New diesel truck questions

KenHwy61 · 12-16-2014, 06:46 PM

I want to travel more this summer, including a trip to the Rockies and I am thinking about moving to a diesel truck. I have done a lot of research and come to really no conclusion as to what I should buy. The big 3 have seemed to resolved their major past problems and so I would some input about what you really like or don't like about your truck or if you truck has been unusually troublesome. I am looking to go with a newer 3/4 ton 2011 to 2014. Thank you!

AquaMan · 12-16-2014, 07:01 PM

You're gonna get all sides of the track on this one. As of late, all of the big 3 have made some very good diesel trucks. I personally have gone with GM and have had an '11 2500 Duramax and currently drive a '13 3500 Duramax. Pick your price range and options, then go from there.

asquared · 12-16-2014, 07:08 PM

Oh boy here we go. I think I'll take an extra large popcorn for this one.

So I have owned two diesel trucks. My first was a 2009 F250 PSD with the 6.4 in it (crew cab, 4wd, long bed) that I bought in 2011. I had a lot of phantom issues that the dealership never could diagnose. It had a problem with smoking really badly every time it went into regeneration phase. It also had a very frequent regeneration issue. When driving g on the highway it would periodically have a loss of power that almost felt like someone had grabbed my rear bumper and tried to pull the truck back and then let go, it would only last a few seconds. Coming home from Disney, the gas pedal developed a really bad vibration and the truck had a loss of power. Again not able to reproduce for the dealer even though it did it several other times too. The biggest weak link on that truck though was it only had a 1500 lb payload. Yes that's a right, a 1500 lb payload on a 3/4 ton diesel. I also had to run cetane boost through every tank of fuel or it would void my warranty. Daily driving g netted me approx 13 mpg, towing g was approx 11mpg.

We traded the f250 off for a new 2014 chevy Silverado 3500 duramax/allison (crew cab, long bed 4wd) this past April. So far it has been a great truck towing and daily driver. Daily driving gets approx 16-17mpg and 11-12 mpg towing. As for payload, the door sticker on this truck was 4000 lbs available payload before passengers etc. (3280 lbs with people, pets, gear, 5er hitch).

AquaMan · 12-16-2014, 07:16 PM

Just noticed, you already have the right truck, just the wrong motor!

welder1 · 12-16-2014, 07:53 PM

I have had two trucks, I am a Ford person. My first truck was a 1997 F250 7.3 5sp. manual. I put an exhaust a programmer an exhaust brake and a fresh air intake. It was a good truck. My son took it to Texas in September. We decided to move up and got an 08 F250 6.4 6sp. manual. I put an exhaust a programmer and a fresh air on this truck, but could not find an exhaust brake (except banks expensive) and it might not work with my programmer. I always liked the exhaust brake, but I can down shift. I tow car trailers and our 30ft. V-lite tt that is around 8,300lbs. I think the Ram is a good truck also.

mackman1994 · 12-16-2014, 08:14 PM

I bought my first diesel a 2012 F-350 crew cab long box 32000 on the clock now and absolutely love it. I tow a 42 ft fiver weighting in at about 15500 loaded and it tows amazing. My brother works for a Dodge dealer and says that Ford has the superior diesel right now. Though he says that he is seeing less and less issues with the 6.7 Cummins. I tow down the interstate with the cruise set at 65 to 70 without a problem.

saltyman · 12-16-2014, 08:15 PM

If it rides like a Chevy, runs like a Ford, pulls like a Dodge, then it must be a perfect truck. (:>)

asquared · 12-16-2014, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welder1

I have had two trucks, I am a Ford person. My first truck was a 1997 F250 7.3 5sp. manual. I put an exhaust a programmer an exhaust brake and a fresh air intake. It was a good truck. My son took it to Texas in September. We decided to move up and got an 08 F250 6.4 6sp. manual. I put an exhaust a programmer and a fresh air on this truck, but could not find an exhaust brake (except banks expensive) and it might not work with my programmer. I always liked the exhaust brake, but I can down shift. I tow car trailers and our 30ft. V-lite tt that is around 8,300lbs. I think the Ram is a good truck also.

Ah yes, I forgot to mention the exhaust brake. That is definitely one feature I love about my chevy that my old ford didn't have..... My ford had a more loaded interior and I do miss my creature comforts but I rather a working truck to a non working truck any day. I have heard the Ford's do well with tuners and bulletproof but be careful as some of this can be illegal depending on the state you are in. Also if a truck is still under warranty and it ever had a tuner (think previous owner), Ford will void your engine warranty.

