diesel pickups

TheKid · Jun 13, 2005

I have an 02 F250 ext cab PSD 4X4 W/ 3.73 gears. With 57K on it I'm averaging just under 19 MPG combined city & hiway.

I wanted full size truck with an 8' bed that would get good milage and that would last me for 300K miles. That equals a diesel.

Maintanence runs a little more than a gasser. Oil change costs me $36 every 5K.

Not sure if they're crash tested of not. At 7500 lbs. I figure it will come out pretty good in a crash if I ever have one.

buckle97 · Jun 13, 2005

The savings of driving a car instead of my truck would have to eat up the EXTRA cost of the insurance and taxes. 

I understand that you don't drive many miles per week, but I drive 160 miles per day commuting to work. I have a Dodge Ram gas truck but I bought a Ford Taurus to commute to work. My savings are easy to see, the following numbers are rounded:

Ram - 3500 miles @ 13mpg @ $1.93 = $520 per month
Taurus - 3500 miles @ 28mpg @ $1.93 = $241 per month

Taurus full coverage insurance = $380 every six months
Taurus taxes and tag = $320 every year

I incur an extra cost of $1,080 per year to own the Taurus.
I save an extra $3,348 per year in fuel with the Taurus.

That looks like a net savings of $2,268 per year. Maintenance on the two vehicles is similar in cost, so there is no reason to put that into the calculation.

Lawrence

_RaT_ · Jun 13, 2005

Your right about the smell of diesel exhaust, at least when addressing those from the older diesels. My old 93 Ford non turbo IDI does not have a pleasant odor. It reminds me of BBQ lighter fluid burning off the charcoals. The new diesels to me are so much cleaner burning and continue to get cleaner. Between the quieter engines, the more power and MPG and the much cleaner burning diesels, they ofer a great alternative to almost any of their gas counterparts. If the need for towing or hauling is important, it may be the best solution. I haul some, tow little and would eventually like to downsize to something like a Tacoma size truck. I like the nimblenees of the vehicles and ability to park. As hard as my F250 extended cab is to park with a incredibly large turning radius, I cannot not imagine the drudgery of having a duel tire rear end. Some folks seem to need it, some folks just seem to want it. That I don't understand. Now if Toyota offerd their little truck in a diesel, that would be interesting.

gsxr1100 · Jun 13, 2005

Rat, do not take me to the bank, but I read somewhere that Toyota was concepting with diesels.

_RaT_ · Jun 13, 2005

I would like a compact with a diesel. Enough capacity to pull/handle a dump trailer.

MikePA · Jun 13, 2005

Perhaps my situation was a bit atypical. We had 2 vehicles, the truck (my vehicle) and a Geo Prizm (wife's car). The truck and the Prizm each had over 100,000 miles on them and my wife was looking to replace the Prizm. We got her a Turbo Beetle, kept the Prizm which I started to use for commuting, retiring the truck to temporary duty. Then both kids started driving, but that's a whole 'nuther story. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Dargo · Jun 13, 2005

Almost all of the Toyota LandCruisers are diesel except here in the U.S. Toyota has the same diesel in their pickups across the pond as well.

johnday · Jun 13, 2005

Timber; I bought my 2001 F250 Stroker in Aug of 2000. I can't even come close to having another gasser. I've used a V10 of my brothers, it seems a marginal tow vehicle compared to diesel. Mileage? I'm not going to tell you that I get 20+ mpg, but I don't think the 17 I get with this truck is too shabby. I had a '99 F250, same truck I have now, except with the 5.4 litre. That was my biggest disappoint in any truck I ever had. That thing couldn't pull itself out of a mudpuddle. Terribly under powered. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif It was also a lot cheaper than a Stroker tho.

I guess it boils down to what you want a truck to do. The newer gas engines do a good job on mileage, but really suffer if you are going to drag any kind of a sizable load. Diesels unloaded get close to the same mileage, but you incur costs besides the initial outlay. Then again, they do last longer.

Also, I've never smelled a diesel I was driving, except for my TC.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
One fun thing to do with a diesel. At stop lights, if you line your tailpipe up correctly with the stereo on wheels just behind and to the right, and goose it a little, you can usually get the jerk to roll up his window so you can hear that bad a$$ diesel's turbo when you blow him off. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Would "I" do that? OH YEAH!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just buy what YOU like. Your the guy with the payments. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

TimberXX · Jun 13, 2005

thanks for all the great advice guys... jezzz this site is great... I admit that i will be doing no hauling other than a canoe and some fishing gear... but i thought a diesel would be better for the long term... and with Tacoma's by me going for about 22k used with 18 mpg the upgrade to the diesel would be minimal... i was thinking that the truck would last about 1.5 times longer than the gas... is this correct? of course the engine would hold up... but does the rest of the truck keep up with the diesel? suspension, electrical, etc??

Dargo · Jun 13, 2005

If longevity is your goal, the Cummins diesel will last at least 3 to 4 times as long as your average gas engine. I've posted before that a guy a couple of miles from me has a '93 Cummins powered Dodge with 1.2 million miles on it and it has had not had the head off of it. And, since he hauls over the road year long, he always leaves it running all night when he stays in hotels during cold winter nights. Another guy that lives well out of town but works in town delivering concrete has a '94 Dodge with 780k on his without any problems. These are the norm for the Cummins engines. You can find thousands of examples of people with over 500k on their Cummins without a single issue. Most everyone gets tired of their Cummins powered Dodge before they can wear it out.

