2011 truck - gas or diesel??

Thinking about getting a 2011 truck, probably a Silverado 3500.  Would love to have the new Duramax, but am wondering with diesel prices and the new diesel exhaust fluid requirements, is it still worth it to spend the extra $8k on a diesel?  On paper, the mileage and pulling power are supposed to be great, but in the real world, is it worth it?  Have any of you diesel lovers switched to a gasser?

I don't think I could ever imagine switching to gas for our main truck. 

In the long run, the diesel would be better. You will get a lot more miles out of it, that's the main benefit.

i would get a dodge diesel cummins if you really want to keep it.....we have had ours for 6 years now with over 350k and still going...

I also own a Dodge Diesel but the question asked is one that requires alot of thought and some number punching . I really dont know what i would do today with fuel being so high , the initial price being higher , the cost of diesel parts being higher , oil changes cost more , the list really goes on and on . Im definitely a diesel fan but with these new gas trucks having so much power and longevity i really am not as convinced as i used to be . Think about the big picture once .......

I agree with Altsimmy. The fuel mileage on a diesel pretty much sucks, not like they used to be. My company truck is a chevy diesel with 140000 miles and had to replace injectors $4500. I would have to say gas.

Personally I wouldn't own a Duramax. All these years and they still can't get rid of the bugs in that motor.  As stated with a diesel the longevity is greater than a gas but you do have to consider all the other factors...diesels do cost more to up keep but if done right they will last. We still haul with a 7.3 Powerstroke that has 400,000 on it. To bad all the emission laws cause ford to do away with the 7.3.

I have to agree with ALTSIMMY79 and peachy. The price of fuel and the extra cost of repairs and parts not to mention having to plug them in during the winter makes me very seriously consider going back to gas. Three different diesels and we never have got the fuel mileage they advertised.

We were a chevy family but we had at least one cummins in the yard at all times until I got sideswiped in our last one, with fuel now I would probably go with a gas burner or better yet a motorcycle  <rock>

I bet the new GMC 6.2l gas trucks could haul pretty good.

A diesel engine is 30 percent more efficient than a gas engine.  If you haul a lot it makes more sense to spend the extra money on the diesel option.  If you only use the truck occasionally it probably makes more sense to go with the gas engine.  I have a 2001 dodge with the cummings engine that I pull with all the time.  Also have a newer gas truck as a back up in case the dodge breaks down. 

Last time I checked the vortec's were gas hogs too.  Pull a trailer on the interstate at those speeds and for a distance and see how those gasers hold up.  The fuel milage has to go up on the d maxs over the last generation, nobody I know loved the fuel milage of theirs.  Another thing to consider is resale and how long you plan to own the truck.  All the big trucks are running def so its not that big of a deal to get it.  The dealers all claim if you fill the def tank everytime you change oil you will never run out.  Don't know if its true don't have a truck with it but its what I have been told.

Like others said depends on how much your going to be pulling/hauling.

I am driving a 2011 powerstroke right now and I can only get 12-13 mpg.  I only have 5000 miles on it right now.  And the exhaust fluid id a pain in the butt.

I also have a 2005 dodge and I get 21 mpg.  LOVE the Dodge.

cattlefarmer said:

Last time I checked the vortec's were gas hogs too.  Pull a trailer on the interstate at those speeds and for a distance and see how those gasers hold up.  The fuel milage has to go up on the d maxs over the last generation, nobody I know loved the fuel milage of theirs.  Another thing to consider is resale and how long you plan to own the truck.  All the big trucks are running def so its not that big of a deal to get it.  The dealers all claim if you fill the def tank everytime you change oil you will never run out.  Don't know if its true don't have a truck with it but its what I have been told.

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I have a 2011 Duramax and love it!  You are correct that you won't run out of def as long as you add it when you get your oil changed.  Every gas station that I've seen carries it and if you do have to fill it would be pretty easy to put in under the hood.  I get about 19 mpg on the highway and have about 3000 miles on the truck.  It may get better with time or it might not.  In town mileage isn't very good but that never is on anything.  My friend has a 2011 vortec and it gets 13 on the highway.  He didn't know what he got in town but said it was miserable.  Part of that could be driving habbits though.

I was a long time Ford guy but got fed up with having to deal with the problems of the powerstrokes that came after the 7.3.  I figured I'd try a new flavor and let ford get their new diesels figured out. 

Go diesel I am a dodge cummins fan but the new euria stuff is not that expensive one of my friends owns a Car Quest shop and it's like 20 bucks for enough to do like 500 gallons. But then a gain dodge does not have to use that stuff so just a suggestion.   

Anyone know anything about the Dodge 5.7 Hemi Gas engine?  Mileage/Power?

I know a guy that has a  5.7 Hemi and it has quite a bit of power nothing compared to the 6.7 cummins turbo diesel. 

If you are consistently pulling heavy loads for over 25-50K/year(and will keep the truck for 6 years or more),  I'd advise buying the diesel.  That extra $8000 up front and additional maintenance is too much to off-set any fuel economy advantage.

Buy the gas motor if you haul small loads over shorter distances or if using it as a general farm truck. 

Pretty ridiculous that it is 2011 and we still can hardly get over 20mpg on these vehicles.  Consumerism at it's finest.