Truck advice needed. What would you buy?

[HCJtractor]

i am confused. Is the 6.0 diesel in the 03 and 04 a decent engine? How does it compare to my '96 7.3 in terms of power, durability, and towing performance. (I realize other things such as gear ratios affect this but just in general) I also wondered how a SRW '04 F350 compares to the towing specifications of my '96 F250 7.3. Obviously, I have not compared the door stickers on ratings.

 

[powerstroke444e]

If it was me I would stick with the truck you have and I would agree with builder upgrade the tranny & have a pro that does lots of e40d's with the upgrades you have seen. If the truck is not a rust bucket you it will do everything you are doing just as good if not better than a newer truck with a 6.0l truck and the parts are easier to find on the old 7.3 if you have a problem (but I do bleed IH red).

 

[Harold_J]

That is the thing like powerstroke444e said, if it's not a rust bucket, then for 4000 miles a year I would keep it. If it's rusted that's a different story. I guess "upstate SC" isn't much of a rust zone unless you mean by the shore or the truck spent its younger years someplace else.

 

[Diamondpilot]

i am confused. Is the 6.0 diesel in the 03 and 04 a decent engine? How does it compare to my '96 7.3 in terms of power, durability, and towing performance. (I realize other things such as gear ratios affect this but just in general) I also wondered how a SRW '04 F350 compares to the towing specifications of my '96 F250 7.3. Obviously, I have not compared the door stickers on ratings.

The 03 and early 04 6.0's are the least desired. I have a 2004 6.0, late build date, and its been trouble free. The 05 and later 6.0's are the best.

As for the 7.3 its a good tower but does not hold a candle to the 6.0 when it comes to raw power. No matter what others say the 6.0 was a step in the right direction for Ford. There were problems with the early motors but after that they were sorted out and very dependable. I also have a 2006 F-350 SRW 6.0 and it has a tow rating of about 16,000#. I do this all the time and more without no complaints from the truck. The big differnce between my F-250 and the F-350 is the tongue weight the truck will handle, about 1,500# more.

The weak point of the 7.3 is if equipped with a auto tranny that is usually the first thing to go. Now that being said I had a 7.3 that went strong for well over 100,000 miles, was used as a marina truck and farm truck, and never gave me days problem except for the cam pos sensor. I did put a larger cooler on the tranny and changed the fluid every 25,000 miles.

Chris

 

[HCJtractor]

Thanks for the reply Powerstroke, and I agree. I do plan to keep what I have if all works out. My shop is still breaking it down and will give me some options. I called Suncoast and they quote $4675 for trans, converter, and tow package (ouch!) My local mechanic says they also sell a reconditioned trans that they have built with heavy duty components that they warranty, and I guess it boils down to whether I trust him, but they have been in business for a long time, are well thought of, and service a lot of the industrial accounts around here.

As far as wondering about the 6.0 vs the 7.3, I was just trying to get informed, as someday, I will need a newer truck, and just wanted to be able to know what to look for.

 

[powerstroke444e]

Understand the looking as I have been looking my self but I can't find something I really like that will do what I want it to do or that don't come with a payment I don't want. If the local shop gives you a warranty and upgrades to heavier components and they work on heavy duty stuff you should be good for several yrs, by then you will find a big/better one anyways.

 

[HCJtractor]

The 03 and early 04 6.0's are the least desired. I have a 2004 6.0, late build date, and its been trouble free. The 05 and later 6.0's are the best.

As for the 7.3 its a good tower but does not hold a candle to the 6.0 when it comes to raw power. No matter what others say the 6.0 was a step in the right direction for Ford. There were problems with the early motors but after that they were sorted out and very dependable. I also have a 2006 F-350 SRW 6.0 and it has a tow rating of about 16,000#. I do this all the time and more without no complaints from the truck. The big differnce between my F-250 and the F-350 is the tongue weight the truck will handle, about 1,500# more.

The weak point of the 7.3 is if equipped with a auto tranny that is usually the first thing to go. Now that being said I had a 7.3 that went strong for well over 100,000 miles, was used as a marina truck and farm truck, and never gave me days problem except for the cam pos sensor. I did put a larger cooler on the tranny and changed the fluid every 25,000 miles.

Chris

Good info Chris! That was just what I need to know. I am going to try to fix up my '97 as it is pretty good otherwise (no rust), and in the future look to get a newer one. Sounds like a '05 and up is the way to go, and the prices will drop. Besides, I have to fix my old one anyway, as I surely can't sell it if the trans is slipping. So looks like I will let my shop rebuild it, or have them place a reconditioned trans, and hope the motor lasts for several more years. Then sell it and find a later model.

