Thinking about a diesel Pickup

[Pops]

Thinking about buying a diesel pick up, hope to find a used one. What should I buy?

[ctrlraven]

If you want used, buy Dodge. The 03-05 Ford Powerstrokes were just plagued with problems. 06 they started to get better and with the new gen 6.2L they have gotten a lot better since Ford made some big changes.

What are your needs for a diesel truck?

[FordNut]

'97 Dodge.

[SILVERSURFER03]

if new chevy do to emmisons for diesel....... used ford w/powerstroke there not that bad i have a friend w a 99 f350 w300k plus and no monster repairs.. but drive them and see wich u like best

[Pops]

Need a heavier truck to pull my cars. Problem is it is only a few times a year. I am pilling about 8000 pounds.

[Peace2Peep]

Dodge has a terrible resale value...might be good for you. Chevy is great and respond well to upgrades. Ford did have probs 03-05 but if you buy any other year they are not only rock solid, they hold value better than the other two.

[Aren Jay]

Ever consider an Excursion? They will pull 11,000 pounds.

[Mike Poore]

We just put one of the 5.4 DOHC Navigators in service. It has low mileage and we added extended bumper to bumper warranty with the savings, plus a bunch of cash left over. Up front purchase price is a bargain, and it has a very strong engine and transmission. It's advertised as requiring 91 octane fuel, but for general use, they say you could run cat pee in 'em without problems. Ultimately smooth and comfortable with fuel cost vs diesel, a wash.

I never liked diesels because of the noise, and the stench; just filling the tank makes you want to hurl.:puke:

[Raudermaster]

FYI Chris the new Ford diesel's are 6.4's. I would say a 94-98 Powerstroke just because I love that body style.

[Vortex]

All trucks have crappy resale right now. Sure you want a diesel? I saw an ad here in Dallas for 50% off sticker on a NEW F150 CrewCab (gas, not diesel). There is also 0% interest which is the same as free money. Im sure Dodge and Chevy have similar deals. Now is the time to buy a new pickup. FYI most if not all new pickups with a gasoline v8 can pull 9-10k lbs no problem, esp if you are only doing it a few times a year. The rest of the time you have no hassles with fuel either.

[offroadkarter]

Find one with the 7.3L Powerstroke :)

[whd507]

I vote for the 95-97 powerstroke. the 94s were OBDI, if not converted, the 95-97 are bulletproof, I'd get the E40D not the 5-sp. I put four 95-97s 300k each,no significant issues other than the 95 with the 5-sp, and it was all transmission problems with that otherwise great truck. I'd skip the early 99s (powerstroke emblem on front of fender) but the later 99s-(emblem on door) through 03 7.3s are good. the 2002-03 have the best seats for long seat times.
the cummins engine is great in the dodge, its the rest of the truck thats the problem.
chevy? yeah, no.

[whd507]

visit www.thedieselstop.com

[TAKEDOWN]

Isn't diesel more expensive then premium these days? I know in Chicago, Diesel is the highest amount in price. I know in the past it was the cheapest.

[ImpalaSlayer]

8000 pounds really isnt all that much John. you prolly dont really need a diesel like these guys are saying. just a decent sized gas engine will work. just dobnt get a 97-03 150 with the 4.6, they have no balls.

[whd507]

aww crap, now you have me searching ebay for a 1997 crewcab longbed powerstroke XLT 4X4...





thanks alot

[offroadkarter]

Isn't diesel more expensive then premium these days? I know in Chicago, Diesel is the highest amount in price. I know in the past it was the cheapest.


if you make bio diesel from used cooking oil it comes out to about 1.50/gal

Its cleaner, smells good, and performs as good if not better than normal diesel :D

[MarauderTJA]

John, unless you plan on doing a lot of trailering, IMO I wouldn't go diesel. The newer F150's with the 5.4 and the trailer tow package and heavier GVW package can tow 9000 lbs all day long. I plan to put a Trilogy on it as well which will help the tow job that much more. Plenty of great deals out there. I bought my 07 Lincoln truck at a great price for towing the Marauder maybe two or three times a year. What is so heavy that you have to pull 8000 lbs? The Marauder with a trailer should be around 6500-7000 lbs.

[ctrlraven]

FYI Chris the new Ford diesel's are 6.4's. I would say a 94-98 Powerstroke just because I love that body style.

