Trucks

Herald IA · Feb 13, 2012

Need to buy a pickup to pull a gooseneck trailer, with 2 tractors,a Allis WD45 and a 550 Oliver. What is the best one in 2003-2007 diesel 3/4- 1 ton size? Ford, Dodge or Chev.? I'm leaning towards Ford. (That's what I see mostly, on the road with trailers behind them). Thanks for any ideas.

Allan in NE · Feb 13, 2012

I'd sure move up to a 2008 or newer. That's when they started putting some muscle to 'em.

Allan

David G · Feb 13, 2012

I would go older than 2003 with 7.3 diesel, or 2011 or newer with 6.7 diesel. Ford had a lot of reliability issues during that period. The same thing applies to the duramax, there was a dead area of performance during those years.

the tractor vet · Feb 13, 2012

Well my 95 Dodge 3500 is no slouch and my one buddy's 2001 with the high output cummings and six speed with 3.54 gears pulls loads of corn to the elevator and crosses the scales at 36 to 39000 gross with the gooseneck grain trailer up and down our LITTLE humps and bumps we have . Pulls the hills better then any grain truck . I drag 16000 lbs of fertilizer with mine and with the box on the back of mine my truck weighs in a 9250 plus the fertilizer buggy and i can top any of the hills at 45-50 with mine . I am happy with it.

Rick Kr · Feb 13, 2012

Late 2004 to 2010 Duramax. Dually.

Greg K · Feb 13, 2012

Everyone I have heard talk is happy with their Cummins and manual trans. No personal experience here, maybe check consumers reports for issues also.

bejohnson · Feb 13, 2012

i have a 04 f250 with the 6.0 and 6 speed stick got 185k on it only put breaks ball joints and a oil sending unit verry good truck but my brother has a 08 wiht the auto and had to put heads and injctors in it at 110k alot has to do with how you run it i let my truck idle for a min. or two after towing a traler with my minny u and olie 88 with my weights about 20k

Lumpie · Feb 13, 2012

I also have an '04 F-350 and have had real good luck with it. It really does depend on how you drive and take care of it. If you're a hammerhead and a leadfoot, yeah, you'll tear them up.

sixtyninegmc · Feb 13, 2012

Asking people what truck is the best for towing is like asking what girl is the cutest, guys ain`t ever gonna agree. Me, `03 or newer, I like the duramax, mostly because of the truck it is in more than the motor and tranny. I don`t like the newer dodge trucks, had one for a bit, lots of power with the cummins but just did not like the truck. Ford had an excellent engine in the 7.3, but I do not think any of the newer powerstrokes hold a candle to it.

But if it was me, it would be a `98 or older dodge 12 valve, unless I was going real fancy and building a truck.

DeltaRed · Feb 13, 2012

Hard to beat a 12 valve Cummins....

toolz · Feb 13, 2012

There's a reason you see so many Fords- It's the best overall package out there, IMO. Just stay away from the 2003 1/2 and 2004 unless all the updates have been done. You should be fine with any of the other years. For a great truck at a reasonable cost, I'd look for a low mile 7.3. Hard to find, but they're out there. Just bought my son an '02 with 64,000 miles. I have an '08, and I'm really pleased with it.

oldtanker · Feb 13, 2012

(quoted from post at 20:48:33 02/13/12) Hard to beat a 12 valve Cummins....

LOL tell taht to one of my sons boss. He was real excited 2 years ago when he bought a 1 ton Dodge, Cummins diesel. He owns a sound company and the Dodge pulled an enclosed trainer with sound and lighting euipment over a 5 state area. Todd claims that after every trip he made a trip to the dealer with a fix it list, never a problem with the engine, but everything else! 2 new front axles in 2 years, total about 100K miles on it, he took delivery of a new Ford F450 2 weeks ago. The Dodge is history.

Rick

sixtyninegmc · Feb 14, 2012

If he bought it 2 years ago, it is not a 12 valve, if it was new. They stopped making the 12V in `98, and in `01 the bodystyle changed and went way downhill in my opinion.

Just goes to show how nobody will ever think the same about trucks. Farmer I worked for had 3 older cummins, they got the snot worked out of them on a regular basis, hauling hay, fertilizer, and equipment, and never gave up, one of the reasons I like them.

John_PA · Feb 14, 2012

I like a nice redhead who wears skirts. Most girls wear jeans now-a-days. The skirts were a lot better. Blondes are overrated. Brunettes are smart, but when it comes to women, sometimes the smart ones can do your taxes, but when it comes down to it, I'd rather do taxes myself and let her do teh things I can't myself... so...

as long as her temper isn't bad, there is nothing wrong with a redhead with huge tracts of land. (monty python reference)

oldtanker · Feb 14, 2012

(quoted from post at 00:08:49 02/14/12) If he bought it 2 years ago, it is not a 12 valve, if it was new. They stopped making the 12V in `98, and in `01 the bodystyle changed and went way downhill in my opinion.

Just goes to show how nobody will ever think the same about trucks. Farmer I worked for had 3 older cummins, they got the snot worked out of them on a regular basis, hauling hay, fertilizer, and equipment, and never gave up, one of the reasons I like them.

OK didn't know that about the 12 valve. I try to know as little as possible about Chysler products (from when I worked as a mech in an auto shop). Now that it's Fiat I try to know even less. While I will ackonwledge that the Cummins is one heck of an engine I maintain that it comes in a really bad shipping container.

Rick

sixtyninegmc · Feb 14, 2012

Yeah, but the redheads are usually pretty stubborn compared to the brunettes :shock:

just another old geezer · Feb 14, 2012

I'm on my third dodge cummins. would never consider anything else.

Mike M · Feb 14, 2012

You might look at used medium duty trucks. Likely can pick one up cheaper and have a REAL truck.

cumminspuller · Feb 14, 2012

I like dodges for the motor. Hands down best one in a pickup. I've had 5 and all have been great trucks. Fords are ok if you get a 7.3 in them. Do youself a favor and don't waste your time on a 6.0 or 6.4. GM trucks are ok. I like the looks of a GMC more. Don't care anything for the front axle. Just my 2 cents.

mkirsch · Feb 14, 2012

From an engine perspective, Dodge has been the most consistent over the years.

GM had some minor issues with cooling in one generation of Duramax, and injectors in another. Neither is a show-stopper.

Ford had a bad run of it with the 6.0L and to a lesser extent, the 6.4L.

From 2007-2010, all three diesels had a DPF system that choked fuel economy and had some problems. In 2011, Ford and GM switched to a DEF system that uses urea injection in place of raw fuel to burn off the soot, bringing the fuel economy back up.

In the "holy grail of used trucks" category:

1. 2003 Ford with 7.3L turbo diesel
2. 2006 Chevy/GMC with LLY Duramax, only year with the 6-speed Allison and no emissions junk
3. pre-2007 Dodge with 5.9L Cummins, if you can find one that isn't beat to pieces

If you're looking at new 2011-2012, there have been a couple issues with the Bosch high-pressure fuel pump on Ford trucks, and Ford denying warranty coverage, blaming bad fuel for the problems.

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