Posted on 05/13/2012 8:41:05 AM PDT by waterhill
My 02 GMC has 200k+ on her now, she is showing signs of old age. I want to upgrade to a diesel. Just wondering what the FReeper World thinks is the best diesel 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck.
I am not picky about brand names. I could go with a Ford for political reasons......
Much as garcias....
Ford’s new 6.7 diesel is the cats meow. Lots of power, great gas milage(16-21)and is the quietest diesel built.
Do I hear an echo?...
I need a pony.
Most refiners have solved the aromaticity and lubricity issues with low sulfur fuel.
I’ve been running an F350 for the past four years without any problems. Just your basic daily ride...
I’ve been running an F350 for the past four years without any problems. Just your basic daily ride...
Three years ago I was accosted by a Ford salesman while having our compact serviced. I told him I was a long time GMC guy and usually threw rocks at Fords. He said, “You haven’t looked at Fords lately, have you.”
Long story short I traded my 16YO GMC 1/2-ton Silverado Extended Cab 4X4 for an ‘09 F-150 extended cab 4X4 with a 5.6 Liter gas engine. Best the Jimmy would do on the hwy was 13 mpg. After four cross-country trips that make up most of the 20K miles I have on the F-150, I’ve been getting ~20MPG hwy and 14+ in town. It’s rated for 11K pounds towing and 3K hauling, and hauling my 3K pound boat around doesn’t change that.
But the reason I bought it was that Ford has features the GM models don’t have yet. GM is stuck in the nineties. My F-150 is everything I ever wanted in a truck, including a closed circuit TV for hooking up the trailers.
I tow a two horse trailer with a F250 5.4 liter with 160K trouble free miles. I looked at getting a diesel which would have cost about 10K more because even though it was only 6K more for the engine I couldn’t get one without other upgrades. I just have a plain old interior so the wet dogs can hop right in and I can hose her out. The only reason to buy a diesel is if you have a heavy load to haul. How heavy you contemplating? If I had a real big trailer like a 4 horse RV (wish wish) I’d go with a Ford F450 diesel. I like a lot of truck in front of my trailers so the trailer knows who’s boss. Diesels last but the maintenance is a lot higher. Brand is really a hard call since there are better combinations than others in all brands. I am a Ford guy, on my 5th Ford truck. Have Toyoto trucks for light hauling, good ride. Silverado seems most stylish and car like ride to me, other than Tundra. I had one Chrysler in my life, with the slant six, and that was a nice car, but I traded it for a 72 F250. Bottom line, what’s the load you gotta haul? Also nice toi have a dealer close to home.
Ford. ‘nuff said.
As i’m anticipating lower fuel prices in the future i’m just starting to build my new truck for delivering the finished product i mfg..As a full load in my trailer is not all that heavy i’m building a 434 stroker with a Gear Vender under/overdrive unit,should have all kinds of power with good gas milage.:)
How about a mony?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKyEyxwqS2c
I have owned both Ford and Dodge diesel trucks. I have found that the Ford is better in fit and finish department but the Dodge is better as far as running gear. my current truck is an 04 2500 with the Cummins. When I purchased the truck new it got about 18 mpg average I chipped it (added a performance chip to the computer) put in a cold air intake and replaced the stock exaust with 5” from the turbo back. I now get 23 avg mpg and will get up to 30 highway. I took a trip from Wa. state to West Virginia carrying a 10’ camper and pulling a 16’ trailer with 3 4 wheelers and my camping gear. My round trip avg. mpg. was 15.7. You cant beat a Cummins
The gage says it’s cool.
I just get nightmares when i think of towing with the GM700r4’s:)
I bought a used 02 Dodge 3500 4x4 dually three years ago and it has been great. No problems. I had the engine modified with a smarty chip, 4” exhaust Bully Dog pumps and a big air cleaner. It is an 8000lb truck and gets 20mpg on the highway. (I normally keep the chip set on economy, which still has 40 more hp than stock). However, the performance shop told me to stay off the higher performance settings of the chip as the transmission can’t handle it without modification. The beefed up tranny cost $4200.
I own a 2002 Silverado 3500 extended cab 4wd dually with the 8.1liter(496cid) Vortec, and I have a 2001 Silverado 2500 HD with the 6.6 Duramax. The dually has about 130k miles, never a bleep out of anything, biggest issue was a fuel pump replacement and a crank sensor.
The 2500 has about 200k miles, its been driven from Alaska to Arizona and back every year, never uses extra oil, has had some transmission issues and lost the transfer case, replaced a water pump and from some bad fuel parts of the injection system.
But the Duramax runs, and runs and runs. But I would get the heavier 3500 drive train, the 3/4 ton just wears out.
I own the dually, the 2500 belongs to the owner of the company I am the mechanic for so I do all the repair work.
Repairing the Duramax cost more compared to the 8100 Vortec, but as you know that engine cannot be bought even in a dually now, and yes its a gas crack whore, but I love its silent brute torque and smooth power.
I do not know what GM is selling but if I do buy it will be an engine options package of being multi fuel to run on natural gas, and I will have my own at home compressor/filling station.
I bought an old (1980) F-250 Ford 4WD pickup from a friend who bought it new. The non-turbo engine is nicely broken in at 150,000 miles and the truck is still very usable for daily operation, albeit a bit bulky for downtown Miuba trips.
Out of state, he fueled up and checked the oil and looked for the transmission dip stick, only to discover his new Ford doesn't have one.
Two days later in New Mexico, the truck coasts to the curb with a dead tranny; no fluid.
I’m on a horse!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.