What is the best NEW diesel truck to buy from the big 3? Which has the longest lasting, most trouble free engine with the best reputation. It goes without saying that I believe in "over maintenance."

I'd suggest the one with the Cummins turbo diesel engine.

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Jim

LIKE?

As a truck I preffer the Chevy or GM....but for the engine I think the Cummins has the edge for durability and reliability. Shame that everything else around that engine doesn't measure up to it, transmission included.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

He's talking the one that starts with D. They're ok but my brother-in-law has one and little things fall apart. Like the map lights for instance. They suddenly got loose and will not stay where you adjust them. I think he said something about the heat knobs or stereo knobs or something like that broke and fell off recently too. He just got the truck last summer.

They all seem to have their good and bad points.

Chevy seems to have nice creature comforts but their new Duramax diesel has an aluminum head I think. If you're going to trade in 5 years or so, what the heck.

Fords power stroke diesels seem very reliable but the good folks at Ford just haven't caught on to the fact that the buyers do like the creature comforts that the Chevy has.

They all seem to have their good and bad points so pick the one you like. Let us know what you decide.

Cheers,

Bill

Sure would be nice if you could get a Ford with a Cummins engine. Ford has had a lot of issues with the 6.0, it scared me off, maybe they've fixed them by now since the 6.0 is in it's 3rd year I believe. I don't think the Dodge chassis and body will hold up as long as the Ford, but the Cummins motor will probably outlast any other. I don't know a lot about the Duratrash...er Duramax but I did hear it's not a truly tried and tested Isuzu like the old Isuzu standards, and also the injectors prone to early failure and very expensive. Just what I heard, don't know how true. Go to www.dieselstop.com to learn all about the Fords. I have an old 83 F250 6.9 with almost 200K, still running great.

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Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

PACCAR, Freightliner or Volvo?

Dunno if this is the correct forum for this topic or not, but I've had both the Dodge w/Cummins and now a GMC with the Dmax.

All three have their pluses. All three have their minuses. I'm assuming you're talking new '05-'06's?

Cummins is probably the best engine.
GM has the best automatic, Allison.
Ford has, uh, well best 4x suspension to lift.

Boils down to this IMHO, if you don't mind shifting get the Dodge with a 6 speed. If you want an auto, get the GM. My parents have a SuperDuty with the V10, so this is not a diesel comparison, but I DO know how the interior has held together, and I'm less then impressed, but they've had pretty much zero problems with the truck overall in 4+ years and about 60k.

Currently the GM has the best ride and interior by far. Many people claim that the Dodge truck itself is a POS, but I really liked mine OTHER than the 47re automatic that is just not the right transmission to put behind the mighty Cummins.

Again they'll all have their issues. My Dmax overheats when pulling long steep grades with my toyhauler. Ford 6.0's have had OH and other oil pressure/injector related issues. Dodge, well, I still don't know that I'd trust the 48re transmission.

__________________
But what do I know...

1984 300SD 256k

Dodge.........

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

This is it: http://www.f650pickups.com/page0004.html .....The best of all worlds Ford chassis, Allison trans, Cat powered (you didn't say you were on a budget)

__________________
Brian
87 300Dturbo 180K #14 head still running R-12 SOLD 12/2017
02 F350 Powerstroke 180K
05 Chevy Express 1 ton w/Royal Utility box 120K
08 Infiniti FX-35 40K
15 Golf Sportwagen TDI 35K
10 Sprinter 3500 chassis with a Class A Winnebago on it. 56K

Ford is actually bailing on the 6.0 in the next one or two MY.

The LB7 Dmax did have injector issues, however GM is covering those up to 100k. '04.5 and newer LLYs have not had injector issues. I doubt too that it would last as long as the Cummins, OTOH I don't plan on keeping it forever either.


www.dieselplace.com for Dmax forums.

__________________
But what do I know...

1984 300SD 256k

Yea, I did not want to say it.

Anyway, I have a friend that had the Dodge with the Cummins and automatic and now he drives a Ford with the PS. He purchased both trucks brand new and he said that the Dodge with the Cummins NEVER left him by the road and the Ford has done it twice so far (he has had it less than 9 months).

__________________
Jim

My friend owns a construction co. and has 5 Chevrolet 3500 diesel trucks with all having more that 75k miles on it within its first year! Its as almost those trucks are running 24hrs! He also drives one himself and says the truck is great but has 3 failures in the trucks injection system which of all wer ecovered under warranty. As for that I would not have this truck as my first choice. The dodge seems like the best bet and can be heavily modified and turned into a hot rod, I watch Trucks on Spike TV and it is amazing on how much power can be achieved with a cummins on a bully dog system

The Cummins 24V had a fair amount of trouble with the lift pump failing and taking out the IP since the IP is lubricated by the fuel. Expensive repair. The earlier ones also had the killer dowel pin.
I'm surprised these problems have not put a serious dent in their reputation.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Too bad they never put the Cummins in an Isuzu Trooper.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

what are you going to use the truck for?

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k