Truck ?? and best years

DiverDarrell · Apr 27, 2011

after the long search for a tractor, now the research starts for a truck. requirements are:

1. Diesel
2. 3/4 ton or greater
3. 4 door
4. Long bed

the truck will be used to move the tractor of course and to make a couple trips from western washington to eastern washington a year, hauling 2+tons of hay one way, and to the family property with tractor and generators in tow. with a gooseneck. so the questions are

1. Regen good or bad? DPF
2. Manual or Auto?
3. urea or what ever that emissions fluid crap is good bad?
4. Best model years I'm not brand specific. Got a ford tractor and truck, a jeep, and a tacoma.
5. is the cummins 6.7 better than the 5.9?
6. is the 7.3 the best of fords offerings?
7. any other questions i should be asking

Wolfy · Apr 27, 2011

2002 was the last year of Ford's 7.3L diesel, one of the best engines they ever made and the worst decision they ever made was to discontinue it.

Toddao · Apr 27, 2011

TerraStar by Navistar , no urea, has an allison auto , the way to go!

schoolsout · Apr 27, 2011

Toddao said:
TerraStar by Navistar , no urea, has an allison auto , the way to go!

That's pretty funny

A few fleets have had serious issues with that technology of Navistar

SCR is proven and the way the entire industry went for the most part...besides NaviStar.

56FordGuy · Apr 27, 2011

Wolfy said:
2002 was the last year of Ford's 7.3L diesel, one of the best engines they ever made and the worst decision they ever made was to discontinue it.

There were a handful of 7.3 liters in '03 model year trucks. Not many, but they're out there.

DPFs and the regen systems didn't show up until '08, I believe. DEF is a 2011 model year thing. The age of truck you buy will be the deciding factor on those. I believe the newest model you can get without that stuff would be an '07.

Ryan03 · Apr 27, 2011

My personal favorites in no particular order would be.......... 2002 to 2007 dodge with 5.9 common rail Cummins and a 6 speed manual trans, 1999 to 2002 Ford Super Duty with 7.3 Powerstroke and a ZF six speed manual trans, and the 2003 and 2004 lb7 Duramax/Allison as well as the 2006 to 2007 Duramax/Allison.

om21braz · Apr 27, 2011

IMHO, given the parameters above - my vehicle of choice would be a Dodge 2500/3500, either 2006 or 2007 with the 5.9 Cummins with your choice of auto or manual. If you can live with the small rear seat/long bed combo vs. offerings by GM or Ford. Good luck finding the vehicle that fits you best - take time to look at all the selections.

schoolsout · Apr 27, 2011

56FordGuy said:
There were a handful of 7.3 liters in '03 model year trucks. Not many, but they're out there.

DPFs and the regen systems didn't show up until '08, I believe. DEF is a 2011 model year thing. The age of truck you buy will be the deciding factor on those. I believe the newest model you can get without that stuff would be an '07.

Trucks built after Jan 1 '07 will most likely have a DPF

PoorMansCat · Apr 27, 2011

Typically, the newer you go, the more advertised HP you get, but you give it up in increased fuel consumption and maintenance costs.
The Ford 7.3L is a great engine, not a speed engine, but will pull rated capacity all day long. Ford 6.0L equipped trucks are really cheap, while I have never owned one myself, several people around me have and quickly got rid of them, from what I read, its NOT a choice you want to make.
The GM product has some good years, stay clear of the LB7 series D-max. I believe it was 03-05 models??? We had 03 d-max trucks at work and constantly lost injectors, pumps, and engines. They had serious fuel system issues that had the potential to wreck the engine from fuel dilution.. I believe the 06 GM product was much better.. not sure about newer...
The Dodge product I have some experience with as well. The 5.9l CR has great power and good fuel efficiency. The 6.7L Cummins appears to have great power as well, but does suffer some on fuel economy due to the regen... Can't speak for the 6.7L cummins, but I have completely overloaded my little 5.9l several times and forced it to pull at near max. boost for 2.5hours straight and it never backs away...
The maintenance costs of the newer trucks has increased. Fuel filters are getting more expensive, for the trucks that use urea, thats an added expense.
We have the new Ford 6.7L engines at work and are not having any luck with them. I believe to date, we have lost 4 complete engines and one transmission, and we are averaging 6-7 MPG. Trucks are F550's loaded into the 18-19K range.
If you are shopping used, I would steer clear of anything that has been excessively modified.... You might not believe what some people are doing to diesel pickups these days.