[QUOTE=rhurley;623663]
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
QUOTE]

This has gotten a lot of good comments here. That's a good thing.
I gotta throw out another comment here. I have an 07 Duramax. The temperatures here in the winter can easily get to 10-15 degrees below zero. The normal is probably 0-5 degrees below zero. My Duramax has never had a problem starting in cold weather. I don't have a block heater installed on it. Most of the time it is parked in the unheated garage but not always. The coldest days last year it was in the carport and it started well. Good batteries and a clean fuel filter and you won't have a problem with a DMax.
That's my experience anyway.
Stay safe out there.
Ken

 

Coldest I have ever started a 5.9 cummins was -36 below on my 04 I only had the truck a month or two, I didn't know this at the time but the block heater cord became a option. Thats right dodge put in a block heater with no cord Anyways I cycled the intake heater twice and it started after about 10 seconds of cranking.

I think all the newer diesel's are good starters in sub zero weather, but I would still give the advantage to the cummins because there are no glow plugs to go out

 

In my experience, cold winters are really hard on diesels... My last set of injectors lasted 40,000 miles before an untimely failure. I attribute this to two harsh winters of battling poor fuel conditions. A winterfront is an absolute necessity. Injectors last far longer down south than they do up north on these trucks.

 

I think with all the comments there is clearly not a better truck.

I Will Most likly end up with the best i can find.

I have heard the early 2004 Duramaxs are the better engine.

i have also heard the 2004.5 cummins are the way to go?

Is there a vin number or something that will tell me if its is one of those?

I will have around 21,000-25,000 to spend.

SHould be able to get a good truck??

 

Gotta also keep in mind that Dmax's have lift pump issues too.. which usually leads to the injector failure...
and that issue with the lift pump is that they dont have them!
Im running an 06 Cummins and i run around daily with 400 HP and i dont have transmission issues,
and for price, i picked my truck up in good condition with a lil ding in the bed for 18,000 and it ended up to be 20K out the door after taxes and fees

 

Lack of a lift pump on a Duramax has little to do with the early Dmax injector failures. No reason you can't buy a good truck in that price range, just don't jump on the first one you come across and keep looking until you find the one for you. For what you have in mind goal wise, a cummins or dmax will be a good choice. Just depends on your taste in trucks.

 

x2

 

to tell if its the 04.5 look on the side of the valvecover it will say 325hp on it otherwise if its an 04 it will say 305 i believe. as for the truck you are looking for its up to you, do whats you like not what everyone else likes. My buddy had an 08 dodge then traded it for a dmax because he didnt like the tranny in the dodge, but now everyday he pulls he says" i love the ride of this dmax but it cant even come close to my old dodge" i have heard bad and good about both. IMO cummins is the way to go you see more high mileage cummins out there than you do dirtymax so go with your gut and get "What you want" and as for winter starting we have 3 cummins and never have gelled up or not started in the winters here and it gets cold. last winter we had - temps almost all winter and none of us ever had problems. Good luck with your decision and let us know what you decide and whatever you decide we will help you BOMB it

 

There all good trucks some have better features than others but all in all if a guy were to build a "perfect truck" it would be a early (95-98) Ford 4X4 1 ton frame with your choice of Chevy body and interior with a nice Cummins hot damn that would be a "perfect truck" all in all as said above you have to drive it, pay for it, and live with it. So no one can make this decision for you the Cummins gets my vote but thats just my 2 cents and dont mean jack....

Brice

 

Hey guys what year did dodge chagne the lift pump to the one that doesnt have problems. hah 2006??


Found a truck here in colorado im going to go look at 2006 4inch lift. woth 56k on the clock.

I really want a truck that is just stock but il see how this one looks. I think they are asking 25k for it.