6.0 Powerstroke letter

[Fordman1981]

You should look into a 2013 DMax Hay Dude. GM is offering terrific incentives right now. I just finalized a deal on a 2013 Crew Cab 2500 Z71 DMax and I did VERY well. The 2011 and newer GM's are great trucks, they finally have a chassis to compete with Ford and the DMax engine is really superb. It pulls like a freight train and feels very smooth. I test drove all three trucks this time out and I'll tell you what; Ford's numbers might be higher at 400/800 compared to 397/765 but my butt dyno felt like the DMax had more power, and I'm not the only one who feels that way either. You're very lucky as before Ford had a vastly superior chassis so if you wanted to handle the most weight you really needed a Ford even if you didn't like their drive train. Now GM and Ram are every bit as good, better in many ways, than Ford so you've got real choices for the real heavy duty stuff. Thankfully ( at least as far as pickups go) the 2000's are over. In the 2010's Ram and GM have caught up to and surpassed Ford in the chassis department so you can use any of the big 3 and get the heavy duty work done.

I agree with a lot if what's said here look at the 2012 Ram HD they are in most places giving $12,000 or more off.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I agree with a lot if what's said here look at the 2012 Ram HD they are in most places giving $12,000 or more off.

I know we are talking diesel here but a client of mine just bought a 2013 Chevy 4x4 Crew Cab. They gave him way more than his trade was worth plus $10500 in rebates and incentives.

Chris

 

[sd455dan]

It sounds like you would be going with a new truck, if the one ton Dodges come up, as I posted earlier, I would be a little leery of the automatic equipped 3/4 ton and 1 tons. Dodge did get my nephew a 6 speed manual to replace the auto (2012) -The problem probably was isolated. Either way Dodge took care of it ,to the owners satisfaction.
he's happy, although the mileage is not up to my 03, but I guess all the newer diesel trucks are struggling with all the emissions, mileage killing equipment. And according to him the 2013 dodges have added the urea, and not dropped the other emissions equipment??

 

[sld]

Maybe it's the result of an education and a good job but I have never owned a vehicle I couldn't financially walk away from.

If someone is "trapped" in a vehicle it's because they bought more truck than they could afford. I drove beaters growing up and thru school and didn't buy new until I was 26. I always laughed at my buddies that drove newer trucks and had to make payments. Everything they earned went to their truck payments and insurance.

Not judging anyone, but going into huge debt for any vehicle is the worst choice you can make.

I can imagine the frustration of being in debt on a truck that is constantly breaking down.

 

[RollingsFarms]

Maybe it's the result of an education and a good job but I have never owned a vehicle I couldn't financially walk away from.

If someone is "trapped" in a vehicle it's because they bought more truck than they could afford. I drove beaters growing up and thru school and didn't buy new until I was 26. I always laughed at my buddies that drove newer trucks and had to make payments. Everything they earned went to their truck payments and insurance.

Not judging anyone, but going into huge debt for any vehicle is the worst choice you can make.

I can imagine the frustration of being in debt on a truck that is constantly breaking down.

I don't mind making payments on some things like trucks or tractors because I keep them a looong time. I agree with you though about having all your money going into payments and such. I financed my last tractor because it was 0% and paying cash or financing it was going to be the same price. With my truck I am paying 2.84% but am doubling up in payments and still able to live very comfortably. I plan on keeping this truck 10 or more years. I kept my first truck that long, kept my second one 7 but got tired of deer being attracted to it.lol I did keep a truck only for one year because I just hated it but had plenty of equity in it that when I traded it in I came out on the good side despite it only being a year old.

 

[Fordman1981]

It sounds like you would be going with a new truck, if the one ton Dodges come up, as I posted earlier, I would be a little leery of the automatic equipped 3/4 ton and 1 tons. Dodge did get my nephew a 6 speed manual to replace the auto (2012) -The problem may be fixed or was isolated??
he's happy, although the mileage is not up to my 03, but I guess all the newer diesel trucks are struggling with all the emissions, mileage killing equipment. And according to him the 2013 dodges have added the urea, and not dropped the other emissions equipment??

The transmissions have been very good in the ram trucks for years now. It may have been an isolated issue. You can look on other forums for the most part the 68rfe I think it is has been a real dependable transmission. I prefer the G56 manual always have preferred the manual transmission no matter what make it is though.

 

[J F]

Maybe it's the result of an education and a good job but I have never owned a vehicle I couldn't financially walk away from.

If someone is "trapped" in a vehicle it's because they bought more truck than they could afford. I drove beaters growing up and thru school and didn't buy new until I was 26. I always laughed at my buddies that drove newer trucks and had to make payments. Everything they earned went to their truck payments and insurance.

Not judging anyone, but going into huge debt for any vehicle is the worst choice you can make.

Yes you are, but you are very right. :laughing:

See above.

 

[flusher]

I'm thinking about keeping the current gmc, getting another dully HD and maybe an Isuzu cab over. I heard they have a 6cyl now that's pretty strong and much more reliable than the domestic trucks.

