Diesels...Ford vs GMC vs Dodge

[turtypointbuck]

Set your brand allegiance aside. Using real world experience and personal knowledge, what is the better SRW Diesel pick-up? When it is all said and done, they all probably perform acceptably. Take into consideration maintenance issues, ride, comfort, etc. The purpose of the truck will be to pull a FW and daily driver. I am considering new or most recent generation used trucks.

[Fixed_Sight_Tra]

At my job I end up working with a lot of people with newer diesel trucks. Over the last few weeks I talked to someone with a newer Chevy 3500 where the check engine light came on the day after he bought it at 47K mi. After some fighting he got the dealer to split the $2400 repair. An '11 Cummins needed new injectors, $4K, AND a '14 Ford needed to have the fuel pump replaced with no warranty at several thousand dollars.
I wanted a diesel but I think with the complexity of the newer emission plus the fact they keep squeezing a ridiculous amount of power to sell them I am leaning toward a gasser. It won't pull as well but in the long run much cheaper.

[turtypointbuck]

Dryfly01 wrote:
I love the way a tread morphs when such a topic is posed. Starts as brand comparison, based on inexperience, then goes to American vs. off-shore companies, then to individual citizenship-all interesting but here is where I am (and perhaps the spirit in which this thread was started).

I am brand new to RVing and not a gear head. My dear wife and I just bought our first trailer (1999 Wilderness-max wt 8300 lbs) this past labor day and pulled it from Arkansas to The Black Hills and back with my 1999 Yukon (see, I told you I was new-LOL). Now I'm looking for a more suitable TV but don't have a lot of money-maybe $15K. Therefore, I'm looking at a older truck. I've decided that I want a diesel, crew cab with a full bed. I've seen several in my price range and they include the 99 to 02 7.3 Power Stroke, or a 6.0 cheap enough to allow another $4k to have the studs, egr and other bulletroof upgrades made, or an 2000 to 05 Duraxax. I haven't considered Dodge because, although the Cummings ais a good engine, what hear from Dodge owners of that era being that the ride is quite hard (maybe I'm being misguided on that point). The main thing that this truck will be used for is pulling the RV for recreational use on a couple of long trips and many local trips per year. Reasonable comfort is an issue for my DW.

With all of that said, I was lookin to see on this thread is what owners of trucks in this age category may have to offer as to their pros and cons to help me narrow the field. Any help?

Yes, the question was first asked innocently enough. I want to pull a fifth wheel and need a diesel TV. Because this will be my first diesel truck, I wanted to pick the minds of RV.NET

Thanks to the responders.

[Cummins12V98]

jalichty wrote:
I had a 2003 GMC D/A combo with crew-cab and short bed. Put a little over 103,000 miles on it inning years and had a couple of problems with it. Had all the injectors replaced around 40,000 miles, but I think that was a problem with that year GMC diesel. On top of that, the little window showing the gear the truck was in kept messing up and going blank. Had this replaced there times, once under warranty, once I paid for and two messed up while under the one-year replacement warranty. After it downshifted me from overdrive to a next lower gear while on the highway, we decided to get a new vehicle. It never had a problem towing our FW, a Jayco Eagle 215SD and a boat behind, with the last boat and boat trailer we had weighing 5,000 pounds fully ready for fishing and a full gas tank.

What are you driving now?

[jalichty]

I had a 2003 GMC D/A combo with crew-cab and short bed. Put a little over 103,000 miles on it inning years and had a couple of problems with it. Had all the injectors replaced around 40,000 miles, but I think that was a problem with that year GMC diesel. On top of that, the little window showing the gear the truck was in kept messing up and going blank. Had this replaced there times, once under warranty, once I paid for and two messed up while under the one-year replacement warranty. After it downshifted me from overdrive to a next lower gear while on the highway, we decided to get a new vehicle. It never had a problem towing our FW, a Jayco Eagle 215SD and a boat behind, with the last boat and boat trailer we had weighing 5,000 pounds fully ready for fishing and a full gas tank.

[Dryfly01]

I love the way a tread morphs when such a topic is posed. Starts as brand comparison, based on inexperience, then goes to American vs. off-shore companies, then to individual citizenship-all interesting but here is where I am (and perhaps the spirit in which this thread was started).

