[J.B.R.]

Hi all, newbie here.
I went and bought a 25' travel trailer last year and now I need a TV.
At present I have a 02 quad 4x4 dakota v6, this is no way big enough for the TT.
I beleive what I should have is a quad cab 4x4 short box diesel.
It will be my daily driver and also for family trips.
Iam looking used, 100,000 miles or less
2000-2004 year and in the range of $12,000 - $18,000
Now I was wondering if you guys can offer some dos and don'ts, what to stay away from. Thanks

 

[power95]

ummmmm..........stay away from chevy and dodge (dodge aint to bad). get a ford but make sure it is a manual. stay away from the 03 - early 05 6.0L.
for more info visit www.powerstroke.org or www.cumminsforum.com

 

[05_LLY]

ummmmm..........stay away from chevy and dodge (dodge aint to bad). get a ford but make sure it is a manual. stay away from the 03 - early 05 6.0L.

Whats left then? Maybe a good Nissan Titan......:rof

 

[power95]

98-01 dodge 24 valve with a maunual

 

[LBZ Farm Truck]

I'd take a Duramax and out run both with smoother shifts. Go duramax with allison had dodge manual and auto, both had to be replaced got chevy work it just as hard and have no problems. fords just not an option ride like shopping cart and have terrible interior.

 

[Kawtipping]

For a daily driver look for an LB7 engined Chev. Seems as though they get the best MPG out of all the current Duramax motors. I would stay away from 2001's as they had the most issues. My 02 has had little to no problems. The only warranty repair was the trany position switch. Otherwise at 60k the front and rear brakes are due for replacement. Having towed in a Dodge and a Ford (even thought the Ford was for shorter distances), I would say that the Chev/GMC has the best interior. And the engine noise is so much lower too!

 

[JMD]

Now I was wondering if you guys can offer some dos and don'ts, what to stay away from. Thanks

All three diesels (Dodge, Ford, & GM) pull real good, but is my opinion that GM makes both a better truck and uses a more reliable engine, period. Take a look at the other forums, they have lots more posts, there is a reason for this.
Between me and my dad we own all three brands, chevy wins on reliability hands down. I have learned to never buy a diesel truck the first year of introduction of a new engine. with this in mind, when you look at the other forums, look for resolution of certain reliability issues by truck makers. If you look realisticly, you will see a trend. The trend that I see, is that GM has done a much better job of resolving reliability issues than either Ford or espscially Dodge.

I own GM products, why am I spending time on the Dodge and Ford forums? I am doing so in order to find resolution for my dad's issues with his Dodge and his Ford. I do not post negative remarks about these brands on their respective forums, thats not right.

I got lots of good info from the Dodge forum in the diagnosis and replacement of the Cummins injection pump, (2002 Dodge at about 30,000 miles). I got some perspective at the Ford forum in dealing with waranty issues with my dads 2004 Ford, which has had many issues with turbo and injectors. He had to start lemon law proceding in order to get the dealer to work thes issues out, but still these issues have not been properly addressed.

I have a 3 Ford work trucks with the V-10 gas (the price was right!), which have proved to be good trucks, but at this point I would not buy a Ford Diesel. The Last Dodge I bought was in 1990, the cummins motor was the best thing going at the time, but the drive train was problematic. Two expensive transmission failures, 1 rear axle failure, and some front end issues. Both transmission failures were under waranty, but dodge would only cover 1/2 of the first, and none of the second. I didnt even try waranty on the axle. (waranty was 36,000 miles). Yea, this was a long time ago, things must be better by now right? but I still remember.

Keep an open mind, check things out, and the answer will come to you.

 

[power95]

All three diesels (Dodge, Ford, & GM) pull real good, but is my opinion that GM makes both a better truck and uses a more reliable engine, period. Take a look at the other forums, they have lots more posts, there is a reason for this.
Between me and my dad we own all three brands, chevy wins on reliability hands down. I have learned to never buy a diesel truck the first year of introduction of a new engine. with this in mind, when you look at the other forums, look for resolution of certain reliability issues by truck makers. If you look realisticly, you will see a trend. The trend that I see, is that GM has done a much better job of resolving reliability issues than either Ford or espscially Dodge.

I own GM products, why am I spending time on the Dodge and Ford forums? I am doing so in order to find resolution for my dad's issues with his Dodge and his Ford. I do not post negative remarks about these brands on their respective forums, thats not right.

I got lots of good info from the Dodge forum in the diagnosis and replacement of the Cummins injection pump, (2002 Dodge at about 30,000 miles). I got some perspective at the Ford forum in dealing with waranty issues with my dads 2004 Ford, which has had many issues with turbo and injectors. He had to start lemon law proceding in order to get the dealer to work thes issues out, but still these issues have not been properly addressed.

