What Kind Of Diesel Powered SuperCrew Cab Truck To Buy?

I originally wanted to get a large gas powered (example 2012 Ford 250 6.2L V8 385hp/405tq) but as much power & torque that it puts out, a Ford 250 6.7L Diesel has 400hp/800tq. Doesn't have to be Ford, just noting the large torque difference that'll help get over mountains and through sand etc. So, I guess I'm looking to buy a 4x4 Diesel crewcab truck to pull a large 5th wheel toy hauler that'll be max'd out in weight (XP & 2 quads). I'm not sure if I'll buy new or used by a couple of years so someone else can pay for the depreciation. I've never owned or even been around diesels before so I have no clue really. What is the best out there for dependability, comfort, performance & what is considered 'high mileage' for a used diesel truck?

First, I HATE when people have an over 100k mileage diesel and say it is just getting broken in.... Your tranny, lots if seals in stuff, interior, paint and drivetrain are all due for an.overhaul! Not to mention neglected fluids like brake, power steering, and coolant need flushed.

 

Chevy, never ever.....

 

Dodge, interiors suck. The only thing good about a dige is the cummins motor. Does you no good as the truck falls apart around it. Trannies are junk, if not rebuilt... Plan on it.

 

Ford, 95-97 old body style great trucks. 99-03 have 7.3 and also good. depends on what body style you want. Do not buy an 03-07 6.0 you'll be paying up the butt somewhere. 08-10 get terible fuel.mileage. 11 + are the cats Ass when coming to DIESELS.

at 100k, the service intervals increase per the cummins manual as it is "broken in" at this point. but thats the motor ONLY. I agree, a LOT of other things need to be addressed in that mileage range. to OP, if you have the resources/finances, I would recommend the new 6.7 ford powerstroke.

They've all got their ups and downs. I love how Chevy's look and i love the interior, for road trips the Chevy can't be beat. The cummins 5.9 would be the best engine if i had to choose today. So, get yourself a Chevy pickup, drop a cummins 5.9 motor in it, then put an Allison tranny on, and you'll have a hell of a truck!

450RHQ & Mattonin - Thanks for the info. I had sort of gleaned similar perspective from random reviews & reports online, but getting it first hand from you guys who actually have experience with them is invaluable.

 

ridingred - The ultimate mods list!

Too bad those doosh bags dont all get together and combine all three trucks....

 

Dodge engine

Chevy tranny/interior

Ford suspension/body style......even with there soft ass rear springs.

 

I love my Chevy, it rides like a cadillac, really comfortable. New body style is sick!

had 2001 duramax, all I heard was the cummins engine was all that and more, bought an 05, after a new trans/converterand a set of gears it would pull like my old duramax, sold it and bought another duramax and can't see ever needing anything else, rides like a caddy and with a little programmer puts out more than enough power.

I would go with a Duramax hands-down.

 

I have owned two and soon to have a third. I have beat the heck outta my truck, brake-stands, whipping donuts, auto-crossing through the mountains with a loaded gooseneck trailer hooked to it, pulled lots of trees out, off-roading, been loaded to just under 30,000 pounds on the scales a couple times and in the mid 20K LOTS of times, and the list goes on and on. I use my truck as a truck. I do keep up on maintenance and try to keep it as nice as possible, but I have never had any major problems. I did have the injectors replaced at almost 100k just because the warranty was about to expire and I wanted to make sure I wouldn't have any problems. But the Duramax has been an amazing truck. And whenever we go on a road trip, everybody wants to ride in the Chevy, not the uncomfortable Ford. My brother in law has had them all and he owns a concrete business out in Oregon and regularly pulls 20K pound trailers and he just picked up a Duramax and loves it compared to all the Powerstrokes and Cummins he has had, plus he is getting better mileage. But, for what it's worth, my other Brother in law just picked up a new Powerstroke and he likes it, but he doesn't haul or tow much with it, except for the occasional lightly loaded 20' enclosed trailer.

 

But this is the typical Chevy vs Ford vs Dodge and everybody will have their opinion, but that is mine. . . . . . . .

Watch this and tell me it doesnt give you a rise in shorts!

 

 

Yeah, that All Terrain is pretty sweet! Throw a Duramax under the hood, a bench seat in the front, and add about 3 feet to the bed and I'll buy one lol!

Honestly, no

 

The bed is useless with the inner humps rising to the top of the bed. good luck never fitting a quad in their, or wood, or much at all.

 

Its still GM...

Good reason to stay away from Fords. This is a HUGE problem and very dangerous.

 

[video=youtube;PSDBCV-gcs8]

Good reason to stay away from Fords. This is a HUGE problem and very dangerous.

