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Let's Talk Trucks

14K views 104 replies 37 participants last post by  rlaf75 
#1 ·
Been a long time since I have given two flips for cars , the ones I want , too hard to get in and out of this late in life ..

Have owned all the big three brands of trucks , been pretty happy with all of them .. Since 1991 , I been Ford Blue , I traded a 1983 Chevrolet 1 ton crew cab dually with 454 and four speed on a Ford F250 3/4 ton , because Chevy was running their "dont buy no ugly truck" ad then , and those early 90's Chevy trucks were some kind of ugly . To this day I wish I had kept that dually , put 160,000 hard miles on two motors and two clutches ..

In the next year or two I am buying either a new or nearly new F250 or F350 4WD gas burner .. I really love the diesel , but cannot justify the $9200~ up charge and diesel cost as much or more than gas , plus everything since 2011 requires DEF , unless you do a delete , then you run into the issue of no one will work on the deleted motor .. If I could find a three to five year old used diesel I would consider it , but they are especially proud of used diesels around here ..

2019 is the last year for the 6.2L V8 gas burner in the Ford .. I rented a 2018 F250 4WD XLT crew cab in May and put about 900 miles on it and got 16 mpg , about 700 of that was super slab .. The original rumor I heard was the replacement was to be a 7.0 L V8 .. A couple days ago I heard it will be a 7.3L V8 , then the same day I read where it would be a 7.3L V10 ... Supposedly we will know mid January ..

The V10 is a hoss .. Does Dodge still offer the V10 ??

My ideal truck would be a Ford body with the 6.7L Cummins deleted with the Allison transmission ... Or even better this outfit in Georgia does custom F650's , he puts any trim interior in it that you want ( all Ford cabs are same size , so no issue with fitment ) and puts a bed on if you want it and also does Super Singles if you want .. But all at a price .. He has a couple F650 triple cabs that are really sharp ..
 
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#2 ·
2019 is the last year for the 6.2L V8 gas burner in the Ford .. I rented a 2018 F250 4WD XLT crew cab in May and put about 900 miles on it and got 16 mpg , about 700 of that was super slab .. The original rumor I heard was the replacement was to be a 7.0 L V8 .. A couple days ago I heard it will be a 7.3L V8 , then the same day I read where it would be a 7.3L V10 ... Supposedly we will know mid January ..
i use a pickup for a delivery vehicle at work; started with a '79 F-100, went to a '96 dodge V-6, then a '01 Chevy 5.2 liter ext cab.

traded in the Chev when GM took the bailout (it still pisses me off) and got a 5.4 liter xlt crew cab and love it.
only get around 15 mpg but more grunt than the chev. ltd. slip diff is a PITA but other than that no problems (need diff fluid change every 25K or so miles) and the crew cab adds an incredible amount of space for whatever you will ever need.

people respect pickup trucks. it's a totally different driving experience than riding the scoot!
and like you said, it beats dropping down into a vehicle and then trying to get out of it.
 
#3 ·
I had a 7.3L power stroke , wish I had kept it ..

My '01 F150 Super Crew 4x4 XLT with the 5.4L turned 175,000 yesterday . No matter what I get , I am keeping this truck . They wouldn't give me anything for it anyways .. No major issues to amount to much , do most of the work on it myself ..

Gas ?? Never misses a pump , 11-12 in town and 16 on highway with cruise set and under 70 mph ..

Friends son had a 5.3L Chevy and had lots of problems with it , he just traded it in on a used power stroke ..
 
#4 ·
2007 F250 Lariat. CCLB Powerstroke 4x4, last year before DEF. 125K and still going strong. My biggest issue with it is it often takes a while to find a parking spot, and when I find one it can take some precision maneuvering to get into it. Probably won't buy another one. This was 37K new, and to replace it is now 65K. I can replace everything in my truck for less than half the cost of a new one.

 
#5 ·
yep best year for the 6 point uh oh in my opinion .. And you know there are a couple Lariat 07 F250 CCLWB's here with 125-150 on them going for around 22 .. No way in h$%$ I will pay 65 or more for a truck . I choke on 50 , it is insane ..

The 6.2 I rented had a sticker of 51100 ~ and were selling it for 47~ , dealership 15 miles down the road was selling same exact truck with same exact options for 43.5 .. Add the PS to it and your are looking at 53 , freaking crazy ..

Best option is ( in Ford ) to get the XL or the STX trim .. I dont really look at the Ram or GM truck sites , but the Ford site where you build the truck pisses me off ..

Base price diff between the XL and XLT is around 5k , XLT to Lariat same deal around 5k ..Same going thru King Ranch and Platinum .. But going from the XL to XLT , you aren't getting 5k worth of upgrades ..

Aside from the comment about the over my budget custom 650's , best deal for me would be get the F450 CC 4WD XL or STX , PS is standard in the 450 , can be had for 60 .. 450 and 550 have the wide track front end and a much tighter turning radius ..

Only money , but this late in life I dont wanna ..
 
#10 ·
I prefer the Lariat. Not sure what all options you can get with the XL and XLT, but I like the leather, power seats, tinted sunroof, electric rear slider, and captains chairs with inside armrests. I don't tow or haul anything big enough to need more than a 250.We have a 550 at work that was refitted with a 5.9 Cummins. Nice truck, but the engine is noisy and I don't want a dually.

