I love how you guys say Zed and decals. I'm seriously considering a dually with a truck camper. I'm planning on buying a small travel trailer but I like the idea of less hassles with a truck camper.
The truck camper will get you further of the grid but it also limits you for moving about and sightseeing while on your trip unless you tow a small car behind you and that’s the draw for me I can tow my fishing boat with me
If you can do without leather you can get 1-2yr old tradesman dually diesel crew cab for $40-$45k. You can add an aftermarket nav radio for cheap and air bags in the rear for under $500. New is nice but not efficient spending.
Or jump back another year or so and get a fully loaded Laramie crew with 100k miles and deleted. What I am doing. Checking on the 2014 Laramie 4x4 crew on my days off. $35,000 with aftermarket bumpers, side steps and tuned.
Great comparison. You couldn’t have planned it any better if you wanted to! Thanks to Randy as well! Merry Christmas to you, Rebecca and all your subscribers.
The engine braking you experience is that in Tow/Haul mode, tapping the brake pedal causes the transmission to 1) lock up the torque converter, and 2) downshift. Which is exactly like gearing down in a straight shift (this is described in your owners manual). The diesel exhaust brake literally blocks off the exhaust and almost shuts off the fuel, and the engine becomes a big compressor, providing the resistance and braking similar to what you experience with the gas engine..
I've had both, and love my single cab Diesel Chevy, has over 350,000 KLm, and has never let me down. Only thing I would say, it's much easier to find gas everywhere, where I need to plan if going to far into the back country or travel to remote places at night. Wishing you 2 a Wonderful Christmas, and the best adventures in the new year. ( also, explain the doggy? )
Loving your blog. Traveling to Jasper with my Arctic Fox 908 2015 driving my 450 Ford XL diesel dually crew cab. Drives like a dream without feeling the heavy camper. Think you would love my “bad boy.” I’m a 5 ft. 73 year old grandma who loves to travel!
Great Job and I agree 100%. Was pulling my fifth wheel up a 8% grade mountain pass in the US Western Rockies once with my old gas Ford and could not get out of first gear. Got to the campground and asked a diesel rig driver pulling a camper similar to mine who went through the same pass. I asked how slow he had to go with the diesel. He looked at me kind of funny and said, "Fifty five". I turned to my wife and said, "As soon as we get back, we are trading up for a diesel!" I now use a one ton RAM to pull my 35' fifth wheel and it works great. Even in the mountains as we went to some higher elevations last year. My buddy with a 3/4 ton Duramax said he had some trouble at higher elevations on a trip he made the same year. You might want to keep that in mind on performance of various diesel engines at higher elevations.
I too enjoy your stories and great minds think alike. In 2017 before I found your channel, I bought a GMC 4 door Duramax Denali SINGLE rear wheel and the 990 knowing I would be at least 2000 lb over weight. That was 21,000 miles ago and the set up is amazing. I have never had an issue with anything. The handling of the truck holds the road through the sharpest curves, goes up the steepest passes with more power than I need and down with no fear between the Allison Transmission and the exhaust brake.I decided to add a heavier overload pack to be on the safe side but it mostly eliminated the sag. My outfit goes down the road effortlessly at 80 miles an hour and gets right at 12 MPG (USA) and empty has achieved 22 MPG driven conservatively. I am not over my axle rating and right at the tire weight limit. I inspect the tires routinely and the stock Goodyears have held up well. I have a Super Hitch and have towed a 14 ft cargo trailer and my 250 SeaRay however, I emptied the water to balance the tung weight. I got 11 MPG and drove over 3 mountain passes with no fear or problems. The Duramax Denali Arctic Fox is really a smooth, efficient and fast combination.The only problem I had was elliminated by installing factory cameras in the side mirrors and one on top of the camper, I even have one that goes on the back of the boat or trailer that I use as a rear view on the touch screen while moving forward. I am aware that I am over my limits so please don't lecture me. I researched this set up enough that I don't have any fear nor do I have a dually. Sadly, the thing I underestimated most was the truck is a poor daily driver. It gets 6-8 around town because it never warms up, is a rough ride and you need a football field to turn around(although I turned around with camper inside of a Canadian ferry!). DEF has also been a pain, not only is it hard to find at the pump, the filler is in the engine compartment on the opposite side of the fuel fill so it is a cluster to fill.Otherwise, this is a really versatile set up and should perform well for decades(campers always outlast non camper trucks because they get mostly highway miles). The diesel is a blast to drive and the Denali is like a Cadillac literally! Keep it up Taylor
Have always wanted to know the difference between diesel and gas, so thank you for putting this video together. Wanting to visit VI so added bonus! Take care!
When I had my cabover back in the 1990 I put shocks on the cabover. The way it works is the shocks mounted from the front corner of the cabover down to the truck.that help out on the rocking from front to back.
My Class A gas motor home has a Tow/Haul button that does what you describe for engine braking. If it's turned on, a press of the brake makes it downshift and stay in that gear. Press the brake again and it downshifts again. Without that Tow/Haul feature enabled it would require too much braking going down mountains. Handy! Thanks for a great video, Taylor!
I really enjoyed this video. Keep up with these, please. I am heading into full time camper living next few years so great interest for me. Thank you both. My very best to everyone involved in producing this.
Define best. If you want to know what type of motor can pull the most, diesel no doubt. However, hauling a truck camper is different. My AF990 weighs in at 5100 lbs. I bought a RAM 3500 dually Hemi 6.4L with the new 8 speed transmission. The hemi gets the job done easily and it costs a lot less. I can buy a lot of gas with the $10K US I saved. My truck is quieter and smoother than a diesel. Also, I don't need to go far to get into the sticks. Once there I park and don't move for a couple of days. I figured I would need to put 150,000 miles on my truck to justify getting a diesel. I figured I would never do that so I stayed with the gasser. BTW, the new 8 speed transmission is smooth and shifts quickly. Meanwhile, gas is easier to find. Maintenance is easier and more familiar. Yes, my gas mileage sucks but part of the problem is that I rarely drive on freeways. Usually I am driving on national forest roads where I always need to speed up and slow down and going up and down over hills. I had doubts whether I made the right decision for the first month after I put on the camper but now I know I was right after seeing how I use the truck and camper.
Great review!! great comparison!!One more ting to consider in cost is maintenance.Gas is much cheaper to maintain and gas repairs considerably lower than diesel.Emissions components, fuel Injectors, and fuel pump are a common failure on diesel and cost thousands.Well done. Thanks Taylor
The payload is also very dependent on the cab configuration. I have a crew cab with diesel and my last two trucks have been diesels. HD trucks with gas just work too hard. As long as you don't exceed the tire capacity and axles rating, they will haul a lot.
Great video. I laugh at all of the diesel fans. Having had a new 2005 F350, $7500 premium paid for diesel and HD trans.. 5 years later and 10k miles out of warranty experienced the 6.0L head gasket failure. $5500 repair bill...you do the math...Won't fool me twice. Live story from the trenches, not the armchair.
@@johnpatterson1575 ...... the EGR's are not that bad.....its the DEF system that is killing the diesel engines. i have a 2013 GMC and it was the def that caused all the problems that made me do a full delete
I had a gasser pulling a travel trailer and recently went to a diesel. There is no comparison. Everyone was telling me that I don't need one and there more expensive and more problems. Untill you drive both for 1000's of miles diesel is they way to go! I had the 6.4 hemi now the Cummins and I would never want to go back.
It's amazing how relax you arrive at your destination when you drive a diesel. I didn't realize how much stress a gasser creates when you are hauling a load until I bought a diesel. Standing up in your seat trying to get that gasser over a grade or trying to pass or getting on to the freeway is very stressful.
All said in done Taylor, in my opinion the reg cab dually still the best looking truck built, when the reg dually age they sell as rare, plus don’t knock the gas engine, we’re not all filthy rich to afford diesel repairs, you have an amazing Rig!
I struggled with this decision but I'm telling you I have the solution. Single rear wheel GAS 3500 silverado with timbrens and upgraded 4500# rims and 4080# tires. Arctic fox 811 and rides really really well. No sway, plenty of power. No dually. I'm here to tell you it works and rides incredible.
Great video I have a 2019 Northern Lite 10-2 Ex CD SE. I haul w a 2006 F250 Amarillo Crew Cab Long Bed. Airbags. Tork Lift Overloads. And a 6.0L Diesal. I absolutely love the Diesal. Such a breeze to drive. Even my 06 has the Jake brake feature when in tow mode. Parking is rarely an issue.
Great job, but not really apples to apples, he paid MUCH more and of course he has more torque and better MPG. I also have a diesel and paid nearly 100 grand for a 2022 Dodge quad cab, limited, with Aisin transmission but I get 13.2 MPG average carrying a Northern lite 10.2 Limited.
