Turbo Diesel Pickup trucks buyng tips

[Little6pack]

Guy's can anyone who owns a TD pickup truck give some tips on what to look for or questions to ask when buying a used unit? Problems? Ford? Chev? Mopar?

I am toying with the idea of getting one as my daily driver in New Hampshire where it is colder.

The reason I have come to a TD pickup is 3 things.

1) I need pickup truck space capacity & extra cab for family.

2) I love POWER with some OK milage (i know they aren't great fuel milage)

3) 4x4 for winter conditions.


I have racked my brains for years trying to figure a vehicle that can do it all.

I liked the supercharged buick & pontiacs sedans but they are not trucks

Seems no car or regular gas pickup fits my bill.

 

[russgoodman]

If you go with Ford get a 2002 or earlier with the 7.3L in it. We have 2 2002 and one 2001 with around 300K miles and they never miss a beat. Our 2006 with the 6.0L and 40K miles, well that one has had some trouble. I've heard the new 6.4s have some issues too.

I also like the Duramax's. We have only bought 1 that I remember and I drove it home from the auction. Pretty good truck.

If you want to save money the Dodge's are generally cheaper than the others. Not really sure of the issues they have, we had one and had to replace the injector pump at maybe 120K.

I think I read somewhere on this board that theres a diesel truck message board somewhere that is real helpful, but I cant remember the site name.

 

[Pronto]

Your Mom KICK? I know Chris will never agree to you spending any money.

 

[Rubicon 327]

I am more than happy with my 07 classic dmax with only 20k, but I have nothing to compare it to as it's the first diesel I have owned.As said previously you can't go wrong with a Ford 7.3 after that I think you are taking your chances.

The Dodges are great powertrain with the stick.....not sure if the auto trans is better than it used to be, but ask any bodyshop and I believe they aren't the best sheet metal fit and finish compared GM or Ford.

The website below for the Diesel Place is an excellent source for info on the dmax of any year.You can read up on just about anything that has gone right or wrong with them.

Not sure about any good Ford or Dodge diesel sites.


Diesel Place - Duramax Diesel Discussion Forums


Good Luck!

 

[micknick1]

trucks

We have a bunch in our fleet. The 2000-2002 7.3's seem to need oilpans replaced after 5 years they rot out. You either have to remove the motor or trans to replace it. I also have a few 6.0 the 2003's seem to have a head leaking issue when they are pushing snow for 12 hours. The 5.9 cummins seem to be good but burn threw tran's. The one an only Duromax we have is real torque with the allision trans. The Fords are hands down the quickest stock. The 6.0 sounds cool. The Dodge sounds like a big rig. They are all great it depends on what your doing with it an how you take care of it. They all start up when its cold an they all work. They just need alittle special care. I like the control you get with the Ford with the hubs an T case lever. The other 2 use vacuem to lock the front axle. I would stay away from the switches. Goodluck Mike

 

[notacarlo]

2000 7.3 would be the best bet. Anything after Nov of 01' I think...has powder metal rods (PMR's).

7.3 will always be the workhorse of all the Power Strokes.
I had an 00' 7.3 and regret getting rid of it.
I had an 05' 6.0 and loved the hell out of it. Apparently if you get a 6.0 the 05' vintage was the best. It was no 7.3 though. The 6.0 is like the "ricer" of the PSD's. They made sick power but stuff broke.

I'd go with 444 cubic inches. Purchasing a well taken care of 00' with 300K on the odometer wouldn't scare me in the least.



I'm considering trading in my 03' M45 for another 00' PSD. I like the Dually's though. Wide a$$ and people steer CLEAR of you on the highway.:biggrin:

Dan

 

[gnxtc2]

Each brand has their good and bad points.

I myself have an OBS 7.3L with 166K on it.

The Dodge has an awesome motor but has a junk trans and surrounding.

www.thedieselstop.com and www.powerstrokenation.com and www.powerstroke.org

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[Black3]

I've had a Cummins Dodge, a 7.3 Powerstroke Ford, and 2 Duramax GMs, one 6 speed stick and my current a 6 speed Allison. If you like the Ford a clean 7.3 will last forever, especially if it has a stick. I was happy with my 7.3. Both my Duramax trucks are and were good to me. I don't like to talk about my p.o.s. Dodge too much because it gets my blood pressure up, but I did like the Cummins engine.

