March 10th, 2010 by

If you plan to make use of your truck just like a car, desiring quick, quiet acceleration and rarely ever haul a heavy load and do not plan to it for a long period, you might want a gasoline engine.  Gas engines run smoother, fuel is easier to get, and gas engines start easier in cold weather.

If you are planning to utilize your truck for towing, value good fuel economy and plan to put lots of miles on it, you may want a diesel.  The purchase price to buy a diesel truck is actually high, whilst they can provide you with a lot in return.

Below, you will find a more important vehicle manufacturers and what they provide you with.

Dodge; the 2500 and 3500 Dodge Ram Heavy Duty trucks are the newest 3/4 and 1 ton trucks on the road.  Back in 2002, the Ram didn’t have enough power with the 245 HP 9.5L.  Dodge promised stronger engines for the 2500/3500 platform and they delivered on that promise. The new base engine is the 5.7L gasoline V-8 that is not only the strongest engine with the group at 345 HP but also revives the well known and historical Hemi name.

Ford; Ford helped push the 3/4 ton and 1 ton truck target where it is today when it introduced it is international engineered power stroke diesel back in 1994.  Before 1994, these diesels were poorly built and no match for the big inch gasoline engines. From 1994 to 2002, over 70% of super duty Fords were sold with the optional 7.3L V-8 diesel engine.  This engine helped that will put Ford among the leaders in diesel trucks, as they had more than they needed to dominate the marketplace.

Chevrolet/GMC; the GM 2500/3500 twins Silverado HD and Sierra HD both come standard with GM’s 6.0L gas engine V-8.  This engine is ideal for 3/4 ton trucks where towing is not an issue.  The upgrades start with the 8.1L gas V-8 that is based on Chevrolet’s venerable big block engine.

Through the years, diesel trucks have proven to be effecient with mileage, great for towing, and easy on maintenance.  Unlike gas engines, diesel engines would not have spark plugs, and that means you won’t need to have them tuned up near as much as gasoline engines.

For individuals who love to haul heavy loads on a frequent basis, diesel is what you want.  You will get quite a few miles per gallon, and diesel trucks are made to go 250,000 miles or more before the engine needs to be rebuit, making them a purchase that is a lot more than worth your cash.

I highly recommend you also see my other tips guide on lifted truck and commercial truck parts.