As I suspected, there are 2 sides to the issue of gas v. diesel just like there are different camps on which brand truck is best...Ford, Chevy, Dodge. What it comes down to is what is best for you and your situation. I think you made the right choice in a gasser because you are requiring more payload than towing capacity and the trade-off of paying an added $40k doesn't make sense for the 2-3 MPG you'd get with a diesel (not to mention you are paying up to an extra 20-30cents per gallon for diesel). Again, it depends on what you plan to use the truck for, but I think you made the right choice.
Thank You Very Much! That was an excellent comparison, yes it wasn't perfect but all comparisons have room for error. You couldn't have had a better set up. Please thank Randy for us. I'd love to try his BNB. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Taylor! Hope to catch up with you sometime!
Hi Taylor, If you want to get rid of most of that front to back and side to side swaying try the torklift leaf spring load stabilizer, no drilling required kit. Air bag leak and have to be checked all the time unless you get the auto fill system. I love the torklift system for a lot less money. I have a 2008 GMC 3/4 ton long bed crew cab with a Lance camper and what a difference it made. Something to look into.
Air bags don't leak if they've been installed correctly. Every 18 wheeler has airbags, it's not like it's exotic technology. I've had air bags on four trucks since 1996 and none of them have ever required maintenance.
@@buckhorncortez I have a set of Firestone airbags but one developed a leak next to the metal plate on top. I've not been able to repair it so the money I paid is down the drain. I'm lucky I don't need to balance my camper (I only used about ten pounds of air) with the bags.
Your Gas 3500 uses the transmission gears to slow you down. Where Randy's likely uses the VVG Variable Vain Geometry. To slow down by increasing the back pressure in the exhaust. Chelsea Cummins designed slowing down of the truck by using interrupting the fueling cycles. He had left Cummins at that time and Jacobs was the one who bought the design called (Jake Brake).
Taylor, just found your channel. Love the videos. Very informational. Love what you did with gas vs diesel. Your keys points and my research is why I won’t buy another diesel because of truck cost and diesel cost. The miles per gallon just don’t add up. Also DEF is the main reason I got rid of my last diesel. It was always having problems. Love the Arctic Fox Truck camper. I believe the best built camper on the market. Keep up what you’re doing Taylor!!!!!
I have s 2002 chevy 2500hd 6.0, swr cc and average 12.5 mpg loaded with a 3000lbs slide in. That's was through the mountians in Alaska. 10 mpg with city driving with camper on it.
Great Review! I have a Lance 855s that I use on my 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Resistol. When I first got the camper I had Timbrins on the truck. I also have ranch hand bumpers. I did not like how it rode. The roll and teter especially on poor roads was unacceptable to me. I went in steps and wound up with 5000lb coil springs on the front, 4200lb leaf springs on the back with air lift air bags and onboard compressor with remote operation to adjust the bags on demand. The truck rides like a dream now and is even better when pulling a trailer with a bit of weight. I get around 12 MPG
Excellent comparison. I used to tow my 30ft travel trailer RV with a 1/2 ton truck with gas engine. It would easily hit 4500rpm climbing mountains in Arizona and the weight and incline would sometimes drag the speed down to 30mph with much of the climb accomplished in 2nd gear. The gas mileage was about 8.5mpg average. I switched to a Ram 2500 with 6.7L Cummins and wow, the truck rarely downshifted out of "6th" gear, even during hill climbs while towing. The diesel truck easily accelerated to my cruize set speed and rarely left it even with high grade mountain climbs. The diesel just seem to hardly work at all often cruizing at 60-65mph speeds with little more than 1600rpm. It's like the diesel wasn't aware I was even towing anything. The mileage was like 12.5 - 13mpg getting 10.5mpg even while towing through the mountains. The difference was night and day. Never want a gas truck again. If you have a powerful gas engine producing 450ft/lbs of torgue, my diesel is cranking out 800ft/lbs!
I haul a AF990 camper too. I agree that a diesel can pull more but it hauls less and cost so much more that I would need to go 150,000 miles to break even. I bought a ram with a 6.4L hemi and 8 speed transmission. My gas mileage suck but I rarely drive on the freeway. Forest roads require a lot of speeding up and slowing down and that kills gas mileage. I like the 8 speed transmission.. my truck is never stressed. Btw, my track and camper weigh 12820 lbs a diesel would put me close to the limit of 14000 lbs.
I know this is an older video - but noticed you commented on stepping on brake and watching RPM go up on your truck. that's because the Torque Converter clutch disengages and allows slip between engine and transmission when you hit the brakes - as it does when you stop. very similar to pushing the clutch in on a manual. you wouldn't normally want to do that, as that slipping shears the oil in the transmission and generates a lot more transmission heat. my dad was an ASE Certified mechanic at a GM dealership for 45 years before retiring - I learned a thing or two.
In a gasser the throttle body closes and it slows you down because the transmission is turning the engine and the pistons are pulling against the vacuum that's created by the closed throttle. An exhaust brake works by stopping the air at the turbo so the exhaust stroke has to push against all the air and compression which slows you down
Hi Taylor, interesting comparison. I know diesel is a little more expensive then gas here in Alberta so the little less miles per gallon in the gas truck might work out cheaper. 4 door sure is nice tho. Merry Christmas and KLTD Keep Living That Dream.
Its all about TCO total cost of ownership. I have had both gas and diesel if your driving 20k a year go gas if your driving 40k a year go diesel both trucks will give you 10 years of service. One other point given the same size tank those extra miles per tank on the diesel when your hauling a big trailer or 5th wheel is really nice when you pass a few fuel stations and just tank up at truck stops where there is lots of room to get in and out.
@soaringtractor If you tow 7k plus a day there is a big difference and lets not talk about wear and tear a gas engine gets real tired at 150k after towing daily after the owner had to rebuild the transmission a few times while many diesels have known to hit a million miles with transmissions rebuilds at 500k some making the full million.
@@markrich3271 the oncle of my partner of work have a 2002 Dodge ram 2500 with de 5.9L diesel and his engin have 680,800 miles. Never think to do this milage with a gaz truck.
DIESEL! I bought my 2009 3500HD Duramax in 2009 specifically to haul my AF 811. I have NEVER regretted the amount of power the Duramax has during my travels, hauling my AF and towing at the same time.
If you're doing a lot of hauling and you are, the diesel would have been the better pick, yes the exorbitant price gap is the killer, like 10K.just for the diesel. That's a lot of fuel. But it will do the job much better. If you're only towing or hauling a short bit, one can get away with a gasser as you have. The Diesel is a nice luxury but not a necessity.T ext cab tho is imo a necessity. With that said, it's a really nice luxury. Btw great video! Merry Christmas
Great video , great guy Randy . Very informative. Though I think the Mpg wouldn't make a difference in pocket due the higher Diesel price you ending paying about the same 10.6mpg diesel vs 8pmg gas
If you're a full-time RVer; commercial hotshot driver; the diesel makes more sense. If you're a guy like me who's truck is unladen 90% of the time, and gasser is the best choice, especially in cold climates and shorter commutes.
Before I retired, I put 25,000 miles per year on my truck even though I was in a van pool. Now I seldom have more than 4,000 miles on my truck AND my Jeep Wrangler in a year. The diesel no longer makes sense since I don't drive it enough to keep it in good condition. My next truck will be a gas powered unit.
What everyone seems to be missing here is that diesel motors will out last gas motors. Nothing like diesel for torque when pulling. I will stick with diesel every time. How many remember when diesel fuel was cheaper than gas too? It became popular so there is the price hike.
My 2018 Ram 3500 CUMMINS with AISIN gets 800 plus k per tank on highway with camper on. The 6.4 Liter Hemi would be lucky get 400. No comparison still have plenty of payload as well. 2500 however with diesel you have no payload, stick with one ton
I have basically the same diesel truck (2016 model). I have hauled my Northern Lite camper across the country and back a couple times. I love the truck! Everything you said about it is true. However, I average better mileage for some reason. I have 31,000 miles on mine with a 13.5 MPG average. And I sometimes tow a boat behind! Can't beat the diesel for power and longevity. Anyway, good video, thanks.
Great video! So many choices and options to take into consideration. I think it really comes down to what do "you" need in a truck. Either choice is great depending on your needs etc... Thanks Taylor & Merry Christmas!
just remember where the power is made for each engine. diesel is much lower, torque is king. they de-fuel around 3300rpm. gas makes all its horsepower at high rpms. notice where the redline is on the gas engine, ~6500rpm or so i believe on the 6.0 gasser. don't be afraid to let er rip!
