Thread: Looking to buy a diesel truck-suggestions?

I'm looking to buy a diesel truck here in the near future, I will be using it for towing most of the time.

I've got nothing but bad things to say about Fords in general.

I'd like to buy a Dodge cummins, but I've heard the 24 valve engine is trouble, but that the 12 valve cummins was great. I'd have to buy a 96 or older if I went that route.

As far as Chevy goes, the duramax gets shit mileage, but is overall a good truck.

Suggestions? Have you guys heard differently?

yah, the new cummins is nice but can't hold a candle to the older 91-94 cummins. If you buy an old dodge you'll be replacing the rest of the truck before you even think about touching the old cummins.

On another note I have a 03' Ford with the new 6.0 liter and I love it. I have one for work and one for personal and besides a few electrical cliches on the work truck, I've had no problems. Milliege is great, a real solid work truck. But you are right, if you just need a beater, the old dodges are like tanks. We have four of them that we abuse all year and we are constantly looking for more like them. Saw a funny bumper sticker today on a dodge," I'd rather be cummin' than strokin'."

As far as chevy goes...I guess they look good but not sure I'd have the heart to actually work one. That independent front axle has been problems for our company. Great Cruiser and that duramax is an excellent engine with lots of power.

I've got a sick 1982 GMC 6.2L diesel. big engine on a 1/2 ton frame. It's one of the few trucks that are built for a shit kicking + it was 2 g's and came with a 9k wench (no...not a fat chick) alum. canopy and a wood rack. fuggin purrs when it's cruising at 90



noper...90 mph on a downhill w/ hay

Originally Posted by NorCascader

fuggin purrs when it's cruising at 90

kph?

....

I'm sure you have your reasons for not liking Ford, but you gotta remember, they have been the #1 selling truck line for like 30 straight years. You don't get to that point by putting out a shit product. I have a 2000 F150 with 140,000 miles on it now, and it's been bulletproof.

Chevy would be my second choice. Dodge a distant third. The cummins is sweet... it's the rest of the truck that sucks.

I really appreciate your input you guys.

I've heard the same things about the Dodge, "the engine is great, the rest of the truck sucks. Put the cummins in the Ford=perfect truck".

I've just had a TON of bad experiences with Fords. IMO, they are garbage. Maybe their HD trucks are different, but every experience I've had with their product is negative.

Maybe I'm answering my own question, and it's time to buy a Chevy...

I've got a '01 Dodge 2500 w/ the Cummins. Love it. Had one problem with a leaky vacuum pump that a $30 seal kit fixed, other than that never had a single problem. It is pretty much bone stock, so I don't have any experience if you start looking for more power, but I have been 100% happy with it. Much to my shock actually, everything around the truck has been bomber too. Just about 80k miles, and so far no rattles, leaks, etc.

The biggest problem with the 24V engines has been the fuel transfer pump, which a lot of people have had problems with. Consensus I think is that the pump is generally being asked to push the fuel farther than it was really intended, and as a result fails prematurely. This in and of itself is not a huge expense or problem to replace (I think about $150), but the problem comes in that the VP44 injection pump uses the fuel as a lubricating agent as well, so if the VP44 is starved for fuel, it will wear out, and it is big bugs (like $1500 new, parts only). But, like I said, I personally haven't had any problems, and there seems to be a fairly well established set of alternatives now to eliminating this problem, if you want to be proactive about it. Fuel pressure gauge is #1.

I get somewhere around 18-19 mpg overall (unloaded, truck is 6800 lbs), with probably 50/50 city/hwy driving. I often will have a decent load in it, but not all the time like a contractor for example would.

I'm sure lemon boy will chime in here.

Best place for Cummins info is www.turbodieselregister.com

uh..hmmm....GMC bitches...and older is better....

Originally Posted by BlurredElevens

Maybe their HD trucks are different

HDs are different and are solid. 2nd on lovin' the cummings, but the typical Dodge tranny and brake issues aren't worth it IMO.

I've heard lots of good about the the 12v Cummins as well. Had a 99 Powerstroke with pretty high miles that was good to me, but I think I just got lucky. Ford makes me nervous too. I'd have a new Duramax in the drive could I afford it.

