For what it is worth, I worked in a fast oil change facility for longer than I care to remember, but whoever said in an earlier reply, talking about fleet vehicles was not just talking about OTR trucks. There are hundreds, no thousands of fleet vehicles out there that tout Cumminss or Powerstrokes. I saw hundreds of them day in and day out. Yes, the maintenance is higher, when you have to do it, but the longer intervals balance it out.

Having owned three Strokes myself,  I can say that they definitely paid for themselves.

We could all argue from now till the world ends about which is better. Each is better for what you use it for.

It is kind of like the "whose better, Chevy or Ford" thing. It all comes down to what you want, what you need, and what you can afford.

Apparently Diesels are popular though, look at how many are out there.

I do question the reduced maintainance though because diesels are hard on motor oil too. Look how many gassers are out there too. Starting in 2008, deisels big and small will have to meet NOx of CO emmisions too. (they are very very bad about NOx too)  THey have avoided it because of poor fuel qualitity control but that too will change starting in 2007 by EPA orders. In 2008 diesels will have complex CATS just like gassers too. (even OTR rigs) Detroit likes to push deisels now because they have very little emmision requirements now due to the loop hole that will close in 08. If I had to have a diesel tomorrow it would be a old 7.3 Power stroke or a Cummins but since I can get niether in a GM truck, I am not going to get one anyway.  

I just bought a superchips programmer for my cummins and all I can say is WOW!!!  These trucks are way detuned from the factory.  I have gained both power AND fuel mileage.  4 MPG pulling my trailer will help out every week with rising fuel costs.  Besides the mileage the giggleometer has gone way up too.  Its sick how a 6500 pound 4x4 can grab down a gear and pass someone with no hesitation.  A gas truck can be tuned up but then high octane but be used to avoid pinging (higher fuel cost).  

But a gas truck is a LOT cheaper to buy too. To each their own!  

Diesels are better and anybody who argues that point is a fool and knows it.  Diesel: more torque, more horsepower capability, and they are just plain beasts.  

gas truck might be cheaper but a diesel truck will pay for itself a lot sooner  

No it will not, not at a 6500 dollar option & higher maintinace costs & Insurance costs (because it costs more to replace) and such. It will take atleast a 150K and no break downs to even think about breaking even and then only if it does not break down out of warranty too.  

I agree a brand new diesel truck is going to be expensive but what truck is cheap these days.  Most of us are in the used truck market anyway.  Gas trucks are less expensive than diesels new or used but a used diesel will hold the value longer than a used gas.  I bought my 94' Dodge with diesel for $15k with 100k miles on it.  I beat the snot out of it for another 100k miles and sold it for $9k.  I had to put several sets of brakes, 4 ball joints, 1 track rod, and 2 tie rods on it in that time but a gas truck would have needed it too.  I pulled 10k pounds or more about 60% of that 100k miles for buisness.  The truth is I acually made money with that truck.  No engine problems excepting 1 new starter and 2 new batteries.  I sold that truck to a close friend who has added 60k more miles and just replaced a rear main seal, clutch, and 2 injectors. Sounds like a good investment to me.

Yes you made money with that truck but you would make "less" if you paid more for it to begin with. I paid $20,500 for my gasser 2000 K3500 new and it is a base truck (it does have A/C, tilt and cruise though) and deisel models then were optioned more and dealing less and would have cost me about 28k at the time to get one and it was not worth it to me. If I could have got one for a few thousand more, I might have went for it. I keep trucks for 10 years or better and though I use them, I take good care of them too. I still have a 89 4x4 burb that I both new that is still pretty cherry even with 170k miles on it. I plan to keep it for atleast another 6 years until my daughters finish college and I see no problems doing it. It has been fairly maintainace free other than oil and lubes and such.