For you "diesel is higher maintenance crowd" I respectfully disagree. I've had both and towed pretty extensively with both. Yes, the diesel is more up front. However, I assure you that you will recoup the cost in the end whenever that may be. In equal trucks the diesel will get generally much better mpg loaded or unloaded than its gas counterparts. The diesel goes longer on oil changes also. The newer diesels are stretching out to 15k on OCI. Fuel filters can be pricey but are changed once a year at most for Joe Blow truck owner. I change my own fuel filters and purchase them on Amazon for $90 once a year. And DEF is a non issue really. I've had my 15 Ram with the 6.7 Cummins for 16 months now and have added roughly 10 gallons of DEF at a whopping cost of $28 dollars total. Wally World sells it for $7.98 for 2.5 gallon jugs. Bottom line is both engines have their place and one must decide what's best for them in terms of intended use and financial comfort. But the argument of maintenance cost is a wash IMO all things considered. The one area I'd give the gas the nod is in major repairs when the vehicle is out of warranty. The diesel can sure get expensive when it comes to turbos, injectors, fuel systems etc. But man what pulling beasts they are! And reliability has come a long ways in today's diesels with all the big three offerings. I pull a 34ft fifth wheel at 11,500lbs about 15 plus times a year, 24ft deck over GN with tractor slightly less at roughly 9000lbs a few times, and my Cummins truly does it without effort and steadily returns 11-13mpg (speed and weather depending) every time. Unloaded its 17-18.5mpg mixed, and 20-22 interstate. My F-250 I had with the 6.2 gas and 3:73 gears also pulled the same loads and did it ok, but power and fuel economy was abysmal. It was a fine and very reliable truck. But problem was I had a diesel before it and switched to gas for a while for many of the same reasons listed in this post by others. And fact of the matter is I just couldn't adjust and was having torque withdrawals. As someone else stated, once you own and use a diesel for any length of time, anything else is tough to swallow! There is a very good reason the diesel is more up front.
Get the GM 2500 HD with the 6.0 and don't look back! It's probably the best HD gas engine on the market today. It's built to last, and designed for low maintenance for fleet units.
I really like mine!
I've got a 2012 Sierra 2500 HD 6.0 gas, I've had both gas and diesel. My current 2012 has 295,000 and it still runs great. My rear end is starting to whine a little and it's a flex fuel model too. Gas, E 85, cost $1.67 up here in Chattanooga. Still rides good and comfortable on long trips.