Used Diesel Truck Recommendations

[jackelope]

Can I ask why you want a diesel?

   The first rule of diesels is to only buy one if that is the only option unless you really want one and are willing to pay the cost up front and ongoing which is substantial to say the least.

Advances in gas engines has significantly closed the gap.

Looking to pull a dog trailer in the future and hard to look at expanding and getting a trailer without a truck to pull it. Ultimate goal is to pull a dbl axle car hauler with a ~1200 lb dog box and a ATV across the country (this is 5-10 years out) but smaller trailers building up to that. Seems unreasonable to ask that of a gas truck even if its built in a 3/4 ton truck.

I would suggest doing some research on some gassers first. That Ford Eco Boost puts down some impressive numbers. 
A diesel is probably close to 3 times as expensive just for regular maintenance. The only way to make one pay is if you are working the snot out of it day in and day out for lots of miles and hours.

Yearly maintenance on my diesel is about $150 per year.

You're doing it yourself then...or you're not doing proper maintenance. Or you don't put any miles on your truck.

[jackelope]

At a shop, which is where most people service their vehicles, an oil change on a diesel is $100-120.00. Fuel filters on any of the later model Ford diesels run $200 installed and they're due every 15k miles. So if you drive like most everyone else, 2 oil changes and a set of fuel filters will cost you $400 ish per year. Every 5000 or so miles you'll spend $30-40 on diesel exhaust fluid if you buy anything newer than 2011. 

2 oil changes on a gas truck per year will cost you $100 ish. No fuel filters. No DEF.

If you do the work yourself this is a moot point. There's more oil in a diesel, but that's about it.

You can buy an F150 Ecoboost that is rated to tow 13,200 pounds.

A lot of my construction company customers are going away from diesel trucks because they don't work well for them when they start them in the morning and run them all day. It hurts their emission systems.

Front end stuff wears out on Dodge and Ford 3/4 ton and bigger trucks all the time. It's not cheap to fix. Not sure about Chevy's.

I used to want a diesel truck bad. Just have it so I can do whatever I would ever need to do with a pickup and not be limited. Now I don't want one. They're not worth it to me anymore as I don't really have a need for one.

[baker5150]

Gonna throw an option out there that I doubt will be very popular, but it's what I personally did. Because reliability and cheap maintenance over everything else for me.

If your budget is 30K, and your heart is set on diesel, find a low mileage, manual transmission, 94-981/2 Dodge 2500 from a no rust state. 12 valve, no emissions crap, mechanical injection, Bosch P7100 injection pump. Minimal maintenance, cheap injectors, minimal parts to break over time. The motor is good for a million miles. If you want additional power and torque you can get that in gobs for cheap as well. Some say the best diesel set up of all time. That said, you're buying a work truck. Not a Cadillac with tow capacity.

At that budget you could get a prime rig, upgrade the suspension/front end to compete with modern rigs, and be good to go the rest of your life with some cash left over to fix cracked dashboards and double sided tape down your door panels (the truck will fall apart before the drive-train does). Oh yeah, and make sure the dowel pin issue has been taken care of. 

I had to scour the country for a year to find the one I wanted at the price I wanted, but I found it, and I have zero regrets.

Great advice! Truly a workhorse drivetrain and tough as nails. The caveat is if you want the truck to haul anyone besides yourself and/or one other person. For cross country trips you will not have enough cab space to make it comfortable for the third wheel even  with the extended cab. It's not a fun time getting kids in and out of car seats either if that's a concern. If your daily and car seats it gets old.

Great motor in an uncomfortable as heck truck.  Rides like a forklift, and loud, god are they loud motors, but they'll run forever. 

[fishngamereaper]

Just spend a little more and get the new 2020 GM HD...That 6.6 is pumping almost 500hp and over 900lbs of torque. The new 10 speed Allison tranny is going to be sweet....


Ok back to the regular scheduled programming.

[stlusn30-06]

Gonna throw an option out there that I doubt will be very popular, but it's what I personally did. Because reliability and cheap maintenance over everything else for me.

If your budget is 30K, and your heart is set on diesel, find a low mileage, manual transmission, 94-981/2 Dodge 2500 from a no rust state. 12 valve, no emissions crap, mechanical injection, Bosch P7100 injection pump. Minimal maintenance, cheap injectors, minimal parts to break over time. The motor is good for a million miles. If you want additional power and torque you can get that in gobs for cheap as well. Some say the best diesel set up of all time. That said, you're buying a work truck. Not a Cadillac with tow capacity.

At that budget you could get a prime rig, upgrade the suspension/front end to compete with modern rigs, and be good to go the rest of your life with some cash left over to fix cracked dashboards and double sided tape down your door panels (the truck will fall apart before the drive-train does). Oh yeah, and make sure the dowel pin issue has been taken care of. 

I had to scour the country for a year to find the one I wanted at the price I wanted, but I found it, and I have zero regrets.

