Which Diesel Pickup Should I Buy?
Hey, I am a new member who is looking for a little advice. I am getting ready to buy a new truck and would like to find out what everyone thinks is a better truck. I am looking at either a 2006 Chevy 2500 Duramax or a 06 Dodge Ram Cummins. I am personally a Chevy fan, but not opposed to Dodges. I just would like to find out what users have found about these trucks. Thanks!
Tagged:
0
Comments
- cab size
- drive type (4x2 or 4x4)
- transmission (auto or manual)
- intended use
kcram - Pickups Host
Check it out: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=115662
Well not any more..............
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=115662
Joe
I am having a hard time deciding between these 2 trucks. The primary use will be to pull up to 10,000 gooseneck horse trailer, but will also be used a few times a year for a family trip vehicle. I am looking at the new '06 to take advantage of 0% financing.
Both trucks are auto trans, 4x4, diesel,Short Bed. Here are the differences:
F250 - Crew Cab (I found the Super Cab too small to really have passengers in the back) SB is 6 3/4 ft, an XLT model. Has the integrated brake box.
Dodge 2500 - Quad Cab. SB is 6 1/4 ft, SL Model which doesn't have elecric windows or locks. Have to add the brake box.
Here are my questions.
1. Bed size: will the shorter bed size (by 6 inches) of the Dodge compromise turning? A trailer dealer I spoke w/ assured me the Dodge bed size would be fine, but I am wondering if better to go w/ Ford since its SB is 6" longer. HOwever, for my own driving convenience, I would rather drive the smaller truck.
2. The Dodge will have to have aftermarket elec windows and door locks (scant supply of '06s)put in. Should I be concerned that these are not factory? Dealer assures me it will be covered like the Dodge Warranty.
3. What about reliability, performance and fuel economy comparison between these 2 vehicles?
Thanks!!!
I am having a hard time deciding between these 2 trucks. The primary use will be to pull up to 10,000 gooseneck horse trailer, but will also be used a few times a year for a family trip vehicle. I am looking at the new '06 to take advantage of 0% financing.
Both trucks are auto trans, 4x4, diesel,Short Bed. Here are the differences:
F250 - Crew Cab (I found the Super Cab too small to really have passengers in the back) SB is 6 3/4 ft, an XLT model. Has the integrated brake box.
Dodge 2500 - Quad Cab. SB is 6 1/4 ft, SL Model which doesn't have elecric windows or locks. Have to add the brake box.
Here are my questions.
1. Bed size: will the shorter bed size (by 6 inches) of the Dodge compromise turning? A trailer dealer I spoke w/ assured me the Dodge bed size would be fine, but I am wondering if better to go w/ Ford since its SB is 6" longer. HOwever, for my own driving convenience, I would rather drive the smaller truck.
2. The Dodge will have to have aftermarket elec windows and door locks (scant supply of '06s)put in. Should I be concerned that these are not factory? Dealer assures me it will be covered like the Dodge Warranty.
3. What about reliability, performance and fuel economy comparison between these 2 vehicles?
Thanks!!!
You will find that with the Ford it is a really nice truck. The interior is nice and comfortable. The crew cabs are very roomy and very comfortable for long trips. Backseat room rivals most large passenger cars. It will tow very smooth and the transmission should not give you any trouble at all. The engine is pretty powerful but it is not as quiet as the Cummins is. The engine has had some problems, especially in the 03-04 years such as head gasket, injector and turbo problems but the 05+ engines have had these "bugs" worked out of them although there is still the occasional truck with some issues. The torqshift transmission is by far the better choice, and is actually built by Allison Transmission - but GM owns the rights to market theirs as an Allison.
As for the Dodge you just can't go wrong with the Cummins engine. They have stuck with the same block since the late 80's aside from major improvements over the years and they were mainly due to emissions. The interior is very nice as well. Although the cabin is smaller than the ford the back seat is still comfortable but if you have tall passengers riding in the back it could be a squeeze. The transmission is not as good as the Ford Torqshift but it is not at all bad.
Now to answer your questions!
1. Both trucks have coil over front suspensions, but the Dodge still turns much tighter than the Ford, which could come in handy backing a trailer or making tight turns with it.
2. If the dealer is going to install and warranty the power windows and locks then make sure it is in writing that it's covered for the agreed term and don't worry, they will be fine.
3. For reliability as far as the entire truck I would put them right on par. The Dodge trucks have come a long way since the old days.
Engine reliability is an issue with the Ford, as some owners of 6.0's have had repeated issues with their trucks.
Transmission reliabilty is a small issue with the Dodge, but as long as you don't try to do anything like add 200 HP with chips and try to tow over the recommended capacity you should be fine.
Performance is going to be pretty even, but it does not appear you are looking for a drag racer. Diesels have made tremendous improvements since the old days. They are far more advanced and much more powerful. You will not see any noticeable black smoke upon acceleration.
For fuel economy with both trucks being automatic it's going to be pretty close, but you should see empty MPG's in the 16-19 with the Ford, and slightly higher with the Dodge. I average over 20mpg 90% of the time and as high as 24 in my Dodge, but it is a manual and they traditionally get better mileage.
I should add that you can increase the performance and mileage by 1-3 mpg wihtout sacrificing the reliability of either engine by researching aftermarket "chips" For about 3-500 hundred bucks you can add 50-75 horsepower and about 150lb-ft of torque just from the chip. If you have never owned a diesel or don't know much about them, it is a whole new world! Please reply if you have any further questions!
Now for your help. Does bad fuel cause injector failure? Could the injectors have been cleaned instead of replaced? Why would the injector pump go out after only 156 miles after the repairs?
Any help or comments would be appreciated.
Thanks
kcram - Pickups Host
Ford vs Chevy? Ha
Im buying an import because the quality is better and the transmission wont fail.