That's what I did two years ago--bought an '04 Isuzu NPR/EFI cab over stakebed with the GMC 6.0L LQ4 V-8 engine, 8x14 ft stakebed (by Supreme), 12,000 lb GVWR. Odometer showed 49500 miles. Bought it off eBay for $11K. All the truck I need for toting around my vintage parade tractors. The diesel version goes up to 18,000 lb GVWR.

 

[sd455dan]

The transmissions have been very good in the ram trucks for years now. It may have been an isolated issue. You can look on other forums for the most part the 68rfe I think it is has been a real dependable transmission. I prefer the G56 manual always have preferred the manual transmission no matter what make it is though.

During the time he had it, the dealer had it out twice, the first time there was some type of pump damage, he would stop to load something with the engine running, and then try to drive away and it would act like a clutch pack was slipping, so to get moving he would apply more throttle and then it would lurch forward like trying to launch at a drag strip..I guess 800 ft lbs of torque will do that,

When they fixed it- they replaced the pump but did not completely tear the trans down. he made it a few more months then it started acting up in a different way and when they put the trans thru the computer run forced tests it would not allow itself to be tested:talktothehand: I guess dodge was very nice about it, He re ordered another new truck with the 6 speed manual, I drove it it is Very Nice -the new 6 speed shifts a lot smoother and more precisely than my NV5600

 

[Fordman1981]

During the time he had it, the dealer had it out twice, the first time there was some type of pump damage, he would stop to load something with the engine running, and then try to drive away and it would act like a clutch pack was slipping, so to get moving he would apply more throttle and then it would lurch forward like trying to launch at a drag strip..I guess 800 ft lbs of torque will do that,

When they fixed it- they replaced the pump but did not completely tear the trans down. he made it a few more months then it started acting up in a different way and when they put the trans thru the computer run forced tests it would not allow itself to be tested:talktothehand: I guess dodge was very nice about it, He re ordered another new truck with the 6 speed manual, I drove it it is Very Nice -the new 6 speed shifts a lot smoother and more precisely than my NV5600

Yeah the 6 speed manual you speak of is what I have too the G56 it is a very nice transmission. It is a smooth shift transmission and has a good separation between gears to keep you in the power. Which honestly I don't think there is much of a spot these diesels aren't making good power.

 

[Diamondpilot]

During the time he had it, the dealer had it out twice, the first time there was some type of pump damage, he would stop to load something with the engine running, and then try to drive away and it would act like a clutch pack was slipping, so to get moving he would apply more throttle and then it would lurch forward like trying to launch at a drag strip..I guess 800 ft lbs of torque will do that,

When they fixed it- they replaced the pump but did not completely tear the trans down. he made it a few more months then it started acting up in a different way and when they put the trans thru the computer run forced tests it would not allow itself to be tested:talktothehand: I guess dodge was very nice about it, He re ordered another new truck with the 6 speed manual, I drove it it is Very Nice -the new 6 speed shifts a lot smoother and more precisely than my NV5600

I found Dodge was very fair to me also. I had a Hemi 2500 that had 3 transmissions by 68,000 miles. Factory one. A rebuild of that one, then they sprung for a Jasper. Unfortunately it also had issues within 10K. They did everything they could to make it right. Much nicer experience than when my GM truck first blew a engine then 5K later the transfer case let go snapping the drive shaft and nearly ripping the rear axle off the truck. Both times it took a lawyer and months of down time even though both these events happened before 2 years and 35K, well within the warranty period.

To ad insult to injury I was only 20 so they would not supply a rental vehicle since I was younger than 21. I was good enough to sell a $38,000 truck to but not good enough to give a loaner vehicle to.

Chris

 

[sd455dan]

I found Dodge was very fair to me also. I had a Hemi 2500 that had 3 transmissions by 68,000 miles. Factory one. A rebuild of that one, then they sprung for a Jasper. Unfortunately it also had issues within 10K. They did everything they could to make it right. Much nicer experience than when my GM truck first blew a engine then 5K later the transfer case let go snapping the drive shaft and nearly ripping the rear axle off the truck. Both times it took a lawyer and months of down time even though both these events happened before 2 years and 35K, well within the warranty period.

To ad insult to injury I was only 20 so they would not supply a rental vehicle since I was younger than 21. I was good enough to sell a $38,000 truck to but not good enough to give a loaner vehicle to.

Chris

that GM truck wouldn't happen to have been built between 1998-2002 would it??

the reason I asked is a co-worker, (at that time) wanted advice on buying a new GM 4x4 truck I told him I had not heard anything negative, and I had good luck with the Gm cars..

He bought the truck, and a couple months later visited friends out of state, almost made it to Vegas, and the transfer case self destructed, can't remember if it was as horrific as yours.. They had to get the parts in, so he got an extended vacation in Vegas... Gm fixed it no charge, but he was concerned about future problems, and had heard of other transfer case failures for the year he bought- I know it was trouble free for a couple of years

Haven't seen him lately, since then-I am a little more cautious about recommending any Brands

 

[Diamondpilot]

that GM truck wouldn't happen to have been built between 1998-2002 would it??

No, it was a 1989.

Chris