It is amazing to me, I just started looking at RV and truck camper life, that a truck and camper gets the same gas milage as a Class C. How did 10 miles to the gallon become, oh that is just the way it is, even in 2025. The price of a home compared to the nomad life...I just can not wrapped my head around the living the last years of my life spending on no return.
Great Video Taylor, thats why we drive a Class B campervan with a Diesel engine. Fuel consumption nearly 24 miles/gallon. 🤣🤣🤣 Greetings from Germany. Dirk
@soaringtractor I just drove my 2006 Sprinter from Oregon to New Orleans getting 24mpg @70mph. Went up any mountain pass with the cruise control on without downshifting. You don't really know what you're talking about.
@soaringtractor Triggered much by Europeans? I'm willing to bet that his camper will most certainly drive well on American mountainous highways. You do know that Europe has some really large mountains, right?
hey Taylor, if your looking at getting a little more power, consider a cam, supercharger and a tune for more low end power. alot of cam/supercharger combos will yield near 500ft/lbs under 2500-3500 rpm. you can also get a trans tune to improve the shifting algorithm. i have a 16' 2500 i will be doing this to mine once i get my channel going.
I very much enjoyed this video. There is most certainly an advantage to light duty diesel trucks for towing or hauling. Assuming you have Allison transmission, you are way better off in the long run.
I like how you said you stopped for a coffee at timmies to make the video Canadian! Go Canada Go! But unfortunately Tim Hortons sold out to the USA and is owned by them. I grabbed a double double ice coffee in a bottle when I stopped for gas on my way to thunder bay Ontario with my truck camper and the bottle said “product of USA” I was so annoyed.
Awesome comparison!!! Still need to put the airbags on the back axle to stabilize the side-to-side sway. We have those on our rig and they make all the difference in turning/cornering.
I added the Hellwig BigWig anti-sway bar to my truck; the side to side sway was eliminated as well as the swaying from the winds (>60 mph/100 km). No more being sucked into a semi or bus when it passed me. I highly recommend it or something equivalent.
What he has on his gas rig is called tow/haul mode that will down shift to hold your speed down while going down hill and hold your gear longer while pulling, at least that’s what it’s called here in the USA and it does help but it can’t compare to a exhaust brake on a diesel engine
those are very nice trucks and I'm a die-hard Chevy fan, but in these times and world scenario I had to go with the best truck for my living status right now so i got same camper on a 1996 f250 4x4 7.5 gas and I get 10 mpg no matter how I drive it. Gas is cheaper then diesel, I love my 460.
Those two set-ups represent almost enough money to buy my house. Yeah. My truck slide-in is VERY used and so is my diesel dually crew long box. But! For some reason, it seems gas has a heavier payload. At least for Ford 2011. Not sure why. Anyway, your friend paid DOUBLE what I paid for my truck. Wow! Can’t imagine
Wow both are great looking rigs! Yea my 04 ford 6.0 diesel was awesome for 35k miles then. ..junk but wow did it run great before it turned into a lemon. I have a 95 Cheyenne dually 4wd (yep 4wd dually) utility body now with 350 engine. Woukd LOVE an arctic fox!
Ditched our diesel for a 6.2L gasser. Even with a new truck payment save over fuel costs and maintenance. A gasser is designed to rev higher to be in the power band also
If it makes you feel any better. At a 2.5 MPG (Roughly 20%) difference in fuel economy, how many miles of fuel will $5k-$15k buy you? A lot. As you said, there's a case to be made for both but if you're on a budget going with a gas engine isn't a bad option, you'll just have to stop more often. Great videos. Keep up the great work.
The prices for trucks these days just bows me away. Back in 1965 my father bought a house, not a truck, but a house for only $10,000 CAD. Included was a huge lot. To give you an idea of the lot size, today you see two houses on the property. Each is worth about 2 1/2 million CAD today. Even many years later you could purchase a Honda Civic for $2,000. Times change.
Awesome stuff! My 6.4 diesel pulls my 4k lb boat no probs. Way more maintenance...but the power is awesome. Keep living the dream bro...you are my favorite TH-camr. 🤙🤙
I have both 2500 Ram Meg cab love it for long trips,and long haul towing 2016. Next Ram 3500 6.4 Gas dually for short hauling easier to get in and out of tight places,also love I have the best of both world. daully is single cab. How ever if I do get a camper like yours I would opp for the bigger cab. Still good video as always, I live in Texas.
Just signed GMC order sheet today. After driving gas and diesel, I went with gas. First, I am retired. I’m not concerned much about going slow uphill because of not buying an oil burner. Mileage no cares at all. Just keep thousands on my Debit card before leaving the house moving down The road. Second. Maintenance, easy peasy way cheaper than gallons of oil and DEF fluid. Third; no worries about burning ash off in the exhaust pipe. The build up of soot in the diesels complicated other EGR systems the engine must comply with. The diesels are designed to rebreathe exhaust making for serious buildup of soot I feel undermines the reliably of a diesel versus a gas. Fourth; Unleaded regular only. No additives, no DEF AND NO accidental grabbing the DEF nozzle putting it in Diesel filler ___-___ OOPS! Happens a lot people! Fifth. No worries about idling, Todays diesels are not designed to idil more than 10 to 20 minutes. Again, its because cold engines produce mass amount of unburned diesel and soot which can and eventually will set off EGR engine lights on the dash. The ash chamber uses excessive diesel too burn off accumulation. If the slightest glitch occurs the truck can go into limp mode. After X amount of miles, the ruck will just shut down on you. And last, I plan to only haul about 3500 lbs three four times a year is all. Rest of the time my rig will be parked on the side of my house. My new GMC will cost $62,000 when its built.
You can buy a couple motors and a lot of fuel for the initial price difference between a gas vs diesel truck. Not sure about Canada, but here in the US diesel is also usually more expensive.
The price of the diesel truck is definitely a consideration, however. I have owned 5 diesel trucks and 3 gas trucks in the past many years. (currently between trucks) In total made up numbers here, but my experience without getting into super specifics and round numbers to make it easy. If I paid $15k for the diesel, and $10k for the gas, when I got rid of them, I would get $14k for the diesel and $7k for the gas. Again, just round numbers to illustrate roughly my experiences. So while they are more expensive, you get it back out of them in the end. (situations vary of course, and length of ownership plays into it a lot) As for fuel. While diesel is more expensive, you get better mileage out of a diesel. How much of a difference this is varies, but the more you tow, the more of an advantage you get with the diesel. I think empty, the extra price of fuel is probably close to a wash if not gives the advantage to the gas, while heavy towing the advantage of the diesel starts to show.
Downshifting, as a shift strategy, is what you mean to say, about the 'braking', with a gas engine. The envy you describe, that's upgrade-itis, and I have it too. It's a never ending spiral to get a little better stuff than what you currently have. Like a disease.
Can't compare that 910 ft/lbs of torque to the gas engine, I have a 2019 GMC Sierra 2500hd with the same L5P Duramax and the torque is amazing. Pulls our 32' travel trailer like it's not even there. Absolutely love this rig!
Awesome video.! I definitely knew that the diesel was going to pull the camper better. But I’m with you I’m not spending all that extra money for diesel. I’m more than happy with my gas flex fuel vehicle. But thanks again great video.
Only 7 mpg gas or 10 mpg diesel!! I'm staying with my 29 ft travel trailer at 16 mpg on a bad day with my Cummings! And got my Dodge new for 62 k , no trade in. It was a fleet truck one ton . It is white and I wanted black, but that would of cost me an extra 10k. If you want a Dodge, come up with a dba and ask for fleet pricing!! An old salesman gave me this valuable info. Your choice of colors are " anything in white" !! So save money and get the best motor out there!!
I put 684,000 miles on my GMC 2500HD 8.1 gas engine pickup towing campers around the country.When you diesel owners get to that figure I am willing to compare cost and maintenance records with you. I owned one diesel and never again. I now have a Chevy 3500 HD gas engine that hauls my 6500 plus pound truck camper with no issues. Diesels are great when they are still under warranty but once the warranty ends one issue will empty your wallet.
I am not sure why I am leaning towards your assessment... it seems gasoline means less hassles(locating fuel, and mechanics while on the road) I am tempted to go diesel based on all the experience presented in this thread, but I am unsure. as posted above, I am an interested party who is about to can up a rig to have the looks of the Ford SuperDuty, the 6 in line cummins, the Allison trans., and a manual-lock differential(to get out of mud)... so, could you translate your post for me a newbie who fails to understand what it actually means. t.y.