 

[GregInAtl]

I've had a Cummins Dodge, a 7.3 Powerstroke Ford, and 2 Duramax GMs, one 6 speed stick and my current a 6 speed Allison. If you like the Ford a clean 7.3 will last forever, especially if it has a stick. I was happy with my 7.3. Both my Duramax trucks are and were good to me. I don't like to talk about my p.o.s. Dodge too much because it gets my blood pressure up, but I did like the Cummins engine.

was the dodge a 12v, 24v, or 24vCommonRail?
The 12v are supposed to be bulletproof, even more so than the 7.3 PSDs.

 

[RobsIron]

I just bought 2 6.0 Ford 4x4's. A '05 and '06.

I like the 6.0. Has more power than the 7.3. The 7.3's are great, but the are getting old. Yeah, they will run forever, yet the vehicle itself will need more maintenance. Rubber hoses, belts, seals, electroncs etc. 7.3's also had some tranny problems.

Fords are International Harvester engines, Dodge Cummings and Chevy Duramax(Detroits).

I'm a Chevy man, but the Fords just feel more heavy duty. The 6.0's had a few bugs in '03 and '04 as did the 6.4 in '08 and '09. I spoke with Ford today and on the 6.0s its the EGR valves getting clogged that contribute to the blown headgaskets. They said to never run low on coolant and run the octane booster in every tankful. There is aftermarket kit to eliminate the EGR all together.

 

[UNGN]

Guy's can anyone who owns a TD pickup truck give some tips on what to look for or questions to ask when buying a used unit? Problems? Ford? Chev? Mopar?

I am toying with the idea of getting one as my daily driver in New Hampshire where it is colder.

The reason I have come to a TD pickup is 3 things.

1) I need pickup truck space capacity & extra cab for family.

2) I love POWER with some OK milage (i know they aren't great fuel milage)

3) 4x4 for winter conditions.


I have racked my brains for years trying to figure a vehicle that can do it all.

I liked the supercharged buick & pontiacs sedans but they are not trucks

Seems no car or regular gas pickup fits my bill.

I commute with my 98.5 24V Ram and it gets an honest 18 mpg in town. My 6.0L gas Yukon XL gets 13 mpg doing exactly the same commute.

Towing an enclosed 20 ft trailer (8500 lbs) @ 70 mph the ram gets 14 mpg, the Yukon gets 9.5 mpg (and the ram actually tows the trailer at 75 mph).

Avoid steep gears with a Diesel. 4.11's are stupid unless you have a 6 speed or 42" tires. My ram has 3.55's and I wish it had 3.25's or 3.0's.

 

[TurboBuRick]

Ford and Dodge are junk. Chevy and GMC are junk too but are better when it comes to warranty work.

We just had a 08 ford truck in for loss of power. They tell us the DPF (exhaust filter) is clogged and warranty will not cover it. They said that the fuel is contaminated and was the cause. Thats a crock of chat. Fuel has nothing to do with the DPF.

Needles to say, if ford can screw you, they will.

Just my 02.

 

[NCTURBOS]

The Dodge has an awesome motor but has a junk trans and surrounding.

You do know that the highest HP/TQ Duramax's have swapped to the Dodge 48re tranny, correct? Yes, when prepped correctly it out-performs a well prepped Allison.

To the original poster... You're not going to get your answer to the question on most message boards because most are very brand loyal, and there are too many variables to the question.

The most successful, reliable, power capable engine in a light duty truck is the Cummins (Dodge). The worst ride is also the Dodge, IMHO. The best interior, well the depends on the model year... It all depends on what you're looking for! If I was looking for another light duty turbo diesel it would be a '03-'04 Dodge.


K.

 

[notacarlo]

I just bought 2 6.0 Ford 4x4's. A '05 and '06.

I like the 6.0. Has more power than the 7.3. The 7.3's are great, but the are getting old. Yeah, they will run forever, yet the vehicle itself will need more maintenance. Rubber hoses, belts, seals, electroncs etc. 7.3's also had some tranny problems.

Fords are International Harvester engines, Dodge Cummings and Chevy Duramax(Detroits).

