Well, apparently my post about possibly moving from a gas Ram 2500 to a diesel Chevy 2500 touched a nerve with a few people.

That discussion started with my 2024 Ram 2500 6.4 HEMI towing review after pulling our Grand Design 295RL to Mississippi.

A little background about me: after retiring from teaching at the college, I became the Safety Director for a regional trucking company. So yes, I understand that a diesel costs more to purchase, maintain, and repair than a gas engine. I deal with diesel trucks, fuel costs, DEF, maintenance, breakdowns, and repair bills every day. I did not wake up one morning, see a Duramax badge, and lose all ability to perform basic math.

I also have some advantages that many owners do not. Our company shop can handle the oil changes, fuel filters, brakes, and most routine maintenance on my truck. I can also buy diesel fuel and DEF from our yard for considerably less than truck-stop prices. And yes, before the Facebook Department of Obvious Information reports for duty, I understand that our fuel island cannot follow me across the country.

Several people gave thoughtful advice based on actual experience, and I appreciate every one of those responses. Others seemed personally offended that anyone would ask a question on Facebook before spending tens of thousands of dollars.

For clarification, I was not asking Facebook to make the decision for me. I was asking people who had actually moved from a gas 2500 to a diesel 2500 whether they believed the switch was worth it. You would have thought I was asking Colonel Sanders for the secret blend of 11 herbs and spices or requesting access to classified government documents.

The main reason I am considering the diesel is that, starting next year, Dawn and I plan to take much longer trips, including traveling out West while pulling our Grand Design 295RL. I am interested in the additional torque, improved towing performance, longer fuel range, and especially the exhaust brake in the mountains.

Getting up a mountain is mostly a matter of horsepower and patience. Coming back down is where gravity starts making decisions on your behalf, and I would prefer to have an exhaust brake involved in that discussion. Gravity is free, and it apparently has no concern for your brake temperatures.

I am still weighing the advantages, disadvantages, and total cost. I will make the final decision based on what works best for us. When I decide, I will let everyone know even the people who believe asking experienced owners for information somehow means I am incapable of making my own decision.

That decision came a few days later, and I ended up trading the Ram for a Chevy 2500HD Duramax. Here’s what finally pushed me to make the switch.

For the record, gathering information is how informed decisions are made. Guessing, assuming, and acting like the loudest person in a Facebook group knows everything is how expensive mistakes are made.