Anybody here have any experience w/ Ford SD 6.0 PSD?

[Egon]

I do believe my 96 Dodge 3/4 ton has a Dana 80 rear and a Dana 60 front.

 

[Dargo]

I do believe my 96 Dodge 3/4 ton has a Dana 80 rear and a Dana 60 front.

Ok, you know that wasn't mud I wiped off this morning. I'm glad it was dry, if you know what I mean! Ditto on the Ford, and it also had a "4.30 L" stamped on it.

 

[Builder]

Ok, you know that wasn't mud I wiped off this morning. I'm glad it was dry, if you know what I mean! Ditto on the Ford, and it also had a "4.30 L" stamped on it.

What Ford truck do you have? F-350 SRW or DRW?

If it's an SRW, then you have the 10.5" Sterling l/s rear. If it's a DRW then you have a Dana 80, which is a little smaller than a GM AAM 11.5" locker.

Let me know if you have any other questions about your truck j/k

 

[Builder]

I obviously don't mind the fact that you despise the 6.0 PSD, but you clearly appear to have rose colored glasses when it comes to the Dmax. I suppose I'd consider myself sort of Dmax neutral. If I'm not mistaken, the GM offerings also have the strongest frame (I'm talking newest models - I really didn't look at anything older than about 06) as well. Overall, the GM offering is okay, but it doesn't do anything particular for me. My guess is that the engine is likely better than the 6.0 PSD, but I strongly feel it does not have the durability of the old 5.9 Cummins either. GM pickups are not problem free, but they certainly are not bad trucks. I just don't particularly care for them. With the price I paid for my Ford, I can still get out of it okay for the next couple of months at least if I don't like it. Thus the statement that I'm not going to get rid of my old Dodge.

Actually, I don't despise the 6L, I just think it's an inferior diesel. I would own one if the price was low enough to allow me some repair money for later down the road.

I pretty much like the DMAX. I definately think it's a big jump up in reliability, simplicity & power over the 6L & the 6.4L Ford diesels. Much to your surprise, my favorite diesel is still the 5.9L.

The thing I really like about the GM truck is the tranny & rear. Unbeatable.
The thing I dislike on my particular truck is the rear springs, they're too soft. I really load mine up and she squats too much for my liking. Fortunately, this will be cured because I'm installing 3500 DRW rear leafs in a week or 2.

If I had to guess, I think you base your opinion on GM trucks by visual inspection and what you hear or read. My guess is you've never put any seat time in a GM HD. I think if you did and you saw the way the tranny/engine & rear are in this truck, you'd know you were driving the most HD driveline in the pickup truck world.

I think my "perfect" truck would be a GMC 3500 4x4 crewcab dually Allison & 11.5" GM rear with a Cummins w/ exhaust brake and a Ford suspension underneath.

Been a great discussion. Nice to talk to someone who doesn't want to have a fist fight over a difference of opinion on trucks!

 

[ihookem]

Dargo, keep your truck. It just needs a good mechanic to get rid of some problems. You only hear about the bad 6.0's. I know 2 guys with them and no problems at all. both are somewhat new but a few years old.. 40k. mi. They love them. I have an 05 duramax, 90k, just the spedometer went out. My brother in law 108k on his 05 max, 2 injectors under warranty, that's it. The GMC is smaller and 500 lbs lighter. I think Ford is good. Later.

 

[Dargo]

I towed my tractor with my Ford today and it actually towed really well. The advance in brakes, the built in trailer brake controller and the suspension has apparently approved in the last ten years. I also had an opportunity to drive a brand new GMC Dmax today that was just off the hauler. Dang, it was sweeet! I'd have to say that if I were to have the desire to drop 50 grand on a new pickup, I'd most likely go with the GM. Heck, may as well as have one from each. But, since that may result in a divorce, I may stick with just two for right now.

I'm just wondering about these guys online claiming to get 25 mpg with a crew cab 1 ton dually 4X4! I mean, c'mon now, isn't that fudging just a bit?? I don't think I could get 25 mpg with either of my trucks if they were being towed on a trailer, going downhill with a strong tailwind!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I'm just wondering about these guys online claiming to get 25 mpg with a crew cab 1 ton dually 4X4! I mean, c'mon now, isn't that fudging just a bit?? I don't think I could get 25 mpg with either of my trucks if they were being towed on a trailer, going downhill with a strong tailwind!

