New Pick em up Trucks

[mojoinco]

We have a 92 crew cab F350, long bed, 460, 5 spd manual. Looking at 2005 and up V10 F20/350 crewcab.

2005 and up have coil front end, so they match GM/Dodge turning radius.

Dodge doesn't offer large gas engine, GM offers a 6 and a 6.2 -- but no manual!

The extended cabs just don't have much for a back seat (for us, opportunities for grand kids, and definitely dogs and tack). And the difference in space for just 1 more foot of wheelbase is not critical enough to want the smaller cab.

Our truck is used only for large and/or heavy items and pulling a trailer (horse, or flat bed). Also has to carry a slide in camper.

So, the largest gas engine (no special maintenance costs -- exorbitant when needed on diesel), less mileage, but $6~8000 less on the front end (purchase price). So we won't be carrying the camper and pulling the horses over the continental divide at 75 in the left lane -- pulling horses we would be in the right lane anyhow. Same for mountain roads.

IF I was pulling a lot, or a larger trailer (steel 2 horse, going to an aluminum 3 horse) I might want to think about a diesel. But it takes a long time to amortize $6~8000, especially as we have hit a period of high diesel fuel costs versus gas costs. You makes your decisions based on a balance of heart, head, and wallet. I have a motorcycle, Miata, and tractor. The truck is pure appliance, so it is wallet and head for me. Though in the event of a tie, the heart gets a vote (like the ugly HD Dodge's versus a Ford or Chevy -- IF it was a tie).

 

[Dmace]

Dodge doesn't offer large gas engine, GM offers a 6 and a 6.2 -- but no manual!

That's because Dodge doesn't need 6.2 liters to make 400hp, the 5.7 liter HEMI does it just fine. Of course if you need larger displacement to over compensate then by all means get a GM. I can see the vanity plate now...

And you can get a 6-speed manual in a RAM 2500.

 

[WilliamBos]

That's because Dodge doesn't need 6.2 liters to make 400hp, the 5.7 liter HEMI does it just fine. Of course if you need larger displacement to over compensate then by all means get a GM. I can see the vanity plate now...

And you can get a 6-speed manual in a RAM 2500.

The Dodge also has another problem, it will NOT pass a gas station.

Going that big, go Diesel.

 

[Dmace]

The Dodge also has another problem, it will NOT pass a gas station.

Going that big, go Diesel.

Funny, my 4x4 quad cab short bed loaded RAM 1500 gets 14-16mpg city, 15-17mpg highway and 11-13mpg while towing my tractor on a trailer (7000lbs +/- total) and I am heavy on the throttle. My buddy with a F-150 V8 5.4l can't even get 15mpg on the highway and I have 4 "real" doors not those stupid half doors that only open after you open the driver or passenger door. Big diesels are useless until you get to loads above 10,000lbs, Diesel is still almost $3/gal and regular unleaded is just $1.79/gal and my oil change is 6 quarts of oil instead of 2 gallons and my fuel filter is $20 and replaced every 50,000 miles instead of a $50 diesel filter and replaced every oil change. I could go on but it's useless...

 

[gemini5362]

actually diesl in my area is as low as 2.06 a gallon. versus 1.79 for unleaded. those ratios change on a regular basis but that is what they are now. If I keep my foot on a leash and if I drive the actual legal speed limit then unloaded I hit between 18 and 20 with my diesel. If I drive like normal I drop down to around 17 maybe 18 but that is rabbit starts and driving around 75 to 85 on the interstate. There is a higher up front price but resale should cover that if you decide later to sell.

 

[Builder]

About the only reasons left to buy diesel are engine longevity between rebuilds, much higher torque at lower RPM and resale value.

If #2 was the same price as reg unleaded, like it was 5-10 years ago, it would be a different story more in favor of diesel.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yea. The gap of HP and torque on the new large V8 and V10 gas engines are closing the gap. With a 8K upfront difference one can live with the 12 mpg over the 18 mpg with a diesel for a long time.

I went and looked at 2 2003 Ford Excursions yesterday morning. Both Eddie Bauer 4x4 with the V-10 gas engine and both had about 90,000 miles on them. Take your pick price was $8599 Another dealer had one, same year and options, with a 7.3 Powerstroke and 120,000 and was asking $9999 so the difference was not that great. Did not buy either. One with the V-10 had Green and tan paint but showed lots of scratches and door dings. The other V-10 was white and perfect on the outside but the interior was pretty tore up and it did not have a limited slip. I did drive the white one and the instant mpg deal said 11. All 3 had 3.73's. I will keep looking.

Chris

 

[Builder]

actually diesl in my area is as low as 2.06 a gallon. versus 1.79 for unleaded. those ratios change on a regular basis but that is what they are now. If I keep my foot on a leash and if I drive the actual legal speed limit then unloaded I hit between 18 and 20 with my diesel. If I drive like normal I drop down to around 17 maybe 18 but that is rabbit starts and driving around 75 to 85 on the interstate. There is a higher up front price but resale should cover that if you decide later to sell.

I enjoy driving and dislike trying to drive real gently to save fuel. I just drive normally and accept the consequences. In my case, and honest 13MPG in stop/go driving driving by tach & shift points. Everytime I get in someone elses diesel truck, their computer readouts say about the same as my truck for overall MPG....usually 12-14 MPG.

 

[3500DIESEL]

why buy a stick?? the new dodge heavy dutys you cant get a stick in the hemis. the hemi in the heavy dutys might get anywere from 8-10 driving around and thats bad in my book the ford V10 or GM 6.0liter is a better choise.

 

[Builder]

Some guys are stuck on sticks

After owning a couple Allison equipped trucks, and previously driving 8LL's, Spicer 7 speeds, and a couple RTLO6613 road rangers, I know I'll never buy a stick shift again.

With the exception of a hair better fuel economy, I really can't think of anything a truck would have to do that can't be done easier with an automatic, especially now that 6 speed autos of allison & aisin quality are available. However, I know the guys that like the stick are a proud bunch, so I usually back out of these discussions.

I got the unique chance to operate a 80,000lb front discharge mixer last week around the jobsite and the allison HD series automatics in them are really dialed in nicely. You can manually shift them, just like my GMC HD, so it does give you some ability to manually shift.