The other thread about the Ford recall reminds me that I need to get up to speed on which is the best 1-ton diesel pickup. Primary purpose will be to pull wife's goose-neck horse trailer. She has always had Ford trucks and is happy with her 2000 F350, but there have been plenty of horror stories about certain models of Powerstroke trucks since then, so she might consider another brand.

Any recommendations for websites to get my research started?

My buddy drove a Dodge 2500 HD with the Cummins engine, and he got over 500,000 miles on it, nearly completely trouble free miles. It never let him down, and never saw a tow truck.

That motor is fantastic.

He replaced that with a Ford with the Powerstroke, and that engine is a p.o.s.

It has broken down and needed to be towed nearly 10 times.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I wish I could get a Ford truck with Dodge's Cummins motor and Chevy's Allison transmission.

X2

I think the dodge comes with the allison as an option to the stick.

Personally if there is work to be done I would not consider anything but the Dodge with the cummins and a six manual.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

IMO, stay where you are. With your 2000, you have a 17 deg HPOP and Forged Rods. If you had an earlier 99, you might have a 15 deg HPOP, If you have an late 2001, you would have Powdered Metal Rods instead of Forged Rods. PMRs are NOT IN ANY WAY more desirable. Late 03 - 04 was the 6.0 which had more trouble. After that, they seemed to have most of it sorted out.

Still, a couple years ago, I was looking for a Powerstroke Excursion. Oh, there were plenty around me but I had to go to someplace 7 hrs away to get one with a 7.3. Dealers were trying to get me into the 6.0. I asked why? Oh, it is a newer one and much better. So why are there so many 6.0s and so few 7.3s? Well, the 7.3 owners were driving them into the ground. But the 6.0 is a better engine. Sure. Whatever you say. And the bridge comes with the 6.0, right?

Maybe you need to explain yourself a little more. Why is she trying to trade it in. Do you need more power? Here is my handy list of mods: 01 Excursion 7.3L Powerstroke. Gauges with AIH Delete, AIS, CCV Mod, 4' MBRP, BTS Trans, 6.0L Trans Cooler and Intercooler, DP-Tuner F5 chip, ITP In Tank Mod and Boost Annihilator, Diesel Innovation's Regulated Fuel kit, BTS Big Oil system and Van Turbo. Bilstein Shocks with U code front and A code Rear.

Some Sites:

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php
http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/
http://powerstrokenation.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=6

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

That too can be arranged: http://www.destroked.com/parts.shtml

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

She wants a newer truck because it will make her feel more secure going down the interstate with a trailer full of horses. She did not plan to keep her 2000 this long, but we never got a good feeling from the more recent models, so we've been waiting for Ford to come out with a proven reliable drive train.

I don't know whether her thinking is sound, but I can see her point. She just planned to have a truck payment as a cost of doing business.

I've gotten to like her 2000, which is bone-stock, 2WD, with limited slip differential. It suits her needs just right.

Thank you for the links. I will start reading.

From the 6.0 models, I don't either. The 6.4 is yet unproven. They came out with it in Mar of 07 and called it the 08. Today it is called the 09. I'd still wait to see what the problems are.

The T444E (7.3) vs VT365 (6.0) debate has been going on for a bit. The VT365 and T444E are International's numbers. IOW, Ford bought the engine from International. I have talked to Ford Truck mechanics and they see less of the 7.3 than the 6.0. International Mechanics? See above. I even had a Ford tech tell me that he likes the 6.0s because he made way more money from them than the 7.3.

I can see her point. OTOH, her trans will be the weak point relatively speaking. Fortunately for her, you don't have an 01 which had a mechanical diode in the trans. I had that and it broke the trans. I have a BTS trans that is warrantied for whatever I do. Even if I stick a 800HP engine in it or do snowplowing. If her's hasn't broken yet, when it breaks, she can get a BTS trans if she is keeping the truck.

All she needs is to keep a spare Cam Position Sensor with her, a 3/8 ratchet, 4 in extension and a shallow 10mm socket and she can change that. $25 for the sensor. http://guzzle.rbmicro.com/cps.html

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

That's a great idea, except for the part where she changes it. She is the most competent person I know, but she can't replace a light bulb without assistance. The only time the truck broke down was when her cam position sensor went out.

nope not an allison it's called an aisin.
i'm with aklim here.that 2000 is probably the best ford has offered to this day.keep it and bank the (new truck payments).

Examine factory warranty coverage and price the manufacturer's extended warranties. If the cost/coverage comparisons are a wash, I would go for the F-350 from a comfort/ride perspective.

I have a 99 7.3 F250, and I will probably never sell it. It always starts, has never left me stranded, and the best part is its paid off....




I have towed alot of stuff with it.... I have never had a problem on the freeway with stability and a trailer. Just gotta be alert, and use common sense. No truck will replace being alert.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Can you coach her on it? I mean, first time it happened to me I was ON a busy highway with NO shoulder. I had to stop in my lane, put it on park, got out and changed it with cars moving to get around me. I made it to the center of the 3 lanes. Believe you me, it was NOT a comfortable experience. However, based on what Dad was charged, I think going to the Ford dealership would have been more uncomfortable. ($500)

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I'd get a Dodge if you can stand the fact that the truck itself is junk and the interior is made out of plastic action men.

The engine is so good I could probably overlook a lot, more so considering how Chevy and Ford are pretty weak these days as well.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200