In brief off-road trail trips, you probably won’t have an excess of weighty supplies in your truck — and, by extension, won’t necessarily have to be driving a rugged diesel machine. Shorter off-road trips, perhaps especially in a muddy locale, could be a better fit for a gas rig (the crucial filters of a diesel engine won’t appreciate such ground either).
What a diesel engine tends to do very well, meanwhile, is maintain efficiency and performance during longer, more challenging drives, with powerful torque providing the momentum to climb the inclines a driver may face during more elevated off-road adventures.
Diesel trucks are better suited to longer journeys, too, because this is where their potentially superior operating economy can shine. A diesel engine may also last longer, partially owing to the fact that such engines operate at a reduced RPM and so aren’t necessarily pushing themselves as hard. The almost-self-lubricating nature of diesel itself, too, promotes longer life.
Though maintenance may be more complex and costly for a diesel model, it’s vital to note that so much depends on the specific vehicle and terrain: Newer diesels can be developed to be much less heavy in a relative sense, and there’s ultimately no definitive answer to whether diesel is better for off-roading than gas, though its traditional strengths relative to the latter may tend to favor off-road use. Keep your intended use cases in mind, along with your particular prospective vehicle’s capabilities.
