The diesel would not have any trouble running 65-70 mph up the passes around there with only a thousand pounds on it. I have started mine down to -26 F without it being plugged in. Your daily commute would not be ideal for the diesel to regen but if you take weekly roadtrips that would give it a chance to clean out. You obviously already have checked into maintenance costs. It's going to come down to what you like more. Possibly find a dealer which will let you go for a longer test drive and really get a feel of both engines.

 

They will both do the job just fine. I knew I'd always be wondering "what if" and leaving drool marks on ecodiesel versions of the truck. Buy what you WANT, assuming all other things are close to equal.

 

I would either get the hemi or wait another year or two for a diesel. The hidden costs of dealing with the diesel repairs are an issue

 

I'm in a similar climate in the winter and I had no issues this past winter. I garage it when I'm home but then it stays parked outside for days at a time when I'm at work. I think your decision should probably be much more related to cost/benefit analysis and whether you like the diesel over the Hemi. I'm very happy with mine. Take CG98x's advice and go drive them for a while!

 

Some had had problems , some have not. A few of the guys here have had bad problems, more so on the part of the dealer and getting the truck fixed than the truck itself.

I am one of those who have not had any issues. Love the fuel mileage, how it runs and tides and in a month or two will put about 2,000 miles of miles towing on it. That is the " test" I am waiting for.

You need to drive both. If you have a " need for speed" , the hemi is better.

 

I struggled for months especially when the cost of diesel was $1 higher than gas. I went with the ecodiesel and have no regrets! Especially on days like yesterday when i had to make an unexpected 3 hour trip and got 28.7 mpg at 72mph. I've had my truck for just over 3 months and have about 9200 miles on it with a total average of 23mpg which includes at least 50% city driving. I have not had any issues with the exception of the steering wheel not getting as hot as i would like. I tow a 21ft bass boat and haul light loads and don't care about how fast I can get off the line. I love the sound of the diesel and so do all of my gas engine friends. Who include a buddy with a Honda ridgeline that only gets 17mpg on average. There is something about a diesel, that's all I can say. TCO doesn't account for ROI should you sell it. The good news is you can't go wrong really. I would say take the cost out of equation and ask yourself which you would rather have. If you pick solely based on logic you will have some regrets.

 

The good news is you can't go wrong really. I would say take the cost out of equation and ask yourself which you would rather have. If you pick solely based on logic you will have some regrets.

Bingo. That's the way to do it.

 

I traded in a 2014 crew Hemi 8 speed for the 2015 crew 3D....I would fight them to the death before I went back to the Hemi.....not that I didn't like the Hemi...it did a great job pulling my 6,000lb car hauler thru the mountains...the Diesel just does it better with half the rpms and half the fuel (9mpg vs 17.3mpg).......The only thing you mentioned that would make me hesitate is the 7,000 travel trailer.......the weight is not the issue but the "drag" of a large front has brought some negative comments so a Cummings might be a better choice?.....but someone here with actual travel trailer experience will have to comment on that...

 

I pull a 9k+ enclosed car hauler and the Eco D does a great job. Does it with 2 mpg better than my 5.9 cummins too.

 

In your situation the Hemi sounds like the best choice. Since you are in Colorado I would suggest you watch TFL truck review of the Eco diesel going up the Ike Gauntlet.

 

The Ecodiesel is the better powerplant for operation, towing, fuel economy and satisfaction. I mean a diesel pulls so much different than a gasser. Once diesel spoiled, you would not want to mess with the gasser.

You are not "diesel spoiled". You are also quite interested in the economic bottom line. The comments about your spreadsheet work says it all.

Without the soul for a diesel, follow your spreadsheet. You will get the job done, follow your calculations and and do what you really want. Live with the Hemi.

 

Not so fast




I'm not sure you can say that for a few years from now considering the problems these engines have had in the RAM and even more in the Jeep. I would recommend anyone to wait or just get a hemi. If you have problems dealing with FCA really sucks.

 

I love how when people have an issue with their new truck, they're all junk. 38k miles on mine without issue, and the vast majority don't have issues.

