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Forum » Diesel or gas truck for towing 5th wheel
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Thread: Diesel or gas truck for towing 5th wheel

post 1636708723 04-20-2021, 08:20 PM
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Diesel or gas truck for towing 5th wheel

Anyone with truck/towing knowledge have any recommendations? I'd be towing a 5th wheel that weighs just under 9000 pounds empty, so probably closer to 11000 pounds when considering gear and passengers. I'm looking at a Silverado 3500 HD, but wondering whether it's worth it to pony up the additional $10k for a diesel over a gas. The gas version spec has a max 5th wheel towing capacity of around 17000 pounds, and diesel is something like 35000 pounds. Towing area will mostly be mountains out west.
post 1636709083 04-20-2021, 08:26 PM
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Diesel

/thread
post 1636709283 04-20-2021, 08:29 PM
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Originally Posted By knightofday⏩
Diesel

/thread
Thanks man. Have a few minutes to explain why? An extra $10k is a lot, but I'm willing to do it if it's really worth it.
post 1636723823 04-21-2021, 12:41 AM
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If you're towing in the mountains, diesel hands down. I have quite a bit of experience towing car haulers in that weight range and the newest gas 3/4-1 ton trucks do okay at lower altitudes on flat ground pulling 10k. Once you hit the mountains and you're climbing the front range in CO with weight behind you the turbocharged diesels have a huge advantage. The gas isn't even close at altitude. Plus the diesel will get 2-3 mpg better while towing.
post 1636724143 04-21-2021, 12:50 AM
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Originally Posted By coffey06⏩
Thanks man. Have a few minutes to explain why? An extra $10k is a lot, but I'm willing to do it if it's really worth it.
Diesel is for men
Gas is for *******s
post 1636724443 04-21-2021, 12:59 AM
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The Deiseal will get much better fuel mileage when towing. That gas engine is going to get like 4 mpg.


I tried towing a medium sized trailer with a twin turbo 6 cylinder. Never again.
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post 1636734723 04-21-2021, 07:07 AM
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If you are towing any kind of distance quite frequently go with the Diesel, pulling a 9000lb trailer with a gas engine won't be fun, especially in the mountains. I pull our 29ft travel trailer with a dodge 2500 gas, the chassis handles it fine but the engine is definitely working. We towed the same trailer with a buddies ram 3500 diesel and it was day and night difference. I don't think the diesel downshifted once and got the same fuel mileage that my ram 2500 gas without the trailer behind it. A diesel will get much better fuel mileage and actually be enjoyable to tow with. It is worth it, you'll get the 10K back in resale value.
post 1636735623 04-21-2021, 07:25 AM
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Brb diesal will alwayss have the towing power. But also brb doing injectors etc worth 1000s every coupla yeara. Any $ you saved on mpg with diesal never equals out with their insane costs to fix.


Love diesals but im a gas job guy and any v8 on earth will tow any 5th wheel just fine. Im done 20,000 kms towing a 5th wheel with my 1 ton gas trucks (vortech 6.0si n them).
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post 1636736843 04-21-2021, 07:46 AM
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If you plan to do any decent amount of towing nothing can compare to a diesel

Much cheaper to run, substantially more powerful. Holds its value way better then a gas truck
RON PAUL 2012
post 1636736963 04-21-2021, 07:47 AM
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Originally Posted By AVOJAMACADA⏩
Brb diesal will alwayss have the towing power. But also brb doing injectors etc worth 1000s every coupla yeara. Any $ you saved on mpg with diesal never equals out with their insane costs to fix.


Love diesals but im a gas job guy and any v8 on earth will tow any 5th wheel just fine. Im done 20,000 kms towing a 5th wheel with my 1 ton gas trucks (vortech 6.0si n them).
You also live way the fook up north, gas trucks are much nicer in the cold
RON PAUL 2012
post 1636737063 04-21-2021, 07:49 AM
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Great input, thanks guys.
post 1636739333 04-21-2021, 08:23 AM
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Easily pull 5th wheel 9000-10000 lbs with my 2500 Silverado. However, if you are towing in mountains definitely spend the extra for the diesel.
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post 1636747163 04-21-2021, 10:17 AM
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I have towed a 7000lb travel trailer with a Toyota Tundra and now I tow a 14,000lb fifth wheel with a Diesel RAM 3500 DRW. Obviously, it's a day/night difference. The diesel just handles the weight so well--especially in tows that take me through the mountains.

I would think a gas-powered 3500HD Silverado would have the necessary payload available to tow what you're proposing, but I would double check. The issue most people run into when towing is exceeding their payload, not their tow rating. One good thing about a gas-powered engine is that it will use less of your payload than a heavy ass diesel motor. But I would still verify just to be sure.
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post 1636747903 04-21-2021, 10:27 AM
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I would never tow a 5th wheel with a gas truck
post 1636748203 04-21-2021, 10:30 AM
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Diesel if you can afford it.
post 1636748723 04-21-2021, 10:39 AM
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Wouldn’t even waste money on a 5th wheel setup on a gasser


Diesel 100%
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post 1636753363 04-21-2021, 11:39 AM
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Lols^^ diesals obvs have more power and torque but the frames the same virtually. A tad heavier with a diesal engine but any 2500/3500 truck,gas or diesal, will tow whatever you throw at it in terms of control of the truck and trailer.The gasser will gear up more and lose 10km/hr up hills and have 1-3 mess mgp.iterally the only differences.

