ciaoderhead

With the '05 and later 6.0's you still have issues with the under manifold innercoolers. Just be aware it's a costly repair. I never had trouble with my '05 but know of several that have gone south at 50k + miles .

scottw

iTrader: (1)

I kinda gathered that is where you were going with that number.

jonyb

Fixed that for ya.... The 6.0L can't tow it's own ass up a hill without downshifting 3 gears. Then it gets 5-8mpg towing.

Bmod4

I completly(sp) agree with ya' about the GM 6.0. I had a '04, a minivan could pull a hill better than that truck. One of the worst engines I owned. Weird thing is there are a bunch of guys who love that engine though. Personally I'd stay away from it. Find a nice used ram with the 5.9 Cummins, it'll last a long time and their easy to work on even if your partially inclined.

Griff

Personally, I have 8.1 allison and it pulls great. The mileage is another story though. About 11.5mpg empty and 8.0mpg towing 10k.
I'm fairly certain that my next truck will have a Dmax, but thats a few years away.

Tim G.

What's the budget???
Personally, I have an '04 Duramax 2500 4x4. That truck has been great, never let me down, and runs like a mother.

I have a good amount of seat time in 7.3 Fords. Yes, they were reliable and pull fair for their HP... But the engine causes the whole driving experience to be like driving an old school bus.

The front end thing on the 100k mile Fords is certainly true... I remember leaving on a trip thinking everything was cool... then getting almost home and wondering what was broken.... She needed $2000 worth of suspension/steering bits and brakes...

We had two 7.3 F350s. One a 2000, one a 99. One had a higher GVW package than the other, and it was a MUCH more stout truck. Maybe one was a 10k and one was a 13k...something like that... Both pulled 98% of their total milage, and never really less than 12,000lbs. Trannys were original. One truck needed a new engine because of a piston/ring failure. The other one was just plain worn out. Both were 150-200k mile trucks. Used hard.

Some have had good luck with the 5.9, but I have seen some serious terror with them as well... I don't think you could make me spend my own money on one...

aquaforce

The DuraMax is best from 06 up but starting in 07 the DPF kills economy.

The 7.3L Ford engine is good for many miles as one of my brothers has over 300K miles on his 03 and it is going great.
The Ford 6.0L and 6.4L are a disaster waiting to happen if it already hasn't !!!!!!!!!!!!! I know this well from the field and training..........I would never own one! The only Ford diesel engine I would run is the 7.3L where 03 is the best year or the new 6.7L where there is warranty.
The Dodge Cummins is a great engine package that will hang with the best. The chassis gets loose though.

Any diesel truck from 07 up has fuel mileage issues from the govt diesel emission system aka DPF. If you get one of these removing the emission equipment is an option to salvage your fuel.


All of these diesels is an overkill for a 30' boat.

My dad has a 99 F350 dually ext cab with under 50K miles he is thinking of selling. Let me know if your interested. t r o f e o @ b e l l s o u t h . n e t

Good luck.

272bajadriver

iTrader: (1)

Griff +1 on the 8.1l plus allison transmission. I sold my ram 1500 that had the 5.7L hemi and bought a 2500 gmc 4doors reg cab with 8.1 plus the allison transmission and this thing rides like a dream!! I was surprised, it's one hell of a truck but like griff said the mileage is awful!! My ram got better mielage than the gmc but the gmc rides much better and you can't even feel it shifting with that allison transmission it's incredible. Seems like all trucks have their good things and bad things.

Catmando

Some have had good luck with the 5.9, but I have seen some serious terror with them as well... I don't think you could make me spend my own money on one... Tim G.


You mean the Cummins diesel? The 500,000 mile diesel? The most reliable light/medium duty diesel on the planet? THAT 5.9?

Catmando

Well you had two other choices; the Ram 2500 Cummins and the GMC 2500 Dmax. Both of those trucks get far better fuel mileage than a big block gas motor.