Ram 6.4 Hemi & Cummins Test Drive
I'm currently in an 06 Duramax and it's been a great truck but as the miles tick upward I'm thinking of something new. So, I just drove both the Ram 2500 6.4 and the 2500 Cummins back to back, same...
Forum Discussion
N-Trouble wrote:
I assume your current Duramax is stock, but have you considered tuning (EFI live)? Whole new beast that will get even better mileage and might have you re-thinking ever going gas. Put a set of Bilsteins on that thing and you'll have your ride back. 140K really isn't a lot for any diesel.
Yep... totally stock and it's great. I haven't chipped it yet and really have/had no plans to. The ride doesn't even bother me that much. I was mainly mentioning those things as part of the review of the new trucks.
My main reason from looking at new is the repairs are starting to add up and the way I use my truck I am a good candidate for a new one. I'm a "light" contractor. I have a couple stops a day with a minimal # of tools but put a lot of miles on.... and of course need a truck to tow the TT.
Over the last two years I've put about $1800/year into the current truck in various suspension parts and other stuff - both front hubs, xfer case leaked, tranny lines, pitman arm, etc, etc. Now, I'm starting to have a starter issue that may just be the starter but the flywheel could be damaged and need to be replaced. The cost could run as high as $2500 if everything is bad once it's torn into.
I know diesel engines last forever but I'm starting to think everything around them doesn't. I realize I'm probably at the unfortunate side of the bell curve but that's just life. New truck, warranty, predictable outlay each month is starting to sound nice. And for my 8500lb TT I don't need a diesel. Sure, it's a joy when I do tow but it's just not often enough to justify the increasing repair bills.
Truth be told, I'm really struggling over this decision and if I can find a way to sort out the current problem without spending a bunch of money I'd gladly keep my truck. But at 2K + per year in repairs + a small remaining monthly payment I could be driving a new truck and have zero worries.
Thanks everyone for all the input and I hope people other than me are getting use from this growing thread.
