Which Crew Cab One Ton Diesel?

Zoomer · Mar 11, 2004

I have a F250 2 Wheel drive, bought it with 70K on it, now has 125k, and going strong. being a 99, its louder then the newer fords, but runs great. at 100k I put on a new water pump, took all of 20 minutes to install, along with a new alternator, 15 minutes. Talk about easy to work on. other then that, kids love the interior, as I and the wife do. I average around 18 with out the trailer, around 10 with. (27 foot two story toy hauler :laugh: ) Dodge missed the boat on the back seat totaly. My next truck most likely a ford, (and I really don't care what brand I drive, I go for price and seat of the pants feel more!) :thumb:

Jaybird · Mar 13, 2004

My '94 7.3 litre turbo diesel only has 290,000 on it, so it will be quite some time before I can test out the 7.3 PowerStroke. :)

Tranny threw craps at 90k (new one is fine and has an additional cooler).
Radiator/hoses were trash at 200k.
Had to change out batteries once.
Had to replace o-rings on each injector at 250,000 (they each started leaking at same time....diesel fuel everywhere...one hours worth of work and about $3.00 for o-rings)

I can't remember doing anything else save for belt, air filter, fuel filters, and oil changes.

MACE · Mar 29, 2004

Well, I Squeezed the Trigger

I found a really nice 02 F350 today and bought it. 7.3 PSD, 4x4, Crew Cab, long box with 22k miles. Lariat leather and all the goodies. The only thing I'm not real happy about is the automatic trans, but the manuals are about impossible to find around here. (And buying used, I have enough money left over for that 2005 300 EXC come Fall :) )
:yeehaw:
Everybody is happy with this rig. :thumb:

Patman · Mar 30, 2004

:thumb: :thumb:

KiwiBird · Mar 31, 2004

Way to go Mace - even if it doesn't have a Cummins in it at least it doesn't have the POS 6.0 PSD

joey26 · Apr 5, 2004

CHEVY hands down!!!!!

BSWIFT · Apr 10, 2004

What did you give for the truck, Mace?

Patman · Apr 12, 2004

I drove a 6.0 Powerstroke Excursion for the past week. An interesting animal to say the least. I really liked the way it ran out and the acceleration was awesome for such a heavy rig. I'm not too sure about the torque spread though, especially if I were towing. My 7.3 is a brute right from idle and I think the 6.0 is like the Duramax in that it relies a lot on the fancy automatic to multiply the torque and stay on top of the torque & horsepower curves. From a total package standpoint I think the Ford is still the way to go with a crew cab, just a better overall product from my eyes. If I didn't need a real crew cab then the Dodge would be a little more appealing from a drag it around gruntmiester standpoint. I'm sure the new design diesels will prove themselves just like the racing fourstrokes are doing. Until then I'll stick with my XR-like 7.3 :)

DahlElama · May 5, 2004

F350 vid - http://www.dragonsys.org/files/videos/F350Run.wmv

MACE · May 6, 2004

BSWIFT said:
What did you give for the truck, Mace?

I'm not so proud of the deal I cut. Let's just say it was about six nice dirt bikes, but two fewer dirt bikes than an 04 would have cost.

New bike comes in the Fall :thumb:

nikki · May 21, 2004

Just an update on our '04 F350 6.0L problems I posted about a few months back....

We now have 17-18k miles on the '04 and it must be finally getting broke in. Now we're getting 19-21 mpg highway (usually going 60-75 mph) and 16-19 mpg in town. Haven't been racing lately so can't say with the 26' toy hauler.... I'll check that out this weekend.

Plus no more engine shutting off or real bad chugging since the last reflash. The engine still chugs a little on start up (when cold), especially when we put it in reverse if it's not warm, but we can live with it.

We have friends with an '03 F250 crew cab 4x4 gas.... and they get 11-14 mpg without a trailer.... and with $2.30 a gallon gas prices.... ouch! :bang:

MACE · May 21, 2004

That is good news. When did you get your last reflash? Do you know the code on the flash by any chance?

The 6.0 guys on the TDS site don't seem to be having as good luck as you are. One must realize that happy folks are less likely to post...