I am brand new to RVing and not a gear head. My dear wife and I just bought our first trailer (1999 Wilderness-max wt 8300 lbs) this past labor day and pulled it from Arkansas to The Black Hills and back with my 1999 Yukon (see, I told you I was new-LOL). Now I'm looking for a more suitable TV but don't have a lot of money-maybe $15K. Therefore, I'm looking at a older truck. I've decided that I want a diesel, crew cab with a full bed. I've seen several in my price range and they include the 99 to 02 7.3 Power Stroke, or a 6.0 cheap enough to allow another $4k to have the studs, egr and other bulletroof upgrades made, or an 2000 to 05 Duraxax. I haven't considered Dodge because, although the Cummings ais a good engine, what hear from Dodge owners of that era being that the ride is quite hard (maybe I'm being misguided on that point). The main thing that this truck will be used for is pulling the RV for recreational use on a couple of long trips and many local trips per year. Reasonable comfort is an issue for my DW.

With all of that said, I was lookin to see on this thread is what owners of trucks in this age category may have to offer as to their pros and cons to help me narrow the field. Any help?

[RedRocket204]

The knitting circle is strong with this thread.

[DirtyOil]

Most Dodges with the 6.7 have the emissions deleted and practically all are backed by a manual transmission.

dang!! you paint with a very broad paint brush! :h

[FishOnOne]

chevor wrote:
I wanna add more about commercially used pickups.
Dodge being #1, most are still run older 5.9 cummins, its the most simple unchanged. Those who have upgraded from what I hear have problems with the new trucks.
I do believe the GM diesels trucks are gaining ground. The new trucks just have less problems than the others.
Ford seem to be mainly 7.3 engines and those driving the newer ones I just haven't seen them around for long.

Most Dodges with the 6.7 have the emissions deleted and practically all are backed by a manual transmission.

I'm seeing more and more 6.7 powered Ford DRW trucks towing goosenecks with oil field equipment back and forth to south Texas. I hear the improved fuel economy is a big reason.

It's very rare that I see a GM DRW truck so I can't say there making a comeback.

[ol_Bombero-JC]

turtypointbuck wrote:
Set your brand allegiance aside. Using real world experience and personal knowledge, what is the better SRW Diesel pick-up? When it is all said and done, they all probably perform acceptably. Take into consideration maintenance issues, ride, comfort, etc. The purpose of the truck will be to pull a FW and daily driver. I am considering new or most recent generation used trucks.

Easy way to sort out the Good, Bad, Ugly!..;)

.....and filter out the brand bashers..:(

Go to the forums for *EACH* brand (there are several for each).

See what problems the *OWNERS* are reporting.

Check the "HELP!" section (if the forum has one).

How are problems being fixed, repaired, corrected?
(Whether under warranty at the dealer/s, or out-of warranty for used)

Frequency? - Down time? - Expense? - etc.

Also, peruse the various sections for the good stuff.


~

[DirtyOil]

You believe you earned the right to screw over your fellow Americans. And we have the right to tell you so.

"screw over your fellow Americans." !?? firstly I "ain't" American, secondly how did I screw Americans? if I was you I'd blame it on those who have earned enough money to invest in shares/stock in American companies, I believe investors want the biggest bang for their buck when investing. how do you get the biggest bang for your buck/shares/stock prices? you move your operations offshore for cheap labour and cheaper material costs. avoid the IRS, you move your headquarters to tax exempt countries. that's how you make a difference in share/stock prices... the rich get richer and the US unemployment lines get longer. That's how you screw Americans, Americans do it to themselves! A large American Web design company moved its head office to the Caribbean to avoid/reduce their corporate taxes, IRS punished them by awarding that same company a multi million dollar contract to re-design the IRS website... just to name one of many!

[chevor]

I wanna add more about commercially used pickups.
Dodge being #1, most are still run older 5.9 cummins, its the most simple unchanged. Those who have upgraded from what I hear have problems with the new trucks.
I do believe the GM diesels trucks are gaining ground. The new trucks just have less problems than the others.
Ford seem to be mainly 7.3 engines and those driving the newer ones I just haven't seen them around for long.

[Cummins12V98]

Winged One wrote:

DirtyOil wrote:
Tell that to the many men and women who served and are serving to protect your freedom to choose...Rather hypocritical to say other wise .

You believe you earned the right to screw over your fellow Americans. And we have the right to tell you so.

I would highly recommend installing a Cummins into your truck so you can get as close to 100% US made as possible.:B

[Cummins12V98]

chevor wrote:
In the commercial hauling world its Dodge#1, then Chevy and its getting scarce to see a Ford.

I have said this for years!

Just drove from NW WA TO SoCal. Saw at least 12 RAM's two GM's and one early 2,000 Ford with the 7.3. All were independent RV and car haulers. 5 years ago Ford and GM were 2 & 3 respectively.

I am sure Fish will have a totally different take on this.

[Winged_One]

DirtyOil wrote:
Tell that to the many men and women who served and are serving to protect your freedom to choose...Rather hypocritical to say other wise .

You believe you earned the right to screw over your fellow Americans. And we have the right to tell you so.