Upgrading Trucks

[redneckchevy9]

The time may have come for me to buy a different truck.  I've been driving 2003 1/2 ton Silverado for the past 5 years and it has 168k on it.  The miles don't bother me, its beginning to cost more & more to fix a variety of things.  Besides, the extended cab is getting to be a pain in the ass & I really want 4 doors with the 3 kids.  

I have no interest in buying brand new & no interest in buying a newer F150 - it seems to be the truck for dad as the minivan is to moms these days.  I really want a 3/4ton (mainly b/c my father has a 2006 GMC 2500 gasser and I love all the room inside, the looks, pretty much everything about the truck.

I am undecided about gasser vs. diesel (not for the rolling coal out a stack or 8" exhaust tip!)

Truck will be daily driver & used for nice family truck also, but will pull occasional trailer & my C around.

What say you guys?  I figure this is the best place to ask honest opinions.

[jass1660]

Diesel will never pay for occasional pulling. Better off with a gasser.

[redneckchevy9]

2 minutes ago, jass1660 said:

Diesel will never pay for occasional pulling. Better off with a gasser.

thanks for the input!  my gut tells me a gasser also...since I know more about them than a diesel.  The 6.0s in a few friends of mine in their 3/4 Chevys seem to perform well enough.

[jass1660]

Neighbor had 07 duramax losing antifreeze, shop said 7800 for head gaskets and if water damage in number 7 hole which must be something that happens it would be 12,500 to fix. He’s driving a brand new gasser now. He had to take what was on the lot as far as options couldn’t order what he wanted as gm has shut down truck plants for retooling for the new models coming out.

[TheIHMan]

I agree that gas is the way to go, our 03 duramax has cost us well over $10,000 in repairs in the last 5 years and it only has 130,000 miles on it. Should sell it but every time we think that we have fixed everything on it something random breaks. Unless you are going to pull a trailer everyday, get a gas. And if you are get a real truck like a IH 4900. That's what we did and its been one of the best vehicles we have bought.  

[redneckchevy9]

24 minutes ago, TheIHMan said:

I agree that gas is the way to go, our 03 duramax has cost us well over $10,000 in repairs in the last 5 years and it only has 130,000 miles on it. Should sell it but every time we think that we have fixed everything on it something random breaks. Unless you are going to pull a trailer everyday, get a gas. And if you are get a real truck like a IH 4900. That's what we did and its been one of the best vehicles we have bought.  

45 minutes ago, jass1660 said:

Neighbor had 07 duramax losing antifreeze, shop said 7800 for head gaskets and if water damage in number 7 hole which must be something that happens it would be 12,500 to fix. He’s driving a brand new gasser now. He had to take what was on the lot as far as options couldn’t order what he wanted as gm has shut down truck plants for retooling for the new models coming out.

i guess I could just buy something like this...its a gasser ?

[new guy]

I know a few guys with the 6.0 that are having oil pressure issues and wish the would have kept their old truck with the 5.4.

[Sledgehammer]

9 minutes ago, redneckchevy9 said:

 

i guess I could just buy something like this...its a gasser ?

This^^^ 

 

Im not a Chevy guy at all but the 6.0 gas has had a good reputation around here. Morenof a Super Duty guy personally. 

[New Englander]

I tried every which way to justify a diesel but it just doesn't make sense unless you're going to put on 30,000/yr.

I've got a 6.0 gas in a 2500HD and it pulls anything I want, is quiet, starts instantly in the cold, and has been totally reliable.

Go with gas, your gut is reliable.

[sandhiller]

11 minutes ago, Sledgehammer said:

This^^^ 

 

Im not a Chevy guy at all but the 6.0 gas has had a good reputation around here. Morenof a Super Duty guy personally. 

I bought a used '12 F250 SD with 6.2g and 6sp auto two years ago and have been happy with it. Mileage is not great but it has pulled anything I asked it to. The pick up is comfortable on long trips (went over into Iowa somewhere's to bring home my latest 656H and enjoyed the trip). It is a little stiff empty but that is the trade off for load carrying capacity. I always tend to over think these purchases but remember your not married to it for life. Find something that you like and give it a whirl. Especially when buying used. There are some good values out there now. Mine was cheaper than the Polaris Ranger I bought the next year but I don't want to get started on that love/hate relationship. Good luck!

