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Never Named
Posts: 1837
   
Location: Southern Alabama | So, I am in the market for a new truck and trailer.... been looking pretty extensively. So.. I have finally found exactly what I am looking for(truck wise, that is)... however, instead of it being a diesel, it's a gas burner. What are your experience with this? Better fuel economy with a gas burner than diesel? Same amount of pulling power? Pros and cons here, please! |
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| depends on what you are doing with the truck |
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Never Named
Posts: 1837
Location: Southern Alabama | Oops, guess I should have added that... Truck will be pulling a horse trailer... 2-3H GN. Not exactly sure on the trailer yet, since I am also buying a new one of those, too! Well, new to me, that is. Also will be hauling trailers with hay, etc. Truck is a 2006 GMC with a 6.0L V8 |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | For me personally a gas burner was a better decision. I have a 3 horse bumper pull and only haul locally mostly in the summers. I wasn't putting that many miles on my diesel and it would sit during the week and most of the winter (unless there was snow). I have a car as my daily driver to work. I ended up with a 2004 ford f250 v10. I think I've put maybe 600 miles on it since I bought it in August lol. |
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Never Named
Posts: 1837
Location: Southern Alabama | I will also add, this truck will be my daily driver. I live in Alabama, gas and diesel are pretty cheap, lol. Not really worried about a fuel/gas bill. But, needing something that can handle hauling and have plenty of power. I am in love with the truck... but, just don't know how I feel about a gas burner. |
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 Popped
Posts: 20421
Location: LuluLand~along I64 Indiana | i bought a 2012 GMC 2500 6.0 in july and have loved it. pulls my 3h great. gas mileage is about 12 loaded. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I have a 2008 3/4 ton gas truck and my husband has a 2005 Dodge diesel. I will tell you I would much prefer hauling with the diesel - more power and better mileage. However, the maintenance and repairs are much higher with the diesel. Both vehicles have over 200,000 miles on them and both are still working wonderfully. We are diligent on maintenance. |
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Never Named
Posts: 1837
Location: Southern Alabama | GLP - 2017-01-12 9:29 AM I have a 2008 3/4 ton gas truck and my husband has a 2005 Dodge diesel. I will tell you I would much prefer hauling with the diesel - more power and better mileage. However, the maintenance and repairs are much higher with the diesel. Both vehicles have over 200,000 miles on them and both are still working wonderfully. We are diligent on maintenance.
I am very particular about maintenance, as well. However, my Dad is a diesel mechanic.... so, that helps, there. I am just a little skeptical to buy a gas burner and it not have all the power I need.... better to have more than less, right? But, this truck is exactly what I want, for a very good price. |
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Never Named
Posts: 1837
Location: Southern Alabama | luluwhit - 2017-01-12 9:23 AM i bought a 2012 GMC 2500 6.0 in july and have loved it. pulls my 3h great. gas mileage is about 12 loaded.
That is reassuring. I am really leaning towards this truck. Has lower miles, clean Carfax, etc. But, I just don't want to be stuck without the power, if I need it. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| TURNNBURNCOWGIRL - 2017-01-12 9:31 AM
GLP - 2017-01-12 9:29 AM I have a 2008 3/4 ton gas truck and my husband has a 2005 Dodge diesel. I will tell you I would much prefer hauling with the diesel - more power and better mileage. However, the maintenance and repairs are much higher with the diesel. Both vehicles have over 200,000 miles on them and both are still working wonderfully. We are diligent on maintenance.
I am very particular about maintenance, as well. However, my Dad is a diesel mechanic.... so, that helps, there. I am just a little skeptical to buy a gas burner and it not have all the power I need.... better to have more than less, right? But, this truck is exactly what I want, for a very good price.
Will you be driving in hill or mountains? If so, I would go with a diesel, but I have not driven the newer gas trucks. I will say, I doubt we ever get another diesel due to the high prices even used trucks are bringing. |
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Never Named
Posts: 1837
Location: Southern Alabama | GLP - 2017-01-12 9:43 AM TURNNBURNCOWGIRL - 2017-01-12 9:31 AM GLP - 2017-01-12 9:29 AM I have a 2008 3/4 ton gas truck and my husband has a 2005 Dodge diesel. I will tell you I would much prefer hauling with the diesel - more power and better mileage. However, the maintenance and repairs are much higher with the diesel. Both vehicles have over 200,000 miles on them and both are still working wonderfully. We are diligent on maintenance. I am very particular about maintenance, as well. However, my Dad is a diesel mechanic.... so, that helps, there. I am just a little skeptical to buy a gas burner and it not have all the power I need.... better to have more than less, right? But, this truck is exactly what I want, for a very good price. Will you be driving in hill or mountains? If so, I would go with a diesel, but I have not driven the newer gas trucks. I will say, I doubt we ever get another diesel due to the high prices even used trucks are bringing.
