Opinions on Diesel Trucks???

[Anonymous Poster]

Well when you decide what you like and the options you want, look on the web and find out the dealer prices. When I was looking for a truck I got a dealer who was willing to sell a truck for xxx ammount of dollars and he emailed me the entire breakdown. Armed with that you can go to the local guys and see how close they come.

I thought those high pressure dealer tactics were becoming more a thing of the past. I hate that B.S. where the quote a high price and you go back and forth. Just tell me what it costs and I'll tell you yes or no. I think with the internet most people have a good idea what the want and how much the dealer is making. You can spend 10 minutes online at aforum like this and know more about the vehicle/price and options thatn 90% of the salespeople I meet. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I think the dealers who are still selling like it was 20 years ago are missing the boat.

RANT OFF

 

[RobertN]

I've mentioned before, My Dad's shop had an 98 and 99 Cummins Dodge come in, I guess 10-12 months ago. One had turned over 700,000 miles and the other over 500,000 miles. Both had only tires, brakes, and oil/filter changes since new; no other major repair.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Let's see the 98 came in a year ago and had 700,000 miles/ So that's 140,000 miles a year for 5 years The truck must have run 2700 miles a week 52 weeks a year and it's on it's original tranny or clutch?

Brakes and tires are the ONLY major repairs it's ever had?

Define "major" The 99 did similar numbers and it is also in the same boat?

Come on now, how big was that fish you caught??? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Dang these truck wars bring out the darndest tales /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RobertN]

Here\'s the deal on diesel trucks...

Here's the deal on diesel trucks...

A lot has been said here, and most of the info is good. But here's what is up.

All of the "Big 3" make great trucks, and you would not go wrong with any of them. The playing field the last few years is so level, it comes down more to the particular ergonomics and styles than the truck. All three make great power, and have lots of driver friendly options.

The Cummins motor is the strongest built. It is a tank. Look at the link that shows the con-rods. Will that matter to you though? I have first hand reports of 700k mile Cummins trucks with no major repairs. If, though, you look at "CowboyDoc's" post, he regularily sees 500k miles on his Fords. Will you ever have anything near that on your truck?

The Duramax/Allison is pretty new still. People are chiming in with 30-40k miles. It's hard to tell what will happen at 200k or 300k miles. The biggest thing going for the Duramax is that Allison. Izuzu makes great diesels; the Duramax will probably be a good motor over the long run. Look at all those cabover Izuzu's running around.

If you look at all these trucks, it is hard to go wrong with a stick. The auto's, well they are known to be weak whether Ford, Dodge, or the older GM's.

What would I take? I would stay with my Dodge. Next time though, I would go with a stick and 3.55's(I have auto with 4.11's). I'm at 35k miles with no repairs besides oil and filters. I would also say, after doing some construction, and work around my property, that a flatbed is the way to go. Regular beds are useless if you haul much of anything...

I have used my truck to tow Bobcats, and '01 F450/PS with 6-sp to haul dirt and Bobcat, and have driven a '99 Ford PS with auto a number of times. All three are great, but I still like the Dodge/Cummins combo. Before, I had gas Ford F250's. The Ford F450 though, would be nice with a Cummins in it...

So, to answer in short order, any of the Big-3 would easily work. None hold any major advantage over the other.

 

[Jeff396]

<font color="blue"> I like my diesels to sound like a truck....LOUD!!!!! </font>

I thought I was the only lunatic.... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif While we're on it....I would also like the turbo charger to be louder. Love that sound!!!!

Jeff

 

[Boone]

Re: Here\'s the deal on diesel trucks...

How are the late model big three during frigid winter weather? I'm talking cold like 10 below zero F for seven or more days and a warm up to zero F for the rest of the month. Are these trucks a pain to live with at these temps? Do they need to be plugged in, and what happens if you left it sit for a 16 hour work shift unplugged out in the cold?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Here\'s the deal on diesel trucks...

UNPLUGGED:

Can only say what zero or a little below does. Ford PSD starts but it lets you know it aint' happy.

Some shakin' and groanin'. Sort of behaves like a big block gasser with a loose motor mount, /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif the thing torques to the side with each of the first few rotations. It fires and then idles roughly for a minute. Then you're good to go.

I normally plug in so this is not an issue. I think any of these trucks are REALLY going to rather be plugged in.

My issue is covering up enough of the radiator so that the tranny stays warm, you need the front mask for sure. I cover the entire thing and it works for me.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Here\'s the deal on diesel trucks...

Anyone have any photos of their truck and or trucks? Everyone likes photos! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I am wanting to look at a new Dodge quad cab 4x4 with the Cummins but no one close to me has one. So I may just have to wait until the 04's start coming in. Who would have ever thought that we would be trained to think $40000 is ok for the price on a new vehicle. I saw something the other day about a new Dodge Caravan in 1986 could be bought for like $9800. Now they are in the 20's ...Go figure.
I really would be curious to know what they actually cost to build. I bet we would be astonished at the markup. Just my 2 cents /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

We were dealing with a salesman a few years back when we were looking at the 98' models. Anyways, after our third trip in to talk to the salesman we were dealing they stuck their big salesman on us so we left. Called up the original guy we were dealing with and he told us they figured we were a hard sell so they put their best salesman on us. We told them that we will only buy from the original salesman or not at all and they let us deal with him (sadly, he was fired a few days after we picked up our truck)

There are some crappy dealers out there and they don't realize how many sales they miss because of their attitude. I would have bought a JD tractor before I bought the TN till the salesman opened his mouth and started bad mouthing the Ford/NH products (it is sad when a dealer has to tell you why another item is bad but can't tell you why their product is better) I have said enough for now. Take care.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Re: Here\'s the deal on diesel trucks...

There was a article a couple years back and Dodge was clearing $10k on the Rams and Caravans. I don't remember all the other models listed but those were the top two they listed and that is why I remembered it. They were the only ones in the $10k profit range the rest were below. I don't know how the profit margin is today but this article was around 2 years ago.