

5000 pounds is not a lot of weight to pull with a truck and most trucks (even half tons) will be fine.

But... There is something that is just downright kickass (can I say that?) about driving a CTD!

I guess there is nothing like the feel being behind the wheel of a truck that will set right down and pull. It's all in the feel. Of course thats just my opinion.

 

I've read the replies to this post and there all good; you can sum it up very quick and easily, just drive one. Find the longest/steepest grade in your area and any diesel (Cummins) will purrrrrr up that thing, on a scale of 1 to 10, just driving you’re at a 10. Towing and hauling will put you to "infinity and beyond"! I'll be cruising the interstate around 68/70 MPH and it's only turning 1750/1800 RPM's, wait until you go off road, the idle alone will get you in and out of the woods; try that in a gasser! It's really going to come down to YOU, don't be afraid to go out and drive from different dealerships then make your decision. I've had both gas and diesel and would really dislike going back to gas! IMHO

 

Change that to fully mechanical P-pumped 12v and you've got my money as well.

 

Been mostly a gasser user all my life. But when it came time to by my first truck I opted for a diesel for it's load pulling power #1. Then I thought better economy was #2. After owning one for a while now I can tell that #1 & #2 are true, but #3 would be no longer hearing a gas engine screaming to pull a load up a hill.

This thing just barely grunts pulling a load at 60+ up any hill and I can still carry on a conversation with the person next to me or listen to the radio in quiet comfort.

 

With a gas truck you hear the engine singing like it's about to explode with those rpms under load, the only thing you hear singing with these cummins is the turbo pulling you up the hill. Put 8klbs behind you and you'll think u have a fat passenger, lol. Only thing i'd reccomend is to get a 5spd, or a built auto. The stock autos leave alot to be desired until the TC locks up. It's like the stock auto is just protecting itself instead of puting the power to the ground, so get a good transmission in there.

 

Traded in the 03 Hemi 2500 (which I loved by the way) for an 06 3500. It is a totally different animal and the Cummins is a beast I bought it to tow heavy and love this one too. Would I go back....NO.

 

Just talked my boss out of a diesel. He asked how he could justify the $7000 price difference and the fact that diesel is at least 30 cents more than gas per gallon. He don't do anything but pull the boat from the house to the ramp and from the ramp back to the house. Only you can decide. In his case, it would not be worth the extra expense.

 

I read the Question & replies & as a Retired Trucker the asker! in attempting to get Answers I had to Tell my Story yrs AGO I started Out Trucking w/ a Big Gas JOB & it did the JOB? but like all Ole Equipment it Finally gave UP the Ghost! & in Desperation!! as I couldn*t afford NEW! I looked at so many Used & Abused trucks I was actually getting ILL I mean to the Point of Throwing UP! Nerves Shot! I didn*t have any MONEY to speak of & MY big Gas Job was DEAD! & after looking at so Many Used Trucks that Were Too Expensive or Beat to Death? I was ready to Give UP! the Ole Owner came to ME & said SON! I have an Ole Diamond "T" Cab over thats the UGLYEST Truck I have ever SEEN! & I have had It for a very Long Time! I*LL give YOU a Special Deal on IT? You take IT & Run It for say? a few Weeks! NO money Down! so You can get back on your Feet! & drop BY & WE will Talk! its OLd & UGLY but it has a Good Running 335 HP diesel Cummins in It! & back then--most Big Rigs had 400 Hp or Better? & to Make any MONEY! I had to Haul more Weight than the Law allowed!-44,000 I hauled 52,000 regually--thats when I feel in LOVE w/ CUMMINS as We ran in Convoys a dozen or more? Trucks in a Train--& late at Night the Big Power Rigs Detroit & Cats Ruled the Super Slab! usually by Passing every body! & considering thier All Ultra Light--w/Aluminum Every thing! ME I*M all Steel & Iron even My Ole Trailer weighed several tons more than theirs did! & back then the Super Slab Speed was 75 MPH ==Legal== & Most Ran at 85 or 90 after Midnight--& there was a Long HILL called KELLYS Mountian--27 Miles of Up Hill in Stages--a Truck Killer!--90 at the Bottom & a Crawl at the TOP! their New Big Rigs All had those Air Dams & Fibre glass Trailers My Diamond looked like a Garrage front Too & My Ole Trailer had Exterior Posts 13 feet High & 22 on each Side NOT what I*d Call Aro-Dinaic<selling?--nothing You would Test in a Wind Tunnel! I did have It Serviced & An Ole Guy tuned it UP for ME!--Run HER at 2300 instead of 2100 & YOU should See a Diffeance? & Don*t WORRY! Shes a CUMMINS & She Won*t Blow UP!--His QUOTE! Diive HER!--I loaded UP & forgot all about the Ole Guy tunnng it UP? until I got on that Long Flat just before Kellys Mountian where I put the Metal to the Floor! & Passed a Couple--WOW! Shes Running Pretty Good! then Gaining on Another! Swush!! Passed Him--& One by One I passed E*M ALL! YEH! thats the DAY! I learned CUNMMINS Built the Best Diesel Engines in This WORLD! & I stayed w/ Cummins ever Since! as WE all Know there are Some Good Diesl Engines out There! but Cummins is the BEST in my Opinion! & thats ALL that Counts w/ME! Enough SAID--Ole JIM--