TooBadBrad · May 22, 2004

My 03 F250 6.0 is doing great now too. I do think they have worked out the problems. Mine went through a 6 week period were it was in and out of the shop. 2 injectors, then the turbo controler, then the turbo, and lastly the egr valve. No problems for 4k now, and it runs smoother than new, milage keeps going up( 15-16 lightly loaded, 12-13 towing 25ft trailer with two bikes in the bed). Ford gave me a free extended warrenty and said they would buy it back if it came in again for a related problem.

ktmboy · May 22, 2004

What's the scoop on the "new" Cummins Dodge has? Is this the same motor with a tweaked chip and/or other mods or is it really new? How does fuel mileage compare between the big three diesels?

TVRider · May 24, 2004

I pulled the trigger a couple weeks ago on a GMC 2500HD with the Duramax/Allison combo. It now has 1500 miles on it and I'm getting 17 mpg unloaded at 75mph cruising. I haven't checked around town numbers or towing yet. It's a great truck with the 'LLY' engine, 310 hp and 590 ft/lbs torque that was a mid year change. I really like it, a very comfortable truck, I can't wait to pull the trailer.

Tommy

nikki · May 24, 2004

MACE said:
That is good news. When did you get your last reflash? Do you know the code on the flash by any chance?

Our one and only reflash was in mid-Feb. And it seemed to take a few months before we really saw an increase in mpg. Not sure what the code was.

Didn't get a chance to check the mpg with the 26' toy hauler this past weekend.... but we'll be putting 1200 miles on the truck with the toy hauler this holiday weekend. I'm guessing 11 mpg....

oldguy · May 24, 2004

Nikki we just did our first long (220 miles one way) pull with the fifth wheel 29 footer and got 14.5. I was really surprised and quite happy when it figured the same both ways.

Flying Scot · May 25, 2004

Read on Autoweek today that Ford is going to tweak the F250 and F350 for September. Stiffened frame and uping the HP and Torque for the engines. Will be able to tow 15000lbs.

GREENBEAN · May 25, 2004

I just picked up a 01' F-250 Superduty 7.3 Crewcab, Auto, 4X4, Lariat Leather Pkg last weekend. I flew to Phoenix and drove it back to Tacoma in 31 hours 1500 miles later. I was averaging 15.7mpg doing 85-90 for a while then I backed off to 75-80 and got about 16.4 then I cruzed at 72-75 for a while and got about 17.4 MPG... I think the key is to stay around 2000 rpm at 70mph that is where I got about 18 mpg it is tough not to get on it though... Yeah! I love the Limo back seat. Turning radius is crappy but the ford reputation for the 7.3 is the best from what mechanics I talked to say. I took a trip with my buddy down to the dunes in Oregon in his F-250 longbed xtracab and we pulled a 25' hauler. It was like it wasnt even there. Thats when I started to think about the fords.. I was thinking about getting a Titan but for the money I saved on this rig and the gas mileage I read those Titans are getting, I think I am going to get myself a toyhauler now instead of a couple of years away. Couldnt be happier!!!

nephron · Jun 1, 2004

Interesting. Vague comments about the Chevy (no experience?), but most elaborating on the trials and tribulations of how to keep a Ford from dying on you mid-intersection, or from sucking corn husks into the intake (which ruined a friend's motor). I don't get it. Can someone be more specific about what's wrong with these new Chevies? Specific information? I don't have any experience with modern diesel pickups, but my experience thus far has been major catastrophies and annoying problems with the Ford pickups...but I can't say I have any memory of anything going this wrong repetetively (ie, engineering issue) with any of my Chevy pickups, or others. And I'm hard on mine. Much harder than pulling a trailer.

These have oil pressure actuated injectors which cause all of the above problems you metioned when the oil is overdue on change out

Whaaa? How would oil pressure correlate with an injection point? Since oil pressure is static, you couldn't possibly open and close an injector in that way, could you? Aren't most modern Diesels/any FI run by electrical solenoids operating under high fuel pressure conditions?

Tony Eeds · Jun 1, 2004

Well nephron, I'll give you my impressions on the GMC diesel. I have a GMC HD2500 4 door SB 4x4 with the Duramax/Allison. It was one year old on 5/30 and has 52K+ miles on it.

