Best Diesel truck??

[Hank]

Best diesel

The best diesel is a can of worms I won't get in to. I will however possibly take the time to rebuke some of the drivel spilled here by those less educated.

The sitting all the time issue is a different issue for each of the big three. Each truck handles the situation differently. Each has a version of a KAM module (Keep Alive Memory) and each has a different system to shut down modules and systems in order to maintain battery charge. These systems seem to be different with "cold weather prep" packages in northern climates.

Crap, gotta get back to work. PM specific questions if you wish on the battery issue.

BTW, I can drive any late model big three diesel I wish. I own a 6.0L PSD Excursion. It works best FOR ME and that is what matters.

 

[D'Animal]

This doesn't really answer your question, but. I drive about 1,200 mile a week for work. I cover three states on the left coast. I have seem then all broke down at one time or another along side the road. I see the Fords broke down the most when pulling heavy loads. It is not the engine, its the automatic tranmission. They generally have someone behind the wheel that has never pulled something in the mountains. When I say pull something I mean a big camper or a 25' livestock trailer on thier way to an english riding horse show. All the engines will last as long you you do the routine maintenance on them.

 

[Project FJ80]

If you have to pick one of the three, IMO the Cummins will outlast them all. They arnt called the Million mile engine for nothing. after 3-500K rebuild it and go another 3-500K. the catch is though... is to stay away from the computer controlled stuff. Get yourself a 96. no real computer on them.. I beleive the 95 used the Hydraulic controlled transmission a 47rh. the 47re (96) required a small controll box to shift correctally. Either way, invest in a upgraded torque converter, and change out your transmission lines, they reduce in size and cause your transmission to over heat and burn up. or just get a standard, then you dont have to worry about that.
The injection pump can also be used with bio diesel with out worring about messing anything up. fully refined WVO or an 80/20 mix 80%filtered cooking oil 20% diesel (Make it yourself for about .60 cents a gallon). not enough power stock.. ? get a diferent fuel meatering plate 50-300hp, (a few hundered bucks) injectors (about 600), upgrade your turbo or go compound with 2 and get 500+hp for 1/2 of what you would pay for a gas setup (up to 6K)

what ever you get, get the one that you like.. test all 3, the newer ones are a lot more quiter than the old ones if that makes a difference. in the end though, your the one whos gonna drive the truck. each one has its ups and downs, and each one can be modified with enough money to preform just as well as the next..

-Ron

 

[cody c]

i also like the cummins, although the internals of the allison are about twice the size of the auto in the dodges.but i really enjoy the 6 speed manual to drive.
as well they seem to end up in the shop for small and expensive repairs a bit too much. which is fine while its on warranty.

the duramax isnt a bad motor but ive heard the exact same complaints about the powerstroke as the duramx. however the gm/chev is too close to the ground if you do moderate to mild (depends on your definition) off road use and the ford will easily accomodate larger tires without the expensive lift youd have to buy for a gm.

fords 6.0 earned a bed reputation because they basically just switched from the 7.3 without enough r&d trying to sell cheaper motor on the reputation they had earned with the previous powerstroke. bad move for ford. but i think they have finally got most of the bugs out of it.

all 3 end up at the dealer for warranty work throughout their life and all seem to get front end work between 100,000 and 200,000 kms. i guess the extra weight will do that. whatever you pick im sure will have the goods and bads like the others but i'd sell it around the time the warranty runs out. the repair and labour costs for things like turbos and drivetrain is getting scary these days! unless of course it was a toyota. there is a reason they have high resale in the older toyotas!

 

[my64fj40]

So far I'm still pretty undecided. I want to let the cummins 6.7 and ford 6.4 come out and try to get a consensus on those and probably decide for one of those. Not really too thrilled with the duramax, like mace said the aluminum heads are kinda what scares me from them.

10 years is a long time for any of the big three. Not because of the motors, but because of the bodies.

I wish they could still build these trucks like they used to. My 1996 7.3 hit its 10 year old birthday and going on 11 and it still looks like brand new. But then again I spoil her and have hardly any miles on her. It's my play truck and I could never part with it, but I'm tired of driving this oil burning hemi for a work truck. I need another diesel.

