Choco, my truck doesnt have a GN hitch, but your welcome to drive it for a day or so and see if you like the motor, etc…might give you some “real life” input.
Its just sitting here on brand new tires collecting dust.
Really like my Dodge Cummins 2500 diesel.
Its the 5.9 rated to 12,500lb. Although I’m in flat Fl I did travel out west for a time and it did well in the mountains.
Nice to know I have a motor that will last a while and power to move a house.
I always tow at least 8,000.
[QUOTE=birdsong;6375800]
Really like my Dodge Cummins 2500 diesel.[/QUOTE]
I bet!! Great choice in trucks!!!
I did the ‘saving money’ route when I got my first very-own truck in 1998. I ‘didn’t need!’ a diesel so got a V10 gas.
Loved it, but by golly, my business model changed to = being a horse hauler/lots of shipping, so traded up to the same truck in a diesel (used, but low miles etc.) in 2009.
I love love love love love the diesel and WISH I"D JUST FRIGGIN’ WELL GOTTEN IT in 1998 b/c I’d STILL be driving THAT ONE and it would have the legendary 7.3 engine.
That said, the one I got (2005 Ford F250 6.0 diesel engine) has been (touch wood) just dandy and have had no problems. It had 65k on it when I got is 2009 summer; now has 85k.
Not a hiccup. Though the ‘water in fuel’ sensor seems to be ultra-sensitive. (My hunky diesel mechanic looks into it and dumps out a tiny bit of water from the reservoir whenever it comes on, but it seems to be extra finicky that way.)
Oh, and the 6.0 barely gets 12 -13 mpg, hauling or unhitched.
But STILL wish I’d gotten it long ago.
The power and confidence (and coolness 8) factors are unequaled.
Biggest advice we were told by a dealer the last time we bought a truck. You had to drive at least 25,000 miles a year on a diesel to break even over the cost of gas powered. Since we try not to use the truck except for farm work and hauling, we opted for the gas. (F250)
value of the smile
Don’t forget to factor in the smile you will get everytime you fire up the diesel.
I sold my 99 gas F-250 and bought a 01 F-250 (7.3) and smile every time I start her up.
This^^^
Maintenance is more. If you’re in the north, fuel treatment, block heaters, in winter. Have had 2 gasser F250’s and hauled 2 horse trailer with loaded truck on I-40 around Black Mountain no problem.
Chocomare, it’s my understanding 3/4 ton and 1 tons often have the same
size engine…the 1 ton has more springs and stronger undercarriage, not necessarily more power.
Chocomare, it’s my understanding 3/4 ton and 1 tons often have the same
size engine…the 1 ton has more springs and stronger undercarriage, not necessarily more power.
[QUOTE=ChocoMare;6372145]
… it is a more expensive truck all around (initial cost, diesel at the pump, diesel mechanic, etc.) …[/QUOTE]
Gas costs less than diesel over there?
[QUOTE=kalidascope;6378506]
Gas costs less than diesel over there?[/QUOTE]
Depends on where you are. I live in oil country, Colorado. Average for diesel is $3.75 (ish) and gas is $3.65. Although, at my favorite station, diesel is $3.52 and gas is $3.54.
Cocomare- FWIW I would go with the diesel simply for fuel savings (diesels get better milage) and longevity. Plus I LOVE the way my baby sounds when I fire her up 
[QUOTE=dani0303;6378508]
Depends on where you are. I live in oil country, Colorado. Average for diesel is $3.75 (ish) and gas is $3.65. Although, at my favorite station, diesel is $3.52 and gas is $3.54. :D[/QUOTE]
Who knew!
We pay $2.14 or $2.06 for petrol (depending on what kind) and $1.45 for diesel. NZD/litre of course.
That’s … $6.36, $6.13 and $4.32 USD/gallon, if I’ve done the maths and currency conversions right. You guys have it good!
I think diesel is less expensive to make and used to be less expensive than gas in the US, but they decided to make it more expensive via taxes.