In the course of the year, I have run out of fuel twice and had it in the shop for transmission work as the result of the second oops. The first time I screwed up and thought I could make it to Weatherford ... I trusted the computer to tell me if I got too low and it didn't. It warned me as I rolled to a stop, dead from lack of fuel. The second time my truck ran out it was because the tranny wasn't engaging fully and it ATE an entire tank of fuel in 225 miles. Again my fault, because I should have been watching the guage, but who watches the first half of the tank ... it should have lasted 350~375 miles. The transmission work cost me a small bundle, but all is well now.

I pull a trailer a fair amount and suspect that 85~90 percent of my miles are highway (Texas is big and I have to go to Fort Stockton today ... 500 miles one way). The engine hasn't missed a beat, except when Lou and I stumbled into Evanston WY with a clogged fuel filter.

My only real complaint with the truck is the size of the fuel tank. It is still hard to find diesel here in East Dallas and I always seem to be running low here. I have found a 45 gallon replacement tank that will add 20 gallons to my capacity. It costs a bit much though.

I still need to hook up with Patman and move it to Amsoil.

nephron · Jun 2, 2004

Tony, it's funny you mention these things, because the two main reasons I've never considered a diesel pickup are 1) I'd be afraid of not finding diesel. Only takes one incident to ruin a lot of shat. 2) Diesel motors are meant for big vehicles with big payloads--I was (and am still) a little skeptical of their transformation into popular street cars. Makes me wonder what their intent was in marketing these things?

Plus, I've 'roaded' too many tractors for 50 miles or so and will never forgive that 'drone'....at least they're faster than 20mph.

Edit--should have made it clearer that I think applying this technology to pickups is going to take years and years to sort out. Particularly when you're mating a Cummins to a Dodge or an Allison to a Chevy.

I also seem to notice that NONE of your stories were as horrific as what we heard before you on the other brands.

Why did you have to pay anything on any of the incompletely 'hooking up' tranny? Wasn't it under warranty? Why would running out of diesel ruin a tranny? Oil pressure drop? Hey, you gotta admit. When that computer light was telling you were out of fuel, it was right. :nener:

Patman · Jun 2, 2004

Nephron heres a link for a bit of understanding on how the HEUI systems operate on pretty much all the current diesel offerings.

http://www.intellidog.com/dieselmann/injector.htm

Lots of other more detailed info out there though. Basically with the oil being used at such a high pressure the more it gets contaminated the less efficient it becomes. Sort of like having air in the old injection systems or even in a brake line. I believe that F1 uses air and/or electric actuators because of the monsterous RPM's they run at where diesels typically redline long before most gas engines.

I rented a 6.0 Excusrion when we had family in over Easter and it was amazingly quiet on the road. My 7.3 is not really that annoying BTW. The older design diesel were loud and annoying, my John Deere is and it's a 2001 model! But then it's not made to travel highways. I believe as the manufacturers continue to evolve the diesel power plant for both passanger car as well as lighter duty pickups we'll see it becoming even more accepted and they will become even quieter, more powerful and even cleaner running. Man if bio-diesel could just get the help that petro based diesel does we'd all be in better shape at the pumps.

nephron · Jun 2, 2004

Cool. Pulse width and timing for load and rpm are still solenoid-dependent, but rely on high pressure oil as a required intermediate step due to high cylinder pressures at near TDC. You diesel buffs have probably known this stuff for about the same amount of time that I haven't even been aware.....

Do Cummins and Duramax use it?

Patman · Jun 3, 2004

I believe the Chevy and Dodge both use Bosch designed systems that use pretty much the same pressues (+20,000 psi) but use the fuel instead of oil for the hydraulic medium, the Ford system is a Catipillar design. Overall the engines and fuel systems pretty much function the same using high pressures, direct pulsed injection, and multi valve heads to make them produce more power and run MUCH quieter.

I'll bet we start to see V6 diesels in F150's & GM 1500's with I4's in Dakotas and Mercedes designed 5's & 6's in Jeep products over the next 5 years.

Which Crew Cab One Ton Diesel?

What New Diesel Crewcab Should I Buy?

Buy the Chevy / GMC

Buy the Dodge

Buy the Ford

Buy something else...

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