Time for a New Truck

[buck12]

Might even be surprised how much it would bring as an outright sale.

I agree. No way I would trade his truck. I would sell it my self. No sense letting the dealer make an extra thousand or more. I have never traded a vehicle. I figure I maintain our vehicles well and we take good care of them. I want to reap the reward.

 

[Martian]

Call them Gov't motors, gummint motors or whatever you like but I LOVE my GM vehicles. IMO, Dodge has the best engine, bad tranny, Ford good tranny, troublesome engine (good for some bad for others), GM has the best engine/tranny combo. I have a 4500 Duramax with an Ally automatic. One beast of a truck.

All trucks are excellent though and you could get something like a Tahoe or Yukon SUV's. I have a Yukon Denali and it tows excellent as well - like a 1500 but is a lot more practical in terms of hauling people and groceries. But for you I'd say no more than a 1500 to 2500 if you go truck max - and I'd see 1500 as the better option of those two also. Save on the fuel and a lot more agile.

 

[D7E]

I agree with the SUV vote . have a tahoe and trailblazer that do all the towing that the 1/2 tons do and maybe grip even better than a truck . I have never had trouble with ford engines and my personal everday driver is a 99 f150 4.6 v8 with 298'000 , electrics would be my grudge with ford, trannies in dodges and diffs in chevs ,again all higher milers but patterns do form !
Buying new i'd go ford used chev or diesel standard dodge.

 

[Dmace]

Dmace:
Any particular years to look for or to avoid...I know they have made some strides with fuel efficiency over the past few years, but not sure at what cost. I think the GM dealer lead me to believe that their strategy is to turn off two cylinders on their V8 when the power is not needed...

Starting with the RAM, you will want to stay to the newer body style 02+ for a half ton truck. People like to think they still have tranny problems like they did in the early 90's but it's had the same 5 speed (actually 6) trans since 02 and proved to be very reliable. In 2008, the 4.7l V8 got a big power increase from 235hp/295lb.ft to 310hp/330lb.ft plus it's FlexFuel which means it can run E85 (85% Ethanol) if you have a station nearby. Only the HEMI 2006+ has the MDS (multi displacement system) which shuts off 4 cylinders when under 50% throttle for 20+ highway mpg's. A good friend of mine drove from NH to FL all highway with very little traffic in a 07 Ram 1500 HEMI reg cab 4x4 and averaged 22mpg.

The GM 5.3l got revamped in 2000 so stick with that or newer. The thing I never liked about my old GM trucks was the 4 speed auto. It could never find the right gear and was either over-reving or lugging. The 6 speed Allison is a better trans but only available on diesel and big block V8 8.1l. The Active Fuel Management was available 2004+ but wasn't the most reliable system and many found it more problematic than helpful. The AFM system shuts off cylinders 1, 2, 6 and 7 but keeps some air/fuel in the cylinder to act as a "spring" for the piston but this system of leaving unburnt fuel in a cylinder causes problems in long highway drives. For a GM truck, I would stick with an engine without it. If you can deal with the 4-speed auto, they are very good trucks.

For the Ford's, I stay away from them because of the poor reliability of the V8 5.4l and auto trans. I've fixed 3 Ford 5.4l trucks that spit out the spark plugs and required a new thread to be drilled into the head. I'm pretty good at it now but it required a $300 tool and the confidence to drill into a head still installed on an engine. I've also had many trans problems with my old Ford's (94-98) E4OD. Mostly electronic with the computer going bad and keeping it in "limp mode". If you go with a Ford, stick with at least a 2004 for the redesigned chassis plus they seem to have less engine problems. Also if you want the FlexFuel, the 5.4l got it in 2006. I've never got more than 15 mpg out of an F150 since they are typically under-powered and working harder. Then again, I don't buy trucks for grocery store runs either...

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have to agree that a small V8 would be the way to go. Yes, they are not up to the big task but will do all he needs and more plus they are plentiful in the used market and bring a much lower price than the big V8.

The Ford 4.6, Dodge 4.7, and the Tundra 4.? all come to mind as very good capable trucks.

Chris

 

[flusher]

Don't guess--get that trailer/load weighed at your local truck stop. Then start shopping for that new truck.

 

[RobertN]

When was that? Dodge had tranny issues years ago, but recently?

Call them Gov't motors, gummint motors or whatever you like but I LOVE my GM vehicles. IMO, Dodge has the best engine, bad tranny, Ford good tranny, troublesome engine (good for some bad for others), GM has the best engine/tranny combo. I have a 4500 Duramax with an Ally automatic. One beast of a

 

[jeffsw6]

The GM 5.3l got revamped in 2000 so stick with that or newer. The thing I never liked about my old GM trucks was the 4 speed auto. It could never find the right gear and was either over-reving or lugging.

I have a 05 Suburban K1500 with the 5.3 and I'm really pleased with it for towing. I think GM claims something like 7000# capacity and I feel that is an honest figure. I have the aux trans oil cooler.

The only time I have been underwhelmed with mine is towing a pretty good load with a bunch of passengers and cargo in the truck also, doing highway speed ~75MPH on hilly kentucky state highways, it would go into 2nd gear and scream at 5000 RPM all the way up the big hills. I just put tow/haul mode on, set the cruise control, and turned up the radio. If there was heavy traffic and I had to put my foot to the pedal instead of use the cruise control I might have a different opinion about those trips but usually those highways are not that busy.

 

[ededic]

I bought this truck in March and have averaged 16.6 mpg. I have pulled trailer most of the summer hauling my JD 2210 w/various attachments. It has the 6.2 liter with the Borg Warner 6 speed transmission, 460hp and AWD.



