How do i replace my F-250 - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

R Leo · #16 12-02-2005, 03:58 PM

Try this on that's on

nckmsn · #17 12-02-2005, 04:03 PM

Nice. way too expensive though. I dont need the dump bed

t walgamuth · #18 12-02-2005, 04:16 PM

thru and thru. it just has a dodge grill. i think it would make a fine truck. i hav only seen the vans though.

i have a dodge with cummins and six speed. it is a seriously heavy duty piece. great pulling and load hauling power and great economy. mine is an 03 bought new with 42k on it. no problems. running empty on a long trip over 20 at 80 mph. pulling my 35' airstream at 73 mph, 12 to 13 mpg. big uncomplicated and reminds me of an enormous 240d with a lot more power. if you buy one i suggest rancho's best 9 way adjustable shocks, they transform the ride and handling.

tom w

New2MB · #19 12-02-2005, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lietuviai

Don't even think of replacing the Acura with a MB diesel. You'll regret it. Since you say its in excellent condition, keep it that way and it'll last you a long time.
I don't think the Sprinter would be up to the task like say a Cummins powered Dodge truck. That could do some serious hauling and would not be as expensive to service as the Sprinter.

Mostly nuts is right. An Acura over an MB?!?!?!?!?!??!?!

greasybenz · #20 12-02-2005, 08:44 PM

Get a dodge cummins truck. the 12v cummins were more durable than the 24v but either way they are both great engines. So far no one NOT ford NOT chevy can beat the 6cyl cummins in power, reliability, and fuel economy. My dad has owned a 94 12v cummins and a 03 or 04 cant remember 24v cummins. He loved the 94 dodge alot better because it had more power with the manual tranny but he liked the power of the newer dodge. Might as well look for one of those. Alot better than any ford powersmoke or chevy duracrap

Hatterasguy · #21 12-02-2005, 10:40 PM

First I'd buy/invest in a peice of property or buy into a partnership that gives you good monthly cash flow. Then with said passive income I would use it to pay the monthly payments on a nice new Dodge 2500 or 3500 with a Cummins.

Then write off the payments because it is a business truck and purchase a new one every 2-3 years because you are not paying for it.

If you do it right you should get your intitial investment back quickly. Slam dunk Rich dad Poor dad style...

t walgamuth · #22 12-03-2005, 12:27 AM

a used dodge cummins stick to pull my travel trailer w and use for work. tried out two used. one with about 85k which had been used to pull a large fifth wheel. when i got there another family showed up five minutes after i did. so i took it out for a spin immediately. when away from the guys house i looked in the glove box. he had a comprensive log like i keep in my vehicles. turns out he had had it in twice to have fifth gear worked on. also it was a 410 equipped truck and only got about 16 empty. and turned near 3000 rpm at 80. it was set up to pull about 16k ponds. so i passed. then i found a really nice two year old with cummins and sixer at a dealer in vincinnes. 80k miles. drove it and went back to negotiate to buy it. the dealer ran me all over the place trying to sound like he was negotiating but in the end basically didn't budge. it was about $25k with 80k miles on it.
i headed back home, discouraged. then i bought a newspaper for evansville which had a large dodge dealer advertising cheap prices on new dodge trucks. i called and he said he could get me a new one with cummins and sixer for $30k. suddenly the used truck seemed silly. since i use it for business i deducted i think it was 30k in the first year depreciation. it was a one time tax incentive calculated to sell vehicles. it worked. i came home and called the local dealer and told them what the guy in evansville said and asked if they could do that too. the next day the salesman called with a list of the 10 or so trucks he could get for me with the equipment i wanted for
30k. i picked my silver one with the six way seats cause of the lumbar adjustment (bad back). it came up from cincinnati. he traded them a new hemi equipped truck for it.
so if you need a truck, and can do it, buying a new one can't be too bad cause if you fall on hard times in a year you can sell it for not much loss after taking the depreciation on your taxes, if for business use. i put it on my second mortgage too. and the interest is 100% deductable.
the cummins equipped trucks are extremely hard to find used with less than 300k on them. folks who buy them aren't impulse buyers. they buy them to work and hold on to them.
the older cummins trucks had lots of tranny troubles. the automatics and fivers couldnt hold the torque of the cummins. mine has the new (in 02) six speed made by new venture (i think that is the name). it is offered in all the big three diesels. i wouldnt buy one with the allison. not for work unless i had something wrong with my left leg and couldn't shift. so far that still works fine.

