What truck to buy?

MHasterok

MHasterok

New member
I'm going to start looking for a used truck next month. Probably a 2000-2006 model. Here's the things I want it to have: Diesel (prefer), 4 door, full size (of course).

Any input on what brands of trucks are better? I heard there are certain years of diesels you want to stay away from.
 
I prefer fords. For the absolute most reliable, I would go with an 99 to early 03 ford with the 7.3 engine. I have a 6.0 and have had no more problems with it then I did with my two 7.3's but reality, and others posted experiences dictate otherwise. I would hesitate mildly on the early 01's because they had a mechanical diode that would shred the transmission. I had that one happen at 54k on my excursion.
The later Chevy Duramax's are better than the earlier ones. I do not know enough about them, because I am a Ford guy.
The Dodge does not come as a real crew cab, untl the last few years. It had a super cab size rear seat with the crew cab type doors. If your kids are little, then it would be fine, except that it is a Dodge, which is an excellent wrapper for a Cummins, but that is about all I can say about the truck itself. The engine is excellent.
Hope this helps.
 
Well said Scott, stay away from the chevys, the 7.3 is the moto as far as Fords go and the Cummings is - from what I have read - the best motor, but then again, the govt is a main player in Dodge.
 
I would look at resale values and maintenance cost.
Either the Dodge or Ford are both good choices in the years mentioned.
 
Is it smart to stay away from gas trucks? I'll be hauling the equipment & a 275 gal water tank. I usually have the tank empty while driving (my accounts let me fill up there). I found a 2003 Dodge 4dr with a 4.7L. They're asking $6900.
 

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MHasterok said:
Is it smart to stay away from gas trucks? I'll be hauling the equipment & a 275 gal water tank. I usually have the tank empty while driving (my accounts let me fill up there). I found a 2003 Dodge 4dr with a 4.7L. They're asking $6900.
Click to expand...


Mike that would be the perfect truck if it had the cummings in it.....I miss mine. I run a stock duramax and its nice play truck compared to my old dodge. I think ford is top notch .....7.3 only for engines.
I will be going back to dodge next time.....
I would look at the 03 -to when every they put all that emiosion stuff on it. i have a friend thats has a 03 5 speed Cummiings that gets 24 on the road and 19 pulling bobcat....has a 65 horse power puck and straight pipe.
 
I have the 2005 Dodge SLT Quadcab Longbed Lone Star Edition with the automatic transmission.

Other than the Overdrive unit having a factory defect (no cost to me to get fixed) and the #4 injector tube blowing out (again no cost to me other than having to pay a guy to tow my trailer home from out of town, AAA would not pay for that), I have had good luck.

I average from 20 to 25mpg on the highway without the trailer and from 18mpg with the trailer (no water) to 14mpg with water and down to 12mpg with water and 35-50mph winds (we are in a very windy city here).

I would buy another Dodge with the Cummins or I would give the Ford with the 7.3 a try, I have heard a lot of good things about those engines.

Something to think about, my trailer without water is at 4300 pounds so pulling it with my truck is like dragging around a car all day, diesel's are great for doing this, gas engines will do it also but be burning a lot more fuel to do the same job. Add a full tank of water and you are almost 7000 pounds so that would be like pulling 2 mid size cars behind you all day.

I have some friends that have the Dodge trucks with the Hemi engines and those trucks are fast and strong and really love to drink the gas, especially when pulling something.

Find someone in your area that has a truck and trailer and ask them to let you drive their truck/trailer around for a little bit and see how you like how that truck pulls and then try some other brands if you can, this will show you what to expect.
 
I have a dodge with the 4.7. It does the job fine and I have a steel floor tandem trailer, 400 gal tank total, 1 hot skid and 1 cold water. These little motors can take the abuse and when it does blow, a new engine core is less than 2k. But, empty trailer gets you around 14mpg
 
A stock 7.3 ford has nothing on my newer cummins motor. With that being said there is 10 years difference in the motors and alot in the specs

1997 Hp 225 Tq.425

07 6.7 cummins Hp. 350 Tq. 650 stock


there is a large difference in that with a full trailer but with an empty trailer we use a Nissan Frontier sometimes to pull it (5.5 gpm hot skid, 300 gallon tank empty, 35 gallon chemical tank, hoses and reels) so its all based upon what you need not so much what you want. Toys are alot more fun if you don't have to depend on it.
 