Awesome comparison and I am faced with the choices you are laying out. I have a 2018 Ram 3500 SRW Crew Cab. But I was using the truck commercially for hot shot and eventually I bought a semi truck. A few things from your video are interesting: 1) "engine braking" and exhaust braking are different mechanisms and it's important to know the difference. I do not have an exhaust brake on my semi truck (I know lol) and instead use the engine as a brake. It is NOT even close to being the same and I want an exhaust brake. The exhaust brake or Jake brake retards the engine performance and does not affect the RPM. The engine as a brake (by down shifting) DOES affect the RPM and with significant weight behind you on a hill, the diesel which revs lower naturally, I got myself into an over rev situation once with 48,000 lbs behind me that was very bad for the engine one time. Ironically, a gas engine likely would not have made it up the hill to come down the hill but also would not have over reved itself coming down the other side. Either way, an Jake brake was so needed that day (about 2 weeks ago in Alabama). The engine brake in my smaller pickup truck (the Ram 3500) is incredible. Coming down hills with cargo is easy as pie. 2) All that said, I may go with gas lol... I may want to go with gas because the weights for recreational use are NOTHING compared to commercial applications for pickup trucks... in say a 5500 or 550 gasoline truck vs a 5500 or 550 diesel truck where the diesel platform itself makes the truck about 800 to 1000 lbs heavier (reduces payload) and the maintenance is different. I may go with a gasoline truck only for recreation vs my diesel truck (it's also a SRW) for maintenance cost and risk/benefits/flexibility. After hauling commercially i note: Batteries better be perfect on cold days. If not, that truck ain't starting. Also, diesel gelling in cold weather is REAL. And no need to heat the engine block on a gasoline truck. I know for recreational use, fuel filters and oil changes aren't a big deal but commercial applications, those maintenance cycles come real fast. And payload capacity... gas has it. If I go gas in a 5500 platform or 550 platform, I can get a medium size camper (3,000 lbs or so) and have no real issues. Would i consider a basic diesel single cab? I might for the extra towing so I could take some toys but then I could just use my SRW truck. 🤣
TAYLOR and any other truck experts- I need your opinion!!! After all the research I have personally done, I have learned that.... for the size camper I'm looking at, Diesel vs gas doesn't matter as much to me. If I can find a diesel that is in my price range, I will probably go for it, but I am definitely not opposed to a gas engine either. If I was getting a heavier arctic fox, like yours, I would go diesel no doubt, but I'm trying to get the lightest camper I can find that still has a bathroom. That being said, a larger predicament for me is trying to decide between getting a dually or SRW Truck! I am having the hardest time deciding!!! I really DON'T want a dually unless I absolutely need one, mostly because I like off-roading and camping on fire roads and would like to be able to overland a bit, (I've honestly just never been a dually guy... or a big truck guy for that matter...maybe i'm being too resistant, but I've always thought of myself as a Tacoma/Jeep/FJ kind of guy, and it's hard to see myself in a huge dually truck.) Until I started looking at the camper life, I never thought I would be the type of guy that would want a super duty truck. duallys also seem like they might be harder to drive and park anywhere because of the extra width and possibly take up more gas because of the extra weight... Please tell me if I'm wrong. I'm so "on the fence" because Ideally I would like a camper that weighs around 2000 - 2500lb dry so that I don't go over about 3500lbs wet, and I can not for the life of me, figure out if I will be able to get away with a SRW truck for that size payload!!! I can't wait to go look at some newer trucks at a dealership to get a better Idea! Im not in a big city so I have no dealerships within 4 hours of my location. Anyways, I had decided that I probably don't need a dually... until I watched a video on the BigtruckBigRV channel about campers and what truck you will need for them....and he(don't know the guys name) highly recommends a dually truck for anyone hauling a camper due to the increased side-to-side stability and more importantly in case of a rear tire blow out... After seeing that video I had to completely re-think it, and am back on the fence. WHat do you think? Would you buy a dually truck like you did if you were working with a lighter camper?? Or should I just get the dually to be on the safe side, especially because I'm living out of it and it will pretty much always be in my bed??
Totally up to you . Just remember the weight creeps up when you live in it . Mine is 3800 I think but with all my stuff its 5500 . Im pretty sure . I did a video on it ( how heavy is my truck camper ) check it out .
@@TaylorDzaman Thanks man I have done a ton of research since I asked this, and I'm pretty sure im sticking with the SRW, and I'm going to go with a wolf creek 840 or 850 so that it's not over loaded. wish me luck!
That's is a Nice Diesel. If you put Air bags on the back of your Truck. It may take some of the buckingbout of it. Great video though...You cant beat those Duramaxs. .
I have a 2016 2500 HD LT crewcab with diesel. With 800 ft-lb of torque and 400 hp, don't notice when I'm pulling my Ranger Z22 and the truck usually doesn't shift when I'm going uphill. Thinking about getting a cabover but might trade the 2500 in on a 3500 dually (diesel, of course). Thanks, enjoyed the video!
Dude, go to helwig and do a sway bar and rear suspension upgrade. Well worth the investment. Big time ride and handling difference. Smoother and less porpoising. Braking is better also with better suspension.
Another thing to consider when looking at diesel vs gas. Gas is much cheaper in Canada then diesel. 89.9 cents for gas VS 1.25 per liter for diesel in Alberta.
Diesel is less in Victoria and in general in BC Regular 137.9¢ shashank_jain 21 hours ago Midgrade 150.9¢ silver2259 1 day ago Premium 157.9¢ silver2259 1 day ago Diesel 123.9¢
And don’t listen to these people say that diesels breakdown no way I have a fleet of 20 gas and diesels and the diesels are a little more expensive on maintenance .......hands down my diesels crush my gas trucks
Brian Senft I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, those DPF filters are leaving gas transplants with a bad taste in their mouth. My 00’ Cummins will still be running while the truck itself decays into the ground. Never go back!
@soaringtractor but considering that oil change takes twice as much mileage before being required it evens out and hardly twice lmao 30% more at most if you're going to the right places and not getting ripped off
When I had a truck camper, my camper stuck out beyond my cab. I ended to have to put shocks on the extender pad so it wouldn’t put too much stress on that overhang you might you might have to do something like that I don’t know, but that’s what I had to do with my camper.
Ive had truck campers for 30 yrs. If you want to limit the forward-back bucking put in the heaviest rubber bed mat you can find. Or several less ones. And add air ride to the rear. I haul a Lance 11ft on a single rear wheel 6.5 Diesel. 13-14 MPG.
@soaringtractor I don't think any trucks that haul/pull any kind of significant weight up and down our freeways have spark plugs in them and haven't for years but keep on guzzling that gas !! LMAO
I love how you guys say Zed and decals.
I'm seriously considering a dually with a truck camper. I'm planning on buying a small travel trailer but I like the idea of less hassles with a truck camper.
Americans say "deeecals" which is wrong, its decal. Do you have a "deeeclaration" of independence? Or do you just say declaration?
The truck camper will get you further of the grid but it also limits you for moving about and sightseeing while on your trip unless you tow a small car behind you and that’s the draw for me I can tow my fishing boat with me
If you can do without leather you can get 1-2yr old tradesman dually diesel crew cab for $40-$45k. You can add an aftermarket nav radio for cheap and air bags in the rear for under $500. New is nice but not efficient spending.
Or jump back another year or so and get a fully loaded Laramie crew with 100k miles and deleted. What I am doing. Checking on the 2014 Laramie 4x4 crew on my days off. $35,000 with aftermarket bumpers, side steps and tuned.
Great comparison. You couldn’t have planned it any better if you wanted to! Thanks to Randy as well! Merry Christmas to you, Rebecca and all your subscribers.
The engine braking you experience is that in Tow/Haul mode, tapping the brake pedal causes the transmission to 1) lock up the torque converter, and 2) downshift. Which is exactly like gearing down in a straight shift (this is described in your owners manual). The diesel exhaust brake literally blocks off the exhaust and almost shuts off the fuel, and the engine becomes a big compressor, providing the resistance and braking similar to what you experience with the gas engine..
My engine braking thru the exhaust does not work like you described. Even in tow/haul on.
yup! until you drive a loaded diesel, you can't appreciate the power of them. enjoyed the video!
I've had both, and love my single cab Diesel Chevy, has over 350,000 KLm, and has never let me down. Only thing I would say, it's much easier to find gas everywhere, where I need to plan if going to far into the back country or travel to remote places at night. Wishing you 2 a Wonderful Christmas, and the best adventures in the new year. ( also, explain the doggy? )
The grass is not always greener on the other side. Love what you have. 😎😎😎
Loving your blog. Traveling to Jasper with my Arctic Fox 908 2015 driving my 450 Ford XL diesel dually crew cab. Drives like a dream without feeling the heavy camper. Think you would love my “bad boy.” I’m a 5 ft. 73 year old grandma who loves to travel!