Originally Posted by NorCascader

I've got a sick 1982 GMC 6.2L diesel. big engine on a 1/2 ton frame. It's one of the few trucks that are built for a shit kicking + it was 2 g's and came with a 9k wench (no...not a fat chick) alum. canopy and a wood rack. fuggin purrs when it's cruising at 90

blurred, if you're going to go with a chevy, get the duramax. this guys converted oldsmobile 350 had a TON of problems with it, and doesn't deserve a second look.

i'm a ford guy, and a fan of the older 6.9 and 7.3L IDI diesel made by international harvester. they'll last for half a million miles, they're easy to work on, are capable of 20+ MPG, and relatively inexpensive to maintain. if you've got the cash though, i'd undoubtedly go for a newer powerstroke.

i am a fan of dodge of well, and actually do know a guy with a 5.9L cummins in his 93 F-250. dodge is definitely a consideration.

glad to see you're into diesel pickups since there really is no other way to go.

Originally Posted by seanpistol

blurred, if you're going to go with a chevy, get the duramax. this guys converted oldsmobile 350 had a TON of problems with it, and doesn't deserve a second look.

i'm a ford guy, and a fan of the older 6.9 and 7.3L IDI diesel made by international harvester. they'll last for half a million miles, they're easy to work on, are capable of 20+ MPG, and relatively inexpensive to maintain. if you've got the cash though, i'd undoubtedly go for a newer powerstroke.

i am a fan of dodge of well, and actually do know a guy with a 5.9L cummins in his 93 F-250. dodge is definitely a consideration.

glad to see you're into diesel pickups since there really is no other way to go.

The 6.2 was actually a mini detroit diesel, not a converted olds as you say. The olds diesels did have many problems but these are not the same engines.

I had an 84 6.2, got great mileage for the size, had ~300k on the original eng, cheap to maintain. I went through my second turbo 400 and decided to upgrade to a 1st generation cummins.

I really like the early dodges better, look and drive more like a real truck, motor is hard to beat. I have 225k and it runs better than new. I have gotten as high as 24 mpg with my cummins. Usually more like 17-18 although it has a 2000 pound alaskan camper in it most of the time. These are getting increasingly hard to find in good shape and go for quite a bit of $$ these days.

2nd choice was 94-97 Powerstroke, would of been just as happy with one but happened across the cummins first.

A lot of what you should get depends on price, and if you are going to have an auto or manual transmission.

Buying new with an auto tranny? Chevy/GMC with the Duramax and the Allison transmission. Gas mileage will be on par with the rest but this engine/tranny combo is supposedly the best there is right now.

I think Ford is about to come out with their new diesel engine (6.4?) and replace the current 6.0, which had a lot of problems early, so I'd wait for that.

Cummins is always a good choice.

But then again if you are buying new, warranty coverage would make any purchase a good one.

Buying used?

94-98 Dodge 2500 or 3500 with the 12v Cummins. They changed to the 24v in 98.5. Expect the auto tranny to last 125k or so. Manual tranny should last forever. Sick gas mileage, good looking (IMO) and loud as hell.

98-02? Ford PSD 7.3. Awesome looking truck, VERY reliable engine, and decent tranny. I would buy a 7.3 PSD before I bought a 6.0, even though the 6.0 would be newer. My buddy just bought a '99 with 200k for $9000. He said it drives like brand new.

I don't know much about the older Chevy/GMCs, just that the 6.2 is supposed to be a dog.

I'm not an expert by any means. You should check out the "TOW RIG" section on Pirate, there is a TON of theads on this topic by guys who feel the same way about tow rigs/trails rigs as the people on this board feel about skiing/riding.

I had a 1 ton Chevy with the duramax. Milage wasn't to bad for such a huge truck. I had no problems with it what so all, it was my second chevy. If you are looking to buy a new truck, expect to shell a hell of a lot more money for the new emissions the trucks have to meet. Dodge is changing over to the 6.7, it's the same one that's in the 3500hd model currently. Ford will have the 6.4 twin turbo, Chevy same 6.6, but getting worked over for emissions. Between all the three of them there are pluses and minuses. Just test drive them and pick. But if your going to do more then 75% towing with the truck, get a Dodge the cummins is strong.

We have a 05 duramax dually that has gutted it across the US pulling a 42ft trailer-total weight 35k average-to the tune of 30k miles a year and 85mph average interstate cruising speed getting about 14-15 mpg. It is chipped and has a bigger exhaust and intake, but that is working it's shit territory. My family are ranchers, Dad rolls a 04 duramax 3/4 ton chipped 4 inches lift, you can adjust the boost for mileage/power whatever. When he drives on the road he averages 18-19mpg at 85mph pulling a four holer atv/sled trailer. Alot of our family and friends have had all flavors, Dodge-true older is better, Ford 6.0 less power than the 7.3 and not as reliable, that motor/tranny assembly has alot more moving parts than a duramax=trouble. We have never had either of the duramax's in the shop for anything. That Allison tranny I challenge you to screw that damn thing up. One of my cousins has a sweet hood dent where he blew his Ford turbo into pieces pulling a big goose horse trailer. If you buy one of those 6.2's I'll punch you in the nuts. I could pull that pickup uphill faster with my 04 supercrew f150 than it ever has a possibility of going. We had them back in the eighties when they first came out and they lasted about 3 years then started needing very expensive pieces/parts.