and i dont know for a fact but i wouldnt be surprised if the sprinter motor has an iron head, any body know about that?

good luck

tom w

#23 12-03-2005, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

and i dont know for a fact but i wouldnt be surprised if the sprinter motor has an iron head, any body know about that?

good luck

tom w

As far as I know, its got an aluminium one.

Lots of protected (with spray on clearcoat goo) aluminium under the hood of one of those. And a little intercooler to help out

#24 12-03-2005, 03:23 AM

My dad just got a sprinter for less than $30K for his new job hauling overnight freight. He is getting paid more per mile since he has the sprinter because it can haul 5,000 lbs of stuff. MPG is between 19 and 23 depending on how much your hauling. And yes it has MB engine and trans.

zach

Mitch H · #25 12-03-2005, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

the older cummins trucks had lots of tranny troubles. the automatics and fivers couldnt hold the torque of the cummins.

Before '94, they had a getrag box with a weak 5th gear. The solution is to run a tall enough final drive that you can cruise in 4th when hauling a load, and just use 5th to boost the mpg when empty.

'94 up had the NV4500, which had a problem with the 5th gear retaining nut falling off. The gears are not weak.

If you buy one, search turbodieselregister.com for "killer dowel pin". Now that's something that will ruin your whole week if you don't fix it in time. Worst sob story I heard was a fellow who had his KDP fall in the timing gears while he was on his way to a KDP party, where he and several other guys were going to fix their KDPs.

Stevo · #26 12-03-2005, 01:40 PM

"If you buy one, search turbodieselregister.com for "killer dowel pin".

I got a local truck mechanic, fellow volunteer firefighter, to do mine for $200 plus parts. As to the "5th gear nut", as far as I can tell from reading all the posts I can find, It MIGHT be related to doing allot of heavy towing. The 6 speed would really be the answer

t walgamuth · #27 12-03-2005, 06:27 PM

the one i passed on had the nut back off twice. i didnt say it here cause it sounds kindof unplausable.

tom w

rwthomas1 · #28 12-04-2005, 12:15 PM

Hatterasguy said it best: Purchase new or slightly used and write it off. Nothing irritates me more than all the opinions given by folks who: A) don't own a truck B) Anecdotes about my brothers fathers uncles sister once had one of them trucks and it was a turd C) I read on the XYZ diesel board that there are all sorts of trouble with them trucks. Yeah, not really helpfull. I know plenty of guys that own all three brands of diesel trucks and a few that own Sprinters. ALL have had problems. ALL like their trucks and deal with the issues. Specifically the Sprinters had EGR problems and engine ECM's quit leaving them stranded. Go to any of the specific brand boards and you will find this to be quite true. What qualifies me to make comments? Nothing other than I am a contractor for a living and spend a lot of time with other people that own, drive and ***** about their trucks. I think you would be crazy to dump an Acura for an old MB. Let the wife drive the almost maintenence free Acura. Get a good truck and concentrate on your business. Your business makes you money. Twiddling wrenches does not. I am not saying Sprinters are bad, quite the opposite, I would own one myself. Just that anything you buy CAN give you problems. I don't know where you live but I hope a 4X4 is not a requirement as that is not an option with a Sprinter and they are not great in the snow. I helped push my Electrician's in and out of jobsites last winter. Do you research, buy what you like, learn about the potential problems and deal with them as they come. RT

Hatterasguy · #29 12-04-2005, 08:06 PM

I think your nuts for getting rid of the Acura, they don't break. Its also new enough not to need much work.

I would think 4wd would be needed for a work truck. Job sites get pretty muddy in the spring I'd opt for the 4wd.

dieselmania · #30 12-04-2005, 09:15 PM

You could get an Isuzu NPR 4 cyl diesel box truck and make a workshop on wheels plus have plenty of dry space for hauling and storage.