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Which Diesel Pickup Should I Buy?

100 messages,  Last post on Jan 15, 2013 at 9:11 PM

You are in the Diesels Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, Dodge Ram Pickup 2500, Ford, Engine, Biodiesel, Diesel, Truck

Messages Page 10 of 10

#91 of 100 Happy Dodge 2500 HD owner by mmargolies

May 01, 2011 (6:24 pm)

I've owned Toyota, Ford, Chevy and two Dodges. My current one is a 2500 HD Crew Cab Diesel standard bed and it's our family car. My wife drives a nice crossover AWD but my adult sized college age kids all prefer to go places in the truck. We even prefer it on long trips over my wife's car.
 
We have had very few issues, mostly routine service type work like new tires or brakes and I love the Gas milage I get on the freeway. I have never run into a hill where I could not drive it as fast as I wanted to. My only regret is not getting the longer bed.
 
Now that it's 5 years old and still running very strong the only issue I have is the driver's site seat is starting to show some stretching at one seam that I'm sure will tear someday. Other than that it has the normal scratches from parking lots that any car would have.
 
If we buy another one someday it would be between Ford and Dodge as I'm taking a stand not to buy from GM until they pay back all the loans and the government sells all its stock in GM. And I mean pay back the tax payers with GM profits not by taking another government loan to pay off the first one like they did last time with the first loan.
 
Anyway I could not be more happy with my Dodge, my wife loves it, my kids love it, and I get all kinds of truck envy even after six years of wear from car driving guys who wish they had a truck.
 
Once in a while some over paid desk jockey will try and criticizes me over gas millage, first I ask what their BMW or Mercedes gets on the freeway, when I beat them at my 23.2 MPG they shut up.
 
I had a 2001 Chevy Suburban and loved the comfort but had terrible MPG and it could not tow as easily as my 2500 HD.

#92 of 100 Re: Pickup Choices: Chevy Duramax or Dodge Ram? [dooleyboy] by findmucked

Jun 21, 2011 (9:09 pm)

Replying to: dooleyboy (May 27, 2006 12:01 pm)
I will tell you my experience. I drove a 1994 Dodge dakota from the day it was new until last year, I retired it at 338,000 miles as it broke down in front of the Dodge Dealership. I pulled in a purchased a 2006 Dodge 2500 cummins with very low miles. With in the last year, the A/C has gone out 4 times, drivers seat belt locked me in and never released ( purchased a new one for $50), it wears 80K mile tires out in under 20k miles, injector lines rattle and need tightening at times, replaced the transmission at 92k miles and again needed replacment at 120K miles, at 122K miles now has a rattle and is missing terrible (could be bad fuel in all fairness). Stock the truck was getting 14 mpg and with a BullyDog program I average 22 mpg and have more power than needed. The truck will carry and pull anything, If you want a work horse buy the dodge but dump it at 100k miles. if you want a few hundred thousand miles of dependable driving but smaller load pulling ability buy a chevy. My father 2006 duramax has been flawlessly operated until this very day but gets 11-12 mpg even with the same program and my cummins will spank the duramax and send it home but will eat another transmission doing it. I hope some of this is of help.

#94 of 100 Looking to buy a used Dodge Cummins 2500 by rafster

Jan 18, 2012 (2:24 pm)

I'm looking to buy a 2000 Ram 2500 4x2 Long Bed with the 5.9L Diesel. It's an automatic It has 221k. Only has had 2 owners, it has a Carfax on it and it looks clean.
 
I plan on either getting a travel trailer 2500-3000LBs or getting a truck camper of about the same weight. Both dry weights.
 
I posted a link below with the sticker on the door that talks about weight limits and such. Would either of those 2 options be ok?
 
GAWR
Front: 4500LBs
Rear: 6084LBs
 
GVWR: 8800LBs
 
http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/9897/ramih.jpg
 
Here's the link to the car:
http://clients.automanager.com/018227/vehicle-details/0d36f05fcdb9400c91bc6034b1- 1f7ba5/default.html
 
Thanks,
 
Raf

#95 of 100 purchased a used large truck or SUV? by steve_ HOST

Apr 17, 2012 (5:01 pm)

A reporter would like to speak to someone who recently bought a used large truck or large SUV. If you have purchased a used large truck or SUV in the past 6 months, and you are willing to discuss your decision with a reporter, please email PRedmunds.com no later than 1 p.m. Pacific/ 4 p.m. Eastern Wednesday, April 18, 2012 with your daytime contact information.

