I want to start by saying I am not a newb when it comes to diesels. I very recently had a 2002 VW Golf TDI that was chipped getting me about 55-60 MPG on the highway and I currently have an 85' M1009 with a 6.2. Had the Golf for about 10 years and have had the 1009 for about 3 years. My question and scenario though is as follows: I recently perchased a 21ft hybrid travel trailer in the hopes that the 1009 would pull it without batting an eye. BOY was I wrong! Even though it is a very well maintained, well tuned truck, that Detroit 6.2 just does not have the stones to pull the TT efficiently. (I had the HD Turbo 400 rebuilt and put on a cooler, Derale cooling pan and the whole nine yards too) The question I have for some of you experts out there is this, I have about 19-20K that I want to use toward a new-to-me diesel 4 door truck to haul the family, TT, gear and dog around the U.S.A. in. I know this is a VERY broad question and will open a Pandora's box of sorts but what are some of the better running, longer lasting trucks out there. Cummins vs. Power Stroke vs. Duramax. Also opinions about what's mounted behind the motor, the tranny. I need something I can depend on.

I see MANY trucks out there for sale that have 250 and even 300K miles on them. Are those truck drivetrains still dependable??? I know that's a loaed question depending on what kind of life the truck lead.

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

Thx,

Derek

 

Ok, well your right you opened pandoras box, do you want an auto or stick? 2wd or 4wd? I'm particular to fords then cummins then duramax. Ford has a good reliable 7.3 and 6.0 with mods, both have decent transmissions certain years are better than others, dodges have good motors but that's really it in my book, some of their autos aren't bad on certain years and their manuals are decent. Duramax's are good, have good transmissions I'm not positive but some years I hear go through injectors. It's really personal preference, Drive a few of each model different years, drw,srw take it home hook your Tt to it as pull it around if you can since you'll e towing with it and check it out. I'll tell you now dodges have small interior if it's a extended cab,fords are a little bigger an I think chevy are the same, four door dodges are alright I've rose in a few, 4 door fords are pretty spacious, and I can't say for chevy 4 door. Dodge does make the mega cab never been In one though. Hope this helps.


Adam


Strokin' Away

 

You're so right, there are a bunch of trucks out there with 2-300K on them. For most modern diesels, that kind of mileage is no problem. I would be more concerned about the rest of the drivetrain. The trucks being built in recent years are far more capable of high mileage than in years gone by. For me, I would be more interested in any maintenance history and past uses of the truck. All of the trucks are pretty good. I've had all of them at one time or another. I'm partial to the GMs. I like the engines and the transmission is probably the best of any for that size truck. Here's something to remember, a truck is a tool. Get the tool you need to do the job you want. Get the best tool you can afford and take care of it. The brand I like isn't really important to you. Get what you like. If you will keep it for a few years, get the cab and truck you like the best and live with it. They will all break down at some point. Anything mechanical is subject to breakage. Deal with it. If you are going to be hauling the family, get something nice for them to ride in.
Have fun shopping and dealing.
Stay safe out there.
Ken

 

I like fords up to 7.3L I highly suggest to stay away from 6.0L Powerstrokes and the 6,4L due to horrible fuel milage unless you have the time and money to mod em up. Personally I run a cummins there known to be 500K trucks with good maintaince, there simple to work on and reliable. If you want a 4 door truck dodge didnt not come out with one till 2003 and the common rail dodge Id stay away from o3 and o4 and but between 05-10. In 07 they switched to the 6.7L cummins thats has been used in agriculture for years. Cummins is my favorite and powerstrokes my second choice Id never touch a maxipad, due to my experiences there fast, but they cant pull worth a darn. My two cents. If you look into the high milage trucks try to get a maintaince record. Every truck has their quirks, I preffer a cummins. I have a 6.oL Powerstroke on my ranch and its a dog, my 3/4 ton pulls better than it does. Like black truck get what you like and feel will do the job suffiecintly. Dodge has the meag cabs now and man they are rommy(The Biggest, even bigger than FORD). Diesel eat up automatics, so manuals will always last the longest. Chevy has the allison automatic in their trucks which has been just as proven as a cummins. All trucks break and have the quirks. Dodge had front end issues till 03 and so and improved it. Their automatics are not very good till 07, But my auto in my 98 has been in there for 223K and still pullin strong. Ford's have electrical issues in some years and when they switched to 6.0L they became unreliable, now there are people that LOVE the 6.0L but I dislike it. The 6.4L seemed to be better but have horrible fuel milage 8MPG in town and 8mpg towing and 8 mpg highway. At least it consisistant. Duramaxs have good gas milage, from my experience they do not pull heavy weight well, and there frames like to bend. At least on the ranches of the rocky mountains and have injector issues. Cummins a Duramaxs get the best fuel milage. Its up to test drive the ones you like! I worry with a truck with 300K on it unless you put it on, dont every trust anyone. Any how thats my two cents.

