Truck Opinions

jason · Jun 6, 2009

Alright, sold my 1/2 ton 2004 Dodge Ram with the Hemi and I am looking to get into a 3/4 ton with a diesel.

I have been looking at 2000 - 2006 F-250's with both the earlier 7.3 and later 6.0 powerstroke. I am finding lots more 6.0 for sale in my area with the mileage that I need, but of course was always advised to stay away from that engine. Did they clear up the problems in the later years of that engine, 2005, 2006? Or should I just completely stay away from them and try to find a 7.3.

It is tough to find something decent they are not asking an arm and leg for or I find a lot without 4 wheel drive.

jason · Jun 6, 2009

Oh, I had a 7.3 in an earlier truck, never gave me a bit of problems and good mpg, but wouldn't hurt to have a few more hp and ft/lbs.

herefordfootball · Jun 6, 2009

Probaly go with the 7.3, haven't seen alot of 'em around but heard they're a pretty good engine. The fords rust early, the chevy's engine/tranny goes a little earlier and you get both with dodge. Just depends on what you want. Just going off my experiences with the fords and chevys, and our neighbor owns a dodge that he said he'd trade for either of our older chevys or ford truck. I have heard good experiences with all the trucks though, but if you want a 3/4 ford go with the 7.3. JMO. Good Luck in your search!!!

Know you've probaly already looked but check out cars.com they have a huge selection and it's pretty user friendly!

Josh · Jun 6, 2009

The only weak links the 6.0L engines have are the EGR system (the cooler plugs and fails) and a lack of cylinder head sealing, which can be cured with head studs. But we have a 96 7.3 and it is a very reliable truck it starts good in the winter which we can have some fairly cold days up in Canada, and if you want more hp and ft. lbs you can always through a chip on it.

farmboy · Jun 6, 2009

probably go with 2004 f350 white dually diesel 120k miles..... $16,000

(740-352-7817 call for more info )

Hilltop · Jun 6, 2009

herefordfootball said:
Probaly go with the 7.3, haven't seen alot of 'em around but heard they're a pretty good engine. The fords rust early, the chevy's engine/tranny goes a little earlier and you get both with dodge. Just depends on what you want. Just going off my experiences with the fords and chevys, and our neighbor owns a dodge that he said he'd trade for either of our older chevys or ford truck. I have heard good experiences with all the trucks though, but if you want a 3/4 ford go with the 7.3. JMO. Good Luck in your search!!! Know you've probaly already looked but check out cars.com they have a huge selection and it's pretty user friendly!
[/quote We still have a 97 dodge that we bought new and it has NO RUST!!! I also am really curious how many chev and fords there are with 450000 kms or 280000 plus miles. We know of a few dodge around here that over 600 000 miles. You cant beat a ford body but I have a hard time believeing that that ford and chev engines are outlasting the Cummins.There can be bad ones with all makes and we would buy a ford if they could get better fuel mileage!!

DLD · Jun 6, 2009

I've been really pleased with my '05 6.0 Ford. 95K miles and the only problem has been when the O rings in the high pressure oil pump went bad - even then it didn't leave you stranded, just was hard to restart when the motor was warm, and it was repaired under warranty, only cost me $100 deductible. The 6.0's definitely got better as time went by, 05's aren't bad (especially those with an '05 build date) and 06's and 07's don't have any more issues than any other motor out there. I do agree that the head bolts aren't great, but they shouldn't be any problem unless you're running more than 60 - 80 hp over stock, and then replacing them with studs will settle that.

Nothing against the 7.3's - they're good motors, but it's getting really hard to find one (for sale) with less than 100K or even 150K miles, and if you do, it'll prob'ly be pretty expensive.

I have a neighbor here that delivers trailers all over the U.S. and Canada. He drives his pickups like semi's. He had a '97 7.3 that he was shooting for the million mile mark, but it got totaled somewhere around 800,000 miles. He's got another 7.3 over 500,000 miles an '04 6.0 over 300,000 miles (yeah, it had a few issues, but it's got studs and the EGR bypassed now and it's goin' strong). He's gone to bigger trucks (medium duties) with his last couple though.

edited to add: Jason, remember that all the 6.0's have 5 year/100K engine warranties. If you try and buy one that's got some warranty left, most dealership shops are good about helping you iron out any problems, and it should only cost you the $100 deductible. The 5 year warranty starts on the delivery date to the original buyer, but just to be sure I'd check the build date on the sticker inside the door where the v.i.n. number is, and remember that anything built before 6/'04 may be out of warranty, no matter how low the miles.

BCCC · Jun 6, 2009

Agred with Hill top go with a cummins, won't have any motor problems. I hit 300k while coming home this morning, have only had to put a clutch in it. We also have a automatic 94 2500 that has close to 500k and has only had a tranny put in it. The rocker panels on the silver 99 are starting to rust however the red 94 has zero rust on it. I also like the fords with the 7.3, but I would stay away from the 6.0's unless its an 05 or newer. Just saying we also have a 92 ford with the 7.3 and we have put two motors, a tranny, and 2 clutches and it only has 200k miles on it.

