thinking about getting a Diesel. Help!

[blackhorn]

I have heard bad things about the 6.0.  There are a couple out there that are within my price range but have heard the seals go bad because of the higher output.  Not sure if this is true or not?

[high country]

just pick one and go. fords will likely have glow plug, timer and relay issues, chevy will prolly crap an injector, dodge will chew up balljoints and brakes....these are all worst case senarios. ford has the most room, chevy the best ride, dodge the best mileage and has the best shot at going mega miles without coming unglued. we ran ford and dodge diesels in our fleet for a long time....now chev gassers.

I just sld my dodge and bought a chev.....had a ford before the dodge. they all do smething better and worse then the others.

[high country]

you could not convince me to drive a 6.0 across the street........there is a reason they punted that motor.

go pre emission!

[bearpaw]

I just had a breakdown two weeks ago and bought a 2003 3500 Ford. Even the salesman who had all types on the lot said not to buy the newer diesels. He recommended the older 7.3 ford or the older cummins up to 2005. We called a diesel mechanic we know and he said the same thing, "stay away from the newer diesels" so now I am power stroking it down the road, really like the truck so far, 16 mpg towing, 20-26 mpg no load...

FYI - Mechanioc did tell us to plan on doing a tranny replace sometime after 150,000

[Buckmark]

8 pages...guaranteed...

Atleast..  
In the years listed the Ford 7.3 would be my choice.
Now to open another can of worms, do you really need the diesel?? The reason i ask is you are going to pay a bit more than a gas rig on initial purchase and you will find the diesels will have more miles on them in the same price range as a gas rig. Dont get me wrong i like the diesel rigs and yes the engines will outlast a comparable gas rig, but the rest of the running gear and truck may not last any longer. Also you are looking at truck that are already 7+years old are you going to keep this rig for 10years? I went through this a few years ago, wanted a different truck but did not need one, sat down and listed everything a wanted and did not want, evaluated my needs for the next 10yrs and then set out finding my truck, spent 5 months looking before i found what i wanted. Just somethings to think about.
1) Those 4 door 8ft rigs dont have the best turn radius
2) Diesel has been more than gas lately (i know they can get better mileage, but really that much better?)
3) Servicing can cost more also (oil, filters, etc)
Is it a need or want? Dont get me wrong, i like the diesels with the 8ft box and 4 drs but really is that what you need?

[6x6in6]

A lot of the early 2000's Ram truck's injection pumps went bad because lift/transfer pumps went bad 1st and the owners didn't get them fixed...the injection pump then has to work double time and it burns itself out. I love those customers.

LOL, yes sir.
Bosch didn't put that schrader valve on the injection pump supply banjo bolt just for no reason.  Makes a tech's job easy to slap a gauge on it the see what the lp pressure is all about.

[6x6in6]

I have heard bad things about the 6.0.  There are a couple out there that are within my price range but have heard the seals go bad because of the higher output.  Not sure if this is true or not?

Ah nothing wrong with them.
Only lifting head gaskets, throwing rods and poor turbo's.

they don't call 'em 6 leakers for nothing. 

[MichaelJ]

All comes down to brand loyalty imho... like posted above everybody has their own issues.  I've heard the newer 6.5 cummins get crappy mpg but they're not in you're year range.  I'll also back up if you get a dodge get a manual, I've had two friends with trucks from those years have converters go out, that's where the problem lies in their transmissions (wouldn't hesitate to buy an auto if they have a good aftermarket convertor installed and low miles on the tranny).  The NV4500 (5 speed) and NV5600 (6 speed) are both great transmissions and handle stock/lightly modified diesels with ease.  I'm a dodge guy so you know what I like, but have nothing serious against powerstrokes/duramaxs...

I'm done... lol

Michael

[bearpaw]

buckmark, those are good points that I also was asking myself two weeks ago.

I drive a lot of miles, did the math and figured out I could pay for the price of the truck in 3 years with fuels savings. But, if I didn't drive so much it might not have been so sweet looking...

[Buckmark]

Bearpaw just helped me out.
His rig gets 16mpg towing
Mine gets 13mpg towing
If we both left my house and drove to tonasket (a drive i do alot so i know this one)
it is 250 miles from my driveway.
he would use 15.63 gallons of diesel at $4.00 per gallon so a cost of $62.52
i would used 19.23 gallons of gas at $3.00 per gallon so a cost of $57.69, whick leaves me 7.83 for Beer.

[high country]

diesel is that cats hiney for power. go for a ride in a efi live tuned d-max......you can never drive a gas rig again

[Buckmark]

So taking my math one step further, given a tank there and a tank back, i average about 20 trips  between may and oct which for me is a savings of $313.20 over an oil burner, not counting the one tank i burn while im over there working/playing and the savings in maintinance costs.

[blackhorn]

Buckmark, your points are exactly what I am pondering.  I need a crew, that's a given.  I was thinking diesel because of longevity and decent MPG.  I don't drive my truck a whole lot maybe 3-4 times a month (more during hunting season) and I have a commuter that I use for work so the truck isn't going to rack up a ton of miles over the next five or so years.   So, I think I am headed down the right path.  

[Buckmark]

diesel is that cats hiney for power. go for a ride in a efi live tuned d-max......you can never drive a gas rig again

Yes they are, but at what cost? How much $ to "Tune" one up?
I get there just the same as everyone else, no i dont do 80mph up the NC but i arrive at camp just like everyone else,with more change in my pocket and since the diesel guys got there first the woods cut and the fires going..

[jackelope]

All comes down to brand loyalty imho... like posted above everybody has their own issues.  I've heard the newer 6.5 cummins get crappy mpg but they're not in you're year range.  I'm done... lol

Michael

6.7...(yes crummy fuel mileage because of all the emissions stuff...diesel particulate filter, etc.
6.5 is a old chev turd. I had one of them. it was great for me, but they suck for everyone else.