Here is a pic of my 7.3 lookin good

 

[foxtrot6]

This one is easy. Dodge/Cummins.
They dont call them disposable semis for nothing.Ive had mine for 15 years, the speedo quit working at 350,000 and that was almost 4 years ago.
the intercooler is starting to unravle but I want to bet the Banks one anyway.
No squeeks except the glove box.
In2007 Cummins is going to sell Dodge a 5.9 bored and longer stroked to 6.7. That has some pretty impresiv specs. 365 HP and 750 FTLBS Tourqe for starters.

 

[turbotoy]

i used to be a cummins fan until the new duramax came out. now i'm duramax all the way. much quieter and more pleasant while still being a great tow rig.

 

[Gus]

When the time comes, I'll be going for one of the 6.7L Cummins powered Dodge 3500 dually, cab and chassis's; Cummins, medium duty 6-speed manual(built by Mercedes) and a solid front axle are what sell me on the Dodge. I like my current Cummins Dodge, it does everything I ask of it but would prefer a 1 ton dually flatbed.
My64fj40, sweet rig, the 94-96 Powerstroke F250/350 HDs were awsome trucks.

 

[bsilva132]

I have a 05 2500 Dmax and love it. My dad has a 03 f350 PSD. I like that the Ford sits up high, but the allison is a way better tranny and the Dmax rides a little better (it is my DD). The seats in the Dmax are also way more comfortable. I would suggest test driving all of the big 3 and see which one works best for you. You can also find a lot of info for Dmax and PSD at www.thedieselstop.com (Ford) and www.dieselplace.com (Chevy).

 

[grant5127]

 

[my64fj40]

LMAO


Does anybody know if the Duramax is the only engine that comes with the Allison, or do the Vortecs have allisons too??

Damn, why are diesel fuel prices so much higher??

 

[Hank]

The 8.1L was available with the Allison for a couple years, IIRC 05-06.

 

[Bodean]

Had a 99 3/4 ton Dodge CTD for a few years and have loved it. It's an auto with 163K on it. Some say I'm living on borrowed time with the tranny but I will deal with that when the time comes. Had a shifting problem between 40-50mph but a $49 noise filter from DTT fixed that. Overall a great truck for less $ than a Ford. We have 5 6.0 Fords at work that stay in the shop. Turbo's and trannys seem to be the problem. Pick up a copy of the March Petersons 4wheel & Off Road magazine, there is a comparison of all of the new diesels coming out in 07.

Later,

 

[cam75w/ls1]

Runnung 12 seconds w/ My stock long block Cummins. Beat the hell out of and it's still going strong,er,till the turbos blew,but you get the idea. Best bang for the buck Dodge 94-97. Ford powerstrokes 96-97. Stay away from 6.0 Ford diesels. The Duramax didn't have all it's bugs taken care of till 2004.5 and newer. The 98.5-2000 Dodge diesels were problematic because of injection pump failures. The problem was lift pump failure would take out the injection pump. You can run 1998.5-2000 Dodge but install a fuel pressure gauge on lift pump. Right now we have Low sulphur diesel fuel now and I hear it's going to affect longevity of alot of injection pumps across the board. I hear the new diesels are compatible w/ the low sulphur but I'm at crossroads on that subject. Time will tell.

 

[JJS]

My uncle had a 2004 Dmax, and I drove it a few times. I thought it was an awesome truck despite the IFS. Personally, I would probably find a 2003 Ford with a 7.3 in very good shape.

 

[VolsFan94]

I traded my 2001 dodge cummins 4x4 in for a 07 chevy duramax. It was the worst mistake I evered made. I've had so many problems out of it, it will hardly pull anything. I recommend getting a cummins or powerstroke, if u want more horsepower and torque at lower rpm's go with cummins, and cummins and powerstroke were both designed in america unlike duramax that was designed by izusu.

 

[Cruiser Jimmy]

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/11...e-rockies.html