[redneckchevy9]

11 minutes ago, sandhiller said:

I bought a used '12 F250 SD with 6.2g and 6sp auto two years ago and have been happy with it. Mileage is not great but it has pulled anything I asked it to. The pick up is comfortable on long trips (went over into Iowa somewhere's to bring home my latest 656H and enjoyed the trip). It is a little stiff empty but that is the trade off for load carrying capacity. I always tend to over think these purchases but remember your not married to it for life. Find something that you like and give it a whirl. Especially when buying used. There are some good values out there now. Mine was cheaper than the Polaris Ranger I bought the next year but I don't want to get started on that love/hate relationship. Good luck!

valid points...I over think every decision & it drives me wife nuts.

if all works out, this truck will be pulling a 706 also (hopefully!)

[Cliff Neubauer]

If you buy a 6.0 make sure it's a new enough truck to have the 6 speed automatic behind it, a 6 0 with the 4 speed automatic socks for towing.  

[oleman]

This appears to be a Ford Chevy topic, but there are other good values out there.

My brother has a 2014 DODGE 2500 that he bought used in 2015 to replace a 2006 Dodge 2500 Cummins with a bad diesel.

The replacement is powered by a Hemi with an automatic.  He says the gaser is fine and except for trivial issues he has had no issues.

Not too happy with the cylinder dropping engine management system but it has not had a mechanical issue.  The Dodge currently has about 50K miles with about 50% his.

He is a diesel mechanic by trade and has spent his working life mostly on heavy equipment and is a Cummins fan EXCEPT the Dodge pickup Cummins.

He currently has a Motor Home powered by a Cummins C engine that he is happy with with.

 

[TN Hillbilly]

 

 

 

<sound of can of worms opening...>

[redneckchevy9]

8 minutes ago, oleman said:

This appears to be a Ford Chevy topic, but there are other good values out there.

My brother has a 2014 DODGE 2500 that he bought used in 2015 to replace a 2006 Dodge 2500 Cummins with a bad diesel.

The replacement is powered by a Hemi with an automatic.  He says the gaser is fine and except for trivial issues he has had no issues.

Not too happy with the cylinder dropping engine management system but it has not had a mechanical issue.  The Dodge currently has about 50K miles with about 50% his.

He is a diesel mechanic by trade and has spent his working life mostly on heavy equipment and is a Cummins fan EXCEPT the Dodge pickup Cummins.

He currently has a Motor Home powered by a Cummins C engine that he is happy with with.

 

i don't want or intend to have a brand war @ all.  I want opinions on all brands.  Yes, I have owned GM my entire life, but several trucks of coworkers or friends have made me think outside the Bowtie.

[redneckchevy9]

6 minutes ago, TN Hillbilly said:

 

 

 

<sound of can of worms opening...>

was trying to avoid a hy-tran or oil thread

[Sledgehammer]

What's this 706 you speak of?

[redneckchevy9]

57 minutes ago, Sledgehammer said:

What's this 706 you speak of?

picked up this gem 

 

 

JUST KIDDING....STILL SEARCHING FOR A 706 FOR A PROJECT!

[IHCPloughman]

I'm a little disappointed in my 2007 Dodge 3500 with the 5.9 Cummins right now.  Has 182k on it, injectors have 50k on them and one is hanging open.  If I replace all of the injectors it will probably be a $3000 job with me doing the work.  I thought it was my dream pick-up when I bought it 6 years ago, but I have been less than impressed.  14 mpg empty, 9 mpg pulling 11,000 lbs behind me.  I suppose the beauty in the diesel engine is I can, and have, pulled 26,000 (32k GCW) and got about the same mileage, 8-9 mpg.  But, it takes the engine so long to warm up in the winter that I need to wear insulated boots and coveralls to be comfortable driving 25 miles into work.  The cab just gets comfortable after 20 minutes but once I get off the interstate and hit the city street the engine temp starts dropping.  Small trip through town, forget about warming up enough to defrost the windshield.  So, between the so-so fuel economy, expensive injectors, and cold winter driving, I am looking at 3-5 year old gas pickups.  I think a 6.4 hemi, 6.2 chevy, or 6.2 ford would do what I need to do.  

