What route to take for a used diesel pickup?

"E30Joe drives a Subaru" (325joe) 10/04/2015 at 16:10 • Filed to: None

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Looking to get myself into a truck. It would be very helpful for work and I could use something that can tow a boat/car on a long haul no worries.

Looking to keep the truck entirely stock minus a few things like an EGR delete and various other PITA emissions things I don’t want to deal with, no power adders, lift kits, exhaust or any of that. I want it to last me a long time.

I like Ford, always have, but I know the 6.0 Powerstroke isn’t the best engine. Anyone have any opinions for me?

ly2v8-Brian > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 16:18

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RWD will save you money. You will get something in better shape for less.

not for canada - australian in disguise > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 16:20

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I know jack shit about trucks, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. But the second generation Ram 2500 seems like a pretty good truck, prices are gettting rather cheap, although un-bro’d versions might be rare. It’s also available with a stick, if that’s any benefit.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 16:21

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They figured out the 6.0 by the time it became the 6.4 in 2008, and you can also find a lot of 6.0s that have been fixed and are good to go...I guess it was a lot of EGR issues and torque-to-yield head bolts (of which there were less per cylinder than in the 7.3). Of course, you could always just get a 7.3 Powerstroke...I had one in a ‘96 F-250, holy shit what an engine.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 16:24

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For Ford, go for the 6.7—the 7.3 is reliable but a turd, the other two are trouble.

Personally I'd find a Duramax, but I understand that trucks are one place where brand loyalty is very much alive and well

E30Joe drives a Subaru > ly2v8-Brian 10/04/2015 at 16:24

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I live in Minnesota, I wouldn’t mind having only RWD but 4x4 wouldn’t be a bad thing. I drove a RWD car for two winters no problems, it’s not really that difficult.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 10/04/2015 at 16:24

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The 7.3 is borderline indestructible from what I hear.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 16:24

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It’s hard to beat the ‘04.5-07 Ram with a Cummins w/ the 6 speed. They are pre-emissions so that’s not a problem. I’d honestly stay away from the Ford’s besides the 7.3, though the 6.0 can be reliable if built right.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/04/2015 at 16:34

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Duramax’s just arent as good for work as the other two. Longhauling goes to the Cummins, and overall workload stress goes to the Powerstroke. The Duramax is kind of great for telling people who have a diesel, sounding good, and making a decent amount of power. Also, the chassis just isn’t as good. People can make fun of Dodge front ends all they want, but when those tie rods let go, it won’t be the Dmax owners making it home.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/04/2015 at 16:49

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I really haven’t looked into them enough to counter that, so I’ll assume you to be correct. But:

The 6.7 is relatively new. The 6.4 and 6.0 that went before were crap. Bang for buck therefore goes to the other two, because you don’t want to go back to the 7.3. So: For power Dmax. For proven reliability (though the Dmax is no slouch) Cummins. Like I said, Dmax is my personal favorite. Partly because I’m a GM guy and partly because they don’t stink the way Power Strokes do.

Also, I’ve never heard of problems from Ram front ends, only Fords.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/04/2015 at 16:51

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Ram’s have a problem with “death wobble”, same as the Ford. And Ford diesels do have a distinct scent, much like GM gas powered vehicles.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/04/2015 at 16:52

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Or 6.7, but they are relatively new and therefore more expensive.

ly2v8-Brian > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 16:53

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Me too. Get a truck with a locking diff. That's what I have. I have zero issues. For the vast majority of the time 4x4 is just useless dead weight.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/04/2015 at 16:54

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They have emissions equipment though.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/04/2015 at 16:55

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Is that the issue from the solid front axle?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/04/2015 at 16:56

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It sounds like he’s willing to disable that.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/04/2015 at 16:57

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Yeah, but to do it right is about $2500.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 16:59

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Mine had like 260k and a Banks Stinger exhaust, a chip, and some other junk. Made something crazy like 800 ft lbs of torque. I wouldn’t say it was fast, but on the highway it would have surprised some quick cars.

