Most RELIABLE Diesel 1 Ton Truck???

[bowler1]

Hi
I am in the market for a used diesel 1 Ton single rear axle truck. I have no real preference among the big three. I like all of them. I just want something I can depend on...not just the engine but the whole truck. This is especially an issue when buying used. I am looking for a one or two year old truck with under 50k miles.

What's your recommendation?

Thanks
Matt

[DutchmenSport]

I've had 2 Chevy 3500 Silverado (Diesel) duly's and both were great truck.

Why did we trade the first one though? It had a fiberglass body, and was beginning to get bad spider cracks in the fat fenders. To replace would have cost about $4000 a side as each side is one entire piece. Then the bottoms of the doors were rusting out, and my local body shop said it wasn't worth putting a band aid on a broken bone. The rust was coming from inside the doors. The only option was to replace the doors.

We decided to go with a brand new one, instead of used. We got $18,000 value for trade in on it though. We only paid $25,000 used. It had just slightly over 100,000 miles on it. But the towing ability and engine were magnificent on that first diesel. We've had the second diesel duly now for 3 years now, and it's marvelous. Metal body, have had absolutely NO problems with it. Only oil and air filter changes.

My experience has been positive with the Chevy Silverado.

[Flan]

I have always been a fan of the inline 6 engines, therefore go with the cummins. When you have to work on them you can pretty much see what's going on under the hood, open up the hood of a V-8 diesel and the first thing that comes to mind is holy ****. The cab and front clip comes off for a lot of repairs!

[blt2ski]

I like blue or red ones, White is not too bad, but rather plain......
I prefer the seats in GM's, they usually sit a bit lower, so easier to load things, including my fat arse!

With that in mind......blue is heaviest paint, so a bit slower, white in the middle, red the lightest, so the faster one of the three!

Marty

[tomman58]

Groover wrote:
" I sell my diesels when they hit around 180,000 to 200k not because they are looking ratty but the leather is cracking and the electronic are out dated. That's me... have fun. "

I admit that I don't have much experience with leather but I was recently talking with a guy that does auto upholstry for a living and he recommended a regular treatment with saddle soap to prevent cracks. I guess that what works on saddles would work on trucks as well.

Forgot all about that stuff I put it away 20 years ago. He is right it softens it a lot. the only down side as I recall was it showed more dirt faster.

[tomman58]

blofgren wrote:

tomman58 wrote:
Dodge is popular on the low end whereas you look for a work truck with a proven drive train
Ford with better reliability and good drivetrain. also with a line of premium interiors.
Gmc with premium line of interiors, features and proven drive train. Their line as of 2015 are very quiet, doors that close without being slammed,a ride second to none and the LTZ line of interiors and options is comparable to a luxury car.

You may want to get out of the 1990's.....:R

Sorry but my 2015 is likely the quietest and best ride I've had and the interior is better than most.

[Groover]

" I sell my diesels when they hit around 180,000 to 200k not because they are looking ratty but the leather is cracking and the electronic are out dated. That's me... have fun. "

I admit that I don't have much experience with leather but I was recently talking with a guy that does auto upholstry for a living and he recommended a regular treatment with saddle soap to prevent cracks. I guess that what works on saddles would work on trucks as well.

[ACZL]

All of them are great when they are running! When they go down, biggest pieces of garbage!

[N7GLD]

Really it's personal preference but after researching the performance and reliability I chose the Duramax with the Allison transmission. Pulls our 30 foot 5th wheel over the continental divide in cruise control and almost lulls me to sleep.

[4x4ord]

I don't think there is a bad choice among the big three diesels since 2015.

[rhagfo]

FishOnOne wrote:
If looking for a used 1-2 year old diesel I would give a serious look at brand new trucks. Full warranty and no worries of abuse or hidden gremlins.

As for the guys recommending a 5.9ctd those trucks are far from being 1-2 years old and the 05 we have the entire dash boards is gone and the AC ducts don't work properly. Not hardly the scenario the OP is looking for.

X2!
Most 1to 2 year diesels with low miles are so over priced, you would be better off buying new. I would buy another Ram in a heartbeat after 40+ years as a Ford only owner.

Well my 5.9 in a 2001 wrapper it all still works AC, dash is fine, and only 303,000 miles.

[azdryheat]

Chevy Duramax. That's what I have. 63,000 trouble free miles.

[DakotaDad]

There are differences between the three brands. And in a 1-2 year old truck, with less than 50k, most of them will be pretty minor.

Don't narrow down your choices before you start searching. Look at everything that fits your needs, regardless of brand. If you find a cherry, buy it, whether it's a GM, Ford, or Ram. And be happy.

No matter what you pick, 2 out of 3 brand owners will tell you that you chose wrong. So you might as well get what you like, for the best price you can. It'll ease the sting!

[blofgren]

tomman58 wrote:
Dodge is popular on the low end whereas you look for a work truck with a proven drive train
Ford with better reliability and good drivetrain. also with a line of premium interiors.
Gmc with premium line of interiors, features and proven drive train. Their line as of 2015 are very quiet, doors that close without being slammed,a ride second to none and the LTZ line of interiors and options is comparable to a luxury car.

You may want to get out of the 1990's.....:R

[jus2shy]

Really, if you're looking at only 1 or 2 years of age and under 50k miles, things will come right down to ergonomics, features, and aesthetics. There really isn't any "Red-flag" for the most recent batch of trucks with those guidelines. All trucks have some form of exhaust brake. All trucks use DEF. Only thing notable is that GM has a 9th injector, so there's no chance of cylinder washing with their diesel. But still, I don't hear about fuel dilution issues with Fords or RAMs either, since going to DEF.

So if I were in the OP's shoes, I'd sit my butt in all 3 maker's vehicles, see what I like and don't like interior and feature wise, then see what sacrifices I'm willing to make for the best bargain I can find.

Yeah, the CP4 issue is still out there (Ford and GM use this pump in their diesels), but updates have been made to the pump to harden the failure points of it (like diamond like coating). I personally haven't heard drama of one falling apart and ruining an injection system in the last couple years.

[BB_TX]

We all have our preferences. But in reality, any of the big 3 within the last 4-5 years will all be about the same reliability wise. Just a matter of which YOU like the best.