 

[Builder]

Thanks for the reply Powerstroke, and I agree. I do plan to keep what I have if all works out. My shop is still breaking it down and will give me some options. I called Suncoast and they quote $4675 for trans, converter, and tow package (ouch!) My local mechanic says they also sell a reconditioned trans that they have built with heavy duty components that they warranty, and I guess it boils down to whether I trust him, but they have been in business for a long time, are well thought of, and service a lot of the industrial accounts around here.

Ask him where the converter comes from. Ask him if they'll throw a trans go jr. shift kit in there. Worlds of difference.....can't believe how cheap ford made these transmissions. It's amazing what a car company will do to save a buck. The stock converter is no better than what comes out of a car.

As far as wondering about the 6.0 vs the 7.3, I was just trying to get informed, as someday, I will need a newer truck, and just wanted to be able to know what to look for.

Do yourself a favor and just skip the whole 6L truck genre altogether. You might get lucky and get a good one, but thousands of owners had horrible problems with them. You'd be better off with a GM or Dodge product from '03-'06.

 

[Diamondpilot]

GM and Dodge have some good features but no truck is 100% The GM suffers in the chassis and suspension department plus the total package is just not built as well as the Ford offerings. While the Cummins is awsome that is about it when it comes to Dodge.

Just my $.02

Chris

 

[devildog1]

Well!!!!!!!!
I have to put my two cents in once again. If you want a real truck that can handle what it was designed to tow & haul Ford is the choice period. Every manufactor has good and bad things on them, I've tryed them all and my 2005 F350 PSD 4X4 tows and handles the weight so much better then my late GM diesel or my Dodge diesel ever could. Of course this is my opinion, but I have traveled across this great country of ours many times pulling around my 12,000 lb. RV. Just returned from an other western trip, from N.Y. to southern CA. and every state between, 8,500 miles on my 2005 Ford, not one bit of a problem.
DevilDog

 

[Builder]

As long as we're all strapping our BS hip waders on , I'll throw in my .02c. :

No Ford diesel drivetrain has been able to match GM's diesel drivetrain for the last 9 model years. I buy a truck for the engine, transmission & rear.

If I want more suspension, I'd buy a medium duty IH, built by a real truck company. I never felt comfortable pulling a 16K trailer behind a truck that lacked the GCWR, the stopping power or the longevity to do a job like that on a regular basis.

 

[Ryan03]

Oh boy lol, I probably should not jump into this right now, but I am sitting on the couch next to the wife, and she is watching the Lifetime television network, so I guess this is the lesser of the two evils, here goes. Having owned a F350 SD DRW 4x4, and a Dmax, both for almost 100k, I liked the ford cab better, although it had a little less legroom, it was way bigger when it came to width and headroom, it also had more room behind the seat for storage. The chevy cab, although much smaller, seems to be far more air tight at 97 k than the ford was, this advantage is offset by the fact that my chevy currently has no backlighting on the speedometer, gear indicator, oil pressure gauge, voltage gauge, or the left and right temp selectors on the heater control. Ford may build lots of stuff in mexico, but I swear that half of GM's electrical design team are interns straight out of amish country.

As far as trailering is concerned, I will not compare power, since one was gas, and the other is diesel. Suspension wise the ford was about about equal to the chevy, despite the ford being a 350 dually, it only had 5 leafs on the rear springs with no helpers, and sat WAY high in the back as most 99 model year 350's did. The Ford brakes lasted for 60k, but I literaly had to stand on them when towing to slow down, the Chevy has a way better pedal feel, but the brakes last half as long.

Both trucks were good vehicles, but they both had their own quirks, the Ford had 5 IAC motors go bad, 2 4WD selector switches, and 4 hub vacume seals. The Chevy has had 6 steering intermediate shafts, on its 3rd set of rear universals joints, 2nd drivers window regulator, the mentioned dash issues and countless tailight and daytime running light bulbs.

I got rid of the Ford at 98k miles because in needed more than I wanted to put into it, Frontend, tires, hard lines,etc. The Dmax has 97k on it it currently, and pretty much needs everything the Ford did, only reason I am fixing the Chevy rather than trading it is that I am going to try and wait a few years for the big 3 to figure out the emissions on diesels.