I'm a Chevy man, but the Fords just feel more heavy duty. The 6.0's had a few bugs in '03 and '04 as did the 6.4 in '08 and '09. I spoke with Ford today and on the 6.0s its the EGR valves getting clogged that contribute to the blown headgaskets. They said to never run low on coolant and run the octane booster in every tankful. There is aftermarket kit to eliminate the EGR all together.

The 6.0's have an egr/oil cooler that is cooled by engine coolant. The cooler would internally rupture and seep coolant into your lubrication system.

The head gasket issue came to fruition once people started "tuning" them. I have read that Ford will actually install ARP head bolts/studs if you bring them with you for a head gasket issue.

PaCemkr86 has a WHOLE bunch more knowledge on this, being a top Ford Diesel Tech.

 

[Black3]

was the dodge a 12v, 24v, or 24vCommonRail?
The 12v are supposed to be bulletproof, even more so than the 7.3 PSDs.

It was a 95 12 valve 5speed I bought new. The engine was the only thing on the truck that didn't give me a problem. Which is why I said I like the engine. Chrylser then and now still has the lowest quality ratings out there and that includes the Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep brands. If I were buying new today it wouldn't be a Diesel but if you're buying used and need a Diesel I'd go early 07 and older GM or any early 2003 and older 7.3 Ford.

 

[CKBuick]

I may be biased because I own a 04 Dodge Cummmins Diesel, but if you plan to keep the vehicle beyond the warranty period just look under the hood of all three vehicles. I think that will answer your question!

 

[NCTURBOS]

I may be biased because I own a 04 Dodge Cummmins Diesel, but if you plan to keep the vehicle beyond the warranty period just look under the hood of all three vehicles. I think that will answer your question!

Craig, is yours an '04 or '04.5? Either way if you need anything check out Tim @ TRE DIESEL PERFORMANCE


K.

 

[turboc87gn]

Craig, is yours an '04 or '04.5? Either way if you need anything check out Tim @ TRE DIESEL PERFORMANCE


K.

The ford 6.0 is garbage my dad has an 05 and we run expedited freight the branch tubes will crack if you dont have the brace ford makes to fix the problem,If they crack the truck wont start the nozzle for the high pressure inj will also leak there is a fix for this also to repair the branch tubes you have to lift the body off the frame and take the trans out th get to the access plate then if the retaining bolt dosent come loose cause you have to approach it at an angle then you have to remove a cylinder head to get to it,the egr plugs up as previously mentioned,and also he had to replace the high pressure pump,prior to that he had to replace the a solinoid cause it stuck when he full throttled the truck to pass someone and debris from the pump that was slowly eating itself ran thru the solinoid and jammed it...then theres a snapring that holds the first gear drum in the trans, the factory one dosent have enough tabs on it if it breaks the the first gear drum moves forward and breaks the case on the transmission....Mind you my dad drives 60-65 all the time and has never towed anything or attempted to modify the van he just ran the hwy delivering freight...2005 e 350 ..I had to tow him home from texarkana to mich on a car dolly with my van because the truck broke and they wanted 2000 to fix it at the dealer i myself have a 6.0 chevy gas motor and i love it..As far as the diesels go almost all the hotshot car haulers are using the dodge if you want better fit and finish get the chevy or an older 7.3 ford..I hear the new twin turbo ford is a piece of junk also but thats hear say:biggrin: good luck

 

[UNGN]

The most successful, reliable, power capable engine in a light duty truck is the Cummins (Dodge). The worst ride is also the Dodge, IMHO. The best interior, well the depends on the model year... It all depends on what you're looking for! If I was looking for another light duty turbo diesel it would be a '03-'04 Dodge.


K.

What the Dodge's lack in ride, they make up in handling (well... the 2wds, at least). I should mount a video on my truck to record the "on ramp speed racers" in rice mobiles or Mustang GT's seeing either grille in their mirror or rapidly disappearing tailgate and smoke from their windshield.

 

[CKBuick]

Craig, is yours an '04 or '04.5? Either way if you need anything check out Tim @ TRE DIESEL PERFORMANCE


K.

I just got back from a 1500 mile vacation trip. I got 20 mpg cruising 70+ (empty except for all the junk my wife packed!)

Keith, I have a SMARTY on my truck set on low power! Thanks for the info.