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Horror Stories

ttempleton
Explorer
Explorer
BOUGHT 2003 F350 6.0 Ford diesel to pull 5th wheel. (12k) pounds. Heard and read Horror stories. Anybody got anything good to say?? Happy 4th
Templeton
2003 DP Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40 PST
88 REPLIES 88

Perrysburg_Dodg
Explorer
Explorer
No need to pull the cab to do injectors on the 6.0 but the 6.4 is another story or it could be just the dealership up charging.

Any of the trucks if chipped will not last long. Add in poor maintenance and you have a recipe for huge repair bills. As for working on a Power-Stoke or Dura-Max the Cummins is by far cheaper and easier to work on then the other two.

>Tory, try taking off those anti Ram glasses and maybe you might see them. But then you wouldn't have anything to talk about on RV.NET now would you. :W :B

Don
2015 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab SWB 4X4 Ecodiesel GDE Tune.

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
rhagfo wrote:
fla-gypsy wrote:
There have been many owners of the 6.0 PSD come here and declare they have never had an issue and plenty that did have problems. Based on the fact that those with a bad experience are 10x more likely to say something I would guess the failure rate is relatively low but more than some others. By mentioning the Ford 6.0L PSD you have invoked the chorus of all Ford haters to come take a shot.


Fla-Gypsy, I don't think most are Ford haters, that are just those that feel a fair warning is due to a newbie that is looking to get a diesel. The Ford 6.0 is one reason many don't want to go to diesel, and many of those were repaired under warranty.
Now take a diesel newbie, and they like Fords to begin with and see a great deal on a Ford 6.0, and go out and buy because it is what they can afford.

Then after about two months, that have an EGR cooler go out, or worse blow a head gasket. Now the great deal on that Nice diesel 6.0, turns out to be a financial disaster.

I will be one to say, the 6.0 CAN be a great towing diesel, but it requires and investment up front on a used one.

Why do you think company's like Destroked, and Bullet Proof Diesel exist??

I was a Ford lover for 45 years, drove nothing but Fords and Mercury's, I made the choice to go with Cummins/Dodge for a diesel, based on Cummins reputation not Dodge. I will say, I have really enjoyed the combination, not only a great engine, but a very good body and interior.


All good points!

I also bought my 98 RAM Cummins because of the engine and figured I would be fixing the Dodge stuff all the time. Actually it was the best most trouble free trucks I have ever owned. Sold it to my Son with 380K and is still a great looking dependable truck.

I am not a Ford hater at all. I have owned Fords in the past. But I have personally witnessed how much trouble the 6.0 and 6.4 engines have been and just want people to be aware of what they may be getting into.

It just blows me away when people like my Aunts Brother keep buying Ford Diesels and has major problems and complains about them but just keeps buying a new one every 3-5 years.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
fla-gypsy wrote:
There have been many owners of the 6.0 PSD come here and declare they have never had an issue and plenty that did have problems. Based on the fact that those with a bad experience are 10x more likely to say something I would guess the failure rate is relatively low but more than some others. By mentioning the Ford 6.0L PSD you have invoked the chorus of all Ford haters to come take a shot.


Fla-Gypsy, I don't think most are Ford haters, that are just those that feel a fair warning is due to a newbie that is looking to get a diesel. The Ford 6.0 is one reason many don't want to go to diesel, and many of those were repaired under warranty.
Now take a diesel newbie, and they like Fords to begin with and see a great deal on a Ford 6.0, and go out and buy because it is what they can afford.

Then after about two months, that have an EGR cooler go out, or worse blow a head gasket. Now the great deal on that Nice diesel 6.0, turns out to be a financial disaster.

I will be one to say, the 6.0 CAN be a great towing diesel, but it requires and investment up front on a used one.

Why do you think company's like Destroked, and Bullet Proof Diesel exist??

I was a Ford lover for 45 years, drove nothing but Fords and Mercury's, I made the choice to go with Cummins/Dodge for a diesel, based on Cummins reputation not Dodge. I will say, I have really enjoyed the combination, not only a great engine, but a very good body and interior.
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

Yellermanx
Explorer
Explorer
I have an 05 6.0 I bought new. I have had to repair the alternator once, batteries a couple times and replace a couple brake calipers.

I think 90%+ of the problems are Bubba trying to get 800 HP out of a little engine. Leave it stock like the REAL engineers designed it.

CampingN_C_
Explorer
Explorer
We have 6.0's and 6.4's in all of our work trucks, F450's and F550's. Most if not all of the 6.4's are on their second engine. These trucks are worked much harder than anyone's personal vehicle.
I would never ever look at a 6.4, but I think I'd consider the 6.0 if completely bulletproofed. I think the tunes and upgrades is what kill most. I've ran mine low on coolant, waaay over for oil changes, and drive the h**l out of it, and it's somewhere around 14K lbs.

I'm on my 4th Chevy and have never owned anything else so take it FWIW !!
2018 Ram 3500 DRW CCLB Aisin 4.10 4x4

2018 Jayco Talon 413T
B&W Companion

kirbybear
Explorer
Explorer
Add the upgraded fuel pressure blue spring kit for injector life.

ParkCountry
Explorer
Explorer
ttempleton wrote:
BOUGHT 2003 F350 6.0 Ford diesel to pull 5th wheel. (12k) pounds. Heard and read Horror stories. Anybody got anything good to say?? Happy 4th


Not really. The 6.0's shortcomings are Legend. Best to upgrade it and put all your worries to bed once and for all, but it's gonna cost ya. If memory serves me right, it was the 6.0 that caused a falling out between Ford and International, forcing Ford to sever that relationship.

