Diesel vs. Gas Trucks for off roading
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
The only concern people have with a diesel that I can think of (and it won't stop me when I have the money to buy a Diesel truck) is the added weight.
Diesels don't have that much more power (in the grand scheme of things), but its just that diesels make max power VERY low in the RPM range which I would perfer when climbing rocks and the such.
Looking forward to was others think tho.
-Chris
Diesels don't have that much more power (in the grand scheme of things), but its just that diesels make max power VERY low in the RPM range which I would perfer when climbing rocks and the such.
Looking forward to was others think tho.
-Chris
im on my fourth diesel 4wd, but this is the only one ive ever really used for offroading. just always had to have 4wd to get around muddy pastures. actually, ive never had a gas driven truck..so i cant compare well, other than observation. you are working with a much heavier front end and as said, lower rpms and lower HP. im not a "serious offroader", but i like to go out to some fields we have to go over the hills when its muddy and thru the big mudpits. ive never had any problems, in 4wd. the things i do notice, are that times my buddies can drive down a trail in 2wd, i have to be in 4wd or the front will bog down. and when tryin to fling mud around, that diesel wont spin the tires like a gas will, it just crawls on thru. other than the other costs associated with diesels, i dont see it as a disadvantage. ill always have diesel trucks.but i am plannin on buyin a jeep to do some "serious" stuff. rather roll a 5000 jeep than a 30000 truck. and parts are cheaper when they break too. and i wont cry about the dents and scratches.....
I would have to agree with the above posts. The added weight on the front end is the only issue that I could see but with the torque of the diesel I don't think there would be any problems.
I plan on taking my new diesel out into some serious stuff after I get it.
I plan on taking my new diesel out into some serious stuff after I get it.
and power wise--I can get power out of that diesel that you won't believe---check out the web media here http://www.performancediesel.net and with this power your truck is totally streetable and should have no prob wheelin' as the power is adjustable---a guy just hit 634hp with a 2002 model(of course with propane and NOS) but we can get you close to 400 without the drugs----chris
Joined
·
539 Posts
Diesel's have more power in the low range so i think they're better for off roading. Gas engine can rev much higher so they break their tires loose easier. Diesel's are more for hill, or rock climbing. If you want speed or muddy terrain, get a gas.
Joined
·
969 Posts
Well with my 1500 I usually put it in 1st gear for more low end power. i think diesels work good for off road cause how many of you guys do that much high speed off roading? They work well for crawling over obstacles.
Althoug it's an international I'm running in my Ford, I'd have to praise my diesel as well. Mind you I haven't gotten in a whole lot of mud, what I have found was that my diesel gets down and bites in, due to it's wieght. Your not going to throw mud around, and yeah thats fun, but then again thats also how you get stuck or worst, breakthings. I hope to make it through "Tank Trap" in Hollister. So we will just see how the diesels compare to gas in mud. Albiet there is more wieght, but that wieght is over some powered wheels. I guess thats the point I wanted to bring in. Besides you are going to get more miles out of your diesel than you would gas, provided you keep it maintained, mines at 205,000 now. you also get pretty good diesel milage, I was getting 14 mpg while being stuck in LA today, mind you Dodges get better milage, I'd however like to know what you guys with gas are getting out of those V8 or V10's? yeah, ok that was my two cents. All I can say is keep on truckin, and make those gas boys know what they are missing.
Joe
Joe
Joined
·
1,527 Posts
Diesels run underwater too, as long as they can breathe.
hey GeepM, the new 24v cummins doesnt get any better mileage than the powerstrokes. i had a 92 dodge, 12v, that got around 22 or so. then i went to a 95 ford powerstroke, ran around 15, and now i have the 00 dodge 24v. the 24Vs get about 14. i got about 17 when i first got it, but that was with stock wheels. thats about the average from all the folks ive talked to on the TDR.
Joined
·
220 Posts
the power at what rpm isn't really an issue since you use a gear that puts you at the rpm that makes the most power. the only thing that a desil has over a gas engine is that it doesn't notice the weight as much when pulling a heavy load (trailer etc.). but as far as offroading is concerned the gas engine is a better choice.
Rambrdr---you go check out My6eatsV8's mudbog video at http://www.performance.net (web media) he kicked the gassers a$$ and now he's banned--for speed that same truck has run a 12.67 1/4 mile--yes he has drugs(propane & NOS) but there are plenty of Diesels w/o drugs that can spank gassers---guys running in the low 14's--I'll take my CUMMINS over any gasser---chris
AHH AHH AHH Rawkon! :wink:
Please don't associate all diesels with the older or less maintained ones that blow black smoke (read dump trucks, older tractor trailers, etc...). They blow black smoke because something is wrong or not adjusted right in the motor.
A properly tuned diesel will runn cleaner than any gasoline burning motor. Because gasoline engines use a spark to ignite the fuel it doesn't always burn entirely thru, where as Diesel engines compress the fuel to the point that it all explodes it will burn (typically) completely away.
-Chris
Please don't associate all diesels with the older or less maintained ones that blow black smoke (read dump trucks, older tractor trailers, etc...). They blow black smoke because something is wrong or not adjusted right in the motor.
A properly tuned diesel will runn cleaner than any gasoline burning motor. Because gasoline engines use a spark to ignite the fuel it doesn't always burn entirely thru, where as Diesel engines compress the fuel to the point that it all explodes it will burn (typically) completely away.
-Chris
chis i might have to disagree with u on that black smoke thing check out daves white dodge at http://www.engineenterprise.com that big white dodge ROLLS black smoke and makes almost 1100 lbs torque it looks like it is running just fine
:1 - 20 of 22 Posts
