I have a TOW VEHICLE headache.

jerem0621 wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

RedJeep wrote:

imadtchmn wrote:
I have a 98 chevy dually pulling 14,320 scaled pounds fully loaded. I have no problem staying up with trucks going uphill and love the way it handles. Do I rush. No. One thing no one has mentioned is rear end gearing. It's important. You want something in the 4:10 range.

I've had my 98 chevy 6.5 for 3 years now and still love it. I did some work to it since it was used and abused, but once done, I have no fear in taking it anywhere. Here are some of the stats for you.

Purchased $3500.00
pdm and mods $300.00
Right upper control arm assy. $65.00
Alignment $95.00
Idle shutoff switch $60.00

That's it. Sure beats the heck out of pricing a new truck and yes, all the labor is my own. Parts from ebay and the like. This truck was a construction vehicle in its prior life.

Original cost per the paperwork I found in the glovebox $53030.00. What a deal I got. :)

I agree. Good post and good advice. There is nothing wrong with a well cared for and moderately upgraded older truck.

Sure, as long as it's not a 6.5GM or 6.0 Ford. Yes you can get them to run right and be reliable but you better be a good mechanic and or have deep pockets, or get lucky.
The guy above is lucky if that's all that's done to the 6.5 or its real low miles.
Also, no fooling, they are not high power monster engines.
To the OP unless you're mechanically inclined then stay away from the older and less reliable diesels.

Yes please do stay away. Sure makes these trucks cheaper for those of us who don't mind a little grease under our fingers and a little knowledge in our brains about how our vehicles work. :D

I agree with you on that. Have had a couple 6.5s now. Last one I picked up for a grand and sold it for almost $4k after a spit shine, new pmd, some fuel lines and a bunch of cheap but confusing vacuum work and a homemade waste gate.
But the OP didn't sound like a gear head or someone who wanted a project, hence the warning and you have to admit that you better be better than avg with diagnostics and a wrench if you're going to keep a 6.5 diesel healthy.