Engine recommendations for cold climate

[fleanoodle]

Hate to do another engine question, but I can’t seem to find any previous posts about reliability in cold weather. Looking to build a camper truck for hunting and week long trips. Looking at something used in the $40k range. 3/4 or 1 ton. Would love a diesel, but thinking gasser would be better since there won’t be much towing and will be running 33 or 35s at most. Live in North Dakota and will be cold starting around 0 degree f. Any recommendations? Seems like a lot of guys just recommend to leave them run if they can’t be plugged in overnight. And to skip camping if it’s going to be crazy cold.

 

[carterd]

A gas engine and install a hydronic heater with engine loop to allow engine pre-heating.

 

[Tudor Tanase]

I always admired the Swiss for practicality: with their snowy and mountainous country their army seemed to favour gas engines and auto transmissions.

 

[NoDak]

Fellow North Dakotan here. I run a gas engine in my Super Duty and it idles a lot at work. Our work trucks that were diesel always has issues from long idle times. Granted those were early dpf/def trucks so I have no idea if manufacturers have fixed those issues but since we switched to Ford and Ram gassers we’ve had zero issues with our trucks even last weeks in -20 and colder.

 

[fleanoodle]

Fellow North Dakotan here. I run a gas engine in my Super Duty and it idles a lot at work. Our work trucks that were diesel always has issues from long idle times. Granted those were early dpf/def trucks so I have no idea if manufacturers have fixed those issues but since we switched to Ford and Ram gassers we’ve had zero issues with our trucks even last weeks in -20 and colder.

Yeah, I think gassers are the way to go. Give up on the fuel economy/range/power of diesel for the reliability. It won't be my daily anyway. Do you prefer the Rams or Fords more? I've always read about ram/dodge being the worst for reliability but not sure if that applies to their HD trucks.

 

[p nut]

Gas. Either ford and ram would be fine. Chevy is good, too.

 

[NoDak]

Yeah, I think gassers are the way to go. Give up on the fuel economy/range/power of diesel for the reliability. It won't be my daily anyway. Do you prefer the Rams or Fords more? I've always read about ram/dodge being the worst for reliability but not sure if that applies to their HD trucks.

It’s a tough one but I prefer the Fords a bit more overall. The Super Duty’s feel more solid. Last night I was running our Ram 3500 with the 6.4 and I do like that truck a lot as well. No experience with the newer Chevy trucks.

Edit: As for reliability the couple of super duty’s I’ve had recent experience with one with 170,000 miles and one with just over 30,000 miles both zero issues. The Ram we have had for almost 4 years has had no issues but only has about 9500 miles on it.

 

[2025 deleted member]

I always admired the Swiss for practicality: with their snowy and mountainous country their army seemed to favour gas engines and auto transmissions.

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I can’t think of anything practical about running an ex-mil g wagon in the middle of the dakotas. His answer is a domestic 3/4 ton gasser- pick your flavor.

 

[p nut]

…The Ram we have had for almost 4 years has had no issues but only has about 9500 miles on it.

You only drive it 2,500 miles per year?

 

[NoDak]

You only drive it 2,500 miles per year?

It’s the boss's truck.

 

[jgallo1]

I have had a 6.7 ford diesel and currently running a 6.4 hemi. I go between MT and CA.
It does truly come down to personal preference.
IMO diesels always handle better on the road than gasser's especially on those long windy icy hwy stretches. I like the heavier more planted feeling.
In the Winter months diesel requires some extra thought ( plugging it in and winter mix). If your towing you cant bet a diesel .
I think for general use, towing medium loads, and off-road is where the gasser shines. They also generally cost less to maintain.
I don't know anything about Chevy.
I can say, a ranch boss I work with just got a brand new GMC AT4 3500 and it is unbelievable nice. The truck is mainly a tow rig for his / daughters horses though.
I am not sure what level of truck you are after. It gets pretty nit picky between the brands. I love that Ford offers the fx4 package ( you get a rear locking diff) as an add on package to all truck levels. I also love that you can add a power wagon package to a ram tradesman.
I like the ram seats , entertainment system, cup holders more than ford. I also have a lever activated 4x4 system in the ram ( which is I just think is cool , not sure how it holds up to constant active / inactivation yet).
In the ford , I liked the seating position better ( easier to see over the hood on an incline). I actually prefer the overall look of the ford truck. I think the interior plastics seem to be a bit higher quality.
The ford 10 speed trans is very smooth.
Hard to beat a hemi though.
Like I said it gets nit picky . I think between Ford and Ram its really what feels best to you.
Lastly, Wildfire , Forest Service , BLM , and USDA predominantly use Ford and Ram gassers.

 

[NOPEC]

Diesels have ultimate coolness.
But unless you regularly really need a diesels capacity,
I suggest a gasser. Cheaper to buy and maintain.
Unless its a dire event, I suggest dont idle anything for extended times either.
Fit a hydronic heater or carry a Honda generator to use electric block heater. (you will find all sort of extra uses for Honda at hunting camp...)
Just start warming a couple hours ahead of starting time.

The portable generator is a great suggestion.
For 30 lbs and 1000 watts of AC you can run your;
block heater
or a battery blanket
or your battery charger
or a 750 watt ceramic AC heater
or if you are a hipster hunter , your coffee grinder.....

Also, IMO, reliable cold weather starting is more important that initial brand selection.

 

[GeorgeHayduke]

We've had a 6.7 Cummins and a 6.4 hemi ram 2500. Both started fine in -20F in Colorado and Minnesota. I think modern engines are basically all equally good products at this point. It's easier to modulate the torque on a gasser and spin the tires less. Towing range on a diesel and the planted feeling of having an extra 1000 pounds over the steer axles can't be beat though. GM HD trucks can be had with an auto 4wd which could be useful if you're going from snow to ice to dry frequently. Ram has a LSD rear diff which I think is more useful than a full locker in snowy conditions. Instead of idling all the time, get a battery jump starter pack whichever way you go and put in new starting batteries.

 

[Tudor Tanase]

I can’t think of anything practical about running an ex-mil g wagon in the middle of the dakotas. His answer is a domestic 3/4 ton gasser- pick your flavor.

Sounds like a gas engine and an auto transmission to me

 

[Tudor Tanase]

And one more thing: anyone here had to deal with summer (or just bad) diesel in winter: blocked filters, heating fuel lines, adding kero and/or gas to diesel (about 10% is the norm, but with kero you can go up to 50% in old truck engines, apparently), idling for an hour because you can't get enough fuel flowing to get anything else but idle? Been there done that... Still drive a diesel but if it were constantly below freezing I'd think about it again...