I am also questioning my vehicle strategy.  I drive a car to work and put 20k miles on it per year.  The pick-up gets 5k-10k miles on it per year.  I was hoping to keep the pick-up forever.  I've been running the numbers looking at cost per year considering fuel cost, depreciation, maintenance and repairs, etc., and I am starting to wonder if running a gas pickup to work, 20k-30k miles per year, 12 mpg average, replace after 8 years, would be about the same cost as the car/pick-up combination.  

[Pete1468]

I thought about a 6 liter when I bought my pickup until I test drove one and was less then impressed with the power.  Now if one of the manufacturers would realize the boxes are way too high in the air to use, I'd be happy.

[redneckchevy9]

1 hour ago, Pete1468 said:

I thought about a 6 liter when I bought my pickup until I test drove one and was less then impressed with the power.  Now if one of the manufacturers would realize the boxes are way too high in the air to use, I'd be happy.

I personally like lifted trucks...but I don't use them all day everyday for a working vehicle.

 

[SMiller]

Like everyone else said, gas HD truck is the way to go.

 

If you go '08+ you get the 6-speed which has a low 1st gear and really pulls out of the hole.

 

We have Ford 6.2 work trucks and it is amazing how hard that engine pulls, if I was going to buy a used truck it would be a Super Duty 6.2, the Torqueshift is solid.

 

If you like your dads truck you could look for a clean low mileage truck like it, '07 was the last year, nice part is those trucks have rear HVAC vents vs the '07 1/2-current trucks with NO rear HVAC.

 

I agree the '01-'07 HD trucks were the most comfortable trucks. I still have one and still find myself amazed at how much more comfortable it is vs every truck out there.

[drglinski]

Everything I've heard/seen says if you aren't consistently working a diesel, it's not a good choice.  I'd also go gas. Also 4dr crew/quad cab is the way to go.  My '12 1/2 ton is a quad cab and I can't even think of having something smaller. 

[Paystar5000]

We have chevy 2500’s with 6.0 at work.  Years from 02 to 09. All bought used.  Have not had one engine failure and these trucks get run hard.  A few transmissions problems but that could be operator.  Some transfer case issues but not til well over 100k.  Very dependable trucks.  I don’t see why the newer ones wouldn’t be just as good .  They haven’t changed the power train much.  I drive an 02 F250 SCLB has 5.4.  Has 140k.  Love the truck but it is rusting to bits.  I personally prefer the cab and the suspension on the ford over the chevy but the chevy has a lot better power and rides better.  The doors on a ford seem to hold up better.  I drive an 04 F550 at work with 175k.  In 100k has had 12 injectors.  Tough to justify that for a daily driver. I work on trucks and tractors and I would really like to find another 02 with a 7.3 but I only live 2 miles from the Shop so I don’t think I can justify it.  I have been looking for an f250 or 350 2011 to 2015 with the 6.2 gas because I think it makes the most sense.  I also agree with the trucks being to high to actually use them.  My lady thinks I am overthinking this as well.  In my opinion a half ton is a car with a box but that is just my Opinion.  

[WESnIL]

I would seriously consider a Ram.  My 2500 has the 5.7 with 6 speed automatic and 3.73 rears and it will haul anything I put behind it.  At the top end that has been about 7K of tractor and implements on a 2,000 pound aluminum trailer.   Under certain road, load, and wind conditions I will lock it down into 5th gear and you never see the speed vary.  Reasonable ride quality when empty realizing that is/should be the norm if you want hauling/pulling capacity on the other end of that ride quality scale.  Using it as an errand type truck it is easily capable of 16+ mpg.  In talking with Chevy/GMC owners I doubt that the GM 6.0 will accomplish those numbers.  Loaded fuel mileage can be in the single digits but it gets the job done.