I live in Southern Alabama, near Dothan. Not really many mountains and such around here. Some hills, but not real big ones. So, no... it won't be going into the mountains, not hauling anything, that is. I have noticed, even used diesel trucks, the prices are outrageous(well, to me, that is. I'm kind of a tight wad with my hard earned money) |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | hands down a diesel. I will never own a gas truck as long as I'm pulling anything. My husband is a diesel mechanic, so it helps. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | I had that same truck. The biggest problem I had with it was that the dang fuel tank was so small! I'd like to choke the engineer (or whoever) that put such a small fuel tank on a truck that could only get maybe 11 or 12 mpg. I could barely make the 200 mile mark before I needed to fuel up again. Maybe 220 to 250. And I drive like a maw-maw. Otherwise, it did have plenty of power. If I remember anything else about it, I will let you know. |
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Never Named
Posts: 1837
Location: Southern Alabama | Nita - 2017-01-12 9:50 AM I had that same truck. The biggest problem I had with it was that the dang fuel tank was so small! I'd like to choke the engineer (or whoever) that put such a small fuel tank on a truck that could only get maybe 11 or 12 mpg. I could barely make the 200 mile mark before I needed to fuel up again. Maybe 220 to 250. And I drive like a maw-maw. Otherwise, it did have plenty of power. If I remember anything else about it, I will let you know.
I think it says it has an 18 gallon tank... which seems incredibly small to me, as well. This truck will be my daily driver so, that does make it very inconvenient. I will also add... this will be my first time owning a Chevrolet. I have always been a Ford girl. |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | The check engine light stayed on in mine. It was a problem with some component of the o2 sensors. If I'm remembering right, it was the little heater that is on the sensors that goes bad and you could only replace the whole thing. I live in a warm climate and the mechanic told me I would probably never notice, so I never bothered to fix that. It's a common problem, from what I understood, and something you might have to deal with in a cold climate. Mechanic liked that engine, though. Said they were tough. |
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Never Named
Posts: 1837
Location: Southern Alabama | Nita - 2017-01-12 9:53 AM The check engine light stayed on in mine. It was a problem with some component of the o2 sensors. If I'm remembering right, it was the little heater that is on the sensors that goes bad and you could only replace the whole thing. I live in a warm climate and the mechanic told me I would probably never notice, so I never bothered to fix that. It's a common problem, from what I understood, and something you might have to deal with in a cold climate. Mechanic liked that engine, though. Said they were tough.
My Dad is a diesel mechanic, but, works on everything. He told me that it's a nice truck... low mileage, as well. And, for the price, I should snatch it up. It's an '06, 4x4 with a lot of extras and loaded with only 80k miles on it.... they want $12,000 for it. It has a clean Carfax and only one owner. Looks like it has been meticulously been maintained. |
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Never Named
Posts: 1837
Location: Southern Alabama | Nita - 2017-01-12 9:53 AM The check engine light stayed on in mine. It was a problem with some component of the o2 sensors. If I'm remembering right, it was the little heater that is on the sensors that goes bad and you could only replace the whole thing. I live in a warm climate and the mechanic told me I would probably never notice, so I never bothered to fix that. It's a common problem, from what I understood, and something you might have to deal with in a cold climate. Mechanic liked that engine, though. Said they were tough.
I also live in a warm climate. Southern Alabama.... so, maybe I won't have an issue, there. |
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Expert
Posts: 1718
Location: Southeast Louisiana | Ok, I'm remembering more. If the one you're looking at is four wheel drive, there is a common problem with the transfer case. There is a chain in there that eventually snaps and, when it goes, it slings around in there and damages the housing so that the whole thing needs replacing. It happened to mine, and I remember my mechanic telling me not to get a used one (like from pull-a-part if you have those by you) because it is a weakness on these trucks and chances are it would happen again soon unless I went with the brand new parts.
Edited by Nita 2017-01-12 10:33 AM
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I love the power from our diesels too much to consider a gasser again. I have a friend who hauls with a Ford v10, tows a 3H with a 4' short wall and frequently has the pedal to the floor if she's got more than 1 horse on.
Also truck stops are way easier to refuel at than cramming a trailer into a standard gas station LOL!
Watch the fuel tank size on the 3/4 ton diesels too though, our '07 duramax has a 26 gallon tank, a had an '08 for a while that only had a 20 gallon tank. It was obnoxious. We had to make sure we left enough time before we got to the rodeo to stop and get fuel, just in case all the stations were closed when we left after slack. My '08 3500 has a 36 gallon tank - hurts a lot to fill her up, but there's fewer station stops for sure. |
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Never Named
Posts: 1837
Location: Southern Alabama | Nita - 2017-01-12 10:03 AM Ok, I'm remembering more. If the one you're looking at is four wheel drive, there is a common problem with the transfer case. There is a chain in there that eventually snaps and, when it goes, it slings around in there and damages the housing so that the whole thing needs replacing. It happened to mine, and I remember my mechanic telling me not to get abused one (like from pull-a-part if you have those by you) because it is a weakness on these trucks and chances are it would happen again soon unless I went with the brand new parts.
This one does not seem to have been abused. Very clean. Everything under the hood is immaculate. |
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