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Post by SW86 on Jun 22, 2015 5:57:48 GMT -6
Okay, I'm going to trade off my z71 (my dad wants it), so that means I get to upgrade  I've just started researching on diesels but instead of searching the internet for shit you guys already know, I want you to school me on the ins and outs. What should I look for? What to avoid? What should be upgraded? Anything! What I'm looking at/for is a ford 250 in the 08-11 year range. I'm not against Chevys but I haven't been impressed with either of my 1500s. I know diesels are a different ballpark but I'd still like to branch out from anything GM related. GO! |
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Post by Somebody on Jun 22, 2015 7:53:17 GMT -6
Really liked my 99.. They say it's the most reliable Ford Diesel you can own.. But the power wasn't like you get with the newer ones.. I drove Reuben's Dodge and hauled a horse trailer one time.. Great power and better fuel economy than a Ford.. If I was to do it again I would probably get a Dodge..  |
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Post by c2 on Jun 22, 2015 8:01:31 GMT -6
I can't offer much as I'm still new to the diesel world.
Pros for me so far are the fuel milage and power. My 70 mile round trip to work each day is 95% highway which diesels love.
My jeep and trailer weigh around 7k and you can't feel it all when pulling. Truck had no problem at all pulling up the hill to hawk pride. I even accelerated about 3/4 of the way up just to see what it would do....speed up with ease.
Only con so far is non highway mpg. if we take it to run errands around down. All the stop and go kills it, but that's not what it's for and not why I bought it, so it's not really even a real con.
There's the obvious things like some maitenence is going to cost more and diesel fuel is more expensive, but that's to be expected.
I didn't really look at the newer f250s but I want to say I read something about them having some of the same issues as the 6.0s. Might be wrong but it would be worth researching. My 6.0 already had the bullet proof kit installed and was a HUGE factor in me buying that truck.
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Post by MikeMelton on Jun 22, 2015 10:06:20 GMT -6
Never owned one but from what I've seen with the ones I've messed with the Cummins is a great engine most just complain about the truck falling apart around it, the Fords I've been around have been '99-'04 models and have seen several with head bolt, head gasket and transmission problems, the Duramax's that I've been around have gotten pretty good mileage and made awesome power and come with the Allison transmission witch is almost bulletproof but the older engines had problems with injectors. Now this all comes from people I know and have been around and A LOT of reading.
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Post by Weezul on Jun 22, 2015 10:42:50 GMT -6
Grizzly Adams is your go to for Duramax information. I've heard what Mike Melton said about the Cummins. Great engine with a crappy truck built around it. Just make a truck. 6.7L Cummins, Allison transmission, and a F-250 body!  |
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Post by SW86 on Jun 22, 2015 13:29:20 GMT -6
Good info so far. I'm not set on any model/brand, I was just drawn to the looks of the newer f250s. I'm willing to let looks slide for a better drivetrain setup
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Post by MikeMelton on Jun 22, 2015 15:16:21 GMT -6
My brother's 2002 crew cab dually with a Duramax had cold air intake, factory exhaust with the muffler replaced and a straight pipe put in and a tuner on it got about 25-27 mpg running from Hernando to Memphis to work and got 18.5 hauling a 1982 3/4 4x4 Suburban back from Huntsville running speed limit.
A couple guys I work with have 2500 4x4 Dodges and say they get high 20s on the interstate.
Never really heard many with Powerstrokes bragging about fuel mileage.
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Post by Weezul on Jun 22, 2015 15:39:41 GMT -6
Back when I was looking at getting a diesel I was leaning toward Chevy for the Duramax as they haven't strayed far from the engine as it just works and for the Allison transmission. I like the Cummins but the downside was the truck falling apart around the engine and I've heard of some people having issues with the Dodge auto transmissions.
