Hey guys well not too long ago i sold my 97 12V 5 speed Standard cab. Had a baby and really needed the back seat, and it had a lot of small things i didn't want to fix. I bought a toyota tacoma, and I have to say really love it, except i get the same 16 MPG i got from my 2500 dodge, and that i used cheap heating oil to run it, and I dropped 1700lbs of tile in the back and thought I had broken it, and I did actually. It's a great truck don't get me wrong but I can't keep driving something that I can't load. I do lots of side work, and can't risk killing this truck. But Now i have to start looking what to get,

I've had an 06 F350, with the 6.0L and the VV turbo blew on up on me.
and I had my 97 Dodge 12V,

So what do i get guys? I am looking for LONG LIFE, i want to drive this for the next 10 years. It needs to have a back seat big enough for a car seat, and eventually little kids, IT MUST have a long bed.

I don't need brand new, but since i plan on using it fow a while dont want to go to old, want at least 16 miles to the gallon, and want it to be a great work and everyday truck.

what years, models, and engines do you guys reccomend....help me out, cause the toyota is great, but I am probably going to kill it soon, or buy a small trailer.

 

When we had our kids i kinda did the same thing. I traded my 95 chevy for a 99 dodge and then i bought a 05 1/2 ton dodge quad cab and pulled my trailers,skidloaders,and even a dump trailer and it did just fine. Then the DOT busted me and now i got a 2500 dodge and have no problem with the kids in the back seat if i need to. It all depends on what you want but if your gonna work it hard and want reliability and a motor that will last go with a cummins!

 

get a 04.5 or newer 5.9l quad cab with a 6speed maunal

 

Yea I def Like the Cummins, I do work it hard, not as hard as it needs to be, never pull HUGE loads, but I do load the back of a pick up with a lot of weight, and even if i use 20% of what it will do, I like knowing what ever I want to throw back there it will handle simple. I had to tow a 12K trailer once with my F350, and LOVED that I had no idea it was back there until I looked in the rear view. I have Def used a 1500 way past it's safe point, and I have pulled the tube from the rear pumpking on two trucks. So Even if i don't use it to it's full potential i know it's there, and it should make it last a very long time.

I also don't like the resale on 1/2 tons. You might pay some more for the 3/4 or 1 ton, but come sale time they hold their value.

Third, I figure If i go with the quad cab 8ft bed, it will be a bit large, but I know the 30% of the time We are all in the truck, or i need to pick up a crew I can get them in their. And It should last me a good 15 years, AT LEAST.

As I get older, and aquire more responsibilities I realize the value of finding something you like and sticking with it vs. my earlier mentality of keep changing out. So if i can find something that will get me through every issue in the next 15 years, I will be happy.

As for the 6speed, ID LOVE to stick with a manual. I love driving stick, but The Auto is just so much easier, and I have run into issues where the 1 in a million shot my wife needs to drive it, she can.

SO you say go with the 5.9? did they have any known issues? I know they used it forever but the only one I've owned was a 12V.

THe only Mods I'd do is Air in, Air out and maybe a computer to keep the MPG in the high teens.

 

some people say the injectors go out at like 100,000 or so on the cr 5.9l but i think it is do to not changing the fuel filter. i change my dads every 5000 miles he has and 06 auto quad cab 8ft box like you want they do look big but there not he has 40000 miles on it now never had and issue with it just change fluids. my buddy has a 07 6.7l dually with stick i like the 6seed better than auto he get 18 with the dpf on it my dads gets 18.5 with 4" straight pipe an cai.

 

Do you think if your Dad's was auto he would be pulling higher MPG numbers? I mean 2/3 MPG aren't a huge deal. One of the reasons I love manuals is because all you need to do is change the clutch, AUTO transmissions are super expensive when they go, and eventually THEY ALL GO.

 

get a newer ford, with a 6.4L, you'll love it just tune it to get the mpg up.

 

i would go with cummins. but if your a die hard ford fan, the 6.4l is also a good engine

 

Any diesel in a 4 door pickup will fit your needs just fine. If you are really going to keep it for ten years, I'd say either get a mega cab Dodge or a crew cab from Ford or Chevy, so as your kid grows up you won't be getting the seat kicked in on you.

Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Duramax, 5.9, 7.3, 6.0 ...yada yada yada. It really doesn't matter, they'll all work fine and you will always find a group that swears that whatever brand sucks.

 

IS the back seat of the Cummins really that small? I'd have to look into the 6.4 motor. What kind of MPG can you get out of it and can you get it in a standard gearbox?