My wife has the 6.0 liter in her 02 Yukon Denali and averages 18mpg. She said she could get that or better with my truck if she drove as I am a fast, hard driver.

 

[Martian]

I bought this truck in March and have averaged 16.6 mpg. I have pulled trailer most of the summer hauling my JD 2210 w/various attachments. It has the 6.2 liter with the Borg Warner 6 speed transmission, 460hp and AWD.

View attachment 243409

My wife has the 6.0 liter in her 02 Yukon Denali and averages 18mpg. She said she could get that or better with my truck if she drove as I am a fast, hard driver.

That's a good looking truck:thumbsup:

I see you got the Denali - love my Yukon Denali, definitely the way to go!

 

[Martian]

When was that? Dodge had tranny issues years ago, but recently?

I guess I shouldn't say bad but not as good. Allison is the best IMO. They have Allison's in International semi's so I'd like it in my pickup too. Dodge makes a good pickup though, nothing against Dodge.

 

[RobertN]

We have Allison's in most of our fire engines; aint the same Alli in the Duramax pickups.

The Duramax/Alison combo was good for the market overall. I don't know that the sized down Alli is any better than the rest. But... It did get past the 4spd auto's. For all the smack talk over the years about the Dodge trannies, I never had any issues. But, I have never liked the big jump from 3rd to OD. IMHO, that extra gear was a bigger deal than any strength in the tranny

I guess I shouldn't say bad but not as good. Allison is the best IMO. They have Allison's in International semi's so I'd like it in my pickup too. Dodge makes a good pickup though, nothing against Dodge.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I guess I shouldn't say bad but not as good. Allison is the best IMO. They have Allison's in International semi's so I'd like it in my pickup too. Dodge makes a good pickup though, nothing against Dodge.

Funny. Thats like saying my F-350 is better because the monster truck Big Foot is a Ford or like me saying my Nissan Titan is tough because Nissan also makes Excavators.:confused2:

Its a good tranny but its 95% marketing hype.

Chris

 

[deerefan]

Funny. Thats like saying my F-350 is better because the monster truck Big Foot is a Ford or like me saying my Nissan Titan is tough because Nissan also makes Excavators.:confused2:

Its a good tranny but its 95% marketing hype.

Chris

No, I think what he is saying, if I can elaborate, is some of the technology crosses over. If they feel comfortable with that tech in 1/4 million dollar over the road trucks and equipment than it should build some confidence in the consumers for the 1 ton and 3/4 ton market. I would love to have a F350 single wheel with a cummins and allison, but those 3 will never get along.

 

[Diamondpilot]

No, I think what he is saying, if I can elaborate, is some of the technology crosses over. If they feel comfortable with that tech in 1/4 million dollar over the road trucks and equipment than it should build some confidence in the consumers for the 1 ton and 3/4 ton market. I would love to have a F350 single wheel with a cummins and allison, but those 3 will never get along.

While I agree with the Allison being a good tranny it does have its limits. Read some of the new reviews and truck shoot outs and most reviewers are really praising the Ford Torque Shift 6 speed over it.

My deam truck would be my 06 F-350 with a built 5.9L Cummins and the 6 speed Torque Shift.

Chris

 

[Martian]

The big foot comparison is a little far fetched, that's like saying my stock Chevy impala is just as fast as the ones on the race track - although they have the same badge nothing else is the same. I do realize that it's a scaled down version, not so much in my 4500 medium duty, but it is still the best tranny. Theres way more similarities between the full size and the 1/2 to 3/4 ton trucks as they are still all built/designed by Allison and the monster truck isn't.

I'm not saying other trannys are bad but I like my Allison

 

[deerefan]

While I agree with the Allison being a good tranny it does have its limits. Read some of the new reviews and truck shoot outs and most reviewers are really praising the Ford Torque Shift 6 speed over it.

My deam truck would be my 06 F-350 with a built 5.9L Cummins and the 6 speed Torque Shift.

Chris

I had the 5 spd torque shift in my 06, it was trouble free. We can all agree on the cummins, that is for sure. I believe they are being discontinued by dodge in 2013, or so I've heard, haven't seen it etched in stone.

 

[D7E]

I had the 5 spd torque shift in my 06, it was trouble free. We can all agree on the cummins, that is for sure. I believe they are being discontinued by dodge in 2013, or so I've heard, haven't seen it etched in stone.

Does this mean they will get iveco now ?

 

[Dmace]

We can all agree on the cummins, that is for sure. I believe they are being discontinued by dodge in 2013, or so I've heard, haven't seen it etched in stone.

This "rumor" goes around a lot...
The only diesel that Dodge will not have built by Cummins is the small 1/2 ton diesel engine. They will be using a Fiat based diesel instead. I wouldn't mind the larger Fiat diesels either, they are more popular in Europe than the Cummins is here.

 

[Diamondpilot]

This "rumor" goes around a lot...
The only diesel that Dodge will not have built by Cummins is the small 1/2 ton diesel engine. They will be using a Fiat based diesel instead. I wouldn't mind the larger Fiat diesels either, they are more popular in Europe than the Cummins is here.

I can not see Cummins lasting much longer in the Dodge trucks. I live only 40 miles from Cummins headquarters and have a few friends that work for them. They feel they are on borrowed time also.

Like you said, nothing wrong with the Fiat based motors but it will surely take a heck of a sales campaign to keep the customers coming in. That motor is legendary.

Chris