Bedlam
Moderator
Moderator
108k miles on my 2005 usually loaded at 19k lbs GCW. It has crossed the Rockies on three round trip vacations without ever a need for more power or more truck.

It has been towed once due to high pressure oil fitting failure but otherwise always got to our destination under its own power.

I have had less maintenance costs than a friend with a two year newer Dodge but know others that own any of the big three trucks and have had no issues after after 150k miles.

Host Mammoth 11.5 on Ram 5500 HD

Bird_Freak
Explorer II
Explorer II
FishOnOne wrote:
powderman426 wrote:
What good things do I have to say?

I'm glad it's not mine.

Are they all bad? No. But they have had many problems. My neighbor has one. It was $1600 for an injector because they have to remove the body to do it. Second time was over $5000. I wish you luck.


That's really odd... The body does not need to be replaced to remove any injector. :h
This is true. just another hater spreading false information.
Eddie
03 Fleetwood Pride, 36-5L
04 Ford F-250 Superduty
15K Pullrite Superglide
Old coach 04 Pace Arrow 37C with brakes sometimes.
Owner- The Toy Shop-
Auto Restoration and Customs 32 years. Retired by a stroke!
We love 56 T-Birds

fla-gypsy
Explorer
Explorer
There have been many owners of the 6.0 PSD come here and declare they have never had an issue and plenty that did have problems. Based on the fact that those with a bad experience are 10x more likely to say something I would guess the failure rate is relatively low but more than some others. By mentioning the Ford 6.0L PSD you have invoked the chorus of all Ford haters to come take a shot.
This member is not responsible for opinions that are inaccurate due to faulty information provided by the original poster. Use them at your own discretion.

09 SuperDuty Crew Cab 6.8L/4.10(The Black Pearl)
06 Keystone Hornet 29 RLS/(The Cracker Cabana)

larry_kruzan
Explorer
Explorer
We have a young family in our church who started their deputation travels around the country raising the support they would need on the mission field. As they were getting ready they needed a 5ver to haul for their family and a truck to haul it. He asked me one day about things to avoid and I told him to not walk away from a truck that had the 6.0 in it - run from it.

They had a person in a dealership offer them a "deal" on a 05(?) truck and a pretty nice 5ver bunkhouse. This time he didn't ask me, he knew what I'd already told him. In short he bought the combo and an "extended warranty" on the truck, thinking that it would cover things if it blew up.

After three months on the road the motor puked just 75 miles away at a local church. His extended warranty did Help" with the overhaul but it still cost him $3500 out of pocket. I suggested that he take it to a local shop that bullet proofs the 6.0, but he had lots of meetings to get to and decided that he needed to get on the road. 7 months and 60k miles later the motor puked again in Montana in the middle of winter. The warranty company stepped up and covered all but $2000 this time and he was back on the road for 13 months in Omaha Ne, the motor puked again. This time with no warranty and facing a $12k bill at a ford dealership, he elected to trade it all in on a Explorer that he would be able to drive for the last month of his time on the road.

Three major pukes in two years of full time RVing. I believe you can never argue a idea with a man who has experience. Our young friends have experience - I wonder what they think of a 6.0 now???
Larry and Debbie Kruzan

We never turn a corner without wondering in amazement at God's creation!

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
FishOnOne wrote:
powderman426 wrote:
What good things do I have to say?

I'm glad it's not mine.

Are they all bad? No. But they have had many problems. My neighbor has one. It was $1600 for an injector because they have to remove the body to do it. Second time was over $5000. I wish you luck.


That's really odd... The body does not need to be replaced to remove any injector. :h


Injectors are very expensive on any of the newer trucks. Also with 50 lbs of chi!! stuffed into a 25#bag it makes them hard to work on.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Wadcutter
Nomad
Nomad
A friend had a 6.0 Ford F-250 for a bit less than 2 years and then traded for a Ram. His 6.0 seemed like it was always in the shop. After he traded he figured up just how many days his 6.0 had been in the shop and it turned out the Ford dealer had it more days than he did.
His brother in law who we camped with some also had a 6.0 F-250 for a couple of years. He was constantly bragging how much power and how great his 6.0 was. However seemed like every time we were going camping he couldn't go because his truck was in the shop.
Camped in every state

Hank85713
Explorer
Explorer
we just crossed over Wolf Creek pass in colo. The V10 got as low as 25MPH, BUT, we still were able to PASS a NEW Dodge that was struggling to make it over! Dont know what his problem was but he eventually pulled in behind us at the crest. Left before we did but he was stopped again just down the road!

I pulled it last year with MY 6.0 ford no issues. Yes, he had a 32-35 5th wheel in tow, I was in our new to us 29 ft MH with a towd.

FSJPat
Explorer
Explorer
My friend bought an 07 DRW Lariat with 175k miles for $16k. Perfect interior and exterior, clean Carfax and OASIS reports. Immediately took it to a diesel mechanic in town and had EGR delete done, head studs installed with 4" turbo back exhaust and gauges. With an SCT tuner, that thing screams. Uses it to pull his Big Country 3450TS, horses, loads of hay, whatever. Transmission is always in the right gear.

The bad part about it? He doesn't like the way the stereo sounds, he wants to upgrade it.
2013 Bighorn 3370RK
2008 Ford F450
Full timin' and loving life.