I have always been a fan of diesels as my dad was a dump truck driver. Now that I have one of my own (95 CTD), I will never go back. I also have a Ramcharger with a 318. It doesn't have near the power and has worse efficiency than the Cummins. It is also nice to know that I can tow pretty much anything I want to.

 

Heck I just wish I could drive my truck. I had to put my truck in storage when I transferred over here to the USS Kitty Hawk in Japan. Work or fun I would just love to drive my truck. At least I am saving money for parts while I am over here.

 

....bump....

 

i like many others in this thread bought mine for fun. i really dont have a need for it, and could very well have bought a gasser truck and have fun with it. the reason why i chose a CTD to have fun with is be cause they last longer than gas vehicles, are louder than gassers, and when i move out of my apartment and get my own house this is the truck i would want.

 

I have a good justification.

I make trips around the west coast multiple times a year. Ten or a eleven big trips a year, ranging anywhere from 8 to 26 hours one way. The reason is quad(ATV) racing, which forces me to haul anything from a 16 foot flatbed to a 36 foot gooseneck race trailer.

Those are just the planned trips, there are many other semi-local motocross/desert races which are within an hour or two.

Before we bought this truck, we had to travel in either a beat up 91 Dodge CTD dually(kind of), or have people haul the quads for us, and drive up in my Mustang.

I'd say it's justified.

BUT, of course, I still drive it for fun all the time......like said, many absolutely pointless drives are made

 

I live in a condo...

I own my own business and spend most of my time working on computers...

I probably fit the bill of the exact opposite of someone who needs a big dodge diesel, but I just couldn't justify spending $30+ grand on an SUV or truck with a gas motor that gets 12 miles per gallon. I use the truck for stuff sometimes, but for the most part, I absolutely don't need anything bigger then a car.

 

I'm no different than a farmer,rancher,RVer,homeowner or whoever,a pickup is just a handy thing to have.I've owned one for many years.I like the way you sit up higher and straighter in a truck.Sure they ride rougher but the driving position is more comfortable.My last Dakota pulled my travel trailer fine and did an all around good job but I wanted to try a diesel.So I bought a 12V and right away a gal of diesel went from .30 less to .30 more than gasoline.So you guys can blame me for the price increase!But even with the increase I like my Cummins.I pull my trailer 4 or 5 times a year and haul gravel,mulch,topsoil,sand etc for family and neighbors as needed.The rest of the time it's my daily driver and since I'm retired that's not all that much.I really enjoy the looks I get when I pull into a campground with "Big Red"[As my grandson calls it] and they ask about my new Dodge and I tell them it's 9 yrs old.Makes me feel all "warm and cuddly" inside.

 

I will to a little bit from time to time with either of my trucks, and the 3500 is great for running to get mulch or gravel b/c of the amount of weight it can hold in the bed. Its also good for taking stuff to the dump when I miss the trash pickup... lol.

However the 3500 is also my daily driver. So I guess I own it more for "fun", which is what I voted for, but I do occasionally load it up with stuff in the bed or tow every once in a while.

 

I bought mine because my wife said not to...............

No, just kidding. I'll fess up, I just like the rattle, it is therapeutic.

Its also the biggest reason I had to have a P-Pumped truck.

Oh sure, I haul a race car, and I have had the springs crying for mercy on occasion, but by and large this part of the country is flooded with 3/4 and 1 ton gas farm trucks that can be bought dirt cheap........ So the decision to go to the bank and borrow money on a 10 year old truck was done with mental therapy in mind, not reason.

Hey, I wonder if I could deduct my loan interest on next years taxes..... after all, it is a direct expense related to therapy.

 

I had a 1500 QC and even towing a 12 foot trailer with a few quads on it I wasn't impressed. We are looking at a toy hauler down the road but currently it's just a manvan.

 

I remember driving my '86 Chevy 1/2 ton with my slide-in camper down I-90. The big Dodges pulling 35' fifths were passing me. My leg was cramping up from trying to push the gas pedal through the firewall. I said to the wife, "Honey, I gotta get one of those." So I did.

 

Mainly as a commuter but there are really 2 reasons.

1. I can only afford 1 4-wheeled vehicle
2. A pickup truck is, in my opinion, the most versatile vehicle on the road!
2a. The diesel just adds to the versatility
2b. The sound of the diesel making power is almost as soothing as the roar of my Harleys :-)

 

Have to raise my hand here...

I went from a Chevy Blazer, and was going tobuy a truck to move my quad, other stuff around. Brother sold me on his '03 CTD, and pointed out fuel economy vs. gas jobbers. The next weekend I found my baby a mere 2 hours away via internet, picked it up that Wednesday, and they lived happily ever after

 

I borrowed my truck from a friend when my Park Avenue was in the shop...the car rental only had wee lil' cars and i don't do little...I want metal around me if i have a wreck...

Needless to say, i sold my car.....talked my friend into selling me the truck...and i was hooked from there....

I do use it though....i have a ranch and it works hard for me....I also enjoy driving it into Dallas.....the wee lil' cars seems to get out of my way for some strange smoking reason...