Great Job and I agree 100%. Was pulling my fifth wheel up a 8% grade mountain pass in the US Western Rockies once with my old gas Ford and could not get out of first gear. Got to the campground and asked a diesel rig driver pulling a camper similar to mine who went through the same pass. I asked how slow he had to go with the diesel. He looked at me kind of funny and said, "Fifty five". I turned to my wife and said, "As soon as we get back, we are trading up for a diesel!" I now use a one ton RAM to pull my 35' fifth wheel and it works great. Even in the mountains as we went to some higher elevations last year. My buddy with a 3/4 ton Duramax said he had some trouble at higher elevations on a trip he made the same year. You might want to keep that in mind on performance of various diesel engines at higher elevations.
Cummins all the way brother
I too enjoy your stories and great minds think alike. In 2017 before I found your channel, I bought a GMC 4 door Duramax Denali SINGLE rear wheel and the 990 knowing I would be at least 2000 lb over weight. That was 21,000 miles ago and the set up is amazing. I have never had an issue with anything. The handling of the truck holds the road through the sharpest curves, goes up the steepest passes with more power than I need and down with no fear between the Allison Transmission and the exhaust brake.I decided to add a heavier overload pack to be on the safe side but it mostly eliminated the sag. My outfit goes down the road effortlessly at 80 miles an hour and gets right at 12 MPG (USA) and empty has achieved 22 MPG driven conservatively. I am not over my axle rating and right at the tire weight limit. I inspect the tires routinely and the stock Goodyears have held up well. I have a Super Hitch and have towed a 14 ft cargo trailer and my 250 SeaRay however, I emptied the water to balance the tung weight. I got 11 MPG and drove over 3 mountain passes with no fear or problems. The Duramax Denali Arctic Fox is really a smooth, efficient and fast combination.The only problem I had was elliminated by installing factory cameras in the side mirrors and one on top of the camper, I even have one that goes on the back of the boat or trailer that I use as a rear view on the touch screen while moving forward.
I am aware that I am over my limits so please don't lecture me. I researched this set up enough that I don't have any fear nor do I have a dually. Sadly, the thing I underestimated most was the truck is a poor daily driver. It gets 6-8 around town because it never warms up, is a rough ride and you need a football field to turn around(although I turned around with camper inside of a Canadian ferry!). DEF has also been a pain, not only is it hard to find at the pump, the filler is in the engine compartment on the opposite side of the fuel fill so it is a cluster to fill.Otherwise, this is a really versatile set up and should perform well for decades(campers always outlast non camper trucks because they get mostly highway miles). The diesel is a blast to drive and the Denali is like a Cadillac literally!
Keep it up Taylor
Have always wanted to know the difference between diesel and gas, so thank you for putting this video together. Wanting to visit VI so added bonus! Take care!
When I had my cabover back in the 1990 I put shocks on the cabover. The way it works is the shocks mounted from the front corner of the cabover down to the truck.that help out on the rocking from front to back.
My Class A gas motor home has a Tow/Haul button that does what you describe for engine braking. If it's turned on, a press of the brake makes it downshift and stay in that gear. Press the brake again and it downshifts again. Without that Tow/Haul feature enabled it would require too much braking going down mountains. Handy! Thanks for a great video, Taylor!
The “engine brake”, that your truck has is the Allison transmission, it’s a great feature for sure!
Really great comparison! Well done!! Diesel all the way (for me anyway) I've had both, for towing or hauling I will always be in a Diesel.
I really enjoyed this video. Keep up with these, please. I am heading into full time camper living next few years so great interest for me. Thank you both. My very best to everyone involved in producing this.
Define best. If you want to know what type of motor can pull the most, diesel no doubt. However, hauling a truck camper is different. My AF990 weighs in at 5100 lbs. I bought a RAM 3500 dually Hemi 6.4L with the new 8 speed transmission. The hemi gets the job done easily and it costs a lot less. I can buy a lot of gas with the $10K US I saved. My truck is quieter and smoother than a diesel. Also, I don't need to go far to get into the sticks. Once there I park and don't move for a couple of days. I figured I would need to put 150,000 miles on my truck to justify getting a diesel. I figured I would never do that so I stayed with the gasser. BTW, the new 8 speed transmission is smooth and shifts quickly. Meanwhile, gas is easier to find. Maintenance is easier and more familiar. Yes, my gas mileage sucks but part of the problem is that I rarely drive on freeways. Usually I am driving on national forest roads where I always need to speed up and slow down and going up and down over hills. I had doubts whether I made the right decision for the first month after I put on the camper but now I know I was right after seeing how I use the truck and camper.
Great review!! great comparison!!One more ting to consider in cost is maintenance.Gas is much cheaper to maintain and gas repairs considerably lower than diesel.Emissions components, fuel Injectors, and fuel pump are a common failure on diesel and cost thousands.Well done. Thanks Taylor
The payload is also very dependent on the cab configuration. I have a crew cab with diesel and my last two trucks have been diesels. HD trucks with gas just work too hard. As long as you don't exceed the tire capacity and axles rating, they will haul a lot.
Great video. I laugh at all of the diesel fans. Having had a new 2005 F350, $7500 premium paid for diesel and HD trans.. 5 years later and 10k miles out of warranty experienced the 6.0L head gasket failure. $5500 repair bill...you do the math...Won't fool me twice. Live story from the trenches, not the armchair.
I have a 2006 6.0 F350 with 240k . Did a trip across Canada and back. No problems and 15 MPG. No EGR delete yet.
I forgot to mention I was packing the Northern Lite 10-2 .
@@johnpatterson1575 ...... the EGR's are not that bad.....its the DEF system that is killing the diesel engines. i have a 2013 GMC and it was the def that caused all the problems that made me do a full delete
I had the 6.0. ..seems Ford would've did something for us on that one. ..
Well that’s because you bought one of the worst diesel engines 🤣
I had a gasser pulling a travel trailer and recently went to a diesel. There is no comparison. Everyone was telling me that I don't need one and there more expensive and more problems. Untill you drive both for 1000's of miles diesel is they way to go! I had the 6.4 hemi now the Cummins and I would never want to go back.
It's amazing how relax you arrive at your destination when you drive a diesel. I didn't realize how much stress a gasser creates when you are hauling a load until I bought a diesel. Standing up in your seat trying to get that gasser over a grade or trying to pass or getting on to the freeway is very stressful.
@@TheBigdaddy9448 you should have had toyota tundra with 5.7 engine, you would have no problems.
@@bizim_eller A Tundra doesn't have the capability to handle the load I pull and or haul. My Power Stroke is awesome!
@@TheBigdaddy9448 you maybe right, tundra only handles about 10 000 poundsor 4.5 tons of towing, that's probably nothing comparing to yours.
All said in done Taylor, in my opinion the reg cab dually still the best looking truck built, when the reg dually age they sell as rare, plus don’t knock the gas engine, we’re not all filthy rich to afford diesel repairs, you have an amazing Rig!
I struggled with this decision but I'm telling you I have the solution. Single rear wheel GAS 3500 silverado with timbrens and upgraded 4500# rims and 4080# tires. Arctic fox 811 and rides really really well. No sway, plenty of power. No dually. I'm here to tell you it works and rides incredible.
Great video
I have a 2019 Northern Lite 10-2 Ex CD SE. I haul w a 2006 F250 Amarillo Crew Cab Long Bed. Airbags. Tork Lift Overloads. And a 6.0L Diesal.
I absolutely love the Diesal. Such a breeze to drive. Even my 06 has the Jake brake feature when in tow mode.
Parking is rarely an issue.
6.0 Powerstroke engines don't have a Jake brake feature!
Great job, but not really apples to apples, he paid MUCH more and of course he has more torque and better MPG. I also have a diesel and paid nearly 100 grand for a 2022 Dodge quad cab, limited, with Aisin transmission but I get 13.2 MPG average carrying a Northern lite 10.2 Limited.
As I suspected, there are 2 sides to the issue of gas v. diesel just like there are different camps on which brand truck is best...Ford, Chevy, Dodge. What it comes down to is what is best for you and your situation. I think you made the right choice in a gasser because you are requiring more payload than towing capacity and the trade-off of paying an added $40k doesn't make sense for the 2-3 MPG you'd get with a diesel (not to mention you are paying up to an extra 20-30cents per gallon for diesel). Again, it depends on what you plan to use the truck for, but I think you made the right choice.
Thank You Very Much! That was an excellent comparison, yes it wasn't perfect but all comparisons have room for error. You couldn't have had a better set up. Please thank Randy for us. I'd love to try his BNB. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Taylor! Hope to catch up with you sometime!
Happy New years david!
Hi Taylor,
If you want to get rid of most of that front to back and side to side swaying try the torklift leaf spring load stabilizer, no drilling required kit. Air bag leak and have to be checked all the time unless you get the auto fill system. I love the torklift system for a lot less money. I have a 2008 GMC 3/4 ton long bed crew cab with a Lance camper and what a difference it made. Something to look into.
