Dodge Diesel?

[Todd_C]

Drive the diesel and then the gasser and decide. I am specualting but I expect that the pre-dpf 5.9 Cummins trucks and the 06-07 Duramax trucks will have a cult following for years to come. Who knows these trucks may even turn into tomorrows collector cars. There is something special about pullling a 10k pound trailer up a steep incline and never having the transmission change gears to maintain speed. I had a 2010 Tundra 5.7 and it was the strongest pulling 1/2 ton I have ever driven but I would become annoyed pulling my tractor up the the mountain and having the transmission constantly adjusting. The truck was doing great but I was used to the Cummins.

 

[newbury]

I'm going thru a similar thought process.

My problem is that I don't trade or sell cars, I pass them on to relatives or they basically rot away (75 Fiat [Fix it again Tony]) to minimal value and get donated.

My '88 Ford E350 needs glo-plugs, it'll get fixed.

I've been looking for a used diesel truck for 3 years, to tow trailer, tractor, logs. I'm convinced that any Ford post 7.3 liter is not good, all GM's (per my BIL) have problems, and all Dodges have problems. But the Dodge problems like KDP and '53 can be gotten around.

I'm also sure that even if I could afford it I wouldn't want a new truck that requires an additive like DEF unless I could just relieve myself into the tank (urea right?).

There's great reasons for buying a diesel, but I don't see great reasons for buying a new diesel.

If you just WANT a new truck get a gasser, if you NEED a truck to tow your house off it's foundation get a diesel, but look for a used pre 2007.

 

[Diamondpilot]

The diesel will probably be worth at least half of that 6 grand more at resale, so it's down to just a few grand difference.

Unless diesel fuel cost goes thru the roof AGAIN! Paid $3.67 a gallon my last fill up Imagine being happy about that :confused2:

JB

Hey, I agree. I own 2 Ford Diesels now and have had one other and a GM Dmax at one time. I love diesels but for some guys it just does not make sense. That V-10 with 4.10 gears will pull good or if it has 4.30 gears like my uncles its a strong puller. The 05 and later got the Torque **** tranny, more power, better heads, and a redesigned front end.

Yes, it drinks gas at 12mpg and 8mpg pulling but for his needs I think its the right choice. Maintenance is just like any other gas truck, not 15 qt oil changes with $25 filters, fuel filters all the time, ect.

Chris

 

[Willl]

"On the other hand...
You go around one time in this life...and if a diesel truck is what you want...and you want one bad enough...go for it!!
Otherwise, when you're 93 years old on your death bed...you'll be kickin' your azz"

Ditto what Roy said.

I drive a 02 Cummins and it came with a Dodge wrapped around it.

 

[grsthegreat]

I have had 1 ton gas and diesel trucks. My 2005 F350 1 ton full crew cab 4x4 diesel gets 15 MPG empty and 14 MPG pulling 10,000# horse trailer. My f350 gas 460CuIn got 7 MPG empty OR towing. I dont care if diesel is slightly more $$$, the diesel gets me 2x the MPG. It runs cooler and at lower RPM at 65mpg and is alot quieter while towing.

The Hemi's may get better MPG's... i dont know. But lets face it any diesel small truck engine will outlast the life of the transmissions. My 1994 dodge 3/4 ton cummins diesel has over 250,000 miles on it, and is on its 2nd transmission. The engine will last forever...even after the body is a rusted out shell (though i just had the truck repainted and it looks like new).

 

[JB4310]

Drive the diesel and then the gasser and decide. I am specualting but I expect that the pre-dpf 5.9 Cummins trucks and the 06-07 Duramax trucks will have a cult following for years to come. Who knows these trucks may even turn into tomorrows collector cars. There is something special about pullling a 10k pound trailer up a steep incline and never having the transmission change gears to maintain speed. I had a 2010 Tundra 5.7 and it was the strongest pulling 1/2 ton I have ever driven but I would become annoyed pulling my tractor up the the mountain and having the transmission constantly adjusting. The truck was doing great but I was used to the Cummins.

I think you are absolutely right, at least about the Cummins. It's always had a cult following, now that they are not making anymore and there are only so many out there, they are already almost collectible.

Wish I never sold my 95 Ram with 12 valve Cummins. Was thinking about yanking the engine out and mounting it on a skid just to look at and enjoy it's beauty and simplicity

JB

 

[masscity]

In 1999 I wanted to buy a pickup and was thinking about a fairly new used Chevy 4x4 pickup.

The owner of the company and most of the sub-contractors all had Dodge diesels and I liked the sound of the Cummins.

The cranes, tractor trailers and my little B7100 were diesel, so I thought what the heck I want a diesel.

I didn't need one, because I didn't tow and only drove to and from work.

I bought a 1997 Dodge Cummins, 4x4, long bed, extended cab. I still have it and it has 220k miles on it.