#96 of 100 Keep '02 or get new diesel pickup? by tiredofpc

Oct 13, 2012 (7:30 pm)

I have a 2002 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD, crew cab, 4x4, fanciest interior w/heated leather seats, tow package, etc and it was made in Canada. It gets about 15 aorund town and 18 on the freeway. I've made multiple cross country trips in this truck, alone and with a friend, and love driving it. It has 120,00+ miles, mostly due to having been deployed x 2 years when it was parked. I've also required little maintenence; did all of the oil/fuel filter changes myself until I lost vision in one eye, and then fuel filter placement (always a pain), made doing it myself almost impossible. Have maintained service at a good garage after vision problem. No problems with fuel injectors. Had a pin-hole size leak in a fuel line; caused problems with starting, which haven't happened since fuel line replaced in '12. Both front axle seals replaced after one leaked in '07.
Have driven older Fords ('96) and Dodge ('95). Like ride, turning, comfort of my truck better.
QUESTION:
Keep it or get new one, due to ever rising cost of disel?

#97 of 100 Narrowed it down to Chevy HD vs ram 2500 when... by mirrodie1

Oct 20, 2012 (8:07 pm)

I took 16 minutes trying to soak in this entire thread which began a few years ago.
 
Looking for a pickup to buy in 6-18 months. I'm looking for a reliable diesel. I tend to keep my cars for years. Some of the comments that I have read here point to the longevity of these engines. But it seems that the comments made suggest that the Rams need transmissions anywhere from 100 to 150k. And somewhere else I read the Chevy Duramax tends to last longer. I am open to open both brands.
 
I drove a cummins 6.7 yesterday in the ram 2500. I loved it. But then the salesman also said that at some point in the year the 2013 ram 1500 will definitely have a diesel engine. Most likely the one used in the VM engines used in European jeeps.
 
So now I am faced with choosing among three types. I'm excited about the 1500 getting diesel but before anything else, can anyone else offer new insight onto the long-term reliability of the Chevy Duramax compared to the Cummins compared to the VM engine?

#98 of 100 Re: Narrowed it down to Chevy HD vs ram 2500 when... [mirrodie1] by kcram HOST

Oct 21, 2012 (6:20 pm)

Replying to: mirrodie1 (Oct 20, 2012 8:07 pm)
Chrysler is indeed seriously considering the VM diesel (3.0L V6) that will also be used in the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Hooked to the ZF 8-speed, the Ram 1500 diesel should get amazing fuel economy for a full-size truck.
 
While the Allison is certainly an excellent transmission, GM has the 6.6L Duramax pretty much at its upper limits, and will likely have to introduce a new one soon to meet future regs.
 
The Cummins was re-engineered in 2007 when it went from 5.9L to 6.7L, and with a 350,000-mile-to-overhaul rating, it's pretty much bulletproof. The Chrysler 68RFE transmission behind the Cummins in the 2500 has actually been a very durable transmission since its introduction.
 
Since your window is up to 18 months, my advice would be to wait until the redesigned Silverado/Sierra is introduced, then compare to what Ram is offering before you make your final decision.
 
kcram - Pickups/Wagons/Vans+Minivans Host

#99 of 100 Re: Narrowed it down to Chevy HD vs ram 2500 when... [mirrodie1] by harrca04

Oct 23, 2012 (8:39 am)

Replying to: mirrodie1 (Oct 20, 2012 8:07 pm)
Thought I would share insight. The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is supposed to be getting a 3.0L VM with the ZF 8-speed which will be out before Summer most likely. Currently the closest relative in fuel economy is the BlueTec MB's on the market, but those are without 8-speed. So they are using the same combo in the truck and will be a late available with crazy fuel economy. Then for the 2013 Ram HD 2500 and 3500 6.7L Cummins, you can opt for a heavy duty Aisin Transmission that puts out 850 Torque but not sure if it can be ordered right away from factory. Currently they are not offering them as builds until about January/February. VM has been around for a little while, not sure about the serious longevity like the Cummins, but they have been producing for a quite some time and use in a lot of their products around the world. Then with Aisin now on board from the heavy duty, it should probably be a no-brainer on which one to go with. They just announced the HD Trucks a few weeks ago with all of this info.

#100 of 100 Re: Narrowed it down to Chevy HD vs ram 2500 when... [mirrodie1] by sixatbat1

Jan 15, 2013 (9:11 pm)

Replying to: mirrodie1 (Oct 20, 2012 8:07 pm)
Both are great trucks. The Alison transmission is a force to be reckoned with. But if it came down to it, Cummins is the way to go. Cummins has a longer track record. While the Duramax engine may outperform the 6.7 Cummins in most areas, the reliability and the longevity of the Cummins has time and time again proven to be far greater than the Duramax. One thing the Dmax falls short of is towing up a steep grade. The Cummins will go and go and go until it runs out of fuel. Also, the transmission behind the 6.7 Cummins has proven to be a pretty durable transmission as well. Fuel milage I have found to be about the same between both trucks. Now, the Cummins is noisier, but you are driving a diesel truck. Hope this helps.

Messages Page 10 of 10

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