Buying a Used Diesel Truck

[smcrea]

Hi,

Question:

If I'm buying a used diesel truck for towing our travel trailer then what should I look for when choosing the truck?

Any warning signs:

Is it a good idea to get a vehicle inspected and if so any recommendations. We live in San Diego but will look locally and up in the LA area.

With regards to Ford and Chevy/GM.. anything like DO not buy older than xyz?

It's my understanding that a Diesel will go on and on and on and 100K is just about run in. Is this true?

What tends to break first so we can check

Any Advise is welcome

Thanks!

[ricatic]

Highway 4x4 wrote:
"Buy a diesel for the greater torque and the exhaust brake capability but don't but one for greater reliability".
Yep, that's a Ford. OK, really Fords are a fine truck and I am sure there are many more on the road than in the repair shop at any given time.

...Shamefully true...except for the more torque and a better exhaust brake...Because I was addicted to the Blue KoolAid back when the Ford 6.7 was introduced, I sadly endured the endless string of "magazine tests" that almost unanimously showed the GM DuraMax as the "King of the Hill"...

Now...and then...reality still is that they were close enough in performance that it came down to what one liked when purchase time arrived...but...that was before the 6.7 Ford began to have some "issues"...expensive issues...issues not covered under warranty...

Regards

[wilber1]

Wrong topic

[Highway_4x4]

"Buy a diesel for the greater torque and the exhaust brake capability but don't but one for greater reliability".
Yep, that's a Ford. OK, really Fords are a fine truck and I am sure there are many more on the road than in the repair shop at any given time.

[ricatic]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:

wintersun wrote:
All the diesel trucks had problems up until 2010 and the repairs are in the thousands of dollars. Getting a 2010 or later model year will be the safest way to go. An extended warranty is not a bad idea either with a diesel powered pickup truck.

For towing the GM and Ford have been the best in terms of exhaust brake performance (corrected with 2013 and later Ram trucks) and transmission durability.

There have been real world testing done by etrailer.com and by Road and Track (April 2012) that provide a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of the different manufacturer's truck.

Lots of people will invariably state that they have X truck and it has been great but that is one person in a million trucks sold so their opinion is not reliable. I have used both Consumer Reports which does an annual survey of 100% of their members vehicles and industry repair shop numbers to evaluate different year and model trucks.

Engines are also only a piece of the equation. If the cooling system or AC or electricals or brakes or transmission are not reliable it also costs for the repairs and may entail a breakdown while towing which is the last thing you want.

Buy a diesel for the greater torque and the exhaust brake capability but don't but one for greater reliability. And don't compare the engines used in semi's to those put in pickups. Even the Cummins engines used in pickups are very different.

I don't think I have seen such misinformation in one post in a long time. :R Troy this guy is trying to take your title away from you. You need to step up your game. :B

:B:B:B:B:B...

I thought it...before I could type it...you posted it...especially telling when he claims Ford's exhaust brake was better than Ram's...where did that come from...not even in my best Blue KoolAid Days did I ever claim the exhaust brake was better than any ones...it was adequate at best when engaged at 50 mph or less...

...I expect the Blue KoolAid King will be along shortly...


Regards

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

wintersun wrote:
All the diesel trucks had problems up until 2010 and the repairs are in the thousands of dollars. Getting a 2010 or later model year will be the safest way to go. An extended warranty is not a bad idea either with a diesel powered pickup truck.

For towing the GM and Ford have been the best in terms of exhaust brake performance (corrected with 2013 and later Ram trucks) and transmission durability.

There have been real world testing done by etrailer.com and by Road and Track (April 2012) that provide a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of the different manufacturer's truck.

Lots of people will invariably state that they have X truck and it has been great but that is one person in a million trucks sold so their opinion is not reliable. I have used both Consumer Reports which does an annual survey of 100% of their members vehicles and industry repair shop numbers to evaluate different year and model trucks.

Engines are also only a piece of the equation. If the cooling system or AC or electricals or brakes or transmission are not reliable it also costs for the repairs and may entail a breakdown while towing which is the last thing you want.

Buy a diesel for the greater torque and the exhaust brake capability but don't but one for greater reliability. And don't compare the engines used in semi's to those put in pickups. Even the Cummins engines used in pickups are very different.

I don't think I have seen such misinformation in one post in a long time. :R Troy this guy is trying to take your title away from you. You need to step up your game. :B

[Highway_4x4]

If you are looking for a good used Diesel, the Ram is the way to go. Try to find one that is still stock, that is, no tuners or engine mods. I am on Cummins Forum and many there go 300-400 if maintained right. I know there is no for sale listings but there is on the Cummins Forum and you will even find a beauty there with my name on it.