Your right, after I read it again I knew it was wrong but forgot to change it. :P

Here is the towing guides by Ford.

F-150
http://www.fordvehicles.com/assets/pdf/towing/08F15_towing.pdf

Super Duty
http://www.fordvehicles.com/assets/pdf/towing/08FSD_towing.pdf

They are for 2008 but the 5.4 V8 and 6.8 V10 info for the trucks is pretty close if not the same for the since the modular engines went in. Super Duty with 5.4L & 3.73 can do just over 10k and the 6.8 & 4.10 can do 12.5K with automatic transmission.

[Pops]

I have a 99 Dodge with a 360 right now and it does not pull it very well. We pulled it with a diesel pick up once and you did not know the trailer was there. It was an 05 Ford with a 6.2 if I remember right.. I think I at least need a 3/4 ton truck. My Dodge is a heavy duty with the trailer tow .

[ctrlraven]

The 05 would of been the 6.0L.

[Peace2Peep]

I have owned two different Excurison diesels and I can tell you that NO F150 comes close to diesel stability towing. If you only tow once in a while then....maybe. If you tow a long distance then only diesel will do. The price diff on a diesel truck to gas and the perceived "Savings" are not worth discussing...drive what you like!

I get 20 mpg mixed hwy and city driving and get nearly 770 miles between fillups(that's my limit, not good to let these diesels get too low on fuel) So the convenience is worth the small price diff.

[michael ward]

get a BUILT FORD TOUGH F- SERIES SUPER DUTY:burnout:

[Aren Jay]

A Gasoline Excursion is still dirt cheap and you can load it up with half a stores worth of stereo equipment and still pull 8000lbs.

Only thing it can't do is a fifth wheel.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=242582066&dealer_id=1361145&car_year=2001&model=EXCURSION&num_records=25&systime=&make2=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=&awsp=false&search_type=both&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&showZipError=n&make=FORD&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Ais psearchform&min_price=&drive=&seller_type=b&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=49090&advanced=&end_year=2009&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=95

~95 miles from you 10 grand 91K miles, V10, leather, DVD etc... :)

[juno]

John,

I have a 2003 5.4 SD F250. My boat and trailer weigh about 9500 lbs fueled up. I tow it often locally and to the keys occaisonally. No problems even on the boat ramp. I recently went to an 1.5" taller tire, so I put in 4:10's and took out the 3:73's so I can still tow in OD at 75 mph.

If you tow a lot of miles, get the diesel. I wanted a diesel so bad when I bought mine, but I couldn't justify it. I would have had to average about 30k miles a year or 20k and tow 6k for 6 years to make up the price difference. That was in 03. Now it is even worse.
And my truck is quiet!!!!

[Pops]

John,

I have a 2003 5.4 SD F250. My boat and trailer weigh about 9500 lbs fueled up. I tow it often locally and to the keys occaisonally. No problems even on the boat ramp. I recently went to an 1.5" taller tire, so I put in 4:10's and took out the 3:73's so I can still tow in OD at 75 mph.

If you tow a lot of miles, get the diesel. I wanted a diesel so bad when I bought mine, but I couldn't justify it. I would have had to average about 30k miles a year or 20k and tow 6k for 6 years to make up the price difference. That was in 03. Now it is even worse.
And my truck is quiet!!!!

This sounds like a good combination. We only put 10,000 miles a year or less on a truck around here. Thanks everyone! Now to find one and convince the wife.

[whd507]

now is certainly a great time to buy, trucks are cheap.

diesel can be about twice as much and be a breakeven, since you typically get twice the mileage, plus no tuneups (ever) but there is usually a higher buy in. although now even that is lower. I put a little over a million miles on four powerstrokes (7.3s) awesome even for daily driving. I'm really conflicted now I do want one again...

[BlownMerc]

2000-2003.25 F Super Duty with a 7.3L. My 2000 has 240,000 on the clock, runs great, has pulled my 5th-wheel camper without a gripe, pulls a 2300lb. trailer with my G/M without knowing it's there and runs on used transmission fluid! With only adding a gallon or two of diesel per fill up to keep the mixture thinned out, it is CHEAP to operate. Since discovering the used ATF trick, I hardly drive my G/M which has me sad but happy at the same time. Over the last 3400 miles, I have put 17 gallons of diesel in the tank, which equates to about 200mpg of purchased fuel. CAN'T BEAT IT!!!