Author Topic: Which Diesel Truck  (Read 1382 times)

Offline SFRT - Frenchy

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #15 on: March 02, 2015, 03:19:06 PM »
I also had a Ford f350 dually for a while.


Lucky you ... I still do   :uhoh
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Offline j500ss

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #16 on: March 02, 2015, 09:25:33 PM »
Word also was at one time recently that Cummins has, or is working on something where they will not have to run DEF.  Isuzu is getting close to having the same thing for their bigger engines as well. 

DEF at $3 a gallon seems pretty cheap to me Joach1m, how much are you using that your complaining about it?  A 2 1/2 gal jug of the John Deere DEF runs us about $12.  I use that in my service truck and I can run at least 200 gallons of diesel thru with that much, provided I use straight up diesel, no bio.

I avoid that stuff like the plague, and always run a fuel treatment conditioner as well year round.


Offline scott66

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #17 on: March 02, 2015, 09:28:51 PM »
Word also was at one time recently that Cummins has, or is working on something where they will not have to run DEF.  Isuzu is getting close to having the same thing for their bigger engines as well. 

DEF at $3 a gallon seems pretty cheap to me Joach1m, how much are you using that your complaining about it?  A 2 1/2 gal jug of the John Deere DEF runs us about $12.  I use that in my service truck and I can run at least 200 gallons of diesel thru with that much, provided I use straight up diesel, no bio.

I avoid that stuff like the plague, and always run a fuel treatment conditioner as well year round.
my cummins luckily doesn't use DEF I have a DPF system
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Offline JOACH1M

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #18 on: March 02, 2015, 09:34:57 PM »
Word also was at one time recently that Cummins has, or is working on something where they will not have to run DEF.  Isuzu is getting close to having the same thing for their bigger engines as well. 

DEF at $3 a gallon seems pretty cheap to me Joach1m, how much are you using that your complaining about it?  A 2 1/2 gal jug of the John Deere DEF runs us about $12.  I use that in my service truck and I can run at least 200 gallons of diesel thru with that much, provided I use straight up diesel, no bio.

I avoid that stuff like the plague, and always run a fuel treatment conditioner as well year round.
fleet management records are showing we are using 2-300$ a week in just DEF fluid.
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Offline MrRiplEy[H]

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #19 on: March 03, 2015, 12:22:39 AM »
                      my diesel  :salute

Question: Why aren't euro trucks more popular in the US? Price? They have 25-35% more power and load carrying ability typically.
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Offline rpm

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #20 on: March 03, 2015, 12:25:51 AM »

Bulletproof.
My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.
Stay thirsty my friends.

Offline Gman

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #21 on: March 03, 2015, 01:14:21 AM »
I'm on Duramax number 3, this spring/summer we'll be trading/selling and getting a couple of new cars, and likely for next winter a new diesel truck, so I'm in the same boat trying to decide which is the best option.  I have no real brand loyalty, I just want whatever is the best for 2015 or 16.  I tow moderate loads at the most, it's mainly a winter vehicle, as in the winter months we have some poor roads with deep snow due to the location of where we stay in the cold season, and a truck with good winter tires and 4x4 is necessary. 



I've had good luck with Chevy, a 2003, 2006, and 2010.  The 2010 has been so good I'm almost hesitant to let it go.

I wouldn't mind taking a look at the new Dodge.  We nearly bought a gas truck, one of the Ford Raptors, but for the cost, everything Fork said about the quality of the interior with his Ford was my big problem with it, it was like a mid 80s Corvette wherever I touched plastic.  Pass.

Offline scott66

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #22 on: March 03, 2015, 03:09:29 AM »
Question: Why aren't euro trucks more popular in the US? Price? They have 25-35% more power and load carrying ability typically.
good question..maybe it's a design thing or just haven't been exposed or given that option with euro trucks
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Offline JOACH1M

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #23 on: March 03, 2015, 10:45:13 AM »
(Image removed from quote.)
Bulletproof.
oh know a 6leaker! ;)

I really do love those trucks.  :aok
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Offline JOACH1M

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #24 on: March 03, 2015, 10:50:49 AM »
Problem is with the ford is that that that 6.7 hasn't been out long enough to find out if it is truly a solid engine. The early ones ruined turbos because someone thought ceramic bearings would hold up to 1400+ temps  :rolleyes:

Dodges new auto trans mission 68re and 68rfe are fine with stock emission equipped trucks, but adding any power to then kills them. Along with head gaskets popping. But if you are any mechanically inclined you can put head studs on them for less that 500$.

Dmax only issue is the CP4 pump (trucks 2013+)  failure that will trash the injectors aswell.

Id say drive all of them and decide which one is for you.
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Offline j500ss

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #25 on: March 03, 2015, 01:08:18 PM »
fleet management records are showing we are using 2-300$ a week in just DEF fluid.

In a fleet I can see that happening, of course it also is dependent on fleet size as well.  The really sad issue of it all is simply the Government mandates.   You won't find a rep of any kind anywhere from a major engine manufacturer that will say their company was happy to make the engines run cleaner.

The automotive/trucking industry was hardest hit, they simply didn't have the time to design and test ( hence why CAT pulled out of the truck engine market when they did) .  Those of us on the AG/Construction side had a little more breathing room.  Our FT4 motors now get better fuel economy, and pump more power than the IT4 / stage 3b motors for sure, and they do it without going into derate when running.  We are seeing up to 10,000 hours on DPF's as well..... thankfully.

