those old ass diesel do suck tho honestly! they dont make much power and expensive to make more power! Not like the new diesels! U might want to think about that...if u were gettin a newer dually i would say diesel for sure but bein that old i would honestly say gas! This is comin from someone that has mostly gas and just bought a new duramax for my tow truck and i love it!
i currently have an ext cab dually with a big block is a 94 and when i put a trail behind it with a car on it i dont feel the power.....wy?
there might be something wrong with it, or it might be old & worn out. my 454 even did great last weekend when i pulled my 18' trailer (with a 2x6 floor) with a mid 90's buick roadmaster donk on 24's. (snapped a u joint & shit the driveline...who'd have guessed ). it was a heavy car on a heavy trailer & i only felt it near the last part of a long steep hill on the freeway.i've heard that those years of diesels suck also, put have no proof or supporting evidence.good luck...
by the way, my motor & tranny's just a stock rebuild. no cam, chip, or anything. except a k&n, but that only counts for about 100hp or so
those diesels suck. they were a gas engine converted to diesel. 6.2 i think. 454 will just guzzle gas. if you can find a newer diesel that would be your best bet. even if diesel is more expensive you get better mileage.