First off ... my '01 has been a pleasure to drive. But sometime I will need to go to a newer tow vehicle. I always worry about having to replace my VP44 IP. I'm trying to do the numbers to justify a new(er) CTD. But I do know that a 1500 hemi will certainly pull my 5000llb RV also. I don't know what kind of mileage the gas trucks get to compare. I'm also a little afraid of the stories I've heard that the newer CTDs have given up the good fuel mileage. I now get 16.5 diesel mpg towing. I wonder what the gas guys would get in the same mode? Anybody seen a web page that has the comparative calculations?

 

I can tell you gassers will drop a lot more towing than a diesel will. I have pulled a bumper pull trailer loaded totaling about 6K with my '99 ram 1500 and fuel mileage dropped from an empty average of around 14 mpg to less than 8 mpg. The same trailer and load with the 3500 CTD and mileage dropped a minor amount. If you tow a lot stay with the diesel. If you tow rarely and most of the driving is empty then a gasser may be the better choice.

 

If you do a lot of towing you just cant beat a diesel, i have tried both, my 06 Ram so far is the best I have owned, for power and mileage, I have got 76,000 on the speedo so far and about 50,000 of that is towing, only 9000 to 9500 lbs I guess thats the best thing of being retired, all we do is travel.

 

For what its worth. We have a 2500 QC 4x4 with a hemi at work. I think its an 07. It carries about 1000 lbs of equipment everyday and pulls a 4000lb trailer during the mowing season. I have never seen it get above 14mpg.

 

I would stick with diesel. One, reason, far more options to run a diesel on than a gas truck. My wife's Durango has the 5.7L Hemi and only weighs around 5K lbs. I tend to get better mileage in my truck than she does, and it weighs 2k lbs or more more than her Durango. We have never needed to tow yet with the Durango but I think the mileage would really suck if we did.

 

I will never go back to Gas . My crew cab chevy only got 10 mpg empty and as bad as 4 mpg loaded. with a 10K trailer. my 01 dodge gets 10-11 mpg towing my 16900 # 5er

 

X2.....there is really no comparison. I'll never go back to a gasser.

 

Got 6 to 7 with a Dodge V10 pulling a 16,000 fiver. Average 12.7 pulling the same rig over much more rugged terrain than I would have tried with the gasser. Much stronger on grades without the engine hurting my ears screaming. Costs more to buy the diesel, but resale is higher, repairs lower, longevity longer.

Bob

 

Heres another way to consider changes. You know the truck you have. Its proven to be a good truck to you. Changing out a VP-44 and improving the fuel system is not going to break the bank. Pumps can be purchased for under 1500.00. If the truck works for you, keep it and do the improvements as needed. Keeps money in the bank. Otherwise, if the need is to change out...all models have their quirks but all can be dealt with.
To consider a gas engine truck would be better addressed on a gas truck site and I bet you will find that some of the owners regret their choice. I had one V-10. FiverBob did better then I did for mpg.
You have already absorbed the depreciation and have a truck that does the job for what you have.
Just another way to look at it.

Scotty

 

I would do word for word what Scotty just said. Even if you spend $5000 really fixing up what you have, it's nothing compared to even a new gasser at $20k plus

 

I had a 1999 Suburban 1500, 350 V8, towing my #6300 lb boat. I would consistently get 8-9 mpg towing the boat. It was 325-350 miles per 40 gallons, the Suburban had an oversized tank and really needed it when towing.

Two other items you need to think about.

1) Every suburban (1500), the rear end would need overhauling around 50k.

2) The other think I really hated was I could rarely use cruise control. The suburban would downshift on overpasses when cruise was engaged, no power. I could not use Overdrive because the thing would just bog down. I towed 65-70 mph and still tow at the same speed but set cruise and forget it with the Ram. The Ram gets 12-14 MPG towing the same boat also.

I have 78k on my Ram and will never go back to a half ton or gasser.

 

"1) Every suburban (1500), the rear end would need overhauling around 50k. "

That's not true. I've know many people with Suburbans and none have ever had rear end issues, ever, with hundreds of thousands of miles.

 

I have to admit I put 330,000 trouble free miles on my 98 GMC 3/4 ton. It was an auto, 350 (heavy duty I was told). But it didn't have near the towing capacity and fuel economy that the Cummins does.

 

well I stand corrected.

I should have said my 1995 Suburban needed a rear end overhaul at 50k and my 1999 Suburban needed a rear end overhaul at 50k but every other Suburban most likely will not have any problems.

Actually the 1995 was pretty good. The 1999 was not impressive, transmission, heads, front suspension and on and on. I even had to replace ALL the door lock solenoids and (3) electric window motors. .

I am glad someone had a good one. I still think towing with a half ton is not a real good idea, JMO.

 

Mine was a PU , and the parts man told me it was a special heavy duty version when I went to buy a dipstick. It was also 3/4 ton.