KenHwy61 · 12-16-2014, 08:21 PM

I have been happy with my 2012 Chevy 6.0 it is an all-around decent truck so I was thinking about trading for a Duramax. Then I test drove a new Ram with a Cummins and it had a ton of power and a pretty smooth ride with its new coil spring rear suspension. The last Ford Super duty I drove was 2008 model but it had a too rough a ride for my wife and I. I'm not sure if they have improved the suspension since then but everyone seems to really like Ford's new 6.7 and so it seem worth considering. Many on the diesel forums seem like young guys who like to turn their trucks into 600HP hotrods and then complain when the transmission goes. The RV crowd tends to be a little more mature and I think this is the best place to get useful decision making information.

mackman1994 · 12-16-2014, 08:44 PM

I don't understand why anyone would want to tune a new diesel. My Ford has plenty of power from the factory at I believe 400 hp and 800 lb ft of torque. Did I say I love my 6.7 POWERSTROKE

KenHwy61 · 12-16-2014, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltyman

If it rides like a Chevy, runs like a Ford, pulls like a Dodge, then it must be a perfect truck. (:>)

Funny, I hear things that a lot! Often I hear the perfect truck described as a Cummins with an Allison in a Ford truck.

The exhaust brake is another selling for all of them. Also, living in Minnesota, I was also curious about if the new diesels heat up quickly as in if I let it idle for 10-15 minutes will it be warm inside. I really appreciate all the responses.

fast murray · 12-16-2014, 08:52 PM

The 2013 and up Rams use DEF which ended alot of their trouble which revolved around the DPF system and regenerations. Right now they're top dog with torque numbers at 865#. My 2012 has had the emissions deleted and is tuned with a H&S programmer. Using the computer it will get 18-19 empty and I've seen 11-14 towing our 5er. Maybe it could do better but I'm one of the guys that thinks its a hotrod and its fun to smoke these kids and their Mustangs and Camaros! Good luck, I'm not sure you can go wrong with any of them

saltyman · 12-16-2014, 08:54 PM

Amen, some people have money to throw away for an increase of 1mpg or nothing.

mackman1994 · 12-16-2014, 08:55 PM

That is one of the few things my Ford does not have but they do offer what they call a supplemental cab heater that heats the cab quicker. I found the only way to heat things up quicker without the supplemental heater is to drive them or plug them in

BBBlue · 12-16-2014, 08:57 PM

Owned a 2008 Ford F250 diesel and did not care for it due to the issues I was having with the engine. Apparently that year was a bad year for the diesels in Ford F250. I currently have a 2013 Ram Truck dually with the Cummins diesel with Aisin transmission. It is extremely comfortable, comes with all the bells and whistles, and pulls my 39' 5th wheel trailer like a breeze. I am 100% fully satisfied with the combination where there is a large payload and towing margin with the stability that comes from pulling with a dually, IMHO.

asquared · 12-16-2014, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenHwy61

Funny, I hear things that a lot! Often I hear the perfect truck described as a Cummins with an Allison in a Ford truck.

The exhaust brake is another selling for all of them. Also, living in Minnesota, I was also curious about if the new diesels heat up quickly as in if I let it idle for 10-15 minutes will it be warm inside. I really appreciate all the responses.

In 20-30 degree temps it takes 5-10 min to start getting warm inside my '14 duramax.

fast murray · 12-16-2014, 09:13 PM

My Cummins heats up faster than my Hemi did to a certain point. You can turn on the exhaust brake and set the idle (which make sit sound like a turbine engine running) and it gets up to about 120* in about 10 min or so. Operating temp is around 210* and that takes a while but I don't use a winter front. Mine will get up to about 180* on the 10 min drive to work and it was about 10* this morning. I've read that getting rid of the EGR contributes to my truck warming up slow as its no longer inhaling its own exhaust fumes

gtschmidt58 · 12-16-2014, 09:33 PM

I will not enter the debate about make but will tell you about my truck. I tow a 36'9'' TT with a loaded weight of 9,500 with 2012 Ford F 350 Crew Cab with 6.7 Diesel. Switched from 7.5 L E 350 Van and could not believe the difference. New features like integrated sway control, brake controller, tow haul mode with engine breaking make it so pleasureable. We get about 18-19 MPG not towing on highway and get about 11.5 towing.

Bought it used wiht low mileage <20K and tow years old. We looked at all the of the above and all were good but in the end when with Ford as we replqacing a 17 year old Ford that gave us great service. I can tell you this thing is beast when towing and is absolutely in control on downhills.

Hope this helps.

KenHwy61 · 12-16-2014, 09:34 PM

It seems as if they are all good reliable trucks and now most bugs have been worked out. Despite the fact they are more expensive to own no one seems to regret buying a diesel, so I will assume the extra power and towing performance is worth the cost. When someone says thet love their truck or are 100% satisfied that says a lot. Even blowing doors off unsuspecting Camaros does sounds kind of fun. Thanks to these kind enthusiastic responses about all brands I am no closer to making a decision!

KenHwy61 · 12-16-2014, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fast murray

My Cummins heats up faster than my Hemi did to a certain point. You can turn on the exhaust brake and set the idle (which make sit sound like a turbine engine running) and it gets up to about 120* in about 10 min or so. Operating temp is around 210* and that takes a while but I don't use a winter front. Mine will get up to about 180* on the 10 min drive to work and it was about 10* this morning. I've read that getting rid of the EGR contributes to my truck warming up slow as its no longer inhaling its own exhaust fumes

How do you manually set the idle? I've never seen a newer pickup truck where this is possible. By activating the exhaust brake does this put a load on the engine to warm it faster?

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