RobertN · Jun 13, 2005

Show me an big block gasser F250 Ford or Dodge 2500 4x4 with 4.11's and an auto, that can pull 18mpg on the highway. That's the best I have done in my stock '01 Ram 2500 quad cab long bed 4x4 Cummins. I take a hit in fuel mileage with the 4.11's and auto.

My last gasser was a '89 F250 4x4 x-cab witth 4.11's, 351 v8, and 4sp stick. 11mpg. It ran well, towed well, worked well. At 11mpg empty.

Over Christmas, I had to make two runs to southern Cal. First trip, I took my truck. 18.1 mpg. Second trip I took my wifes '04 Ram 1500 shortbed quad cab 4x2. It had the 4.7L gas engine, 5spd auto, and 3.55 gears. Same trip, same roads, 18mpg. Took it easy on both trying for mileage.

Some of the newer 3/4 ton gasser 4x4's will surely get better mileage than my '89 F250. Taller gears, 5sp auto, I'm sure it would. But, to compare to todays deisel, the closest thing would be a big block. And it aint gonna get comparable mileage to a similarily equiped diesel.

I wish they did... In '01 when I got my diesel, fuel was as cheap as or a little cheaper then regular. Around here, it sits at Premium prices.

jyoutz · Jun 14, 2005

My 99 Dodge quad-cab, long-bed 4x4, standard shift trans gets about 18-21 MPG even when towing my 5th wheel trailer. The chip (or auto trans) must have really cut into your mileage. Mine's stock. On the other hand, I have towed a fairly heavy trailer down the interstate at around 2700 RPM, motor just loafing along. Then I looked at the speedo, only to find I was doing 90+ MPH!!!! No, I could never again go back to a gasser truck. The other thing I like about towing with a diesel is the incredible engine braking power. Even with a heavy trailer, I seldom have to use my brakes to slow down on the highway. The engine braking is so strong, that I can drop 20 MPH quickly just by removing my foot from the throttle. Without starting a brand war, I also agree with you that the Cummins is the most maintenance-free and reliable of the current crop (even Ford uses them in their super-heavy trucks -2.5 tons+).

jyoutz · Jun 14, 2005

Pretty soon we'll all be running bio-diesel. Then the truck in front of you will smell like french fries.

RedRocker · Jun 14, 2005

( I think anyone who's contemplating a diesel pickup who doesn't absolutely need the towing /weight carrying ability should have to follow right behind one and smell it for about 300 miles, that should cure you. I'm not anti diesel in general, (after all, my tractor is diesel) but these things really stink on the road. If you ever get stuck behind one in heavy traffic it can be brutal. If you don't absolutely NEED it, buy gas............... )

Man, you really need to be a little more agressive and pass the next time you're behind a diesel for 300 miles, or 4.5 hours. Must be some awful traffic in your area.

RedRocker · Jun 14, 2005

( Why not just buy a F250/350 with the 6.8L V10 and a 4.30 rear? That's what I'm going to get next time. )

Cause diesels pull better with better mileage.

Jagmandave · Jun 14, 2005

I think how long it will last is going to depend on how you use it. If you drive 3 miles to work one way, you're not going to see much if any advantage. The more miles you drive daily, the more it might make sense. Sounds more to me like you just want one, which if that's the case, that's exactly what you should do.

And guys, I can't say I've been stuck for 300 miles behind a diesel pick up, I do just go ahead and pass 'em - if I can. But you guys don't make sense to me, you buy one of these things for the "mileage" then leave it run for 20 minutes outside the mini-mart while you get your coke and cupcakes! In fact, I don't think you shut 'em off all day till you get home at night. what's the matter, won't these things start again? Think of how much higher mileage you could get if you ever shut 'em off! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

_RaT_ · Jun 14, 2005

Dave, it seems quite the opposite for me. My 93 diesel is noisy enough that I cannnot have a conversation with it on. For me it is automatic to turn it off. If I were in the market for a 3/4 ton truck, there would little doubt I would go with a newer quieter diesel, however, my lifestyle is changing to where having a full size truck, as advantageous as it can be, also has its drawbacks, namely in its manuverability and that includes parking. I would utilize a compact more then my full size anymore. I'm in construction and even though there are times that I need to haul large loads, a compact with a dump trailer would be more preferable for my needs.

Av8r3400 · Jun 14, 2005

( If longevity is your goal, the Cummins diesel will last at least 3 to 4 times as long as your average gas engine. ... Most everyone gets tired of their Cummins powered Dodge before they can wear it out. )

Dargo-- You 'da man! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Right with ya, brother.

Once all the Dodge wears off of my Cummins, I don't know what I'll do, but it will definitely be another Cummins powered rig! Probably build a great 4x4 toy out of the chassis and buy another 12 valve Dodge.

Remember: Keep as far away from the 6.0 (removed) choker as possible. If you gotta swing that way go find a 7.3, at least that one will run. My neighbor has had 3 of the 6.0's. 1st two were bought back for motor problems, third is in the shop now for another turbo. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Jagmandave · Jun 14, 2005

I used to have a diesel pickup...............wait for it..................

an 81 VW Pickup! 55 rompin stompin hp! Great little truck too, only I never got the 55 mpg (or whatever) it was supposed to do. In fact, I later bought a gas engined version, and it got better economy. Probably because I had that little diesel's throttle on the floor all the time!