diesel pickups

Bird · Jun 22, 2005

( So I need a F350 crew cab 4X4 dually with a juiced Cummins with the Allison transmission behind it. )

That's just what I've been saying ever since GM came out with the Duramax and Allison. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

RobertN · Jun 22, 2005

I had Ford's before, and really like them. My comparison is to the '80 and '89 gasser F250 4x4's I had, and a friends '99 PSD. I liked them all, but my '01 Ram handles and drives as good. I have ridden in a newer Ford, and didn't find it any better than my Ram(about even...).

The only thing I would do different in a newer truck, is get a 6spd stick, and taller gearing. I really don't need the 4.11's I have. I have towed about 10klbs. The 4.11's were nice for that, but that is the exceptioon not the rule. I take a double whammy in mileage for the auto and 4.11's.

My '89 F250 did, however, handle MUCH better after I threw away that silly IFS they used and put a solid axle up front...

Phred · Jun 22, 2005

Some of the negative comments about diesel's in this thread are true for the old ones, but not so for the new generation of diesels.

Let's take the common diesel complaints one by one:

1) Poor acceleration: True of an early 90's 7.3L IDI Navistar diesel like those in the old Fords. My old non-turbo ford is a dog in terms of acceleration. The new dodge generates 325 hp and 600+ ft-lbs of torque stock. In comparison a stock mustang generates 210 hp and 240 ft-lbs. The only thing that gives the mustang a prayer is its about 1/2 the mass. But then again it has a towing capabilty of 1000 lbs and the dodge can be as high as 16000 lbs.
Add a chip to a new diesel for a couple of hunderd bucks and you can smoke the tires and the mustang.
The other brands have comparable output power levels.
2) They smell and generate smoke. Very true of the old ones. My 7.3L ford rolls the black smoke out the back when hauling a trailer. The new dodge generates no smoke that I can detect.
Also the old one smells, the new one does not except after oil changes with rotella. Even that smell is very minor and it goes away after about a week.
These new ones have a cat converter.
3) The cost is higher. True the diesel may add as much as 20% to the cost of the truck. But you will likely get 30% more miles out of the diesel so the price is fair. Resell value is also much higher in a diesel with equivalent miles to a gas burner.
4) Cost more to service. Not so. Sure the dealer or lube place will charge 10-20% more to service the diesel. But the dodge schedule call for more miles between changes so I think it's a wash. Even if you do it yourself the oil cost and filter cost is higher than the average gas burner but the frequnecy of changes is lower.
5)Loud. Well the first generation dodges and my old ford are very loud the new ones are not.
At idle they are louder than a gas truck, but under load the diesel is actually quiter. Just the other day a noise caught my attention when I passed another truck. It was a gas burner pickup struggling to climb a hill as I blew by him.

I am not saying that a diesel is the solution for everyone, but I think the popularity will grow once people realize the advancements that have been made in diesel engines in just the last few years.

Fred

Av8r3400 · Jun 23, 2005

GM has paid out more in warranty repairs on the Allison since it's introduction the either ford or Dodge has on their automatics. (per JD Powers) GM now de-fuels their diesel in first and fifth gear to prevent this damage. The 1000 series Allison has allot of potential, but GM doesn't seem to use it right.

I like your idea of the "mixed breed", it is available. The F650 I believe has a Cummins/Allison option available. Near $65K though. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

edit:
BTW Dargo- Detroit Diesel is now part of Daimler/Chrysler, that's why GM went to the Isuzu motor.

cowboydoc · Jun 29, 2005

The F650 I believe has a Cummins/Allison option available. Near $65K though.


I just got off the phone with the dealer and ordered a new F-650. It will have the Cummins motor with a 6 speed Allsion automatic. Retail price was $67,922. My price was $54,918. You had a choice of motors between the powerstrok, cat, or cummins.

Dargo · Jun 29, 2005

Since I obviously didn't know you could get the best of all worlds all in one package, it is obvious I don't know what the F-650 is. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Is it still a "pickup" like we know one? Any links to where one can be seen? It doen't sound like you can possibly dream up a better setup!

LarryRB · Jun 29, 2005

I have an 01 H.O. Dodge, and just replaced the complete exhaust system. The original was rotting out in several areas. My fault though as the truck really never warms up.. In the moring a seven mile trip to get mail, milk, and return back home.... I bought it new in early 01 and only have 46K on it.... I replaced the factory exhaust on a recommendation from one of the snow plow nets I am on. 4" stainless from the turbo back.. Thought it was loud prior, now it is really loud, and today hauling my tractor, L 48 TLB Kubota on a Bri-Mar 12/28 trailer, both very heavy in their own right, and it is even louder... Third generation has forced rail fuel system and is quite a bit less decibles than mine...

Av8r3400 · Jun 29, 2005

Dargo- A 450 and 550 are based of the HD pickup type truck, only heavier: 19.5 wheels, beam axle front suspension, ect. An F650 is like a "Top Kick" or "Kodiak"; a medium duty truck, GVW up in the 20-25,999 lb range. You 'can' put a pickup box on the back of one of them, but usually a larger load platform is used (stake-bed, van body, etc.). They can also be had in 4wd, but andother $10k, I think would be in order for that.

Check this site for this type of thing! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

gsxr1100 · Jun 29, 2005

av8 is correct. some are flatbeds, some are normal pickups and some are dump trucks.

Dargo · Jun 29, 2005

Holy cow!! That's awesome. However, it sort of kills the idea for me. A wee bit too much truck; even for me. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Especially since my plan would have been to put my wife in it as her main vehicle for a year or two. I had to sell her Suburban because it was "too big". I don't think I could talk her into driving a F-650. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif