Diesel Trucks-Need Input!!!

[BA-IV]

Well to start this off, Im looking for good solid feedback and experience from you guys and gals.  Im looking to buy a diesel truck either CHEVY or DODGE, 2500 or 3500 either one and would really like some input on what kind of things yall have to say.  I figured this is a TX board so this is the place to ask this kinda question.  I am gonna buy a used truck cuz I can't see spending the kind of money their asking for a new truck, so a good mileage cutoff on purchasing one would be a great help to as well as the good year models since they keep changing crap up all the time on a yearly basis.  Most of the good deals I'm finding are from TX anyways.  I'll be pulling trailers with cattle and lumber about once a week and using it around the farm.  Its technically gonna be my wifes truck since im replacing her Acadia with this truck (her idea not mine but I like it).  I appreciate all the help guys. 

If anyone is needing a great family vehicle I have a 2009 GMC Acadia up for sale with less than 26000 miles on it that ill try and help someone out with...Not really trying to sell it on here so nobody kill me just yet just wanted to try and help someone out, cuz I know how it is, I was trying to jump through hoops finding a family vehicle before my wife had our twins in December.  Thanks.

[Circle C]

If looking at a dodge, I would look for a low,mileage 03-04.5  I have been getting incredibly high mpg with my 03 dually 4x4 6spd.    The newer the year model, the more emissions crap and the worse the mpg .

[BA-IV]

Besides the usual maintenance, Have you had any problems with the truck at all?  By the way, any good deals yall run across or any good dealers yall know of I would appreciate the insight...Im looking all off the internet so I know Im missing some of the best deals around.

[brw7979]

I'll keep a look out for one. I live in South Central TX. and theres alot of good trucks come up out here for sale. If you dont mind whats your price range and I'll see if theres anything around my area for ya.

[sfboarbuster]

I'm with Chris on those year of dodges. Never heard of any problems with them.

The dmax is nice until they hit the100k mark, then the problems start, injectors, and mostly just other little random expensive things.

[Purebreedcolt]

I would go up to a 06 dodge.  A friend of mine has a 05 and a 06 3/4 ton and 1 ton and gets about 22 to 24 in both unloaded.  He builds fence for a living so he is not overly easy on them.  he just bought the 1 ton with a little over 100000 miles for 18000 and thinks he got a heck of a deal so.

[Circle C]

I had a handful of problems with mine early on that were largely self inflicted. I was running a pressure box(EDGE) on the highest setting all the time and finally blew an injector that in turn flooded the crankcase with fuel, thinned out the oil, and burned up a turbo.
 At about the 20k mark I blew a transfer case....still don't know how that happened....   I now have 210,000 hard miles on it. Frequent loads grossing 30-40k (20 round bales, or 300 squares)  Haven't really had any problems in the last 100k or so.

Here is a pic of the mileage computer taken yesterday, highway driving, unloaded.  When I hand calculate, I am always ~2mpg lower than the overhead display.



Depending on the load I am towing, I have seen as low as 8mpg (hauling large grain bins) to as high as 17mpg pulling my 24' stock trailer 700 miles a few weeks ago.  If I can keep the rpms below 2k, then the mileage is great, anything above that and it starts falling quickly.

[Circle C]

Trucks are like hunting dogs, everyone had a brand and breed they prefer, and some don't give another brand/breed a chance.  I have owned and used Dodge/Ford/Chevy... I prefer the old goats for pulling, the Fords for interior size, and the Chevy for comfort. I don't have any loyalty to any brand, just plenty of experience using them in my business.

I would go up to a 06 dodge.

Only reason I stopped at 04.5 is because of the catalytic converter. to my understanding, the older 3rd gen trucks did not come with one.

However, I say any 5.9 is going to be good, just need to be prepared for the typical problems of a given era.

12 valve 1994-1998 = Killer Dowel Pin
24 valve 1998-2002 = VP44 Injector pump, costly, and short lived
I can't think of any major/common issues with the newer common rail 5.9's


The Duramax are nice strong engines, and it's hard to beat the comfort of a GM truck, but after having 3 of them, I could not figure out how to get decent MPG out of any of them. Low teens all the time.  I have heard of people getting better, I just never did.

Fords, depending on the year model can have a huge impact on longevity. 2002/3 model 7.3 diesel is probably the most reliable you will see, and even then you need to be prepared for their issues. (CPS, valve cover harnesses, etc)  Seems like with the 6.0 you either have a great one, or a bad one, not much in between.  At out sister company, we run an 03 and 04 f550, and have had good luck with them. We bought 2-2008 F550's with the 6.4 diesel a couple years ago. Absolute junk! Just traded both units in and got 31k for them, after paying over 70k 2 years ago. Spent more time in the shop than on the road. Kept the 6 and 7 year old 6.0 diesels over the 2 year old 6.4 diesel.

[Rbelote]

I have an 07 Dodge 2500 I got out of Texas.  It doesnt get nearly 27 mpg.  If you baby it with no programmer it will get 21...  Usually riding around town ill get 18.  It has had alot of recalls with all of the new emmisions stuff.  I wish I could take all of it off.  I really like it though; it just needs airbags because it is way too stiff with the long bed and heavy suspension.  check out texasdirectauto.com  

[BA-IV]

well i appreciate all the input, that was definitely what I was looking for, lots of good hard experience right there you won't find off google   Hey Circle C whats a good price range on the 03 to 06 dodges with low miles, i know its gonna depend on alot but just a roundabout will suit me if you don't mind.

[Circle C]

rbelote,

is yours 5.9 or 6.7?

With mine reading 27, it is closer to 25.  That is running <2000 rpm, which figures about 65-68 mph.   I am also running the stock tires again. For a few years I was running 6- 315/70r17 BFG's and my mileage suffered some with the larger tires.

[Circle C]

Hey Circle C whats a good price range on the 03 to 06 dodges with low miles, i know its gonna depend on alot but just a roundabout will suit me if you don't mind.

Back when I had some money, and I was buying trucks all the time, I could have given you an answer. Now I am just poor white trash, just trying to keep some old iron running down the road...

Pm Matt Aggie on here, he is ALWAYS shopping for trucks, so he will be the best person I know to tell you what the current market is.

[cujo72]

I have bought for personal use alot of DIESEL TRUCKS.  ALL USED. so here we go the 03-07 5.9 CUMMINS trucks are amazing for power, fuel mileage but the components around that powerplant start giving out at 180,000 miles and they are expensive to replace. Ford powerstrokes 7.3 which was in the 02 and older trucks was a hoss 150,000 mile wall on the problems !!!! STAY AWAY FROM THE GUTLESS FORD 6.0 POWERJOKE THEY ARE A FREAKIN NIGHTMARE!!!! All that being said DIESELS are expensive to work on but everybody knows someone who has 400,000 miles and has never had any trouble these items are just what i have had personaly. Oh it never happened to me but four or five of my buddies 03 to 05 dodges have trashed their transfer cases at around 100,000 miles just some things to take into account.

[de_moon]

The newer the year model, the more emissions crap and the worse the mpg .

x2


My 2000 7.3 powerstroke has 252,000 miles.  I have a superchip that  leave on the 90hp setting.  I have a straight pipe(no muffler) and a high flow air filter.  I drive it everyday and get right at 20mph on the highway unloaded.  I wish they made them like they used to.  My power windows roll down kinda slow, my drivers side front seat is worn out, and I've had to replace one injector and one front wheel hub bearing.

Circle C is right on about the '03-'04.5 Dodge.  Any of the 7.3L powerstrokes should be good too.  I think they are '96-'01

My dad's '08 Duramax gets like 12 mph unloaded on the HW.  It sure is a nice ride, but they don't seem to make them like they used to.

[Nickjones]

I think the 6.0 ar garbage. they have no power and they dont get very good gas mileage. atleast the two i use at work. Dodge is the way to go.

[Reuben]

I bought a 1999 f-350 superduty 7.3 (4x4) in May of 1998. It still looks almost new with a little over 200,000 miles. Have had very little problems with it. changed a front whell bearing and do my pms on it. Gets about 20 or better mpg on the hiway as long as I stay at or below 2000 rpms. The mileage sucks in town, the transmission is geared for pulling at low speeds. The newer 7.3 have a better transmission for fuel economy for use in town. My brother has a dually the same year model but it's fuel consumption is kind of high.

The gear ratio on the transaxle is a 373.

[craig]

i have owned a lot of dodge diesels,  i think the first one was 89,  then 90, 92,95,97,99,00,05, and i have 2- 07 now..
i would go for the late 07 with the engine brake and 6 speed ,  if you pull alot of trailers.     i trade mine around 100k cause other little stuff starts going wrong.
alot of guys i know like the newer automatic, i just dont trust an auto for pulling big loads.

i had a new ,buy the way i have bought all of the above trucks new. any way a new 6.0 ford  ,   stay away from 6.0 fords, everyone i know has had problems with that one..


i run all of my trucks stock .   thats against the law in Texas isnt it  ,,      anyway  you will love the dodge 5.9 or 6.7

[Circle C]

thats against the law in Texas isnt it

It is in my neck of the woods.  First thing I do for any diesel is let it breathe.  Once I have the breathing handled, I start throwing the fuel to it.  Craig, you've seen my silver dually pouring the coal.... Somebody doesn't want to let me over on the freeway, I just put my foot in it and clear a few lanes

I really liked driving Matt's 2008 with the engine brake when we went to Oklahoma last year.

[Rbelote]

rbelote,

is yours 5.9 or 6.7?

With mine reading 27, it is closer to 25.  That is running <2000 rpm, which figures about 65-68 mph.   I am also running the stock tires again. For a few years I was running 6- 315/70r17 BFG's and my mileage suffered some with the larger tires.

its a 6.7

[matt_aggie04]

I have had a few diesels and and am now currently running a 2010 Chevy 2500 with the 6.0 gas motor in it.....and missing my diesels I might add!!!!!! 

My most recent diesel was a 08 6.7 with the auto and ex brake and I loved the power and trans etc but I will NEVER own one again because of the horrible mileage that it got, around 13 empty just driving and about 11mpg loaded.

My 07 5.9 was my favorite and I bought it new and sold it when it had 47K miles on it because I wanted out of the car payment and I was changing jobs.

I then had a 99 dodge 24valve auto that I really like alot and I wish I still had, sold it with 188K miles on it and it was a great truck.

I have had a 99 7.3 ford that I was VERY impressed with and even at 240K miles drove better than most new trucks

I had an 01 dodge 6spd cab and chassis that I pulled a bulldozer with a few times that was a good truck but man it would walk the road real bad on you

I have three trucks right now that I would like to go pick up if funds were available, one is in Elgin, TX and is a 01 or 02 5spd dodge 2500 with a lot of new parts that I could buy for 8K

I have two fords I would like to buy one is a 99 4x4 with 140K for 12K and the other is a 99 2wd with 110K miles for 12K.  Both are exceptionally clean trucks with a lot of life left in them.

I am only 28 and at last count I have owned nearly 20 trucks in my life and actually still own the very first one I ever bought.  I used to really like to work on them but now I like to find the cherry's and buy and resale....