Extreme cold...gas vs diesel trucks

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I need advice from you northerners.

My FIL wants a new truck to keep up at his jobsite. It will be parked for up to 2-3 weeks between his work hitches. Elevation is a factor, from 5200' to 9500'. Very, very cold.
-20F to -50F is common. Money is not the issue.

The local guys are telling him to get a gas engine due to the storage requirements of the truck and the fuel gelling problems of diesel. Can not plug in block warmer while parked for 2-3 weeks.

He's leaning towards gas. No trailer hauling duties. 4x4 Power Wagon with a winch. Safe traveling is primary issue.

I like the diesel but drove the Power Wagon Hemi 5.7 today.

Doe's anyone have one of these? What is the real world mpg for a 3/4 ton, 4X4, gas beast like this?

Need answers soon! Employee pricing ends Sept. 30th Friday.
Thanks...Kyle

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I run a fleet of medium duty diesels (class 4 & 5 trucks) and we run into freezing problems at -10 and below. We have these problems even with conditioner/anti-gel added. Usually the gas lines will gel up when the temps drop down that low. We toss a tarp over the cab and warm them up with a salamander/torpedo heater, but at the longest ours are stored overnight in those conditions, not for weeks, and ours are plugged in. I think you'll want gas, not diesel. Just my experience.

 

[Egon]

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At -50F for three weeks it may be impossible to start anything without added heat.

Someone else has mentioned a propane inline heater for vehicles. This may be the way to go as it should allow the truck to get warmed up and start.

Another possibilty would be a small portable generator to plug the truck into and warm it up. Putting a propane torch on the block should warm the generator enough to allow it to start.

Another option would be to put a lantern under a tarp covering the generator.

As for gas or diesel if there is some provision for heating the engine either should work. If no heat is available the gas would be best.

Up here in the frozen North we usually have no problems with diesel fuel in the winter as long as it is clean fuel and winter grade. Conditioner is usually used when temps drop to -20f or so. Many use conditioner year round.

Milage with the Hemi will not be great.

Egon

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Thanks Bob and Egon.

He ended up buying a 2006 Dodge "Mega Cab" Diesel 4x4. The cab is huge. The back seats have great legroom and can recline too! I guess the bed is a bit shorter (standard short bed). He's found a place to park it while he's gone that is covered and has electricity to plug it in.

 

[cowboydoc]

Kyle,

The 06's didn't have the employee pricing. Also did he order the megacab? I was told they hadn't even gotten any yet??

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Yes, Richard.

My FIL got only one of a very few available (and paid dearly for it). He decided if he was going to keep it for as many years as he's had his Ford, he didn't mind paying 6 or 7 grand more. I drove it about 40 miles last night and was truly impressed. Dodge was worried that the big cab might be too noisy, so they added more sound deadening insulation and its 25% quieter than previous cab models. It does ride very quiet. My buddies all drive Duramax's so I know how they ride. I was at first worried about the Dodge having not had any recent experience with them. They've come a LONG way. Engine is quiet and purrs. You hear a very small amount of turbo whine but not enough to disturb any conversation. I would really recommend anyone to at least test drive one if they are interested in a new diesel.

I bet Dodge will eventually offer incentives to help sell them. They said they could not offer any back payments to my FIL if they come out with incentives later. Anyway, his company will pay the bigger part of his costs if not all. Why can't we all be so lucky???

 

[buckle97]

Richard, I was at a local event last weekend put on by the US Corps of Engineers called "Hunting and Fishing Day" and the local Dodge Dealer had a Mega Cab on display there. I wasn't aware that they were in short supply, but I havn't been looking at trucks lately.

Lawrence

 

[cowboydoc]

They aren't necessarily in short supply they just began producing them. Most of the dealers I know are still waiting to get their first one. That's why I was pretty surprised to hear they were already selling. We traded in my wife's Ford on an 05 but I was kind of wanting the 06 megacab and Dodge said it would be November and December before the ones that were ordered now would be shipped and into next year if you ordered one now.

 

[Docsknotinn]

The Duramax is going bye bye when the mega cabs come out. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Time to join the 6 cylinder club.

 

[HGM]

Well, I'm a Ford guy and will remain so. I drove the very same truck your FIL bought today and was very impressed. Dodge has come a long way in the past few years. I found the engine extremely quiet though the exhaust was near anoying to me. It does have ALOT of room inside too. I give them credit, but I still like Ford.

As for the recomendation, though late, I thought I'd add a little for the other guys tuning in. In this situation the Ford and Chevy would have an issue with turbo stickage. They both use the same variable turbo and have some concerns with the turbos sticking after a long park or short runs. Condensation builds up and corrodes the vanes. I would recomend someone drive it when it was left behind.