We also had a 03 f250 with the 6.0, that spent at least a couple days in the shop a month, and every other week for about 3 months before we traded it off

DLD · Jun 6, 2009

I should add that I certainly have nothing against the 5.9 Cummins either - they're a great motor, and they do get better mileage than the Fords. I'm pretty sure that the most important thing with buying any of them used is trying to find one that hasn't been abused and was well maintained.

Also wanted to add that the Torqueshift automatic transmission in the later model 6.0's (not sure if it started in '04 or '05) is worth alot to me as well. I know the later model Dodge's and GM's have really good automatics too, just saying it's definitely something that is much improved in the later models.

Pre powerstroke (I think there were a few ps's in late '94's, then all '95 and up) 7.3's weren't anywhere near as stout. I think about the only thing they share with the powerstroke's is the block. I had a '90 7.3 and it was a complete p.o.s. too.

jason · Jun 7, 2009

Nothing against the cummins, but not a huge dodge fan right now. My dodge was rusting pretty bad, one of the reasons I was selling it. Dodge wouldn't do anything about it either.

Also I had a 98 Silverado 2500 with the 6.5 L diesel and had tons of problems with the PMD, ended up smoking the motor after the oil cooler line came off.

The 7.3s are getting tough to find, especially in the combination of crew cab, long bed, 4x4, and no dually.

jason · Jun 7, 2009

zach said:
probably go with 2004 f350 white dually diesel 120k miles..... $16,000

(740-352-7817 call for more info )

;D

jason · Jun 7, 2009

Here is the truck I want, but to spend 20K ++++ on a 2001????

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150348906580

yousesteers · Jun 7, 2009

I have drove them all for delivery in town loved the torque of the cummins liked the motor and it was a five speed not a fan of the truck itself but that is another story
7.3 ford great truck plenty of power pulled 24ft flatbed all over MO with 10000 to 20000 lbs of machinery on it keep it wound up did fine
Guys that haul my hogs have 2 2004 fords with 6.0 junk in my opinion both trucks had to have front ends rebuilt at about 60000 miles ball joints and tie rods shot neither truck has 100000 miles yet both have had 2 turbos some injectors and one needs a new transmission it slips sometimes oh yeah and he will be running 65 mph down the hiway and it dies coast it over to a stop and it will restart no one can figure out why pulling a trailer that is all these truck do they get 6-8 mpg
I got a Duramax with an allison like it so far got 64000 miles on it no problems yet gets about 12 with a trailer load of cattle behind it and about 15 running empty I drive fast and dont baby them I regularly service it and have gotten along great hate to say it but if I buy a new one it might have to be a Ford though because they did not take the bail out money Always drove Chevy's Think the newer Fords are better have a few friends that have them and they have not had to many problems with them

hangonsloopy · Jun 7, 2009

Get a 2004-2006 dodge with the 5.9 cummins and a six speed manual and you will never drive anything else.

ROMAX · Jun 7, 2009

I heard a report yesterday that dealers are making a couple thousand dollars more for good used vehicles in this economy,so used might be up a bit.

herefordfootball · Jun 7, 2009

Hilltop said:
herefordfootball said:

Probaly go with the 7.3, haven't seen alot of 'em around but heard they're a pretty good engine. The fords rust early, the chevy's engine/tranny goes a little earlier and you get both with dodge. Just depends on what you want. Just going off my experiences with the fords and chevys, and our neighbor owns a dodge that he said he'd trade for either of our older chevys or ford truck. I have heard good experiences with all the trucks though, but if you want a 3/4 ford go with the 7.3. JMO. Good Luck in your search!!! Know you've probaly already looked but check out cars.com they have a huge selection and it's pretty user friendly!
[/quote We still have a 97 dodge that we bought new and it has NO RUST!!! I also am really curious how many chev and fords there are with 450000 kms or 280000 plus miles. We know of a few dodge around here that over 600 000 miles. You cant beat a ford body but I have a hard time believeing that that ford and chev engines are outlasting the Cummins.There can be bad ones with all makes and we would buy a ford if they could get better fuel mileage!!

Click to expand...

I have heard of a couple going a long time but they are few and far between. And the ones I did see were being treated like 69' camaros, but there is nothing wrong with that. Cummins is a decent engine, I wont argue that.

herfchic · Jun 7, 2009

A friend of mine just bought a '06 F350, crew-cab with the Lariet interior with approximately 60K on it and it still runs great. Plenty of power, and it rides really nice.

Steer Boy 101 · Jun 7, 2009

I have a strong opionin on the comment about chevys engine and tranny go earlier than ford?!! thats a really hard statement to back up. if you got the allison tranny witht he duramax its hard to make a ford and dodge last longer.
plus the allison is the beefest tranny ever. i know alotta people who just beat the life outta em and they shit perfect

Cattledog · Jun 7, 2009

JDLCC said:
The only weak links the 6.0L engines have are the EGR system (the cooler plugs and fails) and a lack of cylinder head sealing, which can be cured with head studs. But we have a 96 7.3 and it is a very reliable truck it starts good in the winter which we can have some fairly cold days up in Canada, and if you want more hp and ft. lbs you can always through a chip on it.

Exactly right on with 6.0s. I run a 6.0 now that had these problems addressed and it has so much more power than the stock 7.3.....It isn't even close. I haven't had a problem with my 6.0.

simtal · Jun 8, 2009

I'd say anything pre-emission is gonna be better

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