Both my Ford and Chevy were purchases that today I am still glad I made, but each truck had its own respective problems that IMO were due to the manif. cutting corners.

 

[Builder]

I am going to try and wait a few years for the big 3 to figure out the emissions on diesels.

Both my Ford and Chevy were purchases that today I am still glad I made, but each truck had its own respective problems that IMO were due to the manif. cutting corners.

It is going to be REAL interesting to see what shakes out in the next 2 years. I won't be a guinea pig for Ford's new taco diesel, so they're out till at least '11-'12. GM is being rather hushed about the future, although what I have seen looks promising. If Dodge gets the 6.7L settled down, with the Aisin & exhaust brake, that very well might be my next truck.

If the Ford turns out to be a winner, they get an exhaust brake and the others don't match up to Ford, I guess I'll be driving a (removed) again. No problem with that.

Just buy the best truck you can when you're buying.

 

[Ryan03]

Just buy the best truck you can when you're buying. [/QUOTE]

I am still looking for a brand new Ford 350 4x4 with a common rail 5.9, a 6 speed allison, rockwell transfer case, dana 60 kingpin front, with eaton electric lockers front and rear, and 265 bridgestone Revo's.

 

[devildog1]

No BS waders on for me Builder, I'm just telling my experiences with me owning and driving and towing the last three diesel pickup trucks. It is what it is and my current F350 does out preform my Dodge Cummins and and my GM Duramax( now government motors) with the Allison.
DevilDog

 

[thompsjk]

I have always liked GMC trucks but after the problems I had with my first Duramax Allison I went to a 2003 Ford 6.0 and had almost no trouble with it and the Torqshift was flawless for 160K+ miles. I then tried another Duramax Allison in 2005 and the Allison limped on me almost every time I pulled my 35 gooseneck loaded with hay. I am now in a 2008 SRW F350 with 30,000 miles with 210 hp program in it for 25,000 miles and it has not missed a beat. Maybe I was just unlucky with my two D/A and maybe I have been lucky with both of my Fords, I don稚 know but unless my 08 Ford starts giving me problems my next one will be another Ford.

Builder I may be wrong but I believe the AISIN is only available in the Cab & Chassis models, at lest that is what my local dealer told me and looking at them on the lot side by side they looked different. Also on Dodge痴 web site they only mention the AISIN on the Cab & Chassis but I may be over looking it. I do agree with you on holding out on the new 6.7 Power Stroke for awhile it will have the exhaust brake though but it will not turn off and on like the Dodge it will come on with Tow Haul.

 

[Builder]

Builder I may be wrong but I believe the AISIN is only available in the Cab & Chassis models, at lest that is what my local dealer told me and looking at them on the lot side by side they looked different. Also on Dodgeç—´ web site they only mention the AISIN on the Cab & Chassis but I may be over looking it. I do agree with you on holding out on the new 6.7 Power Stroke for awhile it will have the exhaust brake though but it will not turn off and on like the Dodge it will come on with Tow Haul.

You're right, but I am a cab/chassis buyer because I put utility bodies on trucks, so I could get the Aisin in my next truck . I have heard nothing but good on the 68RE automatic the put in the pickups. I just read on another website a guy just started having trouble with his after like 265,000 miles. That's unbelievable.

 

[nmu98]

As long as we're all strapping our BS hip waders on , I'll throw in my .02c. :

No Ford diesel drivetrain has been able to match GM's diesel drivetrain for the last 9 model years. I buy a truck for the engine, transmission & rear.

If I want more suspension, I'd buy a medium duty IH, built by a real truck company. I never felt comfortable pulling a 16K trailer behind a truck that lacked the GCWR, the stopping power or the longevity to do a job like that on a regular basis.

So one would think that you would have purchased GM trucks for the last 9 years?

I had to say it Builder Just messin......

 

[thompsjk]

Does Dodge offer Cab & Chassis in any thing other than 4500 and 5500 or is it a bed delete like in the F250 and F350 Fords. If it is a bed delete it would probably have the 68RE.

My Uncle has 6.7 with the 68RE and he likes it a lot. I sold him a few loads of hay, he used my trailer to haul it, and I rode with him on one of the trips, the shifts were good and I liked it a lot. I might look at them if the if the new Power Stroke is a flop. But that will be a few more years.

 

[Builder]

So one would think that you would have purchased GM trucks for the last 9 years?

I had to say it Builder Just messin......

Well, I bought a Chevy in 12/04 and a GMC in 2/07.

Is that good enough?