Recently my brother was visiting me here in CA and made the long haul drive home (WA) about 11 hours. Next day he drove his 2004 Dodge Diesel an additional 20 miles and his truck died, just as ours did last year. YOU GUESSED IT A FUEL INJECTOR PUMP & FUEL PUMP! He had the fuel injector pump go out under his first year of warranty they did replace it, no charge but lied about where they had put it. Cause now he has to replace it at HIS COST and the fuel injector pump isn't where they said it was "mounted in the gas tank. He had to buy a conversion kit to mount it in the gas tank.
Actually none of this about remounting it our where it goes is really the issue here. The injector pumps on the Dodge Trucks are an issue and they are DAM expensive to replace! And at the rate they are going out we are putting nearly $5,000.00 into our trucks every other year! Dodge needs to fix this problem and do a recall.. Oh I forgot Dodge only does recalls if it is a "safety" issue! I guess if your truck dies while you are driving passing a big ole truck and you have NO power steering and you crash and burn, THEN IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE!
Here is a link to last years letter I wrotelink title
kcram - Pickups Host
what you are trying to do. I would highly suggest buying
a 1 ton cab and chassis 4x4, than put a nice custom flat bed
on it. That has been the configuration my father and I have
settled on the last half dozen trucks and it is vastly
superior to a 3/4 ton pickup truck with a standard bed in every respect. When you haul animals they tend to move around
alot, single rear tire trucks get shoved around quit a bit.
At the wrong time it can be very dangerous. You will be
amazed at how much better a truck with 4 tires on the back
runs down the road with a heavy load of animals. As for
wheel base the shorter the better, theirs a reason way the
trucks they use to move house trailers are so short. Every
where you go in regaurdes to livestock will seem to have
narrow gates and tight quarters. A short wheel base truck
cannot be bet as far as maneuvering a Goose Neck Trailer.
As far as reliability goes they all have problems. Don't
let some salesman lie about it. I don't think any of the
domestic makers are building anything very reliable right
know if you plan to really work a truck. Duallies as they
are called are mostly for show, I bought a new F-350 Dually
a few years ago and will never own another one. Both fender
flares were broken into pieces and flapping in the wind
by the time I sold it. That's why I suggested a Cab and
Chassis. The other day a lady ran a red light and hit me
right in the side of the flat bed. Her car was totaled out.
I used a can of black paint on the bed, and you cannot tell
that anything ever touched my truck, not one dent, that's
how a truck is suppose to be. My father currently has a 04
6.0 liter F-350, he's had alot of trouble with it. If you
buy any diesel truck in the near future get the extended
warranty on it, you will not be sorry. A old cattleman told
me once about 3/4 ton trucks, that he considered them to be
between hay and grass, and in your application I agree.
thanks
Joe
Cody
ULSD has been reported as an issue only on previous-generation engines. I run it in my 05 with no issues at all. Keep your fuel filter fresh until the engine has had a steady diet for a while, and watch your seals and gaskets.
kcram - Pickups Host
Cody
if u want good mph go diesel. I get 19mph city 20.8 highway and 16 with a 6000# cattle trailer 15mph with a 20000# hay trailer,with a 2006 chevy 2500 6 speed
Go diesel and you won't be sorry was the summary of my post that didn't make it. My 06 Chevy is great. The seats are very comfortable and the XM radio with Bose speakers are going to be hard to beat. I still have OnStar but will let it go in July.
I have talked to many , many people/men and lots of them have 300K miles on their diesel pickups with no problem. Fords... Chevy...Dodge I doubt if a GAS Tundra can say that with 300K..
20+mpg on the road is very doable. My truck now has 13K and I can just now see the MPG going up so the engine must be getting broken in... I still got right at 20 from the start.
You won't be sorry getting the 6 speed transmission. I really like the way it brakes you on hills/mountains.
I related a story of a trip I made in January returning from Greenville, NC on I 40 to Asheville, NC... I was crusing with the empty truck about 60-65mph and I had a Tundra pass me pulling a silver bullet camper (can't think of the brand name--Airstream??) all aluminum... When we got to a few little hills around Marion NC before hitting the MTNS of WNC I passed him again... still in cruise.. and we did that for 20-30 miles untill he hit OLD Fort Mtn (10 mile grade of 7%).. I never saw him again. I slowed down to 55-60 there as that's the speed limit.
The moral of that story is don't buy something without enough punch to pull what you want to pull. Also I don't think its a good idea to pull at or near your MAX CGVW,,,, give your vehicle a break.. I pull a 11.5K camper and the vehicle is rated at 15500 lbs (as I recall).. The chevy handles it really well... 11.6+ mpg..
I noticed that the Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins is now coming out with an additional component that allows it to meet 2010 emission standards too, which is important to me, so that may be the best choice, though I will certainly consider any of the other American brands that has a good reliability history. I will be doing a number of test drives this weekend! Happy Trails and thanks again!
As of 1-1-07 (already come and gone), every diesel engine made for use in a pickup truck has to run on the new ultra low sulphur diesel fuel only, and has to have a particulate filter that burns the soot. All 3 manufacturers reacted in different ways.
Ford went ahead and started manufacturing their new 6.4 diesel engine at the beginning of the year, which is why the 2008 Ford arrived a bit early.
Chevy produced a large amount of their Isuzu diesels prior to 1-1-07 to be used in the production of their diesels for the forseeable future (manufacture date of the engine is the only thing that matters, not the manufacture date of the actual truck).
Dodge produced a large amount of the 6 cylinder Cummins to last until they could modify it to meet the new requirements as well. Unlike Chevrolet though, rumor has it that with the required modifictions, Dodge is having power output issues with their modified Cummins.
Anyhow, that's the story as I heard it.