One thing I would tell anyone who is looking at a diesel truck is this.  Regardless of brand, or motor.... You cannot do enough to make sure you have quality fuel, the fuel quality in this country is not great by any means.  Stay away from bios, don't store more than 30 days, buy from stations or distributors that you know are turning over product.  USE CONDITIONERS and also ANTI BACTERIAL additives in your tanks if you suspect you may possibly have a water issue, be it in the vehicle tank or storage tanks.  Keep the filters changed!!

Now on the 3 brands, GM is going to give the flat out best ride, it's what they do.  I like to think that the Ford is going to be a really good motor, I know presently they have had some issues, but  reflash of the ECU has been the cure for the issues they have experienced thus far.

The Dodge is a solid truck, and the cummins you can get worked on at most any decent truck dealership along the highways and byways..

Otherwise as stated, drive em all!  Pick the one you like!  Good luck!

Offline eddiek

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #26 on: March 03, 2015, 10:53:44 PM »

Drove all three brands while I was employed with the oilfield service company the past few years.
Started out with Dodge Cummins 3/4 ton trucks.  I liked them, til two of them left me stranded out in the boonies.  All of the Cummins trucks in the fleet pretty much stayed at the dealership having one thing or another fixed. 
The Ford Powerstrokes had nifty features like the back up cameras, but the four trucks all had to visit the dealership numerous times to have the front suspension rebuilt. 
I ended up in a brand new 2013 Chevy 2500HD Duramax in October of 2012.  I had heard bad things about them, but have to say that of all three brands that company had in service, and that I used on a routine basis, it was my favorite.  At the same time that I got the new truck they issued me a new travel trailer, bumper pull, that weighed in about 1500lbs heavier than the one I was hauling around with my previous truck, a 2012 Cummins. 
Where the Cummins was struggling to get up to highway speed, and was all over the road at 60-65 mph, the Duramax just kept on going and going.  First time I got on the highway with the Duramax and the new heavier trailer, being used to the Cummins having to struggle to pick up speed, I looked down and was at 85 mph and still climbing.  Had to remember to always set the cruise at 65 when I had that Duramax to keep from going over the limits of the tires and the speed limit.
The Dodge truck, well pretty much all the new trucks I think, had an issue with idling.  Idle for any length of time and you had to go for a drive to clean the DPF or "regenerate" as the Dodges called it.  The 2012 Dodge would require several drives a day, sometimes after only an hour of idling.  The Duramax would require similiar drives, but far less frequently. 
The only thing the Chevy ever saw the shop for was the switch on the brake to allow you to shift out of park.......I had no problems whatsoever with it other than that.
When I decided to go into business for myself, I ended up getting an older Duramax, a 2003 model, as they have little or no emissions equipment to worry about.
My only complaint about this truck, and it's one I could have avoided by getting a two year newer model, is the lack of a 6th gear.  I got so used to cruising at 70-75 mph with the engine between 1500 and 2000 rpm that this truck just sounds busier......took a while to get used to it.  It pulls everything the 2013 model did (actually, my fifth wheel weighs in at 14500, where the bumper pull the 2013 pulled was just under 11K) and gets similiar mpg.
Just my experiences with the domestic diesels.  Your mileage my vary............ :aok

Offline Devil 505

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #27 on: March 03, 2015, 11:15:34 PM »
I have owned all three, cummins Dmax and powerstroke. I currently have a cummins with a manual trans. My dodge pulls the hardest (maybe because I'm rolling with 600hp and 1100ftlb of torque) but my favorite has been my duramax. Only isssue with new Dmax is the fuel pump design being a cp4. The older cp3 was a lot more reliable and didn't cause catastrophic fuel system failure. Warrenty won't cover it either as they say its "from bad fuel" but it's not always that. Will cost you 10k for it to be fixed when it Goes. 6.7 cummins is known for popping head gaskets, 6.7 ford is eating turbos, 6.6 dmax might trash the fuel sytem.

The ride of gmc is alot better than the other simply from it being IFS front suspension and not solid axel like dodge and ford.

I used to work for a Chevy Dealer as a technician. The fuel injectors are the only fault on the Dmax, but they crap out on every one. Guaranteed. I believe that there's a warranty special policy adjustment that covers the injectors up to 100K miles ore maybe more. I left the industry 3 years ago, so my memory is a bit fuzzy on specifics. Hope you weren't getting hosed, because shelling out an unnecessary 10K is bullcrap.
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Offline Gman

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #28 on: March 03, 2015, 11:52:34 PM »
Here in Canada they cover the injectors up to 10 years or over 200km frequently.  I've been very lucky, no failures yet.  150k miles on my 2010.  Fingers crossed for another 6 months. 

I would be happy with a new Duramax, but I'm liking what I see with the Dodge.

Offline JOACH1M

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Re: Which Diesel Truck
« Reply #29 on: March 04, 2015, 07:52:54 AM »
I used to work for a Chevy Dealer as a technician. The fuel injectors are the only fault on the Dmax, but they crap out on every one. Guaranteed. I believe that there's a warranty special policy adjustment that covers the injectors up to 100K miles ore maybe more. I left the industry 3 years ago, so my memory is a bit fuzzy on specifics. Hope you weren't getting hosed, because shelling out an unnecessary 10K is bullcrap.
that would be the early 01-04 models. Lb7 engine name lly,lbz,LMM,lml were a lot better
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