Opinions on older diesel trucks

[Lineman North Florida]

Kinda been looking for an older model 3/4 or 1 ton diesel truck, I would prefer a Duramax and would love to find an 06-07 model but they are pretty scarce and pretty pricey when you find one so I may wind up with an 01-05 or possibly a Ford 6.0 if it's been studded and bullet proofed. What have you guys had good luck with?

 

[beckmurph]

25 Dodge Ram 25 with 5.9 cummins.

 

[Hay Dude]

Kinda been looking for an older model 3/4 or 1 ton diesel truck, I would prefer a Duramax and would love to find an 06-07 model but they are pretty scarce and pretty pricey when you find one so I may wind up with an 01-05 or possibly a Ford 6.0 if it's been studded and bullet proofed. What have you guys had good luck with?

IMO, the ‘07 Duramax is the best older used diesel you can buy. Plenty of power, Allison trans, 11.5” rear diff. Just a great ride.
BUT 95% of them rusted out bad.

 

[Farmer495]

Pretty well any late 90s/ early 2K pre-emissions GM/ Dodge or Ford will be decent.

Manual transmission too.

Salt kills everything here. Any of the above trucks in decent shape command a premium.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I had a 97' Dodge dually. The weak link was the 5sp. I forget how many miles before I lost 5th? I bought a rebuilt with a fully splined shaft. Had 350k on it when I lost 5th again so I sold it. Body was getting rough and it needed another clutch as well.

It was a fun ride though. I put the big injectors in and changed the fuel plate along with some other tweaks.

I recall reading something about the 06' Duramax being improved over earlier years?

 

[4570Man]

I bought my 6.0 for price I was willing to throw away when it did 6.0 things. That truck never did anything except run the whole time I had it. I sold it to my brother and he’s still driving it with zero problems. That truck has 370k miles. My 6.0 experience was apparently not average.

 

[Hay Dude]

I had a 97' Dodge dually. The weak link was the 5sp. I forget how many miles before I lost 5th? I bought a rebuilt with a fully splined shaft. Had 350k on it when I lost 5th again so I sold it. Body was getting rough and it needed another clutch as well.

It was a fun ride though. I put the big injectors in and changed the fuel plate along with some other tweaks.

Maybe thats why you lost 5th gear?

I recall reading something about the 06' Duramax being improved over earlier years?

The LBZ series was a great truck. I had an ‘07 3500 4x4. Last year before emissions. Never should have sold it. I needed a 4500/5500, so I bought a 2008 F-550 and it was nothing but trouble.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Maybe thats why you lost 5th gear?

The 5spd had a known issue where as there was a nut that held the gear in place would vibrate loose and allow the gear to slide out of the splines. It would happen regardless of "tweaks" or a heavy right foot. I never saw the insides of the transmission and it's been too long since I used to follow the issues on TDR. Nor am I sure what happened to the trans with the fully splined shaft.

 

[crreed67]

2006 Duramax 6 speed manual. Hard to beat it.

 

[pmsmechanic]

The 5spd had a known issue where as there was a nut that held the gear in place would vibrate loose and allow the gear to slide out of the splines. It would happen regardless of "tweaks" or a heavy right foot. I never saw the insides of the transmission and it's been too long since I used to follow the issues on TDR. Nor am I sure what happened to the trans with the fully splined shaft.

Torque Kind 4x4 out of Montana had the best solution for the top main shaft. Unfortunately they discontinued manufacturing it. But they have a complete replacement transmission that they call the NV5000. www.torqueking.com for anyone that's interested. It's a way to keep those old manual transmission trucks on the road.