Great advice! Truly a workhorse drivetrain and tough as nails. The caveat is if you want the truck to haul anyone besides yourself and/or one other person. For cross country trips you will not have enough cab space to make it comfortable for the third wheel even  with the extended cab. It's not a fun time getting kids in and out of car seats either if that's a concern. If your daily and car seats it gets old.

Great motor in an uncomfortable as heck truck.  Rides like a forklift, and loud, god are they loud motors, but they'll run forever.

Hence the upgraded suspension. I'm not talking about a 6inch lift & mudders. I'm talking about gas shocks, springs and a more progressive leaf spring package. Would ride great. The 12s aren't crazy loud, the 24 valves were ridiculous. But def no comparison to today's rigs.

[baker5150]

Gonna throw an option out there that I doubt will be very popular, but it's what I personally did. Because reliability and cheap maintenance over everything else for me.

If your budget is 30K, and your heart is set on diesel, find a low mileage, manual transmission, 94-981/2 Dodge 2500 from a no rust state. 12 valve, no emissions crap, mechanical injection, Bosch P7100 injection pump. Minimal maintenance, cheap injectors, minimal parts to break over time. The motor is good for a million miles. If you want additional power and torque you can get that in gobs for cheap as well. Some say the best diesel set up of all time. That said, you're buying a work truck. Not a Cadillac with tow capacity.

At that budget you could get a prime rig, upgrade the suspension/front end to compete with modern rigs, and be good to go the rest of your life with some cash left over to fix cracked dashboards and double sided tape down your door panels (the truck will fall apart before the drive-train does). Oh yeah, and make sure the dowel pin issue has been taken care of. 

I had to scour the country for a year to find the one I wanted at the price I wanted, but I found it, and I have zero regrets.

Great advice! Truly a workhorse drivetrain and tough as nails. The caveat is if you want the truck to haul anyone besides yourself and/or one other person. For cross country trips you will not have enough cab space to make it comfortable for the third wheel even  with the extended cab. It's not a fun time getting kids in and out of car seats either if that's a concern. If your daily and car seats it gets old.

Great motor in an uncomfortable as heck truck.  Rides like a forklift, and loud, god are they loud motors, but they'll run forever.

Hence the upgraded suspension. I'm not talking about a 6inch lift & mudders. I'm talking about gas shocks, springs and a more progressive leaf spring package. Would ride great. The 12s aren't crazy loud, the 24 valves were ridiculous. But def no comparison to today's rigs.

A Carli suspension system would be awesome.  about 10k, but you could jump the thing and not feel it.

[yorketransport]

I have an '05 Durramax and I love, but I wouldn't buy a new diesel. By the time you factor in the increased expenses starting with the purchase price and moving up through the maintenance, diesels usually aren't the best option.

Delivery companies have essentially stopped buying diesels for anything under a 24,000# straight truck because the new gas engines are just a better fit. I can buy a Ford F59 stepvan with a 6.8L V10 gas engine for about $13,000 less than a comparable Freightliner MT45 with a 6.7L Cummins. Both will get the same real world fuel economy (8-9 MPG) when loaded to 18-20,000# every day and driven by an experienced driver. The diesels cost more to maintain but will typically last longer; I plan on 200K miles from a gas engine and 300K from a diesel when properly maintained. That can offset the additional expense when you stretch it out over 10+ years.

[Dhoey07]

Can I ask why you want a diesel?

   The first rule of diesels is to only buy one if that is the only option unless you really want one and are willing to pay the cost up front and ongoing which is substantial to say the least.

Advances in gas engines has significantly closed the gap.

Looking to pull a dog trailer in the future and hard to look at expanding and getting a trailer without a truck to pull it. Ultimate goal is to pull a dbl axle car hauler with a ~1200 lb dog box and a ATV across the country (this is 5-10 years out) but smaller trailers building up to that. Seems unreasonable to ask that of a gas truck even if its built in a 3/4 ton truck.

I would suggest doing some research on some gassers first. That Ford Eco Boost puts down some impressive numbers. 
A diesel is probably close to 3 times as expensive just for regular maintenance. The only way to make one pay is if you are working the snot out of it day in and day out for lots of miles and hours.

Yearly maintenance on my diesel is about $150 per year.

You're doing it yourself then...or you're not doing proper maintenance. Or you don't put any miles on your truck.

I do my own maintenance, I do most of the proper maintenance (haven’t changed my diff oil or transfer case), and I’ve put 80k on it in 8 years

[jackelope]

Can I ask why you want a diesel?

   The first rule of diesels is to only buy one if that is the only option unless you really want one and are willing to pay the cost up front and ongoing which is substantial to say the least.

Advances in gas engines has significantly closed the gap.

