recommendations/links for diesel truck -used

[newbury]

I had been focusing on getting a Dodge diesel, preferably about a 2005 3500 DRW. This was primarily for it's rated tow capacity which beats Ford of about the same age. New is out of the question, I'm trying to stay under 20K.

But after all the various complaints I've seen here on all brands I'm beginning to change my mind.

I DON'T want to start another brand ware here. I'm just looking for some good links to find discussions on diesel trucks that are not based on brands. The dodge forum dumps on Ford, the Ford on all others, etc.

So any good recommendations for links?

thanks in advance.
please no brand wars.

 

[whistlepig]

Just from my personal experience I owned a 1996 Dodge 2500 with a Cummins diesel for twelve years. I wouldn't buy a Dodge with a Cummins in it again simply because of cold starting problems that I have had with the manifold heater set up. If I were going to buy another diesel it would be a Duromax. No second thoughts at all.

 

[WH401]

No matter which forum you go on, the home brand of that forum is going to dump on the other competing brands, there's no way of getting around it.

From personal experience, I've owned two Dodge Cummins trucks in my lifetime, and there have been 6 owned in my family. They've all been dead reliable, pulled anything that's been behind them with ease, & given great mpg's for 3/4 - 1-ton pickups. But, most anyone who owns a certain make is going to say that.

So I have a question for you, if you've seen lots of complaints on here about all the brands, and it's turning you off from buying a truck, than why are you still contemplating it? Honestly, every brand has it's issues, some people experience them and some people don't. You just have to test drive all the ones your contemplating and individually research them on your own to get your own personal opinion of them and then base your decision off of that. That's the only way you'll ever get a straight, honest answer.

And for the record, the earlier Duramax's had glow plugs, and the newer ones use grid heaters, (just like the Cummins in the Dodges has since 89'). Grid heaters are a more effective cold weather starting aid because they heat a larger volume of air, (grid heaters are located inside the air intake horn), when compared to that of a glow plug, (which is located inside the cylinder head). It's also more effective because grid heaters won't become fouled from combustion particles like a glow plug. This is also significantly extends the life of a grid heater when compared to glow plugs, which typically have to be replaced a couple of times over the life of the engine. For example, even John Deere has changed most of there tractor's over to this system because they've realized the benefits of it. Also, for the record, the 03 - 07 common rail Cummins 5.9's are guaranteed to start down to -20 when not plugged in, but they'll start when the temperature is even lower than that. The most common reason why the grid heater isn't working properly is because the intake air temperature sensor has gone bad. Replace it and I bet it will work fine.

 

[VitaBene]

You will hear many opinions on this matter, however with a few exceptions the diesel offerings from the big three would all serve you well. I would look at some trucks, drive them and then if you like one better than another do some solid research on one of the brand specific diesel forums to make sure the engine/year combo you are looking at does not have known issues.

In my case I have a 99 F250 with a 7.3 and 6 speed manual. It only has 170K on it and is going strong.

 

[newbury]

Thanks guys, but any links where they bash them all?
For instance Arboristsite.com is great for bashing and praising all types of chainsaws.
That's why I'm loking for a site without a "home brand"

No matter which forum you go on, the home brand of that forum is going to dump on the other competing brands, there's no way of getting around it.<snip>
So I have a question for you, if you've seen lots of complaints on here about all the brands, and it's turning you off from buying a truck, than why are you still contemplating it?

I didn't make it clear enough, It's turning me off from Dodge and Chevy. I'm looking for some like Duramax vs. Powerstroke vs. Cummins - General Discussion - Diesel Power Forums at Diesel Power Magazine. I just think there may be more hiding out there under some other forum name.

 

[Diamondpilot]

All 3 make a good capable engine. The tranny is the bigger issues. Ford and GM have had good trannys during that time period while the Dodge was behind the 8 ball.

What you really need to look at is the total package. That is what I did. Most all will agree the Ford chassis is top notch. The GM Allison is at the top of the list. And the Dodge Cummins is king. You have to take the good with the bad and get the setup that is the toughest over all.

Chris

 

[flusher]

All 3 make a good capable engine. The tranny is the bigger issues. Ford and GM have had good trannys during that time period while the Dodge was behind the 8 ball.

What you really need to look at is the total package. That is what I did. Most all will agree the Ford chassis is top notch. The GM Allison is at the top of the list. And the Dodge Cummins is king. You have to take the good with the bad and get the setup that is the toughest over all.

Chris

Good advice.

I've been looking for a 3/4T PU for nearly a year to pull a 10K GN carrying my parade tractors. It's been a real education reading all the stuff in this forum and on the Ford, Dodge and GMC interest group websites.

To answer your question, maybe this is the type of forum for you

PickupTrucks.com Forums: Viewing list of forums

Regardless, if your budget is $20K, I'd recommend looking for a deal at $15K figuring that you'll have to put $$$ into repairs soon after your purchase.

If I can find a reliable and reasonable diesel shop nearby my place, my inclination would be to find a decent 2nd generation Ram 2500 (1994 to early 1998) with the Cummins I6 engine, fix the dreaded killer dowel pin (KDP) problem myself and get a rebuilt tranny installed.