 

[video=youtube;PSDBCV-gcs8]

 

That is TERRIBLE Maintenance. It is a lose or worn track bar 99 out of 100 times....

 

Google death wobble. 99 out of 100 times it is straight axle vehicles with a track bar. Dodge, Jeep, ford. You actually find someone with a chevy saying it happened to them. but i dont think that unless you have experienced it you know what it is.

 

Track Bar, Track Bar, Track Bar

It is actually happening on various years of Super Dutys, even brand new trucks. Lots of problems with it and guys have taken their truck in numerous times to get it fixed and Ford cannot figure it out. If it was as simple as a track-bar I am pretty sure that Ford would have figured that out by now.

I had a 2006 Duramax, drove new until 2011, never 1 problem with it. Great truck. Ended up trading in b/c I wasn't hauling anything anymore and diesel was expensive.

Here is a good vid to show what happens during death wobble. any little movement in the track bar causes it.

 

[video=youtube_share;LjzRgvxclVw]

It is actually happening on various years of Super Dutys, even brand new trucks. Lots of problems with it and guys have taken their truck in numerous times to get it fixed and Ford cannot figure it out. If it was as simple as a track-bar I am pretty sure that Ford would have figured that out by now.

 

Tell them all to lay a camera on the ground and film their suspension turning left to right. The track bar bolt gets torqued very very tight. Ill bet money that 99 out of 100 have a crappy bushing, loose track bar,

 

Many companies but 12mm bolts in a 14mm hole. Jeep did this on some. Their theory is once tight the track bar cannot move. WRONG... torqued properly it can still shift. Dodge also did this. Woulnt be surprised if Ford also did this.

 

Factory techs? 9 times out of 10 they have no clue what they are looking for and can only go by what the factory tells them.

I had a 2006 Duramax, drove new until 2011, never 1 problem with it. Great truck. Ended up trading in b/c I wasn't hauling anything anymore and diesel was expensive.

 

except the government listening in to your conversations......

except the government listening in to your conversations......

lol I don't care, I don't do anything they care about.

I am familiar with how it works. I have worked on enough trucks and ridden in vehicles with death wobble to know that the proper track bar and proper maintenance will solve the issue.

 

This however is something all together different. Many guys have referred to it as an "oscillation" problem. And again, if it was simply a track-bar, Ford would have it fixed, but they can't.

Honestly, no

 

The bed is useless with the inner humps rising to the top of the bed. good luck never fitting a quad in their, or wood, or much at all.

 

Its still GM...

 

Buy a trailer if your concerend about the bed, lol

I am familiar with how it works. I have worked on enough trucks and ridden in vehicles with death wobble to know that the proper track bar and proper maintenance will solve the issue.

 

This however is something all together different. Many guys have referred to it as an "oscillation" problem. And again, if it was simply a track-bar, Ford would have it fixed, but they can't.

 

 

im sure you are, But many are curing it with HD stabilizers. That is a mask.... for a shift in the axle. nothing more. A steering stabilizer only masks the problem by stiffening the left right of the steering wheel motion.

 

Here is what happens. the track bar is lose or has a bad bushing. it shifts less then 3/16" rapidly. That shifting shifts the body and not the axle as the axle is planted. What this does is turns the steering wheel sharply to one side or the other. As the minimal amount of movement of the track bar makes up 3 inches at the steering wheel. This in turn begins to yank the steering wheel left to right causing death wobble. This problem then can be masked by the addition of a steering stabilizer. This slows the movement down making it controllable or not felt at all.

it VERY much feels like an oscillation, your wheels are turning left and right very fast in an uncontrolled motion over powering the shocks with the radial forces caused by this. Your driving forward at 40 mph with 70 wheel and tires rotating being violently whipped from side to side.

Ill bet Torquing the track bar a bit more on these trucks, changing to a proper bolt, or getting a better bushing is the fix for this problem.

 

i found a few people who have said after visiting Ford it ix fixed for a bit after they replace everything. points to bad bushing or a bolt that after a bit loosens a hair and creates death wobble.

 

if anyone is in the area, come by, ill cure their death wobble issues. Never failed yet. Ill even video the front end shifting side to side with a moving track bar before I touch it.

 

The result of front end replacement only delays death wobble for a short time do to poor replacement parts.

Our dealer ask us to replace tire's to compensate tire issues that don't fix shit.

 

[video=youtube;ZmP8kefje6w]

Buy a trailer if your concerend about the bed, lol

 

I know I say i need the quad in the bed, but have NEVER used the bed to haul a quad. Im always taking 3 or more quads and the trailer is needed.....

I just thought it was funny that you watch that video, and you threw out the fact that you didnt have room for wood. HAHAHAA! I agree, I like my long bed on 2500HD.....I can get the quad back there and lots of wood!

love my 03 F350 FORD.