Looking to pull a dog trailer in the future and hard to look at expanding and getting a trailer without a truck to pull it. Ultimate goal is to pull a dbl axle car hauler with a ~1200 lb dog box and a ATV across the country (this is 5-10 years out) but smaller trailers building up to that. Seems unreasonable to ask that of a gas truck even if its built in a 3/4 ton truck.

I would suggest doing some research on some gassers first. That Ford Eco Boost puts down some impressive numbers. 
A diesel is probably close to 3 times as expensive just for regular maintenance. The only way to make one pay is if you are working the snot out of it day in and day out for lots of miles and hours.

Yearly maintenance on my diesel is about $150 per year.

You're doing it yourself then...or you're not doing proper maintenance. Or you don't put any miles on your truck.

I do my own maintenance, I do most of the proper maintenance (haven’t changed my diff oil or transfer case), and I’ve put 80k on it in 8 years

That’s how your maintenance is so cheap. Well done.

[Mudman]

I will say this, Ball Joints are a real witch!  Last Dodge was lifted and ate em up along with the steering box and Pitman arm.

[dc]

I thought I needed a diesel when I had a 26 ft 6500 lb trailer and was pulling it with a 5.4 triton.  I bought a 6.0 liter 1 ton.  Problem solved.  Well...……..Yes it pulled with upmost ease.  Let me tell you (like stated above) NOTHING on a diesel is cheap when it comes to fixin it.  And yes, I know the 6 liter is the red headed step child of the diesel world.  All the things needed to make it a strong solid engine had been done.  That thing cost me a mint to keep on the road.  So I did a lot of research and decided (hoped) that the 3.5 eco boost would fit the bill.  I found a 2014 with 21000 on it last spring and have been nothing but pleased with this truck.  It pulls that trailer without hardly and effort.  The ride, lack of noise, mileage, couldnt be happier with the switch.  Now, all that being said.  IF I was doing the whole fifth wheel thing, or pulling/towing a lot more than I do, I would see the advantage of the diesel truck. (just not the 6.0)

[Mudman]

Had 2001 Ford 7.3  Loved the truck.  Pulling torque beast.  Great cab.  Good truck.  Killed me in repairs.  Auto trannies(multiple).  Glow plugs, valve cover injector harness, pcm, crank cam sensor thingies, injectors fuel tank were bad fuel issue.  Brakes wore quick too??  Went to Dodge and sooo much cheaper due to less parts breaking!  2 Dodges so far.  First was lifted and cost me $ in suspension/steering tires.  Second is oil changes and filters 1x a year basically.  I tuned it and installed DD Valair clutch to handle power by choice.  Aftermarket quality front suspension is so much better than stock or cheap stuff.  So far so good.  Not pavement pounders.  Trailer of some sort behind half of the combined 100k miles. NO EMISSIONS!!!

[Jpmiller]

Whatever you do run screaming from any 6.0L Ford diesel. Don't know you'll see many for the requirements youre looking at but seriously run screaming. Have had a lot of Ford diesels in my work fleet and all have been great at regularltowing real heavy loafs except the 6.0. Those things are utter garbage.

[jackelope]

Whatever you do run screaming from any 6.0L Ford diesel. Don't know you'll see many for the requirements youre looking at but seriously run screaming. Have had a lot of Ford diesels in my work fleet and all have been great at regularltowing real heavy loafs except the 6.0. Those things are utter garbage.

If you have a 6.0 and want to make it so you don’t have to run screaming from it, look at the bulletproof diesel stuff. Billet aluminum egr and oil coolers don’t crack like factory ones do. Get all that done to one and you’ll be hard pressed to find a better ford Diesel engine. You can do egr deletes and stuff like that too, but that’s all essentially illegal so complications could arise. The only downside to that is you need to spend $5k to do it unless you have the knowledge and tools to DIY it. My 2 diesel techs both drive 6.0 trucks. We see 20+ trucks a day and these guys know what they’re doing.

[Jpmiller]

Whatever you do run screaming from any 6.0L Ford diesel. Don't know you'll see many for the requirements youre looking at but seriously run screaming. Have had a lot of Ford diesels in my work fleet and all have been great at regularltowing real heavy loafs except the 6.0. Those things are utter garbage.

If you have a 6.0 and want to make it so you don’t have to run screaming from it, look at the bulletproof diesel stuff. Billet aluminum egr and oil coolers don’t crack like factory ones do. Get all that done to one and you’ll be hard pressed to find a better ford Diesel engine. You can do egr deletes and stuff like that too, but that’s all essentially illegal so complications could arise. The only downside to that is you need to spend $5k to do it unless you have the knowledge and tools to DIY it. My 2 diesel techs both drive 6.0 trucks. We see 20+ trucks a day and these guys know what they’re doing.

Did also know a guy who had this done and it ended pretty much most of his issues (minus normal issues) but that's a hefty load to drop into a purchase cost for a poor factory design.

If you do have a 6.0 that's pretty much close to what the dealer will want to fix it back to "about to happen again" status with oem parts.