3/4ton with 24ft trailer 100hp cab/loader... like a champ... was a 7.3 though

"Pulling better" is a relative term. Folks familiar with both engine types, tend to say the diesel pulls better, and all things being equal, they do. But it's often subjective as a fella just cannot get it in their brain housing group that gas engines do their work at higher RPMs as designed. This doesn't necessarily equate to not doing as good a job.

Today's gas engines, especially ones in HD applications (6.4 Hemi, 6.0 GM, and 6.2 Ford) are designed and built to handle 5K RPMs all day long. RPMs can tire a fella out over time, but today's trucks are much more refined as well and the driver is much more isolated from engine noise and such. So it's not as bad as it used to be. A properly geared gas truck will do even better, especially with today's double overdrive transmissions and manual shifting capabilities.

I'm a diesel man through and through, but with a 10k travel trailer or the occasional 50 hp tractor in tow, I'll be hard pressed to pick up a diesel truck next time around. There's something very satisfying about unleaded gas and 7 quart oil changes every 7,500 miles.

I do 45-55K miles per year on my work truck (3500 SRW) and about 25K of them are pulling this:



Machine and trailer are 13K together. Diesel makes sense for me as I drive the trucks until they are finished. My 2007 Duramax had 372K (150 to 200K with 13K behind it) on it when I traded it in 2015 and other than regular maintenance all I did was re-build the front end once. Never touched the tranny or the motor ever - not even the injectors.

Diesels are very good if you actually use them. I had a 2000 Dodge diesel when I used to have cattle. It got 20 MPG empty or a trailer full of cattle. Never missed a beat. I got rid of the cows and now just have goats so I sold the truck and down graded to a F-150. It gets about the same MPG's as the Dodge except pulling the 14' trailer with a goat in it then gets around 15. I know a fellow that bought one of the newer Dodge diesels. He does not need it as he very seldom ever pulls anything larger than a pop up camper. I think now he regrets it even though he won't admit for getting the diesel. He just spent quite a bit getting some work done on it at a dealer.

Our 6.0HD does every day... been a good truck... just gota keep intake clean

My old 2000 5.3 was the same way. That throttle body would carbon up if you looked at it funny.

How do you like the tongue pull with that much weight? Have been considering something similar. Do you use weight distribution?

Trailer is rated for 8 tons and the hitch is a pintle style and also rated for 8 tons. I would not tow something that heavy with a ball style hitch. As for how the weight feels I have been doing this for almost 10 years without issue. It tows and feels nicer than my 7.5K 28 foot travel trailer - mainly because I don't think it catches wind the same way. No weight distribution is used but the truck is a single rear wheel 1 ton not a 3/4 ton. That bumps the payload up to 4K from about 2.5-3K on most diesel 3/4s. The curb weight of the truck is also about 800lbs more than a similarly equipped 3/4 ton. At 13k (trailer - 3.8k, machine 8.3k plus chains, binders, fuel, mud snow etc..) and overestimating the tongue weight at 1500lbs I still have lots of payload/axle capacity left for tools/people etc..

You had a 6.0HD for awhile over all good truck, think I sold it with 120k on it. It was my haul truck hauling pipe and steel, hay or cattle. Overall fine for most part, I bought it after selling my 12v dodge with 300k on it.

It was no 12v Cummins. Weird feeling getting use to the right ranges.

Cummings

Not sure about other municipalities, but the one I work for doesn't allow idling over 5 minutes or it sends a report to fleet. We were told that with leds strobe lights/arrow boards, that it won't run the batteries down...... but I've proved them wrong. They also have some kind of formula for when it's time to replace based on mileage and repair cost, then age last