jaycocreek wrote:
burningman wrote:
If you put wheels and tires on it that can take the weight, the rest of the truck will do it.
It’ll be slow.
This is correct..The 980 is listed as a 2700#(Dry weight) TC by Lance..Your truck with a full floater will handle it and you will be less overweight than some here..The 6.5 is a dog for a diesel,I owned one but never hauled anything with it opting for my 454 at that time for the 35ft Jayco trailer..Only issue I had with it was glow plugs..Fairly good mpg also..
Funny thing, when I went shopping for both the Ford and the Chevy, I went out specifically looking for big block gas trucks, and didn't want a diesel. At the time, I wasn't using the truck as a daily, and didn't see the MPG gain as enough to offset the increased maintenance costs and hassles for something I wasn't driving often. At the time, even something that got 5mpg wouldn't have been an issue as I would typically go several months between fill ups on it. Both times, I found the diesels as deals too good to pass up, and they came home with me. I could have sold the front axle alone out of the Ford, and ended up making money on the deal.
That said, despite my 7.3 also being an IDI, with the Banks turbo on it, it would definitely embarrass the 6.5 in every way. For that matter, the one time I had issues with the wategate not closing and never building boost, it still felt stronger than the 6.5, lol. But then, I don't recall GM ever marketing these engines as powerhouses either..it was always about the higher MPGs. But the only issue I've had with it was a recurring code for the wastegate solenoid, which was easily fixed by ditching the factory vacuum set up and going to a DIY Turbomaster set up. PMD was already relocated when I got the truck. Other than that, it's been a solid truck for me.