Air bags don't leak if they've been installed correctly. Every 18 wheeler has airbags, it's not like it's exotic technology. I've had air bags on four trucks since 1996 and none of them have ever required maintenance.
@@buckhorncortez I have a set of Firestone airbags but one developed a leak next to the metal plate on top. I've not been able to repair it so the money I paid is down the drain. I'm lucky I don't need to balance my camper (I only used about ten pounds of air) with the bags.
Your Gas 3500 uses the transmission gears to slow you down. Where Randy's likely uses the VVG Variable Vain Geometry. To slow down by increasing the back pressure in the exhaust. Chelsea Cummins designed slowing down of the truck by using interrupting the fueling cycles. He had left Cummins at that time and Jacobs was the one who bought the design called (Jake Brake).
Taylor, just found your channel. Love the videos. Very informational. Love what you did with gas vs diesel. Your keys points and my research is why I won’t buy another diesel because of truck cost and diesel cost. The miles per gallon just don’t add up. Also DEF is the main reason I got rid of my last diesel. It was always having problems. Love the Arctic Fox Truck camper. I believe the best built camper on the market. Keep up what you’re doing Taylor!!!!!
I have s 2002 chevy 2500hd 6.0, swr cc and average 12.5 mpg loaded with a 3000lbs slide in. That's was through the mountians in Alaska. 10 mpg with city driving with camper on it.
I second that. Same setup in PNW
Great Review! I have a Lance 855s that I use on my 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 Resistol. When I first got the camper I had Timbrins on the truck. I also have ranch hand bumpers. I did not like how it rode. The roll and teter especially on poor roads was unacceptable to me. I went in steps and wound up with 5000lb coil springs on the front, 4200lb leaf springs on the back with air lift air bags and onboard compressor with remote operation to adjust the bags on demand. The truck rides like a dream now and is even better when pulling a trailer with a bit of weight. I get around 12 MPG
Thank you both. I've been wanting to see something like this for a very long time.
Excellent comparison. I used to tow my 30ft travel trailer RV with a 1/2 ton truck with gas engine. It would easily hit 4500rpm climbing mountains in Arizona and the weight and incline would sometimes drag the speed down to 30mph with much of the climb accomplished in 2nd gear. The gas mileage was about 8.5mpg average. I switched to a Ram 2500 with 6.7L Cummins and wow, the truck rarely downshifted out of "6th" gear, even during hill climbs while towing. The diesel truck easily accelerated to my cruize set speed and rarely left it even with high grade mountain climbs. The diesel just seem to hardly work at all often cruizing at 60-65mph speeds with little more than 1600rpm. It's like the diesel wasn't aware I was even towing anything. The mileage was like 12.5 - 13mpg getting 10.5mpg even while towing through the mountains. The difference was night and day. Never want a gas truck again. If you have a powerful gas engine producing 450ft/lbs of torgue, my diesel is cranking out 800ft/lbs!
I haul a AF990 camper too. I agree that a diesel can pull more but it hauls less and cost so much more that I would need to go 150,000 miles to break even. I bought a ram with a 6.4L hemi and 8 speed transmission. My gas mileage suck but I rarely drive on the freeway. Forest roads require a lot of speeding up and slowing down and that kills gas mileage. I like the 8 speed transmission.. my truck is never stressed. Btw, my track and camper weigh 12820 lbs a diesel would put me close to the limit of 14000 lbs.
I know this is an older video - but noticed you commented on stepping on brake and watching RPM go up on your truck. that's because the Torque Converter clutch disengages and allows slip between engine and transmission when you hit the brakes - as it does when you stop. very similar to pushing the clutch in on a manual. you wouldn't normally want to do that, as that slipping shears the oil in the transmission and generates a lot more transmission heat.
my dad was an ASE Certified mechanic at a GM dealership for 45 years before retiring - I learned a thing or two.
That was a fun Video Taylor!! Diesel F450! all day! Hauling Arctic Fox 1140 dry bath:) Love it!
In a gasser the throttle body closes and it slows you down because the transmission is turning the engine and the pistons are pulling against the vacuum that's created by the closed throttle. An exhaust brake works by stopping the air at the turbo so the exhaust stroke has to push against all the air and compression which slows you down
As long as you’re in Kelowna drop by the Northern Lite truck Camper factory and get a tour and film it. That’s a video I’d love to see.
Hi Taylor, interesting comparison. I know diesel is a little more expensive then gas here in Alberta so the little less miles per gallon in the gas truck might work out cheaper. 4 door sure is nice tho. Merry Christmas and KLTD Keep Living That Dream.
Its all about TCO total cost of ownership. I have had both gas and diesel if your driving 20k a year go gas if your driving 40k a year go diesel both trucks will give you 10 years of service.
One other point given the same size tank those extra miles per tank on the diesel when your hauling a big trailer or 5th wheel is really nice when you pass a few fuel stations and just tank up at truck stops where there is lots of room to get in and out.
@soaringtractor If you tow 7k plus a day there is a big difference and lets not talk about wear and tear a gas engine gets real tired at 150k after towing daily after the owner had to rebuild the transmission a few times while many diesels have known to hit a million miles with transmissions rebuilds at 500k some making the full million.
@@markrich3271 the oncle of my partner of work have a 2002 Dodge ram 2500 with de 5.9L diesel and his engin have 680,800 miles. Never think to do this milage with a gaz truck.
DIESEL! I bought my 2009 3500HD Duramax in 2009 specifically to haul my AF 811. I have NEVER regretted the amount of power the Duramax has during my travels, hauling my AF and towing at the same time.
If you're doing a lot of hauling and you are, the diesel would have been the better pick, yes the exorbitant price gap is the killer, like 10K.just for the diesel. That's a lot of fuel. But it will do the job much better. If you're only towing or hauling a short bit, one can get away with a gasser as you have. The Diesel is a nice luxury but not a necessity.T ext cab tho is imo a necessity. With that said, it's a really nice luxury. Btw great video! Merry Christmas
Great video , great guy Randy .
Very informative. Though I think the Mpg wouldn't make a difference in pocket due the higher Diesel price you ending paying about the same 10.6mpg diesel vs 8pmg gas
If you're a full-time RVer; commercial hotshot driver; the diesel makes more sense. If you're a guy like me who's truck is unladen 90% of the time, and gasser is the best choice, especially in cold climates and shorter commutes.
Before I retired, I put 25,000 miles per year on my truck even though I was in a van pool. Now I seldom have more than 4,000 miles on my truck AND my Jeep Wrangler in a year. The diesel no longer makes sense since I don't drive it enough to keep it in good condition. My next truck will be a gas powered unit.
What everyone seems to be missing here is that diesel motors will out last gas motors. Nothing like diesel for torque when pulling. I will stick with diesel every time. How many remember when diesel fuel was cheaper than gas too? It became popular so there is the price hike.
Bought my first diesel in 99 and fuel was 1.15 a gallon for highway and like
.79 per gallon for off road diesel... those were the days lol
2007 5.9 Cummins manual 4x4 dually. I love this old truck and it's paid off.
@@zachmitchell7696 what country was that?? Diesel 1.15 in 99??
Bilstein 5100 series shocks will help a lot. Best money spent on my 3500HD gasser
My 2018 Ram 3500 CUMMINS with AISIN gets 800 plus k per tank on highway with camper on. The 6.4 Liter Hemi would be lucky get 400. No comparison still have plenty of payload as well. 2500 however with diesel you have no payload, stick with one ton
Yeup 3500 Cummins hauling a arctic fox. Only have the 68rfe but barely ever go over 2k rpm and always able to keep up in the fast lane
I have basically the same diesel truck (2016 model). I have hauled my Northern Lite camper across the country and back a couple times. I love the truck! Everything you said about it is true. However, I average better mileage for some reason. I have 31,000 miles on mine with a 13.5 MPG average. And I sometimes tow a boat behind! Can't beat the diesel for power and longevity. Anyway, good video, thanks.
Nice video, ok I got the 2017 Ram 3500 quad cab diesel tradesman this comes in around 55k and you get the same ride.
I'm pretty sure he is talking Canadian dollars. 55k US = 75k CA.
Great video! So many choices and options to take into consideration. I think it really comes down to what do "you" need in a truck. Either choice is great depending on your needs etc... Thanks Taylor & Merry Christmas!
just remember where the power is made for each engine. diesel is much lower, torque is king. they de-fuel around 3300rpm. gas makes all its horsepower at high rpms. notice where the redline is on the gas engine, ~6500rpm or so i believe on the 6.0 gasser. don't be afraid to let er rip!
When I grow up ima be an arctic fox 990 geek too!
Lol!!!! I love it too!
