Help buying my first pickup truck if you please?

[RonL]

Larry

I'll repeat myself and say if you are going to be towing 7000 pounds with the 5.4 get the 4.10 rear end. Also, get the 350.

RonL

 

[Inspector507]

Larry,
I've had the V10. Very impressed with it towing my 5000 lb camper.

 

[rozett]

I have the V10 with 3.73 rearend. I get about 12 mpg (again, it's an 8000 pound Excursion, not the pickup), 13-14 on the highway, and it drops to 9 when I pull a 7000 pound trailer. I've never been disappointed when puling the trailer, even through hills.

 

[cowboydoc]

Oh yes that V-10 is a good puller. You won't get the better transmission with the V-10 though. But yes it would be a compromise. Your mileage will suffer some but you won't be underpowered.

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Richard,
Is there was a difference in the transmission between the 5.4 and 6.8. can you be more specific?
Thanks,
Lar

 

[cowboydoc]

The transmission is the torqshift. It's only available with the diesel engine. The torqshift is a great transmission. It has engine braking built into it, tow/haul mode that is really for towing, no more burnt up brakes going down a hill. The five speed is great for towing. No more harsh downshifting on hills and gear hunting like the four speeds that come with the 5.4 and 6.8.

 

[johnday]

Yep. And if you decide that you'd like even MORE HP and torque, you can put a programmer or chip in either the 6.0 or 7.3 and really have some some guts. About a year ago I bought a SuperChips programmer and used the 60 horse setting since they don't recommend using the 80 for towing unless you have a pyrometer to watch your exhaust temp. These thing make a good truck even better and did not affect the fuel mileage at all. Also you can deprogram the thing for when if ever it needs dealer service. Lots of fun.

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

I've read a bunch about the superchips and impact on performance. I will be moving from a V8 Audi to this truck. I could lay down a lot of rubber with the V10 when I test drove it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Don't know I will miss the sedan a bit.
Larry

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Yes, but as a college professor, are you allowed to go from an Audi to a big honkin' pickup? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

You must be tenured, or you'd never try this. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Bill, no tenure yet! But as a b-school prof I will be unique if not an oddity. I figure by hauling stuff and trailering my equipment around to all my senior colleagues can't hurt. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
L

 

[Egon]

Believe the Dodge Dakota is coming out with a preformance type model that has a V10. Should make for happy tire dealers.

Egon

 

[johnday]

Maybe you should keep the Audi and haul it around in the back of your new truck. You know, you get a Super Duty and you have to do stuff like that. Don't know why, you just do !!! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Gomez]

A couple of changes coming in the 2005 SD are the availability of the TorqShift with the V10 and coil springs up front.

Blue Oval News

 

[cowboydoc]

If I was getting a V-10 I would definitely wait for the torqshift. That is an awesome transmission.

 

[cowboydoc]

"Unbiased advise is sometimes unobtainable in these forums. That's a shame, since this is where people come to find it."

I have to respectfully completely disagree with your post Dave. In no way am I color blind in anything. When something new comes out I always look at it. With regard to Dodge I had the cummins. Loved the engine, hated the truck. It ate transmissions for lunch and went through brakes as fast as you could get them in. Their automatic still is the poorest diesel transmission on the marktet and is no comparison for the Chevy or the Ford transmissions. The cummins, well there's no debating the superiority of that motor. The rest of the truck is nice but why they do not offer a true crew cab I have no idea. As far as Chevy they make the perfect truck if you like driving a car. Suspension is way too soft for my liking. The allison and motor seem to be doing well though. However, I wouldn't buy the truck because of the Isuzu motor, just my feelings.

Am I colorblind? No way. I look, compare, and shop around just like the next guy. I do my homework and if I thought for my needs Chevy or Dodge would be better I would buy one. I think I can give just as much of an unbiased opinion as anyone.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I wouldn't buy the truck because of the Isuzu motor, just my feelings. )</font>

And that would be one of the reasons I would buy one. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Of course my own, family's, and friends' experiences were great with the little 4 cylinder Isuzu diesels in compact cars and pickups, but it was long enough ago that those experiences really aren't applicable to the current GM truck engines. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Besides I used to love the old Joe Isuzu TV commercials. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Yes I said that was my opinion Bird. I think it's proving to be a pretty good motor but when you have the history of putting a cummins or an international 100% american made history under the hood and it's just as good as the competition, well I guess it's just a pride thing there. So yea I guess I am a little biased to good old american muscle. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BigDave]

Doc,

I had the impression that you were a Ford & Deere man from reading your posts over the past two years, but I guess not. I had a mispreception of you, but that's a limitation from what little we truly learn about each other in these forums. I apologize.

I don't understand your true quad cab comment. The current 4 door quad cab, had plenty of room to seat my then 325lbs comfortably in the back seat. I'm not sure what makes a "true" quad cab, but I guess it's there's some nuance that I am not been made aware.

Also, do the current trucks have transmission and brake problems? Since I'm a current owner of a Dodge truck, I may need to keep an eye out for those brakes that go bad a quick as you get them in. That's a real safety issue, and there should be a recall. To have brakes go bad in four hours is ridiculous. I have 50 hours on my new truck without a single problem. I guess I'm bucking the trend. Are the transmission problems with the new 48RE transmission, or was it the weaker 47RE or older model? I've looked in the Dodge forums and couldn't find anyone complaining about the 48RE. Like you mentioned with Ford, Dodge continually improves their products.

Popular Mechanics

Anyway, you shopped around and picked the Ford, and I shopped around and picked the Dodge. If, I didn't want to keep my Lincoln, I would have purchased the Cummins Dodge, but that's another story. I guess it should be obvious we have different needs and perspectives on the vehicles we choose. Bygones?

 

[muddy]

Thats why I like my John Deere tractor so well.(Yamnar engines) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Larry_Van_Horn]

I want to thank you all for your valuable feedback. I ordered my F 350 with a Triton V10, crew cabs, Lariat package with a 6.75 ft.bed. In the end it came down to 3 factors, " the backseat in the Ford is.large relative to the Dodge. 2) the short bed fits in my garages the 8 ft bed will Not. 3) My Ford dealer priced the car at $4000 below invoice. I am very excited to own my first pickup, and my first American made car!


Now, if I spend more than $1,200 on aftermarket add-ons, Ford will rebate me an additional $1,000. So..... I figure I will get a Line-x bedliner $400. a Weather guard bed toolbox $400 , any suggestions on what other commercially oriented items I should consider? They don't have to be from Ford, I just need reeeipts. Anything useful you would recommend?

Thanks again to all
Larry