1st Diesel buying advice
 

Hi everyone,

Thanks for this site, it looks like it could be of a big help to me. I have never owned a diesel. As a matter of fact I purchased a 2011 Toyota Tundra with the smaller V8 in December 2011. Then, I decided to buy a 30 foot, 6k lb. travel trailer in February (with little towing experience as well). To make a long story short, I can pull the trailer locally with no real issues, clearly it struggles at times and gets TERRIBLE gas mileage while towing, but for local camping it will do the job. So now, I am considering making the leap and getting a diesel. Two issues are fueling this. 1. I am of the mindset I would rather have more towing capacity then not enough or just adequate, and we cannot make longer journeys to places we want to go like TN, or CO, or FLa. (I live in TX). 2. The longer I wait, the more my Tundra depreciates as I put about 2k miles a month on it. SO here is my question. Would it be wiser to look the older model diesels like the 7.3 Ford or a newer model such a GMC Duramax? I know these are opinions and everyone has one, but I have no clue which way to go. I have a buddy who owned a 7.3 and swears by it and has encouraged me to find one with that particular motor saying it is absolutely bullet proof, I also have a friend with a newer Duramax and he just raves about it and the MPG he gets. It is all very confusing when you don't know squat about motors. BTW, the friend who had the 7.3 has told me to just wait a year until I get used to pulling the trailer locally and better at towing it before I go get a diesel and make that commitment. Any help or advice will be very greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The7.3 is a good engine, if you can find one in a decent truck it'd be worth a look. Otherwise the D-max and Cummins are also fine motors. I'd recommend checking local dealers and taking a bunch of test drives to determine if you prefer one's ride and handlings over the others.

do some researching, there are many threads about it.... This topic has been beat to death:argh:

thanks for being so helpful and for the great advice 03 powerstroke

there just always ends up being a "brand war" or "truck bashing"..... Nothing against you:c:

OK, then let me ask this. I have found a 2005 F350 4 door, 7.3 with 164k miles, auto, 2 wheel drive, has NOT pulled a 5th wheel, seems clean and well kept and they are asking $7k for it. If passes an inspection by a mechanic.... what do you think? I guess the only answer in a situation like mine is.... drive them all, research the one you like, then make a decision.

The 2005's dont have 7.3s

U R right, sorry, 1995

they were limited on power, 7k seems about right but it might be a little high..

It would be a good truck, like 03Powerstroke said, its not going to have the same get-up-and-go a newer model will have, but it should pull 6k easily.

Three members of my family have mid to late 90's 7.3 Powerstrokes, all bought them brand new, all still have them. Just check Kelly Blue Book or NadaGuides to see what its actually worth.