It is amazing to me, I just started looking at RV and truck camper life, that a truck and camper gets the same gas milage as a Class C. How did 10 miles to the gallon become, oh that is just the way it is, even in 2025. The price of a home compared to the nomad life...I just can not wrapped my head around the living the last years of my life spending on no return.
I have watched this video twice now and the I got lots more out of it the second time. Thank you.
Great Video Taylor, thats why we drive a Class B campervan with a Diesel engine. Fuel consumption nearly 24 miles/gallon. 🤣🤣🤣 Greetings from Germany. Dirk
@soaringtractor he probably means kilometers per gallon
@soaringtractor I just drove my 2006 Sprinter from Oregon to New Orleans getting 24mpg @70mph. Went up any mountain pass with the cruise control on without downshifting. You don't really know what you're talking about.
BULLSHITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@soaringtractor
Triggered much by Europeans? I'm willing to bet that his camper will most certainly drive well on American mountainous highways. You do know that Europe has some really large mountains, right?
Crew cab, my back seat area will be stuffed with gear. I have the Ram 3500 SRW diesel. Love it.
I would add Air Bags no matter which vehicle I had. I have them on my RV and truck. Makes such a difference in the teetering feeling.
hey Taylor, if your looking at getting a little more power, consider a cam, supercharger and a tune for more low end power. alot of cam/supercharger combos will yield near 500ft/lbs under 2500-3500 rpm. you can also get a trans tune to improve the shifting algorithm. i have a 16' 2500 i will be doing this to mine once i get my channel going.
I very much enjoyed this video. There is most certainly an advantage to light duty diesel trucks for towing or hauling. Assuming you have Allison transmission, you are way better off in the long run.
yo! buddy! delete this duplicate post! lest I tell on yo mommy!
I like how you said you stopped for a coffee at timmies to make the video Canadian! Go Canada Go! But unfortunately Tim Hortons sold out to the USA and is owned by them. I grabbed a double double ice coffee in a bottle when I stopped for gas on my way to thunder bay Ontario with my truck camper and the bottle said “product of USA” I was so annoyed.
Great video. Merry Christmas. Wishing you an early Happy Birthday.
Taylor your truck uses the transmission more aggressive when you have tow haul engaged. Braking is so much better with this!
Awesome comparison!!! Still need to put the airbags on the back axle to stabilize the side-to-side sway. We have those on our rig and they make all the difference in turning/cornering.
I added the Hellwig BigWig anti-sway bar to my truck; the side to side sway was eliminated as well as the swaying from the winds (>60 mph/100 km). No more being sucked into a semi or bus when it passed me. I highly recommend it or something equivalent.
What he has on his gas rig is called tow/haul mode that will down shift to hold your speed down while going down hill and hold your gear longer while pulling, at least that’s what it’s called here in the USA and it does help but it can’t compare to a exhaust brake on a diesel engine
Diesel for me, I owned a 2007 2500 LTZ crew cab for 12 1/2 years, loved it !
those are very nice trucks and I'm a die-hard Chevy fan, but in these times and world scenario I had to go with the best truck for my living status right now so i got same camper on a 1996 f250 4x4 7.5 gas and I get 10 mpg no matter how I drive it. Gas is cheaper then diesel, I love my 460.
Those two set-ups represent almost enough money to buy my house. Yeah. My truck slide-in is VERY used and so is my diesel dually crew long box. But! For some reason, it seems gas has a heavier payload. At least for Ford 2011. Not sure why. Anyway, your friend paid DOUBLE what I paid for my truck. Wow! Can’t imagine
Wow both are great looking rigs! Yea my 04 ford 6.0 diesel was awesome for 35k miles then. ..junk but wow did it run great before it turned into a lemon. I have a 95 Cheyenne dually 4wd (yep 4wd dually) utility body now with 350 engine. Woukd LOVE an arctic fox!
Ditched our diesel for a 6.2L gasser. Even with a new truck payment save over fuel costs and maintenance. A gasser is designed to rev higher to be in the power band also
Enjoying your videos. This is something I’m looking to do in the future.
If it makes you feel any better. At a 2.5 MPG (Roughly 20%) difference in fuel economy, how many miles of fuel will $5k-$15k buy you? A lot. As you said, there's a case to be made for both but if you're on a budget going with a gas engine isn't a bad option, you'll just have to stop more often. Great videos. Keep up the great work.
The prices for trucks these days just bows me away. Back in 1965 my father bought a house, not a truck, but a house for only $10,000 CAD. Included was a huge lot. To give you an idea of the lot size, today you see two houses on the property. Each is worth about 2 1/2 million CAD today. Even many years later you could purchase a Honda Civic for $2,000. Times change.
Awesome stuff! My 6.4 diesel pulls my 4k lb boat no probs. Way more maintenance...but the power is awesome. Keep living the dream bro...you are my favorite TH-camr. 🤙🤙
I have both 2500 Ram Meg cab love it for long trips,and long haul towing 2016. Next Ram 3500 6.4 Gas dually for short hauling easier to get in and out of tight places,also love I have the best of both world. daully is single cab. How ever if I do get a camper like yours I would opp for the bigger cab. Still good video as always, I live in Texas.
Great demo i seen with my own to eyes the difference between the two trucks thank you.
Just signed GMC order sheet today. After driving gas and diesel, I went with gas. First, I am retired. I’m not concerned much about going slow uphill because of not buying an oil burner. Mileage no cares at all. Just keep thousands on my Debit card before leaving the house moving down The road.
Second. Maintenance, easy peasy way cheaper than gallons of oil and DEF fluid.
Third; no worries about burning ash off in the exhaust pipe. The build up of soot in the diesels complicated other EGR systems the engine must comply with. The diesels are designed to rebreathe exhaust making for serious buildup of soot I feel undermines the reliably of a diesel versus a gas.
Fourth; Unleaded regular only. No additives, no DEF AND NO accidental grabbing the DEF nozzle putting it in Diesel filler ___-___ OOPS! Happens a lot people!
Fifth. No worries about idling, Todays diesels are not designed to idil more than 10 to 20 minutes. Again, its because cold engines produce mass amount of unburned diesel and soot which can and eventually will set off EGR engine lights on the dash. The ash chamber uses excessive diesel too burn off accumulation. If the slightest glitch occurs the truck can go into limp mode. After X amount of miles, the ruck will just shut down on you.
And last, I plan to only haul about 3500 lbs three four times a year is all. Rest of the time my rig will be parked on the side of my house. My new GMC will cost $62,000 when its built.
Cool video! Randy seems like a really nice guy!
Diesel all the way.. Longevity, reliability, power. Just make sure you have some anti gel added in temps below 25 F
You can buy a couple motors and a lot of fuel for the initial price difference between a gas vs diesel truck. Not sure about Canada, but here in the US diesel is also usually more expensive.
Yup same here !
The price of the diesel truck is definitely a consideration, however. I have owned 5 diesel trucks and 3 gas trucks in the past many years. (currently between trucks)
In total made up numbers here, but my experience without getting into super specifics and round numbers to make it easy.
If I paid $15k for the diesel, and $10k for the gas, when I got rid of them, I would get $14k for the diesel and $7k for the gas. Again, just round numbers to illustrate roughly my experiences.
So while they are more expensive, you get it back out of them in the end. (situations vary of course, and length of ownership plays into it a lot)
As for fuel. While diesel is more expensive, you get better mileage out of a diesel. How much of a difference this is varies, but the more you tow, the more of an advantage you get with the diesel.
I think empty, the extra price of fuel is probably close to a wash if not gives the advantage to the gas, while heavy towing the advantage of the diesel starts to show.
Downshifting, as a shift strategy, is what you mean to say, about the 'braking', with a gas engine. The envy you describe, that's upgrade-itis, and I have it too. It's a never ending spiral to get a little better stuff than what you currently have. Like a disease.
Can't compare that 910 ft/lbs of torque to the gas engine, I have a 2019 GMC Sierra 2500hd with the same L5P Duramax and the torque is amazing. Pulls our 32' travel trailer like it's not even there. Absolutely love this rig!
Awesome video.! I definitely knew that the diesel was going to pull the camper better. But I’m with you I’m not spending all that extra money for diesel. I’m more than happy with my gas flex fuel vehicle. But thanks again great video.
Only 7 mpg gas or 10 mpg diesel!! I'm staying with my 29 ft travel trailer at 16 mpg on a bad day with my Cummings!
And got my Dodge new for 62 k , no trade in. It was a fleet truck one ton . It is white and I wanted black, but that would of cost me an extra 10k. If you want a Dodge, come up with a dba and ask for fleet pricing!! An old salesman gave me this valuable info. Your choice of colors are " anything in white" !! So save money and get the best motor out there!!
You mean cummins?
