Truck shopping

[Ventura_Dogman]

I have a new Northstar Laredo SC (dry wt 2100) on an F150 with helper springs. While the F150 does a pretty darn good job with the load despite the specs (took it on a long trip to Utah and it did rather well), I am truck shopping. I will be looking at a 3/4 4x4 diesel (long road trips, mountain roads, light off road use). Right now I am considering the Chevy 2500.

I am facing the new vs used dilemma. I am not sure of inherent issues in the truck, if any, that I might inherit if I go used. Also, are there major maintenance costs at a major interval (say 100k) like replacing injectors, etc that might make the cost differential of going new shrink? Extended warranty worth it on one of these due to high cost of repair if something goes wrong?

Any other thoughts or suggestions, either on the diesel idea or the truck brand or anything else I should consider?

[jefe_4x4]

A lot of personal preference here, as it should be. If I were in your shoes, knowing your parameters, I would just keep a lookout for a used 350-3500 that is a good bargain. Engine, transmission, and accessories are all in the mix. Be prepared to go a few hundred miles from your place to make that bargain. So. Cal. is bargain country. A lot of distressed sellers there. My neighbor Ken found a 1995, V-10, Dodge 2-series, 4x4 single cab long bed with a deluxe shell and lumber rack for $3500. Oh, and 60K miles on the clock. He pulls a 4 horse trailer. What a great rig at a great price. He could not be more pleased. Jim my neighbor bought as 2001 Dodge Cummins for $7K about 6 years ago. It looks and sounds good with no woes and just turned 300K miles on the original engine. Another neighbor James, bought a brand new 2016 Ram 2-series 4 door long bed 4x4 with the Aisin trans and newest version of the Cummins. What is that? 950 pound feet of torque? He is ecstatic. Another neighbor Keith bought a 2008 Ford F-250 HD to haul his Lance 845 camper. He loves it. Our newest next-door neighbor Rob just bought a 2016 Chevy 2500 diesel pickup and he is overjoyed. We looked in the glove box to find out what size camper he should get to find out the weight max for a camper is 1500 pounds. Boo. What's up with that? Looking at the rear end (that gigantic AAM axle) I found he had no overload springs and wimpy tires. Otherwise, the frame, suspension, and drive train are the same as on much higher weight rated trucks. These are my closest neighbors that waited for the opportune time to jump in and buy a truck. They were open minded enough to get the best deal regardless of badge. jefe

[dadwolf2]

Another vote for, if you're looking at a 3/4 ton diesel, just go straight to the 1 ton.

[realter]

Ventura Dogman wrote:
I don't see me trading up to a bigger camper. It is me and a dog and I like to head to out of the way places on rough dirt roads, etc. This camper already weighs a little more than I would like, but it is comfortable and warm. The truck is strictly for the camper and road trips. I have a Honda Accord as a commuter until I can retire. This will be my retirement rig.

I just traded up from a Northstar popup (TC800) and I figure this will be it until I take the final dirt nap.

I spend a lot of time in the mountains on steep and curvy roads. I figured the torque of the diesel would come in handy for this? I have the F150 with the big V8 and it feels pretty underpowered climbing hills.

Realter, I just double checked and the base dry weight on the new Laredo SC is 2090 lb. per the Northstar website. I added a bumper, but will travel without the jacks, probably a net weight loss. The other options I added don't weigh much (longer windows, etc). It is fairly stock.

I notice you traded up to a 3500. Did you ever weigh the Laredo?

[Farmerjon]

Our 2000 7.3 with 138,000 on it has had only 1 problem and that was a cam position sensor at 85,000 miles.
That's not really a diesel problem.
It uses 1 quart of oil between changes and runs like new. But that isn't any different than what I would expect from any of the newer trucks, gas or diesel.
We just replaced alot of front suspension parts,ball joints etc and the front leaf springs.
Again not diesel related unless you want to blame the weight of the engine which I don't.
It's just a common repair to be expected on older gas or diesel trucks.

[Grodyman]

I would avoid any diesel. Too expensive and repairs are expensive out of warranty. Gas all the way.

[jimh406]

The prices have been closer lately. http://fuelgaugereport.aaa.com/states/washington/washington-metro/ shows an extreme spread of around $.80 in 2008 and $.16 in the last month.

I'd be happy if diesel stays low!

[Grit_dog]

jimh425 wrote:
In my area, regular gasoline is cheaper than diesel by quite a bit. Where in Eastern Washington do you find it the same price? 🙂

Weird, I've been buying diesel for about 20c less than gas at a local station for months and everywhere else around here diesel is the same or less than 87 gas.
Wish gas was cheaper been burning more of that than diesel oil lately but with these prices who can complain?

[Farmerjon]

In my part of Missouri Diesel is a dime less than Gas.

[lonegunman]

jimh425 wrote:
In my area, regular gasoline is cheaper than diesel by quite a bit. Where in Eastern Washington do you find it the same price? 🙂

$11,000 cheaper? In my area the prices are the same or within 20 cents.

[Buzzcut1]

I prefer a diesel. It helps that in the bay area Diesel is $0.20 to $0.30 cheaper per gallon than regular gasolene

[jimh406]

In my area, regular gasoline is cheaper than diesel by quite a bit. Where in Eastern Washington do you find it the same price? 🙂

[lonegunman]

I thought about a gasser and went for a diesel. I have a gas engine F-250 for a work truck and a diesel engine F-250 to haul my TC. The gasser gets 11.4 avg combined city and highway, the diesel 17.2 mpg for the same driving.

150,000 miles is 13,579 gallons of gas at $2.50 a gallon or $32,895

150,000 miles is 8,721 gallons of diesel at $2.50 a gallon or $21,802

I change oil and replace fuel filters at regular intervals and have had zero problems with the diesel truck in five years. Fully loaded, with 3.73 rears it will climb hills and merge in traffic with zero problems. With the fully loaded camper on the back I have been getting 12.5 mpg highway speeds, a little better on back roads driving in the low 60 mph range.

I carry an extra oil filter and oil when I am on extended trips and most places will do an oil change for the basic price with no problems.

In my opinion, the difference between gas and diesel in power and torque is stunning, buying a diesel will not disappoint you. My gas truck would have split a seam well before my diesel truck even got into the power band.

[TCdude]

Absolutely love my GM 3500 with the 6.0 and 4.10 rear end and pleasantly surprised how many people are recommending it.
Drove it through the smoky mountains last summer with my 4000+ Lance on back. It didn't have any problems other than watching the gas gauge sink as the RPMs rise.
It will not have the pulling power of a diesel no doubt, but it has plenty enough for my rig in the mountains.

Too each his own, do some research and weigh your options(wallet).

[STANG23L]

If you want to avoid all of the current emissions equipment and problems that they cause. Go with a pre 2007.5 - 2008 diesel regardless of manufacture. If you want newer get one with a warranty and dump it as soon as it is up!