 

[Lt CHEG]

All 3 make a good capable engine. The tranny is the bigger issues. Ford and GM have had good trannys during that time period while the Dodge was behind the 8 ball.

What you really need to look at is the total package. That is what I did. Most all will agree the Ford chassis is top notch. The GM Allison is at the top of the list. And the Dodge Cummins is king. You have to take the good with the bad and get the setup that is the toughest over all.

Chris

This has been my experience as well. I don't own a diesel truck because I don't tow heavy things very often at all and I don't like to sacrifice ride quality for all the other times when I use my truck. However my uncle has a 2000 Dodge Ram extended cab with the Cummins and I use that with him when he needs help from time to time, or on the rare occasion that I need to tow something that needs electric brakes (I haven't put an electric brake controller in my truck yet). He uses it for snowplowing which unquestionably adds strain to the transmission, but he has gone through at least 6 or 7 transmissions. He actually went through two in one year one time before going to a custom performance shop who installed something that's really heavy duty. He's still had issues with that tranny but they've been covered by warranty, as they should be for the nearly $5k that he spent on the tranny.

This isn't meant to be a bash on Dodge either. He's closing in on 200,000 miles on the truck now, a lot of it around town city driving, or snow plowing and he hasn't put a penny outside of routine maintenance into the engine that I'm aware of. The Cummins is a true monster of an engine, it's really a medium duty truck engine placed in a pickup. Alongside my uncle's truck we've got friends with Ford and Chevy Trucks, both newer than my uncle's Dodge and both with the Powestroke and Duramax respectively. Both of those guys have had some engine issues with their trucks (the Ford guy had problems with the current Powestroke and the one immediately before it in his last truck). The Ford guy had a transmission issue with his last truck too but the newest has been trouble free. So it's just like Chris said, every one of these trucks has their strengths and their weaknesses. Even though the Dodge trannies in my opinion suck, the engine is bulletproof and an absolute hot rod. The Ford and GM trucks have been far from flawless too, so it's like Chris said you just have to pick the best overall package that suits your needs.

Frankly my observations on these guys trucks have led me to doubt the usefulness of a diesel altogether in the modern pickup truck application. All the new low sulfur diesel and emission garbage they put on the trucks has driven the fuel economy down to just about gasoline mpg range anyhow, but at a higher cost for fuel. The performance of some of the big gas engines that are on the drawing board is seriously competitive for towing applications to diesel trucks and the fuel economy isn't that terrible either. Add to that the performance that people have had recently with GM's 8.1 V8 and Ford's V10 and the $8,000 to $10,000 or so premium for a diesel doesn't seem to be worth it any more. Certainly unless you're towing constantly with it, the around town no load fuel economy of the big gassers isn't going to make up for added cost over the length of time that the average person owns a truck.
I'm honestly excited at the new GM and Ford Diesel products to see of they can do what they claim. If I can get 24 mpg or better out of an unloaded diesel on the highway and 20 mpg overall like GM claims their new Duramax will do then it may change the game for me. But for now with the actual observed horrific fuel economy people are getting out of the ultra low sulfur diesel I wouldn't even be considering a diesel engine for a truck, no matter what I'm towing.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Good advice.

I've been looking for a 3/4T PU for nearly a year to pull a 10K GN carrying my parade tractors. It's been a real education reading all the stuff in this forum and on the Ford, Dodge and GMC interest group websites.

To answer your question, maybe this is the type of forum for you

PickupTrucks.com Forums: Viewing list of forums

Regardless, if your budget is $20K, I'd recommend looking for a deal at $15K figuring that you'll have to put $$$ into repairs soon after your purchase.

If I can find a reliable and reasonable diesel shop nearby my place, my inclination would be to find a decent 2nd generation Ram 2500 (1994 to early 1998) with the Cummins I6 engine, fix the dreaded killer dowel pin (KDP) problem myself and get a rebuilt tranny installed.

That seems like a good plan. The problem with that around here is Rust! The Dodges seem to rust the worst around here. Especially the front fenders behind the front wheels and doors. GM seem to get he cab corners and tail gates and the Fords the doors. I guess the Fords and Dodges would be much easier to fix just hanging on new sheet metal as long as the frame is still intact. Cab corners would be tough to repair and then require much more paint. A door, tail gate, or fender can be matched up pretty good since there is the body line to break the paint.

Chris

 

[flusher]

That seems like a good plan. The problem with that around here is Rust! The Dodges seem to rust the worst around here. Especially the front fenders behind the front wheels and doors. GM seem to get he cab corners and tail gates and the Fords the doors. I guess the Fords and Dodges would be much easier to fix just hanging on new sheet metal as long as the frame is still intact. Cab corners would be tough to repair and then require much more paint. A door, tail gate, or fender can be matched up pretty good since there is the body line to break the paint.

Chris

I'm a MO boy transplanted to CA so I appreciate how road salts can do a number on sheet metal. Unless the 2500 has spent time here in the CA mountains, I wouldn't expect rust due to salt corrosion to be a big problem for a truck that's been in CA all it's life.