Diesel trucks

[DonDavis]

I am not sure if this is the proper place but here it goes:

I am in the market for a 3/4 ton truck and do not know what I should be looking for at all really. It is for work if that makes any difference. Any suggestions/tips/info would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Davis

[onceover]

Re: Diesel trucks

What's your budget? Crew cab/extended cab/single cab? Long/short box?

[DonDavis]

Re: Diesel trucks

I have around 12k and need a crew cab. Four door would be a plus but not a must.
Long or short box, that don't matter.

[CGDoig]

Re: Diesel trucks

I'd buy a dodge if it were me. Strictly because of the cummins. They really are proven diesel engines.

[BaggedGLI]

Re: Diesel trucks

[onceover]

Re: Diesel trucks

For 12k you can likely get a base model early 2000's F-350 with the 6.0 powerstroke. It's a pretty solid motor, than again most diesels will run forever if taken care of.

Don't know much about the duramax's or cummins' but it really comes down to whatever you can get a better deal on.

[idlandk]

Re: Diesel trucks

6.0l powerstrokes have headgasket problems and it's a very expensive repair. Cummins are good engines but dodge rear ends, transmission, steering boxes and pretty much the rest of the truck sucks. Gm's have good tranny's and my dad has had multiple duramax's up to 500000km and only real problem with the engine was injectors. IMO gm/chev has the best setup and they drive the best hands down(can't deny that). Although I don't know how much of a truck 12k will get you. Good luck! Your better off to read up on each of them and drive each of them

[boostedmk4]

Re: Diesel trucks

Power stroke diesels are the biggest piece of **** ever. Weather it's a new one or old one they are junk a d hold there value worst than a kia
Dodge ram with a cummins is 100% the way to go.
End thread

Ps I have no idea where this myth of dodge rear ends and trannys comes from. My wife worked for Chrysler in service for many years and never saw a dodge have tranny issues or rear end issues other than stupid people not maintaining their trucks.

And diesel engines should not be a v8? Who the **** thought of that? What semi truck has a v8 diesel. Think of it that way

[onceover]

Re: Diesel trucks

Disagree. Haven't had any issues with our F350.

No to mention that everything except for the engine is total garbage on dodges, interior is awful IMO.

[Tuna]

Re: Diesel trucks

6.0l powerstrokes have headgasket problems and it's a very expensive repair. Cummins are good engines but dodge rear ends, transmission, steering boxes and pretty much the rest of the truck sucks. Gm's have good tranny's and my dad has had multiple duramax's up to 500000km and only real problem with the engine was injectors. IMO gm/chev has the best setup and they drive the best hands down(can't deny that). Although I don't know how much of a truck 12k will get you. Good luck! Your better off to read up on each of them and drive each of them

Have to echo this from my research. The ford 6.0 has some issues, I don't think the headgaskets fail directly but rather it's a function of the EGR cooling system getting plugged up and overheating which then causes the engine to run too hot. The 6.4 was arguably worse, plus had horrible fuel economy plus only had a 5 speed where the GM's had the 6sp Allison. I do have a friend that has a 6.0L and his has been ok, I think he's got about 160,000 on it now. I really wanted a 6.4 but my neighbor had a 2010 that got less than 450kms to a tank with mostly highway.

As for Dodge, 2 of the 3 people I knew with them had rear end issues, also, one of them had steering box issues also (quite expensive to replace). Also, you'll actually find that it's not too difficult to find manual Dodges as the transmissions were well known for not being reliable. I would still consider one if you find a really good deal on an 04ish one as that was pre emissions stuff. I didn't look too much at engine options as I was scared of them.

The Pre-07 GM's had horrible interiors, so ugly, after that they are much improved. The engines were solid though.

This info is largely for 04-10 trucks as that was what I was looking at, also, all diesels.

That said, for your budget you may want to consider a gas engine, higher mileage diesels are expensive to maintain. They warm up better, can just jump in and take off and shouldn't be too much harder on fuel. GM uses the same 6L in the 3/4 ton that you'll find in the Yukon and other trucks.

Hope that helps some.

[btimbit]

Re: Diesel trucks

Cummins are really good engines, but I dislike almost every other part of the Dodge. Most Chrysler products, for that matter. Interior being the biggest culprit.

[idlandk]

Re: Diesel trucks

Have to echo this from my research. The ford 6.0 has some issues, I don't think the headgaskets fail directly but rather it's a function of the EGR cooling system getting plugged up and overheating which then causes the engine to run too hot. The 6.4 was arguably worse, plus had horrible fuel economy plus only had a 5 speed where the GM's had the 6sp Allison. I do have a friend that has a 6.0L and his has been ok, I think he's got about 160,000 on it now. I really wanted a 6.4 but my neighbor had a 2010 that got less than 450kms to a tank with mostly highway.

As for Dodge, 2 of the 3 people I knew with them had rear end issues, also, one of them had steering box issues also (quite expensive to replace). Also, you'll actually find that it's not too difficult to find manual Dodges as the transmissions were well known for not being reliable. I would still consider one if you find a really good deal on an 04ish one as that was pre emissions stuff. I didn't look too much at engine options as I was scared of them.

The Pre-07 GM's had horrible interiors, so ugly, after that they are much improved. The engines were solid though.

This info is largely for 04-10 trucks as that was what I was looking at, also, all diesels.

That said, for your budget you may want to consider a gas engine, higher mileage diesels are expensive to maintain. They warm up better, can just jump in and take off and shouldn't be too much harder on fuel. GM uses the same 6L in the 3/4 ton that you'll find in the Yukon and other trucks.

Hope that helps some.

This guy knows what he's talking about. For 12k don't buy a wore out diesel

In response To boosted... I simply don't believe that. Everyone I know with a dodge truck can't keep it out of the shop and said they would never own another dodge. You get what you pay for and dodges are cheap. I'm not saying the engine is no good but i disagree with Your comment on v8 diesels. Power output Is pretty much the same and Fuel economy is better with the v8 ford and chev. I'm not saying the v8 diesels are better either.

[mk4jetta]

Re: Diesel trucks

I'm going to say don't buy a ford diesel, every diesel tech at work constantly has one with an engine out or a cab off.

[DonDavis]

Re: Diesel trucks

Hmm, thanks for all the info and input! Really appreciate all the opinions and experiences too.

As for getting a gas engine, I don't really have a problem with that but it is my understanding that diesels just make better towing machines.
If I were to increase my budget to 16k-ish would that make a big difference? Obviously there are more trucks available in that range but would the 4k increase make a big difference in quality/reliability/etc?

Some extra information:
Probably looking at towing something like a 22 foot trailer, not right away but within a year or two.
The interior does not really matter to me to be honest. I will be sitting in this thing in a wetsuit with three other people, haha.
Also, the truck will only be getting around 10,000kms a year on it. Much of the kms would be highway commuting from here to Sylvan and other lakes.
It will be used in summer and fall months (May - November).
This truck will not be for personal use.

[Tuna]

Re: Diesel trucks

I'll add a a bit more. Can't comment on the extra budget because I never really looked in that price range but might get a little better. What kind of trailer? A 22 car trailer with cargo is a lot heavier than a 22 foot holiday or boat trailer. If it's just a holiday trailer you probably don't even need 3/4 ton, if it's ~4000-6000 a 1/2 ton or even several SUV's could pull it.

As for pulling, I've pulled with both Diesel and gas. Gas will do fine as long as you aren't close to the limit of the vehicles tow rating. But the Diesel will make a joke of it no matter what. When not towing though the gas is nicer.