New truck suggestions

   / New truck suggestions #1  

Morning Wood

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Jan 21, 2008
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I'm possibly looking at a new truck. Been a ford guy, but looking at all the big three. Full crew cab short bed 1 ton srw 4wd. Looking for engine opinions. Fuel economy of the gas engines and reliability of the newer diesels?
Currently own a 2005 f350 v10 in same configuration that I'm looking. Thanks, Nick
 
   / New truck suggestions #2  
I've been watching the Ford 6.7 diesel closely. So far haven't heard any negatives. Hopefully by the time they are "used" enough that I can afford one they will have answered the dependability question.

Good friend of mine had a Duramax. Traded it for a gasser. Now is waiting for the horrible depreciation hit to go by so he can trade back into a Diesel.

Sure don't hear bad things about the Cummins. The chassis seem to need frequent attention in the frontend though.

I'm very rural. Farmers generally have Dodge, Ford, GM, in that order. Might see a swap in the leading two if the newer Ford diesel pans out.
 
   / New truck suggestions #3  
When it comes to gas and reliability, don't rule out Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan. They both pull really good.

Nissan is introducing a new Cummins Diesel for the Titan.

A friend of mine traded his Ford gas some time back for a Chevy Diesel (1 ton dually) and likes they way it runs and pulls but was not happy that the price of diesel went so much higher than gas.
 
   / New truck suggestions #4  
I saw an AD on TV that showed the Cummins sticker on a Nissan. What engine is that??

As for Diesel fuel prices, it's closer to the price of gas than it's been in quite a while.
 
   / New truck suggestions #5  
I'm possibly looking at a new truck. Been a ford guy, but looking at all the big three. Full crew cab short bed 1 ton srw 4wd. Looking for engine opinions. Fuel economy of the gas engines and reliability of the newer diesels?
Currently own a 2005 f350 v10 in same configuration that I'm looking. Thanks, Nick

Keep the V10 and buy a computer tuner from 5 Star Tuning. My 2001 V10 driving carefully with cruise control can get up to 14.5 mpg not towing. It is an F350 SRW 4x4. I pulled a long bumper pull from Texas to Florida and towed a 5th wheel back over 1,000 miles each way and averaged 10 mpg. 5 Star provided 3 custom tunes - Economy, Performance and Towing. This is the only Ford I have ever owned. I bought it used. It is my daily driver which has some kind of trailer attached 90% of the time.
 
   / New truck suggestions
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Rocker panels and cab corners are going. I also would need to do a take off bed. I am a builder. I have racks and boxes on my truck. Average 9 mpg or worse. It weighs 8500 lbs. I pull a 7-10k tool trailer 14k dump trailer and 14k equipment trailer. I've owned 7.3 in the past that rusted away as well. I Like the diesel for towing but I don't tow all the time, but can tow weekly at times. Just the maintenance on the diesels look horrendous. Also, I do 15k miles a year. Afraid it isn't worth it for the diesel. Even though I'm spending more in fuel, I haven't had to touch the engine other than plugs.
 
   / New truck suggestions #7  
I ordered a 2016 Dodge Ram 2500 3/4 ton 4X4 laramie 6.4 hemi engine crew cab Feb.6th should be here end of March.I drove Ford,Chevy and Dodge,diesel optioned engines took the price upwards of $9,000 bucks.I could not bring myself to pay the extra $$ for the diesel engine.My choice was based on price,ride and handling.Since 2002 I have owned 1 chevy,2 fords and 1 Dodge.As you can see I am not brand loyal I buy what fits my needs.Go drive them all and see what fits ya.
 
   / New truck suggestions #8  
I'm possibly looking at a new truck. Been a ford guy, but looking at all the big three. Full crew cab short bed 1 ton srw 4wd. Looking for engine opinions. Fuel economy of the gas engines and reliability of the newer diesels?
Currently own a 2005 f350 v10 in same configuration that I'm looking. Thanks, Nick

Had the same need last year for pulling a fifth wheel. Ended up with a RAM 3500 Cummins CC SWR 4x4. I'm getting around 21 MPG in mixed city/highway driving summer, 19 MPG winter. Pulling 15,000 pounds I'm seeing 9 to 13 MPG with various head winds and travel speeds.

I think reliability is steering more towards the emission systems than the actual engine itself. What swayed me to Cummins was their (Cummins) emission system and the use of the CP3 fuel injector. The CP4 injector pump has had past issues costing owners up to 10K dollars and I couldn't find anything that made me think the CP4 issues have been fixed.

When it comes to gas and reliability, don't rule out Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan.

Neither make a one ton truck, which is what the OP was asking about.

I saw an AD on TV that showed the Cummins sticker on a Nissan. What engine is that??

Cummins 5.0L turbo diesel, eight cylinder. Yet another half ton diesel pick-up.
 