In 2008 instead of buying a newer Dodge Cummins, because of rust I had body panels replaced and the truck painted. Not cheap, but still better than truck payments.

Ball joints lasted 135k and front wheel bearings lasted 200k. Of course the Cummins is still going strong.

 

[WM75Guy]

Based on 20,000 miles/yr, 16 MPG average for both vehicles, and diesel at $3.57, gas at $3.29 (Murphy/Walmart), the gas motor will save you $350 a year in fuel cost. Annual maintenance costs are not that much higher than gas. I change oil at 10,000 miles based on the GMC driver info center readings.

I have diesels so when I or the wife pull a trailer I don't worry about slowing down on a hill or being able to pass if needed. If you can afford it and want it, go buy what you want. Need only comes into play when you can't afford it and need to justify the purchase to someone.

 

[Egon]

Ball joints lasted 135k and front wheel bearings lasted 200k. Of course the Cummins is still going strong./QUOTE]

The new ones might have a different suspension system as well as different front and rear axles. I understand the older ones may be better???

I got a 1996 with 230 K on it. Just got rust on one front panel just ahead of the door but it looks terrible as the paint all fell off.

It's spent most of its life hauling a camper and pulling a trailer. Still got the original transmission and the same dowell pin.

 

[90cummins]

I took delivery of my first Dodge CTD in April 1990.
I discovered the Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel while reading a magazine my wife bought me while recovering in the hospital after having a liver transplant in November 1989.
I didn't need a new vehicle but I loved that Cummins and it gave me something to look forward to.
So it was time to think long & hard about this.
My first concern was driving it long enough to fully warm up. I felt my drive of 25 miles to work was sufficient for warm-up. I also felt it would be better on fuel although I did not know at the time how much better it would be.
The final vote for it was my wife. She said if that's what you want - get it - the time may never be better than now! So when I was discharged from the hospital I started checking them out at the dealerships.
I signed the papers to purchase and the truck was built. It was a W250 4x4 5 speed with 4:10's & limited slip, light/blue dark/blue & AC. I took delivery 4 days before my birthday in April 1990.
Looking back, it was the best thing I ever did. As it turned out, I did need that Cummins Diesel. It allowed me to do things I never would have attempted. It worked very hard for me & never let me down.
As was previously stated, the engine will outlast the body & several transmissions. That truck rotted out and the engine with its 3rd tranny was swapped into another 1990 and is still going strong with over 300k and 8971 hours on it.
I had a second liver transplant in October 2005 so I say go for it! You never know what tomorrow may bring!!!

Tim

 

[WilliamBos]

I took delivery of my first Dodge CTD in April 1990.
I discovered the Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel while reading a magazine my wife bought me while recovering in the hospital after having a liver transplant in November 1989.
I didn't need a new vehicle but I loved that Cummins and it gave me something to look forward to.
So it was time to think long & hard about this.
My first concern was driving it long enough to fully warm up. I felt my drive of 25 miles to work was sufficient for warm-up. I also felt it would be better on fuel although I did not know at the time how much better it would be.
The final vote for it was my wife. She said if that痴 what you want - get it - the time may never be better than now! So when I was discharged from the hospital I started checking them out at the dealerships.
I signed the papers to purchase and the truck was built. It was a W250 4x4 5 speed with 4:10痴 & limited slip light/blue dark/blue & AC. I took delivery 4 days before my birthday in April 1990.
Looking back, it was the best thing I ever did. As it turned out, I did need that Cummins Diesel. It allowed me to do things I never would have attempted. It worked very hard for me & never let me down.
As was previously stated, the engine will outlast the body & several transmissions. That truck rotted out and the engine with its 3rd tranny was swapped into another 1990 and is still going strong with over 300k and 8971 hours on it.
I had a second liver transplant in October 2005 so I say go for it! You never know what tomorrow may bring!!!

Tim

Glad to hear you are living life to its fullest Tim.

Do you have any pics of that first gen?? I love those trucks. Should of bought one when I had the chance in the spring of 1994. The last year ,1993 had tons of rebates, to make room for the new ram.

 

[bdog]

I currently own three 2008 gas f250s and one 2008 diesel f350. The truck I drive daily is the diesel and the three trucks I drove before it were all dodge diesels. We often drive cross country in all four trucks pulling trailers and there is no doubt the diesel has more power and gets better mileage. I pull trailers a lot but not huge trailers.

I am really considering going gas on my next truck purchase and here is why. The diesel truck costs a lot more to buy and everything is more expensive for it. Oil changes, air filters, fuel filters are all about double the cost on a diesel as they are on gas. The diesel really shines on mpg when towing but when empty their are gas trucks that get similar mpg and gas is cheaper. The other thing is repair costs. I have never seen the core engine of a diesel fail buy have seen and paid for a lot of 2-3k repair jobs on injector pumps,etc and that amount would practically put a whole new engine in a gasser.