 

Ranchhand makes good points, but the ford 6.0 aren't bad motors they have there quirks what I've found is there's a "lot" that's had issues and a some none. My uncle has a 6.0 for his landscape business, ha pulled a enclosed car trailer to Texas and back in blistering heat and bitter cold NOT ONE PROBLEM with it. No modifications to it or anything, and it gets 16-20 mpg city religiously, I know because I drive it alot and maintain it for him, now my buddy on the other hand has a 6.0 and hashed nothing but issues. You cant go off a few bad apples because if you did or I did I wouldnt own a diesel, every vehicle has issues gas or diesel, auto or manual, it doesn't matter all need work in the long run.


Strokin' Away

 

your m1009 is more akin to a gas motor that just happens to run diesel, but you knew that not much oomph when it comes down to it, the 6.5TD that followed would make easy work of that TT

any of the modern diesels will barely notice it back there, and the overhaul intervals are 300k+ but that's only recomended. so I would look at suspensions and ride quality loaded, which seat you want to sit in longer etc.

I don't have much input on ford but the cummins and duramax I do.

personally I prefer the overall ride quality of my duramax (2500HD), it came with jounce shocks in the rear so even when loaded to the max and sagged out it rides the same as it does unloaded, the dodge(3500 dually) had such stiff rear suspension it towed great but really sucked unloaded, stiff to the point it felt like the axle was just welded to the frame.

the allison in the chevy is SMART it hasn't hunted for gears and it just feels like it's always right where it needs to be, the grade braking and 5 or 6 gears depending on year makes for really smooth driving, the dodge I had was a 5spd manual which was nice but I always felt like it needed a bit lower overdrive, don't remember the exact year dodge went from a 4spd auto to a 6 but it was much later than the rest I believe.

fuel mileage, I think stock for stock the cummins has the edge by a few points, but with good tuning both do pretty well.

 

You have read some pretty good posts here that I think cover it fairly well. They all make decent trucks and you will find those that will swear by their particular brand and not be swayed by anything but truth be known, if they all weren't good trucks, the would not or could not keep selling them. Figure out what you are going to do with the truck and how long you plan to keep it and go shopping. If I were getting one for my family I would probably make sure I got one that had some creature comforts along with doing the job. Gotta keep momma and the kids happy.
So there you have it, opinions are like.............whatever you want to add here.
We all have smokers of one kind or another and we all swear by our brand. Find a truck in good shape that has the things you like when you drive it. Make a deal and go out and have fun with it. No such thing as a truck that won't break down. We all have heard stories about that very thing happening to somebody's truck. Don't get too worried about them. Hard to pin down details on a lot of those stories.
Get out and have a good time making the deal and drag that wagon around and have some fun.
Stay safe out there.
Ken

 

Regardless of what you get; Cummins, Powerstroke, or Duramax, get a good base truck. Im saying dont get one that someone else has already modified. The more stock, the better. That way when you get back on here we can help with which mods to do first to make sure she lasts aslong as you need her. Now as for my .02, I love my Cummins. Second would be a Duramax. Last would be Ford. I like Cummins because Dodge has stuck to the same motor since 1989. Given its been improved since but its still the same basic design. You can take the exhaust manifold off a 94 and bolt it to 2008. I love that. They are simple. 35% less moving parts than Powerstroke or DMax. Mainly cause its straight 6 compared to the V8s haha. The Dodge auto trannys flat out suck. I wont ever own one. The NV4500 5spd and NV5600 6spd are both very good manual transmissions. The newer 6spd is good. Not as good as the older one but still very solid. Next is the Chevy. Awesome automatic. Nothing out there can match an Allison. The independent front suspension makes for a very smooth ride. If you want an auto, I would go with a Duramax hands down. Last is Ford. Ford had a good motor with the 7.3. Its a good reliable motor. Then it went downhill. They went with a 6.0. Ask around on any diesel forum and you will see how people react when you talk about a 6 "oh no". They are notorious for being a nightmare. Yes, there are some that are trouble free but majority rules. You couldnt give me a 6.0. Just my .02 so Ford lovers relax. In 08 they went to 6.4 twin turbo motor. Made good power. Was horrible on mpgs. In 2010 they went with a 6.7 singel charger motor. So in 10 years, they have 4 different motors of different designs in their trucks. Chevy has had a 6.6 DMax since 01. Dodge had a 5.9 til midway through 07. Then they went to 6.7. Longer stroke and some head work. Hope my really, really long post can help haha. Also, the rebuild interval on a Cummins is 250k miles. Ford and Chevy are 150k and 175K. Now you know which motor was built to last. But thats just the motor. Every truck has the problem areas. Just pick the one that has the problems that you care the least about.

 

and my 6.0 has been WAY better than the dodge i owned... the cummins is nice, BUT the dodge is NOT. my 6.0 has 179,xxx miles and ive had to replace a FICM, ipr, and one injector. it all depends on what you find for the best deal

p.s. my mpg's are pretty good for how fast i drive

 

Just and FYI for the 6.7L Cummins, they have been in newholland tractors for IDK how many years at least the early 2000's I agree with the 6 oh no's. Yes 03 I know I know, there gggggrrrrEEEAAAATTTTT!!!!!