3/4 Ton trucks (gas or diesel) what to look for?

Well, could go all out and get an F-650



No, not planning on new, going used. Looking at the used listings around me most of the diesel listings in my initial price range were near or over 200k miles. I know the engines can last a good long time, but without knowing how long those engines also sat and idled I'm a bit worried with the high miles.
How are the following engines:
* Dodge 6.7L I6
* Chevy 6.6L V8
* Chevy 6.0L v8 (gas)
* GMC 6.6L V8 (gas)

Currently looking around 2017-2021 model years, could go slightly older for the right price.

 

if you can find a used 7.3 powerstroke....motor will be running even after a nuke is dropped on it.

 

Across the spectrum of used trucks my recommendation is simple. It should be bone stock. No altered suspension, no chips, timer, brake controllers, or performance "upgrades." What you end up with is somebody else's nightmare. Repair costs can be increased by seemingly simple modifications like leveling kits. If you buy a truck with an aftermarket "Gee Haw Manufacturing Optimflux Fuel Maximizer" module and find yourself limping into the dealer at 2 MPH with the dash lit up like a Christmas tree you'll get the same response just about everywhere. "We can't help you unless you take that thing off and return it to stock configuration."

If there's something you want to change, try to use factory upgrade parts. You can get them repaired or replaced at those dealerships all over the country and won't have to Google "Gee Haw Manufacturing" from the side of the highway.

 

Yup, my current truck has 2 aftermarket mods that I HATE. 1) Cold Air Intake, yeah sounds cool and all that but the box for it the air filter has had 3 out of the 4 screws break (well, not the screws but the mount holes). Company want's a couple hundred to replace just the box and lid. Nope, Don't like that it takes me a weekend to "clean" the air filter as well. 2) Previous owner added a level kit, this reduced the payload capacity by 100 lbs. Doesn't sound like much but its part of the issue I have right now. The level kit also added spacers to the skid plate which are a pain to get in place when putting the skid plate back on after an oil change.

 

I have always hauled the horse trailers with a Dodge Diesel - I sold my last one a 2006 1 ton, dually with 57,000 actual miles (I bought it new). I got $28,000 for it. I was happy and my girlfriend who had been dying to buy it for years was happy. That was Kelly Blue Book value when I sold it maybe 2 years ago. I think I paid $46,000 for it new in 2006. NOW a new one like it would probably be around $80K or $90K.

 

22 years old 5.9 Cummins LB and still getting the job done. That old massey weighs 14,000 pounds. But Red ain't yer average old Dodge Ram Laramie.

 

Having worked on most of the newish trucks of today there is not a single one I would want. All trucks have their problems, you just have to figure out which problems you wish to deal with.

I personally choose to deal with 1st gen Dodge trucks. Usually you only have to fix their shortcomings once. The 12v 5.9 turbo diesel may not be the most powerful beast stock, but is about as reliable as an anvil. In upper SC 17f is the coldest I have had to deal with, started instantly, not even waiting on the grid heater. Never plugged in either. These trucks do have electrical issues, mainly with the fusible links under the hood, and to small gauge of wire used on hi draw items like the blower motor.

I knew a 7.3 ford, anything under about 70f it would not start if not plugged in over night. Even after all new glow plugs and controller.

Duramax are a pita to do anything including regular maintenance to.

Older Chevy and GMC with the 6.5 Detroit diesel are good trucks with a few electrical issues.

I know the 5.9 Cummins and the 6.5 Detroit will run on anything that remotely resembles diesel fuel. My brother runs his 6.5 almost exclusively on "black diesel" that he makes.

All boils down to what you really want, and what you choose to live with.

