Help me decide, 3 trucks I need to pick 1 from.

[D&D]

You just live in the wrong part of the country and are being ripped off. For the past several years diesel here has been a little bit cheaper than gas and just recently inched up so now its about the same price as regular.

View attachment 3773769

Hmmm
Regular Midgrade Premium Diesel
$2.95 $3.43 $3.85 $3.89

 

[paulsharvey]

By “hype” I’m talking about the guys who hype them up to be so unbelievably powerful.
The “godzilla” is a 444 cubic inch engine that makes less torque than a 426 hemi (490 ft lbs) from 50 years ago, and is a lot more complicated.
That’s what I mean by “hype”.
Why is that so great?

Oh come on, that 426 from 50 years ago wasnt going to last 200,000 miles; with just oil changes and brake jobs. The 7.3L, 8.1L, ect can and generally do. You can probably squeeze those numbers from a built 4.3L V6, for 10,000 miles, or a 5.0 for 100,000; but not for 5-10 years of reliable service. Heck, we can probably get a 1.8L Honda upto 500 hp, for 50-100 miles...

 

[paulsharvey]

Well, they were a powerhouse at the time they were being put in trucks. It's just that everything since is publishing huge numbers now. Even the old 5.9 Cummins of those days were no stronger. But they were also very reliable.

We had a work truck, around 04' I think model, Ram 2500, 5.9L Cummins. Weighed about 11,000#, between tools, junk, pipe rakes, generators, ect; but the throttle, you had basically two positions, foot off, or foot all the way down. You had to peddle all the way down to get on the road, thing had like 350hp/600 ft #.


Edit: specs are actually Way worse

 

[Hay Dude]

Oh come on, that 426 from 50 years ago wasnt going to last 200,000 miles; with just oil changes and brake jobs.

Why not? Plenty of collector 426 powered cars still out there. Is a 2025 truck going 200,000 on just oil changes and brake jobs? Maybe some, but no way 200k without new brakes.

I’ll give you the increase in reliability, but everyone’s bragging on the power.
I’m sorry, but 420/450 is really unimpressive after 50 years of building essentially the same big V-8’s.

The 7.3L, 8.1L, ect can and generally do. You can probably squeeze those numbers from a built 4.3L V6, for 10,000 miles, or a 5.0 for 100,000; but not for 5-10 years of reliable service. Heck, we can probably get a 1.8L Honda upto 500 hp, for 50-100 miles...

Good luck with a “500HP 1.8L” in a truck. Tell me how that works out for ya on anything other than a dyno.

You guys crack me up. You pay $80,000 for a truck that makes same torque as engines available 50 years ago and act like they’re amazing.
More reliable? Yeah, ok. But for $80,000? A humongous 7.3L gas engine makes the same torque as a 2004 Cummins 5.9L diesel, but it has to rev much higher sucks down way more fuel.

I don’t see that as progress. Cummins will save the gas engine. You’ll see.

 

[Hay Dude]

We had a work truck, around 04' I think model, Ram 2500, 5.9L Cummins. Weighed about 11,000#, between tools, junk, pipe rakes, generators, ect; but the throttle, you had basically two positions, foot off, or foot all the way down. You had to peddle all the way down to get on the road, thing had like 350hp/600 ft #.

So with an ambient load of 11,000 on a 3/4 ton truck, you are wondering why 350/600 wasn’t very fast?????

Edit: specs are actually Way worseView attachment 3774412

And that truck could be modified for double or triple that rating without much trouble. Those engines were underrated because the transmissions of that era weren’t up to the task.

Transmission advances are a big reason diesel torque numbers are in the 800-1100 range in small trucks.

Other components are catching up. Front ends/suspensions, brakes, etc.

 

[paulsharvey]

We routinely run work vehicles, gas engines all, too 200k and generally its oil changes and brakes, and thats it. Mine had a transmission flush at 175k. We have had issues on Fords with the Infotainment system. Take them in, and company says "we aren't paying $1500 to fix a radio", we'll, its not a radio, its your AC, cameras, crash warning, ect.

Even a 1980s vehicle; 200k would be the exception, and likely would have had tune up every 50k, u-joints, shocks, alternator, plugs, and likely more. We dont even generally replace belts within that 200k, and often dont need an alignment.

Now, I have Zero experience with 1960s stuff; but 80s and early 90s; people forget just how underpowered 350s, 360s, 5.8L, really are. Yes, Ford 4.9L were good for their time, but they are dogs against even a 2.4L I4 from today, in weight, power, durability, ect. Heck, look at a "hi output" 454 BB; put that against even a 3.6L V6 dodge

 

[paulsharvey]

So, late 2019, I was looking for a truck, after driving a very tired 2003 Toyota Highlander for the better part of 6 years or so. I had sold my 2005 2500HD 6.0L, and I actually did search for a 2005 Silverado SS, AWD, 6.0L High Output... but ended up with a used 2019 Ram 1500, 4x4. That SS was bad ads in 2005; but its numbers are a joke by 2019. Still a cool truck, but 345 hp, 10ish MPG, 0-60 in 6.5s vs 395 hp, and 19ish MPG, 0-60 in 6.5 sec; and thats the top of the line, flagship sport edition vs a run of the mile, basic truck.

 

[Hay Dude]

Who, other than hot rodders, buys trucks for horsepower & speed?
I have nothing against racing trucks, its cool.

IMO, todays truck manufacturers are catering to young guys who want 500HP.

The practicality aspect has been thrown overboard for one-upsmanship in 0-60 race times.

 

[D&D]

Maybe some, but no way 200k without new brakes.

When we did tow trucks, one of the guys we hired could put 350000 on a set of brakes. He never used them He was one of those guys that looped around traffic lights, wrong way on one ways...had to take the phone #s off his truck cuz we got so many calls about him
These days, he just fits in with most of the other drivers on the road.

 

[Hay Dude]

When we did tow trucks, one of the guys we hired could put 350000 on a set of brakes. He never used them He was one of those guys that looped around traffic lights, wrong way on one ways...had to take the phone #s off his truck cuz we got so many calls about him
These days, he just fits in with most of the other drivers on the road.

With my exhaust brake on my Ram, at 67,000 miles at my state inspection in April, I had over 50% brakes remaining.

Improved Transmissions and turbocharged diesel engines are leading the way.
Now it’s time to get away from 7-8L gas engines, and start turbocharging in line 6 cylinder gas engines.
My wife has a twin turbo six in a BMW X-5 and it’s got tremendous low end torque.