Lili Tiger, is the ford you linked to one of the “stay away from” models, or does that waning apply only to gas models. Are the 6 liters Fords okay in diesel for the 2002 and up models?
Yup, diesel is higher here in the U.S. We’re running about $3.75 for diesel and $3.25 for gas.
I vote diesel. ! Using a 09 GMC 2500HD gas. I have to say I dread hooking up the GN trailer.
Sure, it CAN pull it… but the constant changing/shifting gears on barely detetctable inclines… makes me think something’s gonna blow on any given trip!
We hauled across the mountains 12hr trip and it was not fun.
Now, my 06 Duramax… what a joy. You could keep your pinky toe on the pedal, never spill your coffee, and forget there were 3 horses in tow. Engine ran great when loaded, and never saw the mileage skip a beat.
Only reason we let it go … it was a 4yr lease, just over100k, and the dealer wanted 32,000 buyout. The “new” gas truck was 47ish. But I have wanted to ditch it ever since.
[QUOTE=Chall;6378551]
Lili Tiger, is the ford you linked to one of the “stay away from” models, or does that waning apply only to gas models. Are the 6 liters Fords okay in diesel for the 2002 and up models?[/QUOTE]
Well it probably depends on whom you are asking! Its s 6.4, which ford came out with SUPPOSEDLY to correct the problems with the 6.0. Is it better?? Unless someone is a diehard Ford fan, I think the general consensus is no, there are still a ton of problems, although probably better than the 6.0. That certainly does not mean EVERY SINGLE truck is problematic (as you can read here). I bet you will find, though, that even among Ford enthusiasts, the 7.3 is still the better truck.
Mechanics (no, not every single one) will likely say that recent Fords are NOT easy to work on!! At the end of the day, I think many will say that Fords are probably more comfortable and have nicer interiors. But Dodges (cummins) and Chevys (Duramax) are cheaper to maintain and can beat the pants off Ford in the mileage department. They have their own problems (as you can read here) as well, though (but, IMO, still cheaper and more reliable).
Bear in mind, I am biased!!! I am married to a mechanic who works on a fleet of gov’t vehicles so dinner/breakfast conversation with him and his buddies is all about engines and wrenching. I obviously hear a LOT about his experiences! If I was married to a Ford mechanic :eek: I might have a different opinion!!! Just sayin’ …:lol:
Ok Lilitiger… pose this question to your hubby for me: If you had to choose between a 2005 to 2010 Dodge 3500 and a Chevy 3500 extended cab dually, which one would you buy? :winkgrin:
Just checked in with my husband who is driving back from a training, and before we were cut off, he (and his co-worker) agreed that if they were both dually’s, so apples to apples, they’d take the duramax/allison transmission over the dodge. I think in 2006 Dodge started with a new (complicated, of course) fuel rail system that he feels, while good, is probably not as great as their earlier system, or at least all the bugs had not been worked out in the years you mentioned and that the Chevy would be preferable, all other things being more or less equal.
However, if the dodge is NOT a dually, is a little like comparing apples to pineapples,
as it depends (and I can’t remember what you said about it!!) what your plans for the truck are.
Duallys are a true PITA to run around town in, park at the grocery store and so forth. So, if this truck is also your “run around, get me to work and the bank” truck, go with the Dodge.
If this is your pulling only truck, and you have another run around, go to town car, go with the dually as running down the road towing, you’ll probably like it a lot! And you will be one smokin’ hot mama in your big a$$ truck:D
good question!!
Now that answer I can take to the bank… and Mr. ChocoMare :lol:
3500 Chevy Dually it is. Hmmmm, wonder if they even exist tho in extended cab and NOT Crew/Quad Cab?
Well have fun and check out the dually, the “other things being even” though, for me also means that I enjoy driving it. My husband looks at things from the mechanical viewpoint, important, but not the ONLY viewpoint!! He had an old 1997 extended cab, longbed, manual shift 2500 dodge that he loved and I hated. Might as well have been driving a dump truck (which he also enjoys!!). Pure misery to drive. just so you know the source of the opinion!!!