If you must go with a diesel, stay with a 7.3 or B model cummins. Don't get stuck owning a 6.0 when the warranty expires. As a diesel mechanic for a few years, I would tell you you don't want one. A lot more to upkeep. You can replace a gas motor at 200,000 miles a lot cheaper than youcan pay fopr service on a iesel for 350,000. I pull between 4 and 6 thousand pounds on my trailers every day. My two Fords are F250's with 5.4 gas motors. Never had a problem pulling anything I wanted to.

Gas oil change - 6qts oil/filter $28

Diesel- 14 qts oil/oil filter/ fuerl filter every other oil change. $90/$130
 
my top choice is a mitsubishi cab over. there comfortable , reliable, and the turning radius is awesome!!
 
Chris C,
Here are some pics that you asked before of the F-450 99 flatbed, 7.3 powerstoke:

When I bought it with nothing on it: CLICK
some close ups with some stuff on it:
1
2

This is a recent picture with a trailer in the back:
IMG_0015.jpg


This is another pickup truck: Chevy 97 C1500, gas; we use it to tow a mobile sweeper Victory T-500 ,sometimes the PW trailer and for casual abuse :))..
IMG_0116.jpg


And this is the best engine and truck ever made in my opinion:
IMG_0095.jpg


From my own experience:
The advantages of the Flatbed F-450:
It sure can carry and pull a lot of weight with no hesitation; I have pulled: 325 tank, another 35 chem tank, another 50 drum with chem, 200 tank, 100 tank on the trailer (all tanks full) and the trailer + all the equipment and 3 guys :)... The truck does not complain a bit.
7.3 is a very tough engine
If its a flatbed, especially this size, there is plenty of room to put whatever your mind comes to :).
No need to tow trailer, less liability as far as employees and yourself.
The disadvantages:
Even that this engine and any other diesel engines are rated superior than the gas ones, they do brake too. Unfortunatelly the diesel engine, especially the powerstroke is a very complicated state of the art. The maintenance and whatever diagnostic on it is frickin expensive. Dont ask me how I know.. :). For example to inspect only one injector, it cost $55 and up (8 injectors total). So when you look for such truck, make sure you buy one without problems.
Another disadvantage is the Clearance (hard to get into low clearance garages below 7'
Gas monster: empty 10gal/m, full: I am afraid to measure :))..

The Chevy is one awesome truck. I purchased it not long ago and I am absolutely happy with it. It takes a lot of abuse without problems. Cheap maintenance and parts. 15-18mls/gal. If you ask Mr. Rex with PressureWasherProducts, he is a total Chevy guy and he is a very very knowledgeable and experienced man with many many years of experience in the trucking and machinery business. So if you wanna hear more from him as an expert, I am sure he will like to share. Just give him a call.

Last but not least, if you like flatbed trucks, I am a total fan of Isuzu/GMC NPR trucks. Some guys here have NPRs and they will confirm. This truck is most used by landscapers for reason. I have worked with NPR for more than 5 years and I can say it is just the best among all.
 
A.TRKWASH said:
my top choice is a mitsubishi cab over. there comfortable , reliable, and the turning radius is awesome!!
Click to expand...

Oh, I forgot that :).. turning radius of the F-450 and I believe any other Ford is just ridiculous..., on the other hand there is no better turning radius than the NPRs :))
 
Thanks for posting pics, that is a very nice flatbed!
 
I am with Scott, We have a 97 Ford F250 with a 7.3 and 275,000 miles, I have a 99 F350 with a 7.3 and 175,000 miles, we have a Dodge with 90,000 miles and its a gas burner and a hoss as well. We also have a 2002 Chevy that is weak as tater water.

All together I just bought another F350 with the new 6.4 liter powerstroke and I love it! It runs and sounds almost like a gas burner, very quiet with TONS of power.

The Fords rule in my oponion, the stay together better than the Dodge, the Dodge is a hoss but the interior is too plain for me personally, now if it is a work truck I could care less but all of mine are loaded up but one.
 
Mike, when you decide what you want give me a call.....
If you don't mind coming to fresno for pick up, I can definitely help you save you some cash!
I have a wholesale license, and buy cars cheap! All day long!
In fact I bought my work truck wholesale from a dealer in pheonix........ I might send you his way...........
Call anytime
 
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