late model diesel pickups

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Originally Posted By: Donald
Does one of the three big auto companies (Dodge, Ford, Chevy/GMC) have a better made 3/4 ton diesel pickup than the others?
They all have their strengths & weaknesses. IMHO the Cummins is the best engine, followed closely by the Duramax, the 6.7 Fords are OK, 6.0 & 6.4 less reliable, the closer to '03 for the older Fords the worse they are (although the problems can be addressed by aftermarket improvements). Why are you thinking about diesel? Unless you plan on towing or hauling heavy loads, the cost savings just aren't there anymore-fuel is just as expensive (or more) than gas, & the DPF systems aren't very reliable (& also cost fuel to regenerate).
 
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Imo Cummins is the best engine, but the Duramax with the Allison tranny is the best combo. Fords 7.3 diesels are awesome but 6.0s and 6.4s are on the avoid list imo.
 
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5.9 Common Rail Cummins is likely the best of them all. Only trouble is keeping the truck running around the engine. Got one. Know what I'm talking 'bout. Ford probably makes the best chassis (arguable, though) & the Chevy's Allison has the rest of the transmissions beat... So, wanna build one of those? If not, look for a Chevy / GMC in all likelihood.

BUT, if you have a good transmission behind a 5.9 Cummins, then you have the world by the short & curlies in my crass opinion.

John.
 
Originally Posted By: ChevyBadger
Imo Cummins is the best engine, but the Duramax with the Allison tranny is the best combo. Fords 7.3 diesels are awesome but 6.0s and 6.4s are on the avoid list imo.


I agree. I have a Cummins and I mostly only like the engine... It's a terrible disease. 6.uhohs and 6.4s are pretty much frowned upon even if they are "bulletproofed". I really like the old style 7.3 IDI but all of those around here are scooped up driven by half-wits.
 
My problem is that there is no good transmission to go behind the Cummins engine. I'm currently getting my NV4500 rebuilt for the second time in 277k miles. Maybe the fact that I'm putting 800+ ft*lbs through a transmission rated at 500 ft*lbs has something to do with it. I took my truck to my local trans shop complaining about hard shifting when cold, so they took it apart and found the clutch plate was worn out, the input shaft bearing was worn, shaft end play was excessive, the fifth gear pinion splines were worn, and 4th gear was missing a tooth. I looked into swapping an Allison 1000 into it, and after an internet search found that it would cost ~$12,000, plus some very careful programming of the TECU shift timing, because the Allison shifts clutch to clutch. OK, so I guess I'll live with spending a few thousand dollars every six years to rebuild the NV4500.
 
A dodge Cummins with a manual trans is the best combo you can get. The Cummins is by far the best most enjoyable engine and they truck is also pretty good. The duramax is good to buy a lot harder to work on. Replacing the water pump for example is a bear on the Cummins it's not a big deal. I'd go dodge with out a doubt but the Chevys are ok. Not as strong as the dodge the front suspension on the dodge is far superior to the Chevy to. But the fords are junk. Even when you bulletproof a 6.0 it can still turn into a steaming pile. Those things can't be fixed imo.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I still don't see what's wrong with a gas truck at a fraction of the price?
That's for sure. If you don't have to have a diesel pickup to tow I see no reason to have one with all the junk the newer ones are laden with.
 
Originally Posted By: hatt
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
I still don't see what's wrong with a gas truck at a fraction of the price?
That's for sure. If you don't have to have a diesel pickup to tow I see no reason to have one with all the junk the newer ones are laden with.


That's why you rip it all off like mine. I had 2000lb in the bed today, didn't really notice it.

1750lb of concrete powder and 250lb of tools in an aluminum chest.
 
A lot of ambulances have a 6.4 in them. Remember that the next time you need to go to the hospital, you might be better off driving yourself. lol
 
Here we go with "You don't need a Diesel" rhetoric.....Why do that? He didn't ask if he should buy a Diesel or not. Once you own a Diesel 3/4 ton pick-up....It is hard to go back to gasoline.
 
Originally Posted By: clinebarger
Here we go with "You don't need a Diesel" rhetoric.....Why do that? He didn't ask if he should buy a Diesel or not. Once you own a Diesel 3/4 ton pick-up....It is hard to go back to gasoline.


Yup... put your foot to the floor going 50mph on a diesel, then put your foot to the floor going 50mph with a gas engine. See which one has more guts. That's what I love about diesels. Gas engines just go to redline and don't really get moving. Diesels it's like [censored] I was only 3/4 of the way down.
 
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