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Jun 22, 2015 18:10:27 GMT -6
My brother's 2002 crew cab dually with a Duramax had cold air intake, factory exhaust with the muffler replaced and a straight pipe put in and a tuner on it got about 25-27 mpg running from Hernando to Memphis to work and got 18.5 hauling a 1982 3/4 4x4 Suburban back from Huntsville running speed limit. A couple guys I work with have 2500 4x4 Dodges and say they get high 20s on the interstate. Never really heard many with Powerstrokes bragging about fuel mileage. I hear people throw those high numbers out all the time. I will call bullshit on it no matter what they drive. Either the tuner has screwed up the mileage on the dic or the owner sucks at math. |
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Post by MikeMelton on Jun 22, 2015 19:32:27 GMT -6
My brother's 2002 crew cab dually with a Duramax had cold air intake, factory exhaust with the muffler replaced and a straight pipe put in and a tuner on it got about 25-27 mpg running from Hernando to Memphis to work and got 18.5 hauling a 1982 3/4 4x4 Suburban back from Huntsville running speed limit. A couple guys I work with have 2500 4x4 Dodges and say they get high 20s on the interstate. Never really heard many with Powerstrokes bragging about fuel mileage. I hear people throw those high numbers out all the time. I will call bullshit on it no matter what they drive. Either the tuner has screwed up the mileage on the dic or the owner sucks at math. I wonder about that a lot too but I was with him and personally did the math when he was towing the suburban. |
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Jun 22, 2015 20:04:42 GMT -6
I hear people throw those high numbers out all the time. I will call bullshit on it no matter what they drive. Either the tuner has screwed up the mileage on the dic or the owner sucks at math. I wonder about that a lot too but I was with him and personally did the math when he was towing the suburban. I have an 05 durmax with straight a pipe, intake, and have run several different tuners. I can barely get 18.5 mpg empty running 55mph. Throw the jeep on the trailer and it's below 13. |
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Post by 06blackmax on Jun 22, 2015 22:08:07 GMT -6
I'll throw my two cents in.
The early D-maxs (01- early 04)LB7 had injector Issues. But they did get the best mileage. But not 25-27 mpg. (04.5 -early 06) LLY some had cooling issues. Up until now these models had the 5spd Allison.
06-07.5 LBZ prolly the best years to own. Introduces the 6spd Allison and says goodbye to injector problems. No emissions problems.
07.5 - up LMM and LML no major differences in the basic engine. Just the factory tune and different emissions levels.
Fords
Any 7.3 will be good. There not a speed demon but will move the World. Some parts will work on all but there is a break, early and late 99 is the dividing line.
6.0's there's enough info on the web to let you make your own decision about them.
6.4, still made by International and better than a 6.0 but not by much. 5spd auto better than older 4spd versions.
6.7. Made by Ford now and starts using common rail injection instead of HUEI injection. Tunes a lot easier and holds them power well. Trans is good too.
Don't know much about the new ones, nobody I know has one.
Dodge
12 valve best engine Cummins ever made. Prolly to old for what you want.
Most any Cummins is great and yes the truck will fall apart around it while driving down the road.
They do get great mileage but not high 20's like some say. I'm not saying there's not a few out there that get really good mpg , but few and far between.
Hope this helps, it's just a few things I learned over the years.
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Post by MikeMelton on Jun 23, 2015 16:46:53 GMT -6
I wonder about that a lot too but I was with him and personally did the math when he was towing the suburban. I have an 05 durmax with straight a pipe, intake, and have run several different tuners. I can barely get 18.5 mpg empty running 55mph. Throw the jeep on the trailer and it's below 13. That is the about what Mack (ODGO111111O) was getting out of his 05 too never did understand why Nick's 02 got so much better. But I tow with a 2002 Suburban and it gets just over 13 mph towing my Jeep. |
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Post by Weezul on Jun 23, 2015 18:53:25 GMT -6
I have an 05 durmax with straight a pipe, intake, and have run several different tuners. I can barely get 18.5 mpg empty running 55mph. Throw the jeep on the trailer and it's below 13. That is the about what Mack (ODGO111111O) was getting out of his 05 too never did understand why Nick's 02 got so much better. But I tow with a 2002 Suburban and it gets just over 13 mph towing my Jeep. According to the Bullydog in my 05 Avalanche I got 10-11 towing the Jeep. Not sure if that is accurate. I didn't calculate it by hand. |
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Post by MikeMelton on Jun 23, 2015 19:21:41 GMT -6
I figured it up with a calculator and got 13 with my Jeep on the trailer 4 people and a weekend worth of food, clothes, tent, and tools going to Hawk Pride. But I never really got over about 3500 rpm
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