You know the hardest thing to know about a used diesel Truck is how well it has been broke in. Diesels have to be driven hard, unlike gas you have to wait till after the 2000 mile mark before you beat on it. My advice is find a former fleet truck. they might be basic but they were driven hard! Once you get one of those you can do what ever you want to your truck! If you want to upgrade the basic interior package find a donor wreck truck and have at it. Bombs away! As far ase the little things you need a Dodge guy Or Dmax guy I am a ford guy! If it were me I would take it to a reputable Diesel performance mech and have him go over it.

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Have you heard of these guys? I don't know much about them. I have heard good things tho. Give them a try if they are neer your area. if not they would be worth a call to get some info on the trucks your after.

 

I had an 03 dodge added tuner, exhaust, intake and wastegate trying to get it to tow. Traded it in for an 07.5 duramax lifted it and left it stock on the drive train the only thing I didn't like was the payment. I now have a 98 dodge 12v that I have added a cam, ported head, turbo, upgraded pump, injectors, billet converter, custom trans and intake trying to get it to tow as well as my stock duramax and it isn't even close. If I had it to do all over again I would have sucked it up and paid the payment on the duramax.

 

Lift pumps issue was fixed mid 05 on the dodge. Dodge fixed a lot of trucks under warranty and updated to the newer system. something to check into.

For what your looking at either truck would work fine. But if you think you might ever get into dragracing or sledpulling. You have to spend a lot more money to be abel to compete with a cummins.

 

As for me i LOVE the Cummins, but i cant stand the truck built around it. The SFA is a good plus though.

As for the IFS in a GM, i had a 99 gaser 2500 and found that roughly every 50k you should go through the front end. Ball joints aren't as important to change that often, but new CV shafts and alignment are important.

I put a new set of tires on my truck, rebuilt the front, adjusted the torsion bars, and got it aligned. Never had a single issue for the next 50k miles.

The other plus, IFS rides and handles amazingly!

Taking all of that into consideration, my next truck will be a D-max.

 

Good advice here!!!

See my comments above. Get the truck you can afford and the truck you like. If you're gonna have it a few years and gonna drive it everyday you oughta like it. Don't buy or not buy based on comments you find here that can't be substantiated. They all have issues of some kind, that's called maintenance.
Stay safe out there.
Ken

 

Well I will not be doing any sled pulling. Might make the ocasional trip down the 1/4. But just for kicks Will not have it for drag racing.


There are a few trucks here im looking at. but nothing that i cant live without.

So it sounds likie the front end isnt as bad as i thought. My 97 chevy went through ball joints like crazy!!


With what i will do (intake/ exhaust and maybe a chip) what trucks adapts better?

I never would have thought this would be such a hard decision!!! haha

Do either have ccoldt start problems? if any of you are form colorado you know it can be like 5 degrees. at 6am

This truck is going to be my daily driver. Something i dont care about putting miles on. And be my tow rig when i need it. I generally end up hualing 3-4 a month. whether its a car hauler or a 30ft enclosed trailer. But i think either one does fine

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I know about the lift pumps Because two guys i work with have them go as well as my brother in-law. I was in the truck when it shut off too. Im not trying to sound like i know it all. I know that from other people experiance.



The plan is to get a truck that will be great. there are a bunch out there jsut have to find the right one. if any of you know fo any!!!?

 

Other then that. He is right about everything else. Thanks blacktruck for your posts. And thanks rhurley for your Thread. Keep us posted on what you decide.

 

Thank you guys!

I have been out there looking everyday.

But like you said it has to be what i want. I am not rushing it. I just gotta find the right one!!!!!
Hopefully its sooner than later. But only time will tell!

 

I saw a 06 and a 2010 duramax break a tie rod this year with nothing more then a edge. At the 1/8 drags lets just say a good running duramax can't keep the tires straight.

 

they make HD tie rods and lower CA's for the chevy IFS.