Moves-Like-Senna > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 16:59

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Another plus for 2x4. I grew up with 2X4 trucks since we were only hauling all the time. It saves a few hundred pounds which means better MPG and higher maximum town/haul weight which is nice.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/04/2015 at 17:00

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Yeah.

Can be fixed relatively easy though.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/04/2015 at 17:00

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Ohhh. In that case leaving my personal bias aside, I still wouldn’t touch a Ford. The 7.3 is just too old, and too much of a turd, even if it is reliable.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 10/04/2015 at 17:02

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What would you trust more though, a GM 6.5 or a 7.3?

Birddog > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 17:08

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Minnesota?

Watch for Farm auctions and Horse Farms unloading an older rig. Sometimes they aren’t advertised, just stuck at the front of the property with a sign in the window. When I was in Iowa you could find well maintained rigs at bottom dollar all day in the boonies.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > Birddog 10/04/2015 at 17:12

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I’m not in the boonies much, I live and work in the cities, but you can always find some good deals way out there.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/04/2015 at 18:33

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That’s a hard question... from reputation, 7.3, from experience of myself and friends, the 6.5. Throw personal preference in to tip the scale and I think I’d still have the GM.

What I meant, though, was that I wouldn’t want to go that old, and the intermediate Ford engines I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 18:42

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Dem seats! http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/ctd/521144…

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 20:42

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It all depends on how old you are willing to go/can find. Powerstrokes can be good engines. The main issues with the 6.0 are EGR and head studs/gaskets, which a lot of people have fixed on those trucks by now. The 6.4, same issues. The 7.3 are great, but at this point many have high mileage. 6.7’s have so far been a pretty good engine, but it might be tough to find one for a good price. Plus, with the 6.7 you are getting a ton of emissions equipment.

I don’t have much experience with the Dmax, so i can’t really comment on those. However, I do have some experience with older Cummins, especially 12v 6BT. The main issue with those is the killer dowel pin, but that’s not a bad fix if you are willing to do it. With the older trucks you just have to keep in mind that out of the box you are not getting much horsepower, but what you are getting is a tractor engine that will run after the apocalypse.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 10/04/2015 at 20:49

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When my (94) F-150 did it, it was the bushings that had gone bad. Not sure if it’s the same for the SD trucks.

PotbellyJoe and 42 others > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/04/2015 at 20:50

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Does it have to be diesel?

I had a work truck that was the 300 I-6 F-150. It was decidedly not fast, but it ran for a long long time on very little upkeep.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 10/04/2015 at 20:52

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This is a solid front axle problem, and upgrading the steering stabilizer helps.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > PotbellyJoe and 42 others 10/04/2015 at 23:47

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I’d prefer a diesel

PWRandSPD > E30Joe drives a Subaru 10/05/2015 at 10:17

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I went through this last year when looking for a diesel truck. I chose to go with the Cummins in the Ram. I haul horses and have a 38’ trailer. I have been hauling a gooseneck like this since ‘98 and the Cummins has been pretty bulletproof. I know people with similar rigs of every brand and the ones that tend to last and have the fewest issues are the Rams. My ‘99 lasted until last September when it was jackknifed (not me driving) and the truck was not worth the repair. The only things to get replaced on the truck in its hauling life were the exhaust pipe(rust on the stock) for a Magnaflow $600 and exhaust headers, twice but they were $38 at Autozone and replaced in the driveway and one transmission thanks to the dealership screwing up a transmission service. Other than that, I had no problems beyond typical maintenance. I looked for used trucks in every brand (my father is a Ford guy, and my brother is a Chevy Duramax guy) and decided to stay in a Ram just for the Cummins. You can get up to a 2012 without the DEF system. I just decided to get a used 2014 for the same price or less because the truck was the right price and already set up for hauling horses as that is what the first owner did. That being said, I am glad I sprung for the extended warranty as the truck is currently getting the Uconnect system replaced and would have cost $800-900. My family uses their trucks for work, my father is a contractor, my brother a mason and also uses the truck to commercially plow in New England winters and I use mine to haul horses. We keep our trucks for over 10 years on average, and I don't think that you can really make a wrong choice. Find the truck that is going to fill your need. Good luck to you, and whatever truck you choose I hope it makes you happy.