   / New truck suggestions #9  
Had the same need last year for pulling a fifth wheel. Ended up with a RAM 3500 Cummins CC SWR 4x4. I'm getting around 21 MPG in mixed city/highway driving summer, 19 MPG winter. Pulling 15,000 pounds I'm seeing 9 to 13 MPG with various head winds and travel speeds..

Are those #s hand calculated? Did you delete the DPF? I have not seen anyone get that high of fuel mileage with the emissions system in tact.

My pre-emissions Cummins had no problem hitting 20mpg but these new units seem to be sitting in the mid teens.
 
   / New truck suggestions #10  
I would NOT get diesel due to the DEF. I like the simplicity of gas powered pickups.
 
   / New truck suggestions #12  
Just the maintenance on the diesels look horrendous. Also, I do 15k miles a year. Afraid it isn't worth it for the diesel. Even though I'm spending more in fuel, I haven't had to touch the engine other than plugs.

My 7.3L has 220K miles on it with only normal service maintenance and an alternator.
 
   / New truck suggestions #13  
Rumor mill is already saying DEF is going away. But that might come about slowly. Depends on who is lobbying the hardest...... :(
 
   / New truck suggestions #14  
I'll throw in my 2 cents. I recently traded in a 2004 Dodge with a Cummins for a 2011 Chevy 2500 with a 6.0 gas. I think if I towed often and/or heavy I'd miss the diesel, but I don't. I probably tow something once every two months and when I do, it usually 7000 lbs or less. The gas engine just revs more and works harder than the Cummins did.

Who makes the best truck? I go by Dodge Man and that is where my heart is but I also just bought a Chevy. I tend to buy what appears to be the right truck at the right time for the right price. All of the big three make great trucks now. If I were looking at diesel, I'd be hard pressed to buy anything but a Ram, but D'maxs are good trucks also. The Ford 6.7 diesel? As mentioned above it appears to be better than Fords last efforts. Looking at Gas engine? I'm not sure you can go wrong with any of the big three.
 
   / New truck suggestions #15  
I've been watching the Ford 6.7 diesel closely. So far haven't heard any negatives. Hopefully by the time they are "used" enough that I can afford one they will have answered the dependability question. Good friend of mine had a Duramax. Traded it for a gasser. Now is waiting for the horrible depreciation hit to go by so he can trade back into a Diesel. Sure don't hear bad things about the Cummins. The chassis seem to need frequent attention in the frontend though. I'm very rural. Farmers generally have Dodge, Ford, GM, in that order. Might see a swap in the leading two if the newer Ford diesel pans out.


My personal experience has been the opposite our super duties have needed ball joints earlier in life and mileage than our Rams.
 
   / New truck suggestions #16  
My personal experience has been the cheapest cost of ownership was my Nissan Titan. When it has come to 3/4 and 1 ton trucks my Chevy gas truck cost near to nothing why my Dodge cost me a arm and a leg. Hands down with the diesels my Fords blew away the GMC in both cost and reliability.

Chris
 
   / New truck suggestions
  • Thread Starter
#17  
My 7.3L has 220K miles on it with only normal service maintenance and an alternator.

Lucky you. I put a lot of money into my truck to keep it running well. New clutch and single mass flywheel, valve cover gaskets, countless glow plugs, 3 fuel filter bowls and internal parts. Never did any injectors, but did replace injector orings. Always did an oil analysis and never got results that left me feeling well. Body rusted out and traded it in on my current about to explode in rust truck. Maybe this should be a thread on the best way to setup a brand new truck to prevent rust after you drive it off the lot.
 
   / New truck suggestions #18  
My personal experience has been the opposite our super duties have needed ball joints earlier in life and mileage than our Rams.

I wasn't referring to ball joints. I was referring to the stupid tracbar that needs changed like underwear. :)

My SD is at 220K miles with one lower ball joint being replaced. Nothing else.
 
   / New truck suggestions #19  
Lucky you. I put a lot of money into my truck to keep it running well. New clutch and single mass flywheel, valve cover gaskets, countless glow plugs, 3 fuel filter bowls and internal parts. Never did any injectors, but did replace injector orings. Always did an oil analysis and never got results that left me feeling well. Body rusted out and traded it in on my current about to explode in rust truck. Maybe this should be a thread on the best way to setup a brand new truck to prevent rust after you drive it off the lot.

Sorry to hear that.

Specifically what truck did you have problems with? How many miles did these needed repairs cover??

What truck is your current one?? How many miles are on it??

Prevent rust???? Don't drive it on salted roads??

Since your information doesn't show where you are from I am left wondering?? :)
 
   / New truck suggestions #20  
I wasn't referring to ball joints. I was referring to the stupid tracbar that needs changed like underwear. :) My SD is at 220K miles with one lower ball joint being replaced. Nothing else.

Haven't had to replace a track bar yet but when I do I'll put a thuren track bar on and not worry about it. I have had to replace the entire front end on an F350 twice and 3 times on an E350. Made me real happy when the ford dealership that sold me the trucks said the work bodies they sold with them were too heavy for the trucks and that they wouldn't warranty them.
 

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