 

Well, bit the bullet over the weekend. After discussing with the wife and reviewing my last CAT scale weight when pulling the camper and finding out we were over the GVWR of the tundra by 300+ lbs we said no more trips until the truck is upgraded.
Started Friday by driving a 2017 F250 6.7L truck. I liked it, it set the bar high for all other test drives. Ticked the correct boxes so to speak and had a few other items we liked.
Saturday Started of with an hour and a half drive to another dealership and drove a Silverado 2500, Sierra 2500 and RAM 2500.
Well, let me rephrase part of that, when I got into the RAM I said NOPE! I could tell the previous owner smoked in it and the interior was covered in sticky goo, like a can of soda exploded. It also did not have a brake controller, so it was an immediate decline, but I took the opportunity to look and see if another vehicle of the same type would work. Nope, no power outlets in the back seat, less room in the back than the F250 and there were a couple of other minor items that would aggravate me.
On to the Silverado 2500. Dealer had 2 with different trim packages, with was nice. Drove them both even though they had the same engine, I just wanted drive them . They ended up being another NOPE. Neither had running boards/steps so even for me it was a pain to get in/out, neither had power outlets in the rear seat (12v accessory or USB) and minimal power outlets up front (one USB-C, One USB-A and 120V ports only). One had a really dinged up bed, not a big deal but no bedliner and it would have made getting a linex or similar harder. Payload was similar to the F250, both Silverado's also needed new tires.
On to the Sierra at the same dealership. While the outside looked different than the Silverado, the interior was identical. No power in the back, same power ports up front, no running boards. I didn't even take this one on the road, it wasn't worth my time.
On to the next dealership with another RAM 2500. (side note a friend has a RAM PowerWagon and I really don't like riding in it, between crappy tires, poorly added window tint and rough riding I'm never comfortable in the truck). Got this one on the road and said NOPE, at 45mph on a smooth road the truck was all over the place. Something was up the suspension and it needed to be aligned as there was hard pull to the right. Again, limited power ports in both front and back. I talked to the salesman as originally I had not seen anything else at my price point, but he managed to find an F350 to check out. During my visual inspection I found rust bubbles on the frame and some panels, after inquiring about it he said "it's a northern truck, but low miles and really taken care of!". Not with the amount of rust I was seeing, so it was a hard pass.
Back to the first dealership, as they brought in 2 more vehicles for me to test out. Another F250 ('19 with 72k miles, but a gasser) and a RAM. This time I had the whole family with. We jumped into the RAM and got back out. My son (15YO and 5'10" was uncomfortable in the back seat. On to the only gasser I had on my list. (well not the only, but the only one we drove). Salesman brought it up and said "I'm sorry, this is a new trade in and they have not detailed it yet" and it showed. Hard to look past some of the dirt and grime, but this was a Lariat just like the first F250 I drove. Functionally, it was the same, but the ride was bad I think due to cheap/poor tires. My wife said, "NOPE" on this one.
So we were down to the first F250 I drove. Loaded the family up in it (first time for everyone) and hit the road. Everyone loved it. Everyone was comfy, had plenty of room, etc. We did more visual inspection back at the lot, got in and out, played with all the controls and finally said we'd like to discuss financing.
Left a couple of hours later with the new, to me, 2017 F250. and the best thing about it the truck is not WHITE. Every vehicle except the 2nd RAM and F350 were white.
Now I'm going through and upgrading to LED lights, getting things organized and resetting my WDH for the camper. Wife about had a heart attack when I said "15qts for the next oil change" LOL, but I knew that going into this.

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Congrats on the new truck . I've been a Ford man from way back . I still have issues with them some times . But once anything gets a little age and miles on it ,, it'll have a few repairs needed .

 

I really wish we could get a diesel in a Toyota Tundra/Sequoia.

 

https://dcpdiesel.com/when-did-they-stop-making-the-7-3-powerstroke-why/

 

Congrats on the new truck to you. It'll be hard to go back to a gas truck now that you've got a diesel, I know I couldn't go back to gas.

 

I have never owned a vehicle with 4 wheels that was not running on diesel!

 

You've made your own diesel?

 

Not I (city living) but my best mate has from an endless supply of cooking oil.

 

Well, I'm being an idiot. I'm actually thinking on pulling the trigger on a GX470 that burns premium and gets like 14mpg.
Buhjeezuz that thing is fast. It'll tow like 6500 pounds and that's about a whole ton more than i intend to.

 

Here's a question for you more mechanically smart folks ,, I've got an 03 6.0 diesel f250 ,, been thinking of trying to make my own bio diesel for this thing . Will this engine run on that stuff ?? ,, what are the octane ratings to make this happen ?? And do you have any info on a good set of plans for making bio diesel , that would work for this motor ??

 

Too true, those are a crap shoot. I say if you want more power, buy a truck with a bigger engine