I put 684,000 miles on my GMC 2500HD 8.1 gas engine pickup towing campers around the country.When you diesel owners get to that figure I am willing to compare cost and maintenance records with you. I owned one diesel and never again. I now have a Chevy 3500 HD gas engine that hauls my 6500 plus pound truck camper with no issues. Diesels are great when they are still under warranty but once the warranty ends one issue will empty your wallet.
I am not sure why I am leaning towards your assessment... it seems gasoline means less hassles(locating fuel, and mechanics while on the road)
I am tempted to go diesel based on all the experience presented in this thread, but I am unsure.
as posted above, I am an interested party who is about to can up a rig to have the looks of the Ford SuperDuty, the 6 in line cummins, the Allison trans., and a manual-lock differential(to get out of mud)... so, could you translate your post for me a newbie who fails to understand what it actually means. t.y.
Awesome comparison and I am faced with the choices you are laying out.
I have a 2018 Ram 3500 SRW Crew Cab. But I was using the truck commercially for hot shot and eventually I bought a semi truck.
A few things from your video are interesting:
1) "engine braking" and exhaust braking are different mechanisms and it's important to know the difference.
I do not have an exhaust brake on my semi truck (I know lol) and instead use the engine as a brake. It is NOT even close to being the same and I want an exhaust brake.
The exhaust brake or Jake brake retards the engine performance and does not affect the RPM.
The engine as a brake (by down shifting) DOES affect the RPM and with significant weight behind you on a hill, the diesel which revs lower naturally, I got myself into an over rev situation once with 48,000 lbs behind me that was very bad for the engine one time. Ironically, a gas engine likely would not have made it up the hill to come down the hill but also would not have over reved itself coming down the other side.
Either way, an Jake brake was so needed that day (about 2 weeks ago in Alabama).
The engine brake in my smaller pickup truck (the Ram 3500) is incredible. Coming down hills with cargo is easy as pie.
2) All that said, I may go with gas lol... I may want to go with gas because the weights for recreational use are NOTHING compared to commercial applications for pickup trucks... in say a 5500 or 550 gasoline truck vs a 5500 or 550 diesel truck where the diesel platform itself makes the truck about 800 to 1000 lbs heavier (reduces payload) and the maintenance is different.
I may go with a gasoline truck only for recreation vs my diesel truck (it's also a SRW) for maintenance cost and risk/benefits/flexibility. After hauling commercially i note: Batteries better be perfect on cold days. If not, that truck ain't starting. Also, diesel gelling in cold weather is REAL. And no need to heat the engine block on a gasoline truck.
I know for recreational use, fuel filters and oil changes aren't a big deal but commercial applications, those maintenance cycles come real fast. And payload capacity... gas has it. If I go gas in a 5500 platform or 550 platform, I can get a medium size camper (3,000 lbs or so) and have no real issues. Would i consider a basic diesel single cab? I might for the extra towing so I could take some toys but then I could just use my SRW truck. 🤣
TAYLOR and any other truck experts- I need your opinion!!!
After all the research I have personally done, I have learned that.... for the size camper I'm looking at, Diesel vs gas doesn't matter as much to me. If I can find a diesel that is in my price range, I will probably go for it, but I am definitely not opposed to a gas engine either. If I was getting a heavier arctic fox, like yours, I would go diesel no doubt, but I'm trying to get the lightest camper I can find that still has a bathroom.
That being said, a larger predicament for me is trying to decide between getting a dually or SRW Truck! I am having the hardest time deciding!!! I really DON'T want a dually unless I absolutely need one, mostly because I like off-roading and camping on fire roads and would like to be able to overland a bit, (I've honestly just never been a dually guy... or a big truck guy for that matter...maybe i'm being too resistant, but I've always thought of myself as a Tacoma/Jeep/FJ kind of guy, and it's hard to see myself in a huge dually truck.) Until I started looking at the camper life, I never thought I would be the type of guy that would want a super duty truck. duallys also seem like they might be harder to drive and park anywhere because of the extra width and possibly take up more gas because of the extra weight... Please tell me if I'm wrong.
I'm so "on the fence" because Ideally I would like a camper that weighs around 2000 - 2500lb dry so that I don't go over about 3500lbs wet, and I can not for the life of me, figure out if I will be able to get away with a SRW truck for that size payload!!! I can't wait to go look at some newer trucks at a dealership to get a better Idea! Im not in a big city so I have no dealerships within 4 hours of my location.
Anyways, I had decided that I probably don't need a dually... until I watched a video on the BigtruckBigRV channel about campers and what truck you will need for them....and he(don't know the guys name) highly recommends a dually truck for anyone hauling a camper due to the increased side-to-side stability and more importantly in case of a rear tire blow out... After seeing that video I had to completely re-think it, and am back on the fence. WHat do you think? Would you buy a dually truck like you did if you were working with a lighter camper?? Or should I just get the dually to be on the safe side, especially because I'm living out of it and it will pretty much always be in my bed??
Totally up to you . Just remember the weight creeps up when you live in it . Mine is 3800 I think but with all my stuff its 5500 . Im pretty sure . I did a video on it ( how heavy is my truck camper ) check it out .
@@TaylorDzaman Thanks man I have done a ton of research since I asked this, and I'm pretty sure im sticking with the SRW, and I'm going to go with a wolf creek 840 or 850 so that it's not over loaded. wish me luck!
That's is a Nice Diesel. If you put Air bags on the back of your Truck. It may take some of the buckingbout of it. Great video though...You cant beat those Duramaxs. .
I have a 2016 2500 HD LT crewcab with diesel. With 800 ft-lb of torque and 400 hp, don't notice when I'm pulling my Ranger Z22 and the truck usually doesn't shift when I'm going uphill. Thinking about getting a cabover but might trade the 2500 in on a 3500 dually (diesel, of course). Thanks, enjoyed the video!
Those things are so big! Nice but not getting very deep into the backcountry with them.
Dude, go to helwig and do a sway bar and rear suspension upgrade. Well worth the investment. Big time ride and handling difference. Smoother and less porpoising. Braking is better also with better suspension.
Another thing to consider when looking at diesel vs gas. Gas is much cheaper in Canada then diesel. 89.9 cents for gas VS 1.25 per liter for diesel in Alberta.
Diesel is less in Victoria and in general in BC Regular
137.9¢
shashank_jain
21 hours ago
Midgrade
150.9¢
silver2259
1 day ago
Premium
157.9¢
silver2259
1 day ago
Diesel
123.9¢
And don’t listen to these people say that diesels breakdown no way I have a fleet of 20 gas and diesels and the diesels are a little more expensive on maintenance .......hands down my diesels crush my gas trucks
Brian Senft
I couldn’t agree more. Unfortunately, those DPF filters are leaving gas transplants with a bad taste in their mouth. My 00’ Cummins will still be running while the truck itself decays into the ground. Never go back!
Yeah I went with straight six Cummins for my arctic fox that's why. Engine design that's been robust and reliable regardless of manufacturer
@@kenmunoz8517
New diesels are a bit different than the old ones. I hope I'm never behind you in traffic.
@soaringtractor but considering that oil change takes twice as much mileage before being required it evens out and hardly twice lmao 30% more at most if you're going to the right places and not getting ripped off
soaringtractor I have 300k on my diesel with stock turbo.
Diesel for sure for pulling weight and less strain on the engine and better gas mileage 👍🏻 unfortunately it’s always a more expensive truck
Definitely the setup I would choose if I was rich. Beautiful rig.
I'm so freakin jealous. Wife wanted a dry bath and weight was a concern because a boat will be towed. Ended up with a 992. I wanted the 990. Damn
When I had a truck camper, my camper stuck out beyond my cab. I ended to have to put shocks on the extender pad so it wouldn’t put too much stress on that overhang you might you might have to do something like that I don’t know, but that’s what I had to do with my camper.
Awesome Taylor 👍😎🎥🎶🎄🎁thanks for sharing and safe travels 🌎🤪🚚
Ive had truck campers for 30 yrs. If you want to limit the forward-back bucking put in the heaviest rubber bed mat you can find. Or several less ones.
And add air ride to the rear. I haul a Lance 11ft on a single rear wheel 6.5 Diesel. 13-14 MPG.
Do you recommend adding a sway bar to the rear?
@@fahey6797 ABSULUTELY!! And good air bags plumbed individually so air won't bleed across when it sways on corners.
Hauling? Diesel. Not hauling? Diesel.
"Real trucks don't have spark plugs"
True
outrageous repair bills? DIESEL!!!! lol
@@jonathanbunch5443 you must be thinking of Dodge.
@soaringtractor I don't think any trucks that haul/pull any kind of significant weight up and down our freeways have spark plugs in them and haven't for years but keep on guzzling that gas !! LMAO