[usmohls2]

Lot of big 3 sales people on this thread! Different strokes for different folks! We all like to brag about our truck!

[rhagfo]

45Ricochet wrote:

wintersun wrote:

For towing the GM and Ford have been the best in terms of exhaust brake performance (corrected with 2013 and later Ram trucks) and transmission durability. So tell me exactly when Ford and GM offered a exhaust brake? Ram offered it in 2006, a Jacobs, who also offered it in OTR rigs although a totally different concept. Ford EB has been a joke and that is why they are changing it in 2015, finally.

I have used both Consumer Reports Now that there explains everything about your opinion. Ask the washer and toaster expert's their opinions. which does an annual survey of 100% of their members vehicles and industry repair shop numbers to evaluate different year and model trucks.

Engines are also only a piece of the equation. If the cooling system or AC or electricals or brakes or transmission are not reliable it also costs for the repairs and may entail a breakdown while towing which is the last thing you want.

Buy a diesel for the greater torque and the exhaust brake capability but don't but one for greater reliability. Pretty sure the Cummin's guy's will disagree with that statement. We have several member's still pulling strong with over 250K miles on the ticker. And don't compare the engines used in semi's to those put in pickups. Even the Cummins engines used in pickups are very different. Not really other than size, still a little slant six!

Well Wintersun you have some seriously mixed up facts!

# 1 I know that the Jachobs exhaust brake was offered on my 01 Ram. mine didn't have one so I installed a Pacbrake.
# 2 the Cummins is a much stronger engine than the Ford and GM, the is why it is so heavy
#3 There are many Cummins 5.9's with many more miles than mine, I am only at 268,000 miles.

[FishOnOne]

45Ricochet wrote:

wintersun wrote:

For towing the GM and Ford have been the best in terms of exhaust brake performance (corrected with 2013 and later Ram trucks) and transmission durability. So tell me exactly when Ford and GM offered a exhaust brake? Ram offered it in 2006, a Jacobs, who also offered it in OTR rigs although a totally different concept. Ford EB has been a joke and that is why they are changing it in 2015, finally.

I have used both Consumer Reports Now that there explains everything about your opinion. Ask the washer and toaster expert's their opinions. which does an annual survey of 100% of their members vehicles and industry repair shop numbers to evaluate different year and model trucks.

Engines are also only a piece of the equation. If the cooling system or AC or electricals or brakes or transmission are not reliable it also costs for the repairs and may entail a breakdown while towing which is the last thing you want.

Buy a diesel for the greater torque and the exhaust brake capability but don't but one for greater reliability. Pretty sure the Cummin's guy's will disagree with that statement. We have several member's still pulling strong with over 250K miles on the ticker. And don't compare the engines used in semi's to those put in pickups. Even the Cummins engines used in pickups are very different. Not really other than size, still a little slant six!

I'm pretty sure this one didn't make to 250k miles... At least not without a rebuild. :W

Link

Why is it that I hear so many cummins knocking. Seriously! :W

Ahh heck... Lets' just blame it on a tuner! :R

[wnjj]

Golden_HVAC wrote:
The 2004 and earlier Fords had a light duty weight range, so a 11,500 pound GVWR required DRW back in 2004, while in 2005 the larger 18" rims and 3,400 pound rated tires allowed you to carry a 4,000 pound load with a F-350 crewcab.

Howver as stated above the 2003 6 liter diesel was not the best design, and the 6.4L was mildly better than that one. Problem was that the engine oil cooler was inline with the exhaust gas cooler. When the coolant plugged the first cooler, then the second one would overheat with 1,100F exhaust gas, then leak water into the air intake. Installing a coolant water filter solved the problem, but never became a popular option among Ford trucks. More popular was the $12,000 to $15,000 engine rebuild. The $18 filter twice a year seems more economical to me. . . .

Fred.

You'd think Ford "engineers" would have figured that out too if an $18 filter was the fix. Maybe they did but the accountants wouldn't let them.

[Golden_HVAC]

The 2004 and earlier Fords had a light duty weight range, so a 11,500 pound GVWR required DRW back in 2004, while in 2005 the larger 18" rims and 3,400 pound rated tires allowed you to carry a 4,000 pound load with a F-350 crewcab.

