New truck suggestions

Morning Wood · Mar 13, 2016

I'm possibly looking at a new truck. Been a ford guy, but looking at all the big three. Full crew cab short bed 1 ton srw 4wd. Looking for engine opinions. Fuel economy of the gas engines and reliability of the newer diesels?
Currently own a 2005 f350 v10 in same configuration that I'm looking. Thanks, Nick

ovrszd · Mar 13, 2016

I've been watching the Ford 6.7 diesel closely. So far haven't heard any negatives. Hopefully by the time they are "used" enough that I can afford one they will have answered the dependability question.

Good friend of mine had a Duramax. Traded it for a gasser. Now is waiting for the horrible depreciation hit to go by so he can trade back into a Diesel.

Sure don't hear bad things about the Cummins. The chassis seem to need frequent attention in the frontend though.

I'm very rural. Farmers generally have Dodge, Ford, GM, in that order. Might see a swap in the leading two if the newer Ford diesel pans out.

Qapla · Mar 13, 2016

When it comes to gas and reliability, don't rule out Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan. They both pull really good.

Nissan is introducing a new Cummins Diesel for the Titan.

A friend of mine traded his Ford gas some time back for a Chevy Diesel (1 ton dually) and likes they way it runs and pulls but was not happy that the price of diesel went so much higher than gas.

ovrszd · Mar 13, 2016

I saw an AD on TV that showed the Cummins sticker on a Nissan. What engine is that??

As for Diesel fuel prices, it's closer to the price of gas than it's been in quite a while.

wcampbell47 · Mar 13, 2016

Morning Wood said:
I'm possibly looking at a new truck. Been a ford guy, but looking at all the big three. Full crew cab short bed 1 ton srw 4wd. Looking for engine opinions. Fuel economy of the gas engines and reliability of the newer diesels?
Currently own a 2005 f350 v10 in same configuration that I'm looking. Thanks, Nick

Keep the V10 and buy a computer tuner from 5 Star Tuning. My 2001 V10 driving carefully with cruise control can get up to 14.5 mpg not towing. It is an F350 SRW 4x4. I pulled a long bumper pull from Texas to Florida and towed a 5th wheel back over 1,000 miles each way and averaged 10 mpg. 5 Star provided 3 custom tunes - Economy, Performance and Towing. This is the only Ford I have ever owned. I bought it used. It is my daily driver which has some kind of trailer attached 90% of the time.

Morning Wood · Mar 13, 2016

Rocker panels and cab corners are going. I also would need to do a take off bed. I am a builder. I have racks and boxes on my truck. Average 9 mpg or worse. It weighs 8500 lbs. I pull a 7-10k tool trailer 14k dump trailer and 14k equipment trailer. I've owned 7.3 in the past that rusted away as well. I Like the diesel for towing but I don't tow all the time, but can tow weekly at times. Just the maintenance on the diesels look horrendous. Also, I do 15k miles a year. Afraid it isn't worth it for the diesel. Even though I'm spending more in fuel, I haven't had to touch the engine other than plugs.

coobie · Mar 14, 2016

I ordered a 2016 Dodge Ram 2500 3/4 ton 4X4 laramie 6.4 hemi engine crew cab Feb.6th should be here end of March.I drove Ford,Chevy and Dodge,diesel optioned engines took the price upwards of $9,000 bucks.I could not bring myself to pay the extra $$ for the diesel engine.My choice was based on price,ride and handling.Since 2002 I have owned 1 chevy,2 fords and 1 Dodge.As you can see I am not brand loyal I buy what fits my needs.Go drive them all and see what fits ya.

Monster5601 · Mar 14, 2016

Morning Wood said:
I'm possibly looking at a new truck. Been a ford guy, but looking at all the big three. Full crew cab short bed 1 ton srw 4wd. Looking for engine opinions. Fuel economy of the gas engines and reliability of the newer diesels?
Currently own a 2005 f350 v10 in same configuration that I'm looking. Thanks, Nick

Had the same need last year for pulling a fifth wheel. Ended up with a RAM 3500 Cummins CC SWR 4x4. I'm getting around 21 MPG in mixed city/highway driving summer, 19 MPG winter. Pulling 15,000 pounds I'm seeing 9 to 13 MPG with various head winds and travel speeds.

I think reliability is steering more towards the emission systems than the actual engine itself. What swayed me to Cummins was their (Cummins) emission system and the use of the CP3 fuel injector. The CP4 injector pump has had past issues costing owners up to 10K dollars and I couldn't find anything that made me think the CP4 issues have been fixed.

Qapla said:
When it comes to gas and reliability, don't rule out Toyota Tundra and Nissan Titan.

Neither make a one ton truck, which is what the OP was asking about.

ovrszd said:
I saw an AD on TV that showed the Cummins sticker on a Nissan. What engine is that??

Cummins 5.0L turbo diesel, eight cylinder. Yet another half ton diesel pick-up.

PsRumors · Mar 14, 2016

Monster5601 said:
Had the same need last year for pulling a fifth wheel. Ended up with a RAM 3500 Cummins CC SWR 4x4. I'm getting around 21 MPG in mixed city/highway driving summer, 19 MPG winter. Pulling 15,000 pounds I'm seeing 9 to 13 MPG with various head winds and travel speeds..

Are those #s hand calculated? Did you delete the DPF? I have not seen anyone get that high of fuel mileage with the emissions system in tact.

My pre-emissions Cummins had no problem hitting 20mpg but these new units seem to be sitting in the mid teens.