 

I'm a bit confused as to why you think FCA would pull back on this truck or it would fall out of favor ..... haven't you been reading the forum ? Nissan is releasing the Titan, GM is releasing the Colorado and the competition is clamoring to get on the bandwagon. Seems to me, the opposite is taking place

 

For me, after driving and living with the Longhorn ecodiesel 1500 for a few thousand miles, life is too short to drive gas powered trucks. I love my 911 Porsche but I don't want that high rpm power peak in my truck. Gas engines have their place and it is not in my truck! Good luck with your choice!

 

If your "beef" is with Fiat/Chrysler, Why remotely recommend a Hemi? That also is Fiat/Chrysler. Recommend GM or Ford. Now don't recomment some Jap thing. That goes against America.

If you don't like the service, go Ford or GM. Your transportation needs will be met and you can go about your life finding other rewarding things to do.

 

In the context of the OP I was answering the question based on my personal experience and the case problems that I read in various forums as well as the Jeep Cherokee history. 1st amendment Konrad!

 

I just am amazed how many trips to the dealership you people put up with and are still fanboys

 

I'm just amazed that you hate the truck so much and you still stick with it, and spend time on here.

 

I been hearing the same Trash over the years when New Diesels are released ,Yes you may have 1 or 2 problem on the production or design, but in most cases if you wait out the builder they eventually come up with the fix, This does NOT apply to the 2007.5 -2010 Ram Cummins those trucks were so problematic I even gave MY blessing on instant deletions. Now to the 2013 Ram Cummins some experience problems ,I ordered My 2013 the morning you could place the orders, Its only had the in-tank pump fail, O the rear Heater I discovered in July of 13 (when installing the auxiliary Bypass and New in tank module) I and Ram had a big legal problem ,According to Ram I was the only Truck ever made with the No heater, (Fuel) It took 2 months for Ram to TSB all trucks /Cummins 13/14s made to Oct 13 recall.

I had 2 owners (Brothers) stop by yesterday to pick up filters (Zinga) their 2013 6.7 3500 W/Aisin had 221K with just normal / Proper care and maintenance. They are putting on new rotors and Pads this weekend.


I've tried to divorce Myself form some of the trashy comments I read, Example winter front on ED , the vehicle is equip with Air shutters, the only device in front of the shutters IC/CAC, the EGR use to coolant to cool the hot exhaust gases WTH Why would you want to restrict air that is being controlled? .To top it off I see the cover on when 30-40* O WTH the owner cannot figure out why His Turbo/EGR failed prematurely. In extreme cold I could see using it -5*F or colder at that you still should NOT cover the entire front UNLESS long idle times 1 hr or More.

You want as cool as possible air to enter the Plenum/Turbo on most Diesels With EGR/Throttle valve. Excessive heat is a killer to Diesel intake/exhaust, manage Air/fuel is the key. Another 1 running fuel tanks to absolute minimum on a regular basis, the Fuel is used to lube and cool ALL HPCR systems, electro hydro Injector can range form $400.00-$700.00 EACH why would you want to treat them like a Glow Plug? When you compress Fuel AT 15K PSI or higher it can double the income fuel temp easily. So 110* fuel can reach temps 200+ then recycle the hot fuel back to the tank (back leakage/ RT) were only 2 or 3 gallons at 100+ temps , well that's going to put your injection fuel temps in the 250*+ .

I think you should get the Diesel ED, With proper care and maintenance it will last. You never owned a diesel Buy one, and listen to the experts on Proper maintenance and care, otherwise buy gas.

 

Based on what I have seen on this site....there are a few that have serious problems. There are some more that have had some easily correctable issues ( although the dealers didn't always do the best job of flung it so easy) and there are the MAJORITY who have either had a very minor problem or no problems at all.

That's it.

I don't envy those who have had the serious problems and wish them well in whatever vehicle makes them happy but I am happy with my ED and shall go on in support of it.

