Hoss50 Report post Posted February 15, 2015 Dodge cummins for the last 10 years for me. I had a 98.5 24 valve that I bought drove the heck out of. I traded it in last year for my current 2005 Dodge cummins. Both trucks were stick shift 3/4 long bed extra cabs. The Cummins motors are tough as heck. The fit and finish of the competitors trucks are probably better but my dodges are workhorses and have been great. If I had to own a ford it would be a 7.3 liter. The 6.0 was junk stock. They were liabilities waiting to happen. Once you fix the EGR problem they are great. I tried to explain this to a good buddy but he had to have a ford. He got a great deal on a stock 2005 6.0l. He paid about 5k under blue book for a really nice truck. 6 months later he spent that $5k on the EGR system and 1 new cylinder head. Now his truck is a great truck, but no longer a good deal. That said, all diesels are potential for expensive repairs. I don't care what brand you buy things can go wrong and they cost more to fix then the same truck with a gas motor. Conversely they have the ability to do more work quicker then a gas motor. My 98.5 was awesome and almost repair free. I did very little other than basic maintenance on that truck for 200,000 miles. I bought my 2005 dodge and 3 months later I had to do $3k worth of injectors. I could have fixed it cheaper but I did it right and replaced all the injectors even though only 1 or 2 were bad. Harley Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pwrguy Report post Posted February 15, 2015 Unless you are going to do a lot of towing and or long highway trips, save yourself a lot of money and stick with a gas truck. You will be spending more money on tires, more money on fuel (per gallon), engine repairs are expensive. I can almost buy an engine in one of my gas trucks for what the fuel pump costs in my diesel truck. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joe hunter Report post Posted February 15, 2015 The Ford with a 7.3 is as good as it gets if it has been taken care of. I have owned two of them, bought them both new and can't ever remember either one being in the Ford shop for repairs but......if you can find a newer Ford with the 6.7 diesel in it buy it !!! As much as I loved the 7.3 1ton this 6.7 1 ton I have is a MONSTER for sure. A lot more power and better fuel MPG. IMHO just a great truck and it will tow anything easily that you hook to it. These big diesel pickups cost more to maintain and diesel fuel cost more but if you're going to be towing and I don't mean just around town then they are the right tool for the job. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elecshoc Report post Posted February 15, 2015 Well by chance if looking at other options avoid older Duramaxs with the LB7 engines, injector issues run abound with them and with that series swapping them out is labor intensive. Anything after that series gm designed easier access. Although I do have to say that my LB7 is around the 350000 mile mark and is still enough truck for me with swapping out injectors one time. My pops has a 07 d max with well over 300000 miles as well with the only changes he's made was with glow plugs and he did have a solenoid go out in the tranny which gm picked up. We also had a gen 2 dodge with the cummins back from 94 that also ran over 300000, with those gen 2 4x4 you have to reinforce the front end for vibration issues. Well these are just my personal experiences with these particular trucks, but I gotta say that as with anything these days you really never know what's gonna happen once you start driving. Even the top rated truck series and makes will have lemons come off the line. There's no such thing as a bullet proof truck, engine combo out there. Just gotta treat them right and hope for the best really. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ringer Report post Posted February 16, 2015 My 2204 F250 with the 6.0 cost me $14200 in one year and it all started at 140000 miles then it blew the headgaskets again at 160000. I have a Tundra with a 5.7 liter engine and it hauls the boat and trailers about as good as the diesel. Diesel is more expensive on fuel and the half tons are a lot less than buying a new diesel. Off road the F250 was a dog. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Havasuhunter Report post Posted February 16, 2015 I have a 5.7 tundra and it hauls what I need just fine. Takes a lot of weight to justify a diesel these days. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Redman Report post Posted February 16, 2015 Thanks everybody, I am still early in my decision and thoroughly undecided.... Been looking at the Tundra or a Chevy 2500HD (gas)... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoss50 Report post Posted February 16, 2015 The chevy 6.0L is a very good motor. If I was going to a gas truck that would probably be my choice. There is tons of aftermarket support so you can make them do anything you want. If you are hauling heavy and hauling a lot though there is no replacement for a diesel. Anyone who tells you different has never hauled with a good diesel. A buddy of mine's dad was a firm believer in a gas motor was just as good for hauling until I showed him what a real diesel will do. He had a 32' triple slide 5er that he had me haul to Forrest Lakes for him. He followed me and he admitted that his 2008 6.0L chevy that was warmed up would not have towed that trailer as fast or well as my stock 2003 Dodge did. I shut him up once and for all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gmcbob Report post Posted February 16, 2015 Here's some more info.... http://www.coueswhitetail.com/forums/topic/53282-opinions-wanted-on-heavy-duty-trucks/?fromsearch=1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted February 16, 2015 7.3 I put 350k miles on it and was great till I moved to the cold here in N. Dakota. It didn't like it when it got -30 and that was with it plugged in to a block heater and huge cattepiller batteries.............BOB! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRDATR Report post Posted February 16, 2015 What weight oil were you using Bob? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted February 16, 2015 Don't remember,I had a deisel shop changing it. I think 5-20 or 5-30...............BOB! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HuntHarder Report post Posted February 16, 2015 FWIW, I had this same decision a few months ago and went with the ram 2500 with the new 6.4l Gas Hemi. Good power, decent gas mileage great truck so far! I drive a chevy 6.0 gas for work, IMO, that thing is a dog. The ram gets out of it's own way when I hit the gas pedal unlike the work truck!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joe hunter Report post Posted February 17, 2015 Two things you need to realize.... 1 if you are just towing around town and mainly using a truck as your daily driver and not really hauling with it then buy anything gas, diesel it doesn't matter. 2 If you are going to be towing long distance's or if you will be hauling heavy and often......Diesel is the only way to go. There is a reason why all the gas/oil companies , Construction companies, 5TH wheel campers, Utility companies etc. all run diesel pickups. Good luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ringer Report post Posted February 17, 2015 Agree with that. If you pull a trailer full of cattle or machinery then yes you will need a diesel. If you pull a bass boat or small rv there is no way I can justify paying more for diesel. If you like to hunt then make sure you put additive in the tank before you go because the diesel will be very hard to start when you wake up in the snow. It all depends on what you are using your truck for. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