Love diesals but lol @ thinking a v8 gas job wont get done whatevers thrown at it.
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post 1636753703 04-21-2021, 11:43 AM
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The powerband of a diesel engine is ridiculous, soo much torque... and I always thought people chose gas engines in HD trucks if they generally drove more miles vs. towed things
post 1636753813 04-21-2021, 11:44 AM
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If towing is your big concern you want a diesel. There's a good reason why all the big haulers are diesels.
post 1636753853 04-21-2021, 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted By SouthDakotaBrah⏩
The powerband of a diesel engine is ridiculous, soo much torque... and I always thought people chose gas engines in HD trucks if they generally drove more miles vs. towed things
A gasoline engine is perfect for a tradie truck, it's all on what you're doing.
post 1636754513 04-21-2021, 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted By AVOJAMACADA⏩
Lols^^ diesals obvs have more power and torque but the frames the same virtually. A tad heavier with a diesal engine but any 2500/3500 truck,gas or diesal, will tow whatever you throw at it in terms of control of the truck and trailer.The gasser will gear up more and lose 10km/hr up hills and have 1-3 mess mgp.iterally the only differences.

Love diesals but lol @ thinking a v8 gas job wont get done whatevers thrown at it.
yeah, people really overstate how necessary diesels are cause the frame/suspension/brakes are more important imo and those are all upgradeable

it's nice not having the truck working at 90% going up grades but unless you're on grade for the bulk of the driving it's a bit of a waste. i tow my truck on a flatbed trailer with a gasser out to the desert up some grades and the reality is you just grab a gear and slow down a bit for a few minutes, it's not like you're crawling up at 5mph..

i guess if money wasn't an object i'd just buy the diesel and be done with it though
post 1636754973 04-21-2021, 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted By AVOJAMACADA⏩
Brb diesal will alwayss have the towing power. But also brb doing injectors etc worth 1000s every coupla yeara. Any $ you saved on mpg with diesal never equals out with their insane costs to fix.


Love diesals but im a gas job guy and any v8 on earth will tow any 5th wheel just fine. Im done 20,000 kms towing a 5th wheel with my 1 ton gas trucks (vortech 6.0si n them).
Doing injectors every couple of year? Tf you talking about
Thanks for your input, you frauding fat slampig-Sirfapsalot '20

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post 1636755073 04-21-2021, 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted By Mike1991⏩
If you plan to do any decent amount of towing nothing can compare to a diesel

Much cheaper to run,substantially more powerful. Holds its value way better then a gas truck
You must have an older diesel. Nowadays diesels are more expensive by a fair amount.
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post 1636755373 04-21-2021, 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted By ChrisLS8⏩
Doing injectors every couple of year? Tf you talking about
This lmao

Sounds like cope for not buying a diesel
post 1636757083 04-21-2021, 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted By GooBaaa⏩
This lmao

Sounds like cope for not buying a diesel
Worked for ford for years and did maybe a handful of injectors. Once because the dude put gas in his diesel truck and once the ex wife tossed sugar in his tank.

Did lots of fleet work with trucks with 300-500k miles no injector replacements. And they definitely don't cost thousands lol
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post 1636757403 04-21-2021, 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted By ChrisLS8⏩
Worked for ford for years and did maybe a handful of injectors. Once because the dude put gas in his diesel truck and once the ex wife tossed sugar in his tank.

Did lots of fleet work with trucks with 300-500k miles no injector replacements. And they definitely don't cost thousands lol
I bullet proofed my 6.0, got larger Injectors, a slightly bigger turbo at 150k and it just crossed 300k mark and still hauling ass

My buddy just got a brand new F350 dually to haul his 5th wheel camper around and it handles and pulls it so well, he goes to Tennessee alot so lots of hills and he would never consider a gasser. Yah your gasser will probably tow it but a diesel will just be so much of a smoother drive and having that extra power is always helpful
post 1636757943 04-21-2021, 12:38 PM
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The poster from Yukon spends a lot of time working with heavy machinery so his posts are probably worth reading twice. He probably knows his stuff.

Personally I'd go with an older japanese import like a hilux (diesel) if you are able to locate one.
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post 1636759003 04-21-2021, 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted By ChrisLS8⏩
Worked for ford for years and did maybe a handful of injectors. Once because the dude put gas in his diesel truck and once the ex wife tossed sugar in his tank.

Did lots of fleet work with trucks with 300-500k miles no injector replacements. And they definitely don't cost thousands lol
pretty sure he's thinking of those early 00s.. lb7? lly? duramax motors, they had injector problems from what i remember, not sure if that carried on past that gen
Originally Posted By Tornach⏩
The poster from Yukon spends a lot of time working with heavy machinery so his posts are probably worth reading twice. He probably knows his stuff.

Personally I'd go with an older japanese import like a hilux (diesel) if you are able to locate one.
i'm a toyota fanboy through and through but good luck importing one to the states and regardless, that's not near enough truck for an 11k fifth wheel
post 1636759103 04-21-2021, 12:53 PM
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Originally Posted By GooBaaa⏩
This lmao

Sounds like cope for not buying a diesel
That was my first thought. Sounds like that guy is just trying to justify his gasser purchase “loling” at chit. Anyways I have a 5.9 Cummins and can’t even feel the trailer behind me. 150k and 14 years on mine and haven’t touched the injectors once and it’s running like a dream
post 1636759113 04-21-2021, 12:53 PM
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With no homo sayings like "Diesels are for men"

You're gonna want the diesel, if the reason for purchase is for towing. Gas engines do just fine if it's a couple of times a year for shorter distances, but the mileage on gas engines suck, and if you're going to be towing at any sort of altitude, you're definitely going to want the forced induction (turbo's) that diesels offer.

Also, gasser 3/4 ton and 1 ton trucks have horrible resale value. That alone is reason enough not to buy the gasser. You'll easily make that $10k back on resale if you go with the diesel I promise you.
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