Originally Posted by NorCascader

...and came with a 9k wench (no...not a fat chick)

Its called a winch...dumbass.

Blurred, Get a Dodge.

Put one of those heaters that actually makes your heater run hot or freeze your balls off.

Don't know how much you plan on spending, but DO NOT buy a 6.5L Chevy diesel!!!!!!!!! A quick search will tell you why. If you can afford a Duramax\Allison setup, they seem to be good trucks, my buddy has had real good luck with his '03 and he "uses" it.

I bought a '99 Ford Super Duty 7.3, first year they did the extended cab\doors and the new body style. Been a solid rig so far (except for the friggin' bearings hub and wheel and sway bar end links, $$$$$$$$$$$$.

A 1997 Ford Powerstroke is an excellent truck with a fairly bomber tranny. The extended cabs are rigid though, as they don't have the suicide doors. Should be able to get a decent deal on one.

The Dodge is a solid truck, you just need earplugs so your hearing doesn't get damaged. The cummins is a bomber motor, the tranny is what can be the weak link, but that is pretty much the norm across the board on these things, especially with people chipping their rigs.

Originally Posted by Kya

Its called a winch...dumbass.

Blurred, Get a Dodge.

meh...you're a winch...
you smell jealous

Originally Posted by assgasorgrass

Don't know how much you plan on spending, but DO NOT buy a 6.5L Chevy diesel!!!!!!!!! A quick search will tell you why. If you can afford a Duramax\Allison setup, they seem to be good trucks, my buddy has had real good luck with his '03 and he "uses" it.

I googled but couldn't find anything.

I got 270k on my 94 and 320k on 97 duelly. I think 3 alternators in both of them and nothing else. I swear by my 6.5L's.

Maybe I am lucky though.

My dad picked up a new 6.0 powerstroke and it feels pretty solid so far. Only done about 10k of towing and it drives beautiful.

I have a '03 Ford w/6.0 and couldn't possibly be happier with the engine and truck. I've done 25K/yr and must of it is towing. Averaged 17mpg overall and have not had one problem yet. Also the engine does not mind cold starting or running which may be an issue in your area. Also have a '04 E350 van essentially the same engine and I'm similarily happy.

This is for sale in Reno:

http://www.reno4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5318

Originally Posted by ekeli

I googled but couldn't find anything.

I got 270k on my 94 and 320k on 97 duelly. I think 3 alternators in both of them and nothing else. I swear by my 6.5L's.

Maybe I am lucky though.

My dad picked up a new 6.0 powerstroke and it feels pretty solid so far. Only done about 10k of towing and it drives beautiful.

Right on. That's pretty impressive. When I was shopping for a truck I was open to any of the big 3 manufacturers. After some research I got pretty gun shy of the 6.5s. If I remember correctly, there were some glow plug issues, something about the fuel delivery system, PDM or PMD, causing hard\no start issues, stalling issues etc. I remember them supposedly being to be easy to work on with inexpensive parts. The stuff I ran across just steered me away from the 6.5L and towards the PS or Cummins.

The best deal, $$$, mileage and condition just happened to be a Ford in my limited budget. If a Dodge had been available with similiar mileage or condition, I would've bought the Dodge. I couldn't afford an '02 Duramax, so it was out. I looked at and drove quite a few trucks. Most of it will come down to how well it was maintained, was it chipped\programmed correctly (correct gauges in place to measure boost, exhaust\tranny temp etc).

My nickel on the subject.

Currently for sale in Boise: '01 Duramax Crew\LB $18K, '98 Dodge Quad Cab 145K $11.9K, '97 Ford 135K, $10.9

Originally Posted by NorCascader

meh...you're a winch...
you smell jealous

??????? Now your even more of a dumbass.

Still go with a Dodge Blurred.

Originally Posted by assgasorgrass

A 1997 Ford Powerstroke is an excellent truck with a fairly bomber tranny. The extended cabs are rigid though, as they don't have the suicide doors. Should be able to get a decent deal on one.

the E4OD can be a decent tranny if beefed up. they are known to have a few problems here and there though. the zf 5 will last forever.

the 94.5 to 97 powerstroke is my favortie body style ever. my dad has over 300K on his 96 with just having to replace a few nickle and dime things.