Yea I pretty well like all diesels I have my favorites of course. The only time I get in to brand bashing is when I am messing with people or someone misstates the facts about something.

 

No problem, I'm a ford guy but can appreciate just about any make/model of vehicle. I wouldn't mind having a 6.2/6.5 just to tinker with.

 

You want to buy one? I have 3 6.5 and 1 6.2. The 6.2 I will never part with but one of the 6.5s I am undecided on. It's a 95 3/4 ton 4x4 with 300k on it and it's kinda up in the air what I am going to do with it. I am thinking of selling it but am afraid it's not going to bring much. The other option is to pull the body off of it and put my 70 Chevy on it's frame which I think would be cool.

I would like to have one of each. Already got the 6.2 would like a 7.3 idi and a 12v Cummins.

 

personally i think the 6.5 burb is the best diesel suv out there. some people will say the psd excursion but the price of fixing a 6.5 and the price of fixing a powerstroke ill take the 6.5 everytime. now if you want to tow 20,000 pounds and take along 5 kids ill take the excusrsion but for everything else ill take the 6.5

 

I'm dirt poor at the moment, owe $9k in taxes and only work 3 days a week.

 

I would like a 6.5 burb but there hard to find 4x4 with out a million miles on them and in decent shape. So I will probably have to go with the excursion.

 

I dont know if this will help or not but I've owned all of the above. from my experience the 6.5 is the most friendly for a daily driver/ occasional puller with decent power potential. by that i mean they have a nicer ride than the ford or dodge and drive more like a half ton with the capabilities of a h.d. but they do have some draw backs souch as aftermarket isnt as supportive of these engines as for say like the cummins. for your price range and app. i would say that it best fits you. just talk to 2muchJunk and he will let you know what to stay away from, and what to look for.

 

You talk like I know what I am doing. You just get good at changing parts when you drive wore out junk.

 

Wow, thanks for all the helpful info guys!!

I'm still in the process of researching, I can't seem to make up my mind. I don't think I'd find the 6.5 lacking in power, I mean, I drive a 2.4 liter 6 cylinder now! I hear nothing but great things about the 7.3, so I want one of those too. The thing with the cummins I am hearing is that the engine waaaaay outlasts the rest of the truck.

I guess it should be mentioned that I plan on leaving the truck mostly stock, except for a veggie conversion to save $$$, and the environment. *waits for treehugger comments* And the stock power levels of these trucks are pretty close.

It's hard to find non biased info on the web, especially when you ask guys about their trucks, so I appreciate the non-argumentative nature of this thread.

 

There is no wrong answer with any of them. They are all good engines with good points and bad ones. The 6.5 really doesn't lack power it's just a different vintage diesel and its not fair to compare them to a new common rail diesel. The 7.3 is a very good diesel to. The only problems I hear of them is cam sensors. As far as the Cummins out lasting the rest of them I don't completely buy it. I know some will disagree with me but all of them will last over 300k and most of them will let go somewhere between there and 500k. I know some will last longer than that but I also got a 6.5 with some where between 500k and 1mil on it I don't know the odometer has been shot for ever. I am guessing closer to the 1mil mark. The one advantage to the Cummins is the after market is there for them. I am not saying one is better than the other. You can pick the 6.5 up cheaper but it has a limited after market. Or you can spend more on the Cummins and have all the after market has to offer. Me personally I have a 6.5. I mostly drive the truck and pull a trailer on occasion and don't see the advantages of the Cummins being as great compared to cost. Now if you are pulling over loaded trailers and want max power go with the Cummins. Or you can go with the power stroke.