Truck time

[AndyR]

Thanks - I may get a start on that tonight. Just drove an F350 diesel this afternoon. Hmmm...decisions, decisions - and lot's to learn.

 

[dmccarty]

Andy,

You will learn alot on the Ford site. There is a WHOLE bunch
of talk about Cackle and Knock on the PowerStroke engines. The
last I check they seemed to have a fix found by some of the site
members.

I don't have the problem on my 2002 truck. Knock on wood. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

There are also alot of people on the Ford List who chip and modify
their trucks so keep that in mind as well.

Just from reading the towing threads, it seems like most people
recommend a dually F350 with a long bed. This combination is
supposed to help towing because of the four tires and long bed
provide stability. I don't tow so I don't know! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Just
passing on what I have read.

I have a six speed tranny and it was tough to find. I have the
Powerstroke, crew cab, long bed with single rear wheels. The
truck wieghs in at the quarry at 7,700 pounds with a full load
of diesel and has a 9,900 pound GVW. My drives around the
house average 17.5 to 18.5 mpg. May be a bit more if I got
alot of rural 55 mph driving. I just did a trip to Florida and
the truck had to come wiegh over 8,000 pounds with the
family and stuff. From central NC to mile marker 6 in GA
I got 17.6 mpg running 70-75 mph. Round trip from mile
marker 6 into FL and back out was 18.0 mpg. From the
truck stop to back home was 17.5. It was likely a bit
higher but I drove the truck around the house before
filling up. Fuel was 20 cents per gallon cheaper in GA
than in NC or FL so I planned the trip to maximize my
use of GA bought fuel. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

My old Chevy diesel would have gotten 16.0 mpg on the
same trip. At best.

Food for thought...

Good luck on buying the truck.
Dan McCarty

 

[Bird]

Andy, the Ford diesel is a tried and proven machine; very good. The Duramax is fairly new; however, if I were going out to buy one right now, I'd just have to go for that Duramax and Allison. I've driven a diesel pusher motorhome with a Cummins and an Allison and I've driven a Freightliner with a Caterpillar and an Allison, and a GMC Topkick with a Caterpillar and an Allison. I loved all of them except the GMC Topkick and that was because it had a model of Allison that was just like freewheeling when you let off the accelerator. The Freightliner had a model that slowed you down and even downshifted as you slowed (as has already been mentioned). Of course, I've driven several of the Ford diesels. So, for a totally uneducated opinion, the Duramax would be my choice./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

We just bought a 2002 F-250 Supercab, longbed 4x4 with the V-8 in it. We use it to haul the TN and other equipment which usually weighs 5 ton with the trailer and whatever else we have in the box at the time. We have the 3.73 limited slip rear axel and have no problems towing with the V-8. Able to average 55mph up the bigger hills here without flooring it. The V-10 is a nice motor if you plan on hauling alot, if you can afford the Turbostroke go for it as it is a great engine and worth the money. I personally would wait for the new 6 cylinder diesel that Ford and International are suppose to release pretty soon. As for the truck weight it is in the 6,500 lb range. I weigh it all the time with the dump trailer at the transfer and the dump trailer is a 1 ton trailer roughly and the slip says around 8,500lbs combined weight of the two. The Fords are extremly nice trucks and Chevy has a nice truck as well but stay away from Dodge. The best thing with Dodge is the Cummins engine, unfortunatly it is hooked to the Dodge. The Allison tranny is a great transmission and I think the Duramax is a Isuzu engine which makes pretty good diesel motors. Ford or Chevy is the way to go. We get the employee discount from Ford so our truck was around $29k which we got with 0% financing and it is a great deduction for taxes. Have fun and don't let the salesman try to pressure you, I hate when they do that and it usually cost them a sale.

 

[Egon]

Truck Time:

Now whats the matter with a dodge? Got my Nomex on.

Egon

 

[Egon]

Forgot to add the attachment.

Egon

 

[Corm]

I've got a 2000 Ford F250 SD 4x4 with a V-10, standard shift, 373 rear end, regular cab, long box. I get upwards of 15 MPG going back and forth to work, about 9 MPG pulling my 5th wheel (10K lbs) travel trailer, and about 11 pulling my tandem axle trailer with my tractor on it. I've been real happy with the V10. I looked at the diesel rigs, but couldn't justify the extra $$ for the extra power. The V10 is rated to pull what I have and does it just fine. I''m also happy with the rest of the truck. 26K miles, and no problems yet other than a warped front brake disk replaced under warranty at 10k miles.

Corm

 

[House]

I just bought a 2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD with the 6.0L gas engine. Couldn't justify an extra 10 grand (with taxes in Canada) for the diesel. So far I'm impressed with the ride quality but have only had it for 1 month - no hauling yet.

 

[RobertN]

I went with Dodge, and have been very happy. Turbo Cummins, 4x4 long bed extra cab auto. So far(15,000miles) it has been perfect. It handles well, the power is excellent, and the ergonomics of the truck are great. I've had limited towing, my B8200, and concrete trailers. It did both easily.

Right after I got my truck, two trucks came into the shop for oil change(My Dad works at a Dodge shop in Sacramento, Ca). One truck, a '98, had just turned over 700,000 miles, with only regular maintanace. The other, a '97, had just turned over 500,000 miles, with only regular maintanance required. Both were business/work trucks.

A couple of other folks mentioned some time ago, the Dodge has a good motor, but that's it. My expierience has been they are great trucks.

I also drive a Ford F450 flatbed at work sometimes. It has the 6 speed/diesel. It has been a great truck so far, but I find the in-cab ergonomics of the Dodge more comfortable.

The new Chevy has a lot of potential. Izuzu has a history of making pretty good engines. The biggest thing they have going for them though is the Allison tranny. The Dodge can make incredible power, but the auto can't handle it. The Ford can make good power too, but not through the Auto.

I'll stick with my Dodge. At least for ten years or so.... It's hard to go wrong with any of them though; the playing field is pretty level; it mostly comes down to personal preference, ergonomics, ect.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

My experiences with Dodge has not been favorable, in the muscle car days Dodge was great but the new trucks, except for the Cummins engine which is the only thing I like about Dodge, do not hold up well. My fishing buddy had a 98' 1500 decked out identical to our 98' Ford F-150. We had no troubles with the Ford but his truck blew the motor at 5000 miles, the tranny left it a little later, the wiper motor went, the computer died and the rear axel was replaced 3 times. To top it off it wouldn't pull his 19' boat without a real bad case of lunging. it had the small V-8 like our Ford but the Ford could pull the boat with no problems. My uncle bought a 97' 2500 and the tranny blew 37 miles from the dealership after he bought it. My brothers 99' 1500 front bumper is falling off and was missing the front right shock from the factory that no one noticed till the tire started wearing uneven. I know some people have had good luck with them but I have not and even the people who I know buy Dodges again have had a lot of problems still. None of them have ever complained about the Cummins though and it is a powerhouse I wish could be offered in the Ford as it is a great motor. Chevy and Ford have a quality product and I know a lot of people with them in the construction and heavy machinery trade with them but none of them will drive Dodges. But for the average guy who may haul something in them light they are fine trucks but when you drive around how many Dodges does anyone see on a construction site compared to Chevy and Ford. Like I said, I have had problems with Dodge so I am biased against them but I should not tell someone not to buy one since it isn't my money. I will only tell them my experiences with all 3 major lines. I do like the Cummins though. Have a good one.