Howver as stated above the 2003 6 liter diesel was not the best design, and the 6.4L was mildly better than that one. Problem was that the engine oil cooler was inline with the exhaust gas cooler. When the coolant plugged the first cooler, then the second one would overheat with 1,100F exhaust gas, then leak water into the air intake. Installing a coolant water filter solved the problem, but never became a popular option among Ford trucks. More popular was the $12,000 to $15,000 engine rebuild. The $18 filter twice a year seems more economical to me. . . .

Fred.

[45Ricochet]

wintersun wrote:

For towing the GM and Ford have been the best in terms of exhaust brake performance (corrected with 2013 and later Ram trucks) and transmission durability. So tell me exactly when Ford and GM offered a exhaust brake? Ram offered it in 2006, a Jacobs, who also offered it in OTR rigs although a totally different concept. Ford EB has been a joke and that is why they are changing it in 2015, finally.

I have used both Consumer Reports Now that there explains everything about your opinion. Ask the washer and toaster expert's their opinions. which does an annual survey of 100% of their members vehicles and industry repair shop numbers to evaluate different year and model trucks.

Engines are also only a piece of the equation. If the cooling system or AC or electricals or brakes or transmission are not reliable it also costs for the repairs and may entail a breakdown while towing which is the last thing you want.

Buy a diesel for the greater torque and the exhaust brake capability but don't but one for greater reliability. Pretty sure the Cummin's guy's will disagree with that statement. We have several member's still pulling strong with over 250K miles on the ticker. And don't compare the engines used in semi's to those put in pickups. Even the Cummins engines used in pickups are very different. Not really other than size, still a little slant six!

[Taco]

I would avoid ford 6.0 and 6.4 engines.

The design life on the pickup diesels is in the 220k-250k range. Some obviously do much better than this but it isn't a given that a diesel pickup will last 500k miles.

At the last job I worked we had three gm 2500hd trucks two duramax and one gas 6.0. they all had about 200-250k on them. One duramax ran great, the other ran like total garbage and had already had to have 5k in fuel system work done on it. The 6.0 gas also ran well.

I wouldn't consider a pickup gas or diesel with 100k barely broken in. I would consider it 40% used up with it's best and most reliable years behind it.

The issue with diesel ownership is that the recent model years have the potential for very expensive 10k+ dollar engine and fuel system repairs if something does go wrong. Not saying it will but know that the repair cost can get very high if something does go wrong.

[wintersun]

All the diesel trucks had problems up until 2010 and the repairs are in the thousands of dollars. Getting a 2010 or later model year will be the safest way to go. An extended warranty is not a bad idea either with a diesel powered pickup truck.

For towing the GM and Ford have been the best in terms of exhaust brake performance (corrected with 2013 and later Ram trucks) and transmission durability.

There have been real world testing done by etrailer.com and by Road and Track (April 2012) that provide a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of the different manufacturer's truck.

Lots of people will invariably state that they have X truck and it has been great but that is one person in a million trucks sold so their opinion is not reliable. I have used both Consumer Reports which does an annual survey of 100% of their members vehicles and industry repair shop numbers to evaluate different year and model trucks.

Engines are also only a piece of the equation. If the cooling system or AC or electricals or brakes or transmission are not reliable it also costs for the repairs and may entail a breakdown while towing which is the last thing you want.

Buy a diesel for the greater torque and the exhaust brake capability but don't but one for greater reliability. And don't compare the engines used in semi's to those put in pickups. Even the Cummins engines used in pickups are very different.

[Tystevens]

Lots of opinions about what are now 'older' diesels, where we all like to wax nostalgic and/or defensive (in the case of the 6.0 owners 😉 ) about the pre-dpf diesels and what was the best.

But the OP was asking about trucks that are only 3-4 yrs old, he isn't going to be looking at any 6.0's, 5.9's, or anything with real issues. Except maybe a Ford 6.4, which personally, I'd avoid.

For the last 4 yrs, I'd buy whatever I liked from the brand I liked. The exception being a Ford w/ a 6.4.

And lest the OP be talked in to buying someone's old, used "gem" of a diesel, I'd avoid that, too, unless you're a diesel mechanic, have designs on modifying the truck and all of that. Some of those engines might have been great and might last forever, but the trucks around 'em are getting real old. Yeah, my '06 LBZ Duramax was the best truck ever (seriously, it was, I loved that truck!), but there is no way I'd pay someone $20k for their 8 yr old 100k+ mile truck regardless of the engine in it.

Just my $.02! Good luck!