 

I wouldn't go back to a 1/2 ton gasser truck if you held a gun to my head!!! I like my EcoDiesel, can't imagine buying a Hemi truck.
Yes there have been problems, a lot of the problems I have seen though stem from the dealer's being asses!
The Hemi's have problems too, so do the Ford EcoBoosts, the GM 5.3/6.0 family and everyones diesels have some issues, it's just the name of the game in the modern world!
The Japanese are not any better, trust me!!!

I would buy an EcoDiesel again in a heartbeat!!!

Mike

 

First, thanks for all the comments so far. What a shame they don't all recommend the same thing.

I do have a couple follow-up questions:

What makes the ED somewhat less than ideal for short-distance, around-town driving? Is this entirely related to the expected need for active regeneration in this driving scenario? Or are there other issues which are a concern?

Regarding active regen, I understand the truck is designed to initiate these when necessary and that could be inconvenient from time to time. But is there some concern about "too many" active regens?

With respect to the issue of these trucks throwing CEL codes: has this been an issue with the 2014-2015 Hemi V8 trucks as well or is it mostly an issue with the EDs?

One other note: Captainmal stated the ED is a "better powerplant for operation, towing, fuel economy, and satisfaction". I totally get that the ED will get better MPG which is why I'm so interested in it. And I also understand the ED will tow at lower RPMs, something I would love after having listened for years to my V10 engines screaming at 5000 RPMs going up to Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70.

But aside from those two factors, it would appear the ED is objectively inferior to the Hemi V8 in tow capacity and its ability to maintain speed on something like the TFLTruck Ike Gauntlet. And it would seem to me the Hemi is demonstrably simpler and cheaper to "operate" (not talking about MPG here). So I'm not quite following how one could conclude it is the better powerplant for operation and towing.

 

The regen needs about 20 minutes of non stop hwy to fully clean the exhaust filter. Driving short stop and go will cause a warning when the filter is at 80%. I got this warning for the first time last week. This was due to my work schedule (CPA and tax time) and the short 2 mile drive from my house to my office. For the last month I have only driven the truck to the office and home. Is this an issue? Depends on the person. Not an issue to me. Normally my truck will be driven at least once a week at hwy speed for at least 20 minutes. Too many regen an issue? I don't know and anyone that says yes or no will more than likely be stating an opinion rather than fact.

The CEL issue is a minority problem. Most have never had a CEL and some of those that haven't have 50,000+ miles on the truck. My dealer has sold dozens of the 3D and have only had 2 back for CELs...and these were minor fixes..

I drove my 3D thru the mountains and was able to maintain 70+mph up the steepest grades pulling 6,000lbs...steep enough that tractor/trailers were dropping under 40mph..

As I mentioned before...I owned a 2013 Hemi std cab and a 2014 Hemi crew...both did a great job pulling the 6,000 trailer and car....but the 3D does it better. NO WAY would I go back to a Hemi now that I have towed with the 3D....I totally agree with cap that the 3D is a "better power plant for operation, towing, fuel economy, and satisfaction".

From my experience I have found the 3D not to be inferior in any way to the Hemi. Yes diesel fuel costs more...yes the diesel requires more maintenance....but with the fuel mileage savings and satisfaction I get those are minor issues.

 

I love my 3D and some people may crucify me for saying this, but if I were in the market id wait a couple more months and see how the Titan XD comes out with the 5.0 cummins. Not saying it will be better, but you'll have seen all the comparable options at that point. I'm shopping for a travel trailer right now and it would be really nice to have a truck that could tow an extra few thousand lbs, or have a 5th wheel option (and stay within mfr ratings).

 

TNCharger, thanks for those details. And just so I understand for comparison purposes, what mountains are you referring to? Does the TN in your screen name imply Tennessee, perhaps?

 

The mountains are I-26 thru the TN-NC border...

 

I have over 17,000 miles and have never seen an active regeneration or CEL. I drive 80 miles round trip to work every day and average between 24-25 mpg.

This is my first diesel pickup and I will never go back to a gasser.

 

WOW ,That's a Bute of Headache Rack, what type of light bar is in the middle, Or is it open.