Some people (well, a lot of people) like to inflate their mileage numbers just so they feel better about their trucks or to one up someone elses truck. Why? I have no idea as it is kind of stupid to lie about that and as soon as someone buys a truck like theirs they find out the truth.

With my driving I average around 16 mpg with my 6.0 which is an extended cab, 4x4 with 3.73. If I really baby it I can improve my mileage some but what fun is that Also, I don't have a fancy computer in my truck to tell me my mileage so I have to use the trip meter and do the math manually so there may be some small margin of error but so far every time I check my mileage it is usually 16. I don't remember what it was towing though. I will find out soon though.

And you should buy the GM also just so you can give a good review as you actually own them all

 

[Diamondpilot]

pickup truck world.

I think my "perfect" truck would be a GMC 3500 4x4 crewcab dually Allison & 11.5" GM rear with a Cummins w/ exhaust brake and a Ford suspension underneath.

We actually finally agree on something. My dream truck would be my 2006 F-350 SRW 4x4 with the high gvwr setup I have. I would love to see it packed with the old 5.9L Cummins and a rear end with a locker even if it were the GM 11.5" I am not sure what tranny I would want. I did like the Allison in my 05 GM D-max 3500, it was the only thing on that truck that did not give me problems, but I feel the Torque Shift in the Ford does a little better job for my needs towing trailers in the 12K-16K range with surge brakes. The Allison did not seem to like or handle the surge brakes as well. Everything over the 15K-16K I tow has electric brakes so it was less noticeable.




Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I'm just wondering about these guys online claiming to get 25 mpg with a crew cab 1 ton dually 4X4! I mean, c'mon now, isn't that fudging just a bit?? I don't think I could get 25 mpg with either of my trucks if they were being towed on a trailer, going downhill with a strong tailwind!

I do not own a dually and probally never will but do own two 6.0L Fords. One is a 2004 F-250 4x4 SRW short bed extended cab with 3.73's and the other is a 2006 F-350 in the same configuration. I have 4" exhaust on both along with a Quadzilla chip and AFE intakes. I average 17 mpg around town and 23-24 on the highway. Drive it smart, keep it at 1900 rpm (the sweet spot on the 6.0L), and get a chip that locks up the torque converter earlier and you will see the same.

Chris

 

[swines]

What Ford truck do you have? F-350 SRW or DRW?

If it's an SRW, then you have the 10.5" Sterling l/s rear. If it's a DRW then you have a Dana 80, which is a little smaller than a GM AAM 11.5" locker.

Let me know if you have any other questions about your truck j/k

It's not quite that simple. Dana 80, Dana 60, etc. are designs not specific sizes. They are built to a specification given for a specific use. For example the Dana 60 in an F250 has a major axle diameter of 1.50 while in an F350 the Dana 60 major axle diameter is 1.57. The housing on the F350 Dana 60 is also heavier.

In an F350 dually with the Tow Boss package, the Dana 80 4:30 axle has an 11.5-inch ring gear and 37 splines on the axle. Also, the housing is heavier and the major diameter of the axle is larger. Likewise, a dually Tow Boss 4x4 will have a Dana super 60 front axle - larger, heavier housing, bigger ring gear, larger steering knuckles.

The only way you can find all of this out is by having access to the Ford guide that tells the actual specifications of the axles by year.

Also, you will find that, depending upon usage, the 4:30 gear may provide better mileage than a 3:73 gear. I've had both gearings and with a load, the 4:30 gets better mileage as you don't have your foot into the throttle nearly as much on hills, in the wind, etc.

Conversely, if you use the truck mainly as a daily driver, the 3:73 would give at least 3-4 mpg better.

OR, you could get the 4:30 and put a Gear Vendors overdrive in it to lower the final transmission drive ratio to equal about a 3:44 rear end gearing for every day driving while being able to shift to normal transmission final ratio for pulling/hauling. Oh yeah....super big smiley face back at 'ya.