I have a 3 Ford work trucks with the V-10 gas (the price was right!), which have proved to be good trucks, but at this point I would not buy a Ford Diesel. The Last Dodge I bought was in 1990, the cummins motor was the best thing going at the time, but the drive train was problematic. Two expensive transmission failures, 1 rear axle failure, and some front end issues. Both transmission failures were under waranty, but dodge would only cover 1/2 of the first, and none of the second. I didnt even try waranty on the axle. (waranty was 36,000 miles). Yea, this was a long time ago, things must be better by now right? but I still remember.

Keep an open mind, check things out, and the answer will come to you.

the reason the other sites have 10 times the posts is because they have 10 times the members not 10 times the problems:cookoo :Smack :liar

 

[05_LLY]

ummmmm..........stay away from chevy and dodge (dodge aint to bad). get a ford but make sure it is a manual. stay away from the 03 - early 05 6.0L.
for more info visit www.powerstroke.org or www.cumminsforum.com

Maybe we should all join these site and go bash the powerjoke or the cumapart!!

 

[LBZ Farm Truck]

spittin sputterin choker stroker and a dodge with a cumminapart in it haha LOVE IT

 

[JMD]

More Members

the reason the other sites have 10 times the posts is because they have 10 times the members not 10 times the problems:cookoo :Smack :liar

The first question that comes to mind with the topic of forum membership is why?

It is my opinion, I think supported by the post issues, is that there ary more members because many of them come to the sites to resolve "issues".

Yes, there are quite a few members there disscussing power mods as well, but again, geting power out of Fords, and especially Dodges seem to be more complicated and expensive than with the GM trucks. I have only put an Edge with attitude on my DM, and I have never been out-performed by a Ford or a Dodge, period.

 

[05_LLY]

There are other duramax sites with more members the powerstroke.ore and cummins forum will ever have, this site here is still up and coming. and the member#'s are growing, AS we get some more knowledgeable members and some more active vendors on the site things will take off, but some times a smaller site is better, because you dont have all the troubles like trolling ford and dodge guys causing problems!

 

[duramaxsandwich]

my family had a 99 f350 w/ the 7.3 and 6 manual in it and it spend more time in the dealer's shop than on the road. my dad traded it in on a 02 duramax and has put 108k on it and hasn't changed anything besides oil, filters, and tires.

i'm just sayin.....

 

[JMD]

There are other duramax sites with more members the powerstroke.ore and cummins forum will ever have, this site here is still up and coming. and the member#'s are growing, AS we get some more knowledgeable members and some more active vendors on the site things will take off, but some times a smaller site is better, because you dont have all the troubles like trolling ford and dodge guys causing problems!

Hello BK,

I enjoy this site, and yes, there are definite advantages to a smaller site! (I dont have to hunt around so much), and only a couple of trollers!

Have a great day!

 

[JMD]

my family had a 99 f350 w/ the 7.3 and 6 manual in it and it spend more time in the dealer's shop than on the road. my dad traded it in on a 02 duramax and has put 108k on it and hasn't changed anything besides oil, filters, and tires.

i'm just sayin.....

For work we had a an 83 (I think) Ford, (pre-powerstroke?) anyway it would not pull a hat off your head, motor lasted to about 100,000 miles. The old GM 6.2 was not a real powerhouse either but it was for the most part dependable.

 

[Tow Master]

ummmmm..........stay away from chevy and dodge (dodge aint to bad). get a ford but make sure it is a manual. stay away from the 03 - early 05 6.0L.[/url]

So if Ford is the way to go why did you have to list ford options (trany) and years to stay away from? So far there isnt one bad year of truck that GM produced. With the exception of the first gen D-max in which GM stood behind and raised there warranty to 200,000 miles. :tease

I'd take a Duramax and out run both with smoother shifts. Go duramax with allison had dodge manual and auto, both had to be replaced got chevy work it just as hard and have no problems. fords just not an option ride like shopping cart and have terrible interior.

I like the way this guy thinks :thumbsup I totally agree. IMO the Cummins is the best motor but dodge is junk. Ford motor, body trans is ok. Chevy Motor is almost as good as the Cummins and body and drivetrain are excelent. However in the future I guarentee you Ill own a Ford P.S.D.

 

[duramaxsandwich]

yeah, that powerstoke we had warped brake rotors about every 3 months, threw the belt off at 30k, and a bunch of stuff to long to list. also, a hunting buddy of mine has a 97 powerstoke 1 ton and he's put enough money into it in repairs that he should have just bought a duramax.

 

[05_LLY]

However in the future I guarentee you Ill own a Ford P.S.D.

WHAT??????

 

[Tow Master]

WHAT??????

I own a towing company and GM no longer has a heavy duty chassis with 19.5 tires in anything smaller than a Kodiak which are to big and cost to mutch. Ford F-450 are still the small truck and have a heavy chassis. Trust me Ill be burning if I do it. :blowup

 

[J.B.R.]

I want to thank everyone for all the info that has been pumped into this thread.
I have not yet found the the truck I want.
I have decided, Chevy Duramax is the first choice, 02 and newer.
Dodge Cummins in 2nd. Its all based on $$$ now and what my dealers come up with.
Thanks again.

PS: What is the first year for the Duramax?