Are you happy with your diesel P.U. ?

[jeepasaurusrex]

Way more moving parts on an IFS front end to wear out. Seen too many of them go pigeon toe while in 4wd and trying to pull something.

IFS trucks go through ball joints at the same rate as a solid axle. CV shafts are far weaker than a U-joint.

I replaced my ball joints at 128,000. Not a bad life expectancy, since they were the factory, sealed units you can not grease.

[Skyvalhunter]

A couch you say or is that more like a recliner??

[Woodchuck]

I will keep my chev, has a ton of miles on it, have not replaced ball joints or axles once, you can keep the solid axles and keep em coming, i make a fine living off of em  

[jackelope]

I worked about 5 years at the Chev dealership and never replaced BJ's on a full-sized IFS truck other than. We saw 75-100 vehicles a day there, a lot of which were full sized pickups and/or SUV's.
I now work at a Dodge dealership and do 3-4 sets of BJ's a week on the big trucks.
You tell me what wears out more.

[PolarBear]

I LOVE my 97 F-350 7.3!  It pulls better than most of the rigs on the market today, 21 mpg on average and no less than 18 mpg even towing 6-7 ton of hay or a boat.  Some of the 99+ smaller Powerstrokes had a bunch of problems  but not a single one with mine.  I will never own another gas powered (underpowered) truck.

[elk311]

2005 HO Cummins wrapped in a HD dodge 4x4, HD 6 speed manual transmission with exhaust brake 60,000 miles, just over 24mpg highway unloaded, 16 in town. Towing 21'Arctic Fox travel trailer, 5 people w/gear, KLR650 motorcycle, canoe and kayaks: Just under 15mpg (cascade, blue and rocky mountain traveler). And I can hardly tell that I'm towing! At 50,000 my fuel economy went up about 2mpg!!!

The exhaust brake is da bomb when towing!!! The Cummins engine is built to last. The interior has a lot to be desired.

My 1994 F150 has a far superior paint job as did my 1990 F150. Bring back the 7.3 and Ford would be on my list, but alas I doubt that I will need another truck or at least an engine the way that Cummins has built this thing.

[Happy Gilmore]

IFS suspensions do have maintenance and upper and lower ball joint replacement isn't that big of a deal.

If you're off road a lot or on jobsites bouncing around with heavy loads you'll be doing front end alignments on a regular basis, about every other tire rotation.

The 6 speed allison is great but, our newest Chev's in the fleet are having filter clogging issues- had three full filter service under 100K already to get them shifting right again.

The Chevs seem to be having minor electrical issues too. dash lights popping on and off, headlights not working.....they've been to the dealer a whole bunch on ticky-tacky warranty stuff. Each has had chronic check engine lights come on just to find nothing and have it reset?

BUT, they are outlasting the Ford 6L- just had one go down today- getting towed to Bowen Scarff. Turned over the engine, puff of black smoke and then wouldn't start- just had new cam, sensor, heads, turbo, injectors done all in 2009. 133K on the truck.

Can't convince the owner to touch a dodge. Like almost every other construction company running a fleet- their past history of the truck falling apart around the motor still keeps the fleet buyers away from dodge.

[jackelope]

Can't convince the owner to touch a dodge. Like almost every other construction company running a fleet- their past history of the truck falling apart around the motor still keeps the fleet buyers away from dodge.

That's wierd. We are covered up in Dodge construction company trucks.

[jackelope]

A lot of the construction companys are going to the Sprinter vans actually. They have very few problems, but they are a $400 service every 10k miles.   

[Happy Gilmore]

Can't convince the owner to touch a dodge. Like almost every other construction company running a fleet- their past history of the truck falling apart around the motor still keeps the fleet buyers away from dodge.

That's wierd. We are covered up in Dodge construction company trucks.

Maybe should have said heavy highway / civil / excavation contractors.

are we talking about sprinter vans now? like to see one in 4x4 option....

Chevy's are really cheap though. We've been paying $36-38K cash for Silverado, crew cab, allison duramax, dually 4x4.

[Rick]

why isn't anybody talking about the old 12V cummins

Probably because they were LOUD and only made 160hp. They couldn't pull a greased string out of a cats ass.

Best diesel ever made? Not by a long shot.

we put $400 bucks into one and it spanked all over a 05 24V with 120hp injectors, chip and exhaust. Also truly got 23 with it pulling a 20ft bass boat. that one has 500,000 miles on it now.

The 12 valves are unstoppable and you can double their power in your garage.

I'm calling BS on spanking an '05 that started with 325hp and had injectors,chip,and exhaust.  It would cost you way more than $400 to beat a truck equipped like the '05. Then again,this is the interwebs,where we all know ANYTHING is possible.

[brush hunter]

[img]

why isn't anybody talking about the old 12V cummins

Probably because they were LOUD and only made 160hp. They couldn't pull a greased string out of a cats ass.

Best diesel ever made? Not by a long shot.

My has 400 HP straight 4" exhaust, and it's not that load...It's a truck not a luxury car

[Special T]

BH i want to know why they didn't come that way in the first place... GD emission crap probably. Jackalope is there an aftermarket company you recommend for front end stuff that is better than the factory crap for dodges? on my 2wd I'm gona need 2 replave some stuff coming up on 130 miles of factory stuff and its starting to wear the tires funny...

[jackelope]

yummm that  looks like 2 turbos to me.

[jackelope]

BH i want to know why they didn't come that way in the first place... GD emission crap probably. Jackalope is there an aftermarket company you recommend for front end stuff that is better than the factory crap for dodges? on my 2wd I'm gona need 2 replave some stuff coming up on 130 miles of factory stuff and its starting to wear the tires funny...

2wd? The problems the Dodge trucks I'm talking bout are all 4x4.
You could look at some Moog stuff...that's ok. I'm not too familiar with the aftermarket world.
JimKD8?