The diesel wasn't a necessity, but there have been times I was really glad I have it. When I put in my back yard, it didn't even know that it had a 2500 pound pallet of sod in the bed and two more on the trailer. I did the same thing with the Tacoma I had previously for the front lawn and that was a scary ride. Plus I bought a tractor and tandem trailer that it can pull with ease.
 
#6 ·
I've never had a car for a daily driver, been in a pick up my whole life. I'm a Ford guy (although they piss me off at times), but have driven the big 3 (plus a Toyota) from the mini trucks to 1 tons and up. This is what I have learned.

Chevy - Looks good, rides most like a car. Not for heavy hauling.
Dodge - Cummings plus Allison, you can't go wrong. The rest of the truck sucks.
Ford - What can I say, I'm a Ford guy, albeit they have their shortcomings.

Gas vs. Diesel? It's hard to justify $9k for a Diesel when fuel and maintenance cost so much more, unless your hauling.

My company traded my 2011 F-250 6.7 150k miles (there were signs of a failing injector pump) for two 2016 F-350. My boss asked me if we should buy gas or diesel, I told him to save the money and buy the gas. These are superintendent trucks, I'm luck if I pull a trailer once or twice a month. 100k miles a set of tires and brakes, the 6.2 running strong. Don't get me wrong I do love diesels, but it's hard to justify if you don't need it. Even if it's not your money.
 
#7 ·
I’m a Chevy guy. I love the layout of the interior compared to the other trucks. I work for 2 different companies. One of those is an ambulance service. We have always run diesels until ford quit putting them in the van chassis. Our new Ambulance has the V10. That thing sounds like it is going to explode under load. I asked the salesman if that was normal during a demo, and he said that just how they sound. It’s fairly quick, but doesn’t pull the hills quite as good as a diesel. I haven’t compared the fuel mileage, as ambulances spend insane amounts of time idling. They probably get more engine hours idling than they do moving. The other company I work for runs 1 tons. About half ford, half Chevy. They all have good and bad. Good luck with your decision, and without pics it didn’t happen.


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#8 ·
@JacktheBagger Im driving a 99 F250 with the v10. Im getting 11mpg empty or pulling. The heaviest I pull is a dump trailer that weighs about 11k loaded. Im the second owner of this truck. I usually buy a new truck every 2 or 3 years but its just not important to me anymore. I just sold a 2016 Toyota Tundra that was probably one of my favorite trucks but wasn't rated to tow my trailer. Im sure it would have done it with no problem but for legal issues I wouldn't. For some reason I just love this old 99 Ford. I bought it as a beater for work and didn't drive my Tundra for almost 2 months. A buddy hounded me to death to buy the Tundra so I sold it. I know Im going to buy another truck but Im certainly not in any hurry. I highly doubt it will be a diesel. Been there and done that and in my opinion they are overrated. If you took the turbo off of them their torque and hp numbers would be cut by a third. Add a turbo or supercharger and your looking at almost identical numbers. I did love my diesels but the maintenance and cost of maintenance really turns me off. Sure I could be getting better mpg with the diesel but to me its just not worth the cost of the engine, the fuel and the maintenance. Good luck with whatever route you decide to go with and be sure to post some pics of your new ride.
 
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#9 · (Edited)
I'm a diesel guy. If ur not towing maybe save a few bucks and get one of the smaller trucks with eco diesel? My brother has a 2018 Chevy Colorado zr2 diesel and it's one bad ass truck.

And if ur a Ford guy the ranger should be out next year and it's supposed to be getting a diesel.

Or my personal favorite... jeep is coming out with the gladiator next year and it's supposed to get a diesel as well... if only I didnt have a bike payment [emoji35]

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#12 ·
I have no use for a small truck ..

I drive a 12.8L Detroit 410HP 12 speed auto Freightliner for work ..

The vast majority of people who own diesel pick ups do not need them ..

I know the costs of maintaining a diesel , especially since the DEF came to be .. Thanks to the Dems in Washington for that debacle ..

What amazes me is the number of people who own diesel and 4WD , they don't need the diesel , and you can't pay them to take it off road ..

When I was coming along , if you wanted 4WD , it was special order , rare to see one on a dealers lot ..

The large displacement gas burners will run 300-400k , pick your brand there .. Most govt operations have started going to gas because of reduced maintenance costs over the life of the vehicles ..

As long as peeps will pay 60 or more for a diesel people will sell them , ridiculous , and I love diesels , but just can't justify it ..
 
#38 ·
Ok, I'll buy into that.

That's why I have the old 1962 Chevy C10. No many frills in a 1962. It has a 327 V8, an SM 420 truck 4 speed and 3.38:1 rear end. It's a Short bed Step side. Just to make Steady Eddy happy, here's a couple of shots of it hauling my old '62 Chopper.
 

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#16 ·
I have 2011 F150 SuperCrew XLT that I bought in April 2012 with 8500 miles on the clock, 5.0LFlexFuel. Does everything I need it to do, have no plans or need to upgrade!




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#19 ·
Ive also owned them all, big 3. I have a 05 Z71 avalanche now with the 5.3. 210,000 on it and really only wear parts have had to be replaced, water pump being the biggest deal. Hope I didn't jinx myself writing that.
When the 5.3 goes, new crate motor will take its place. I drive 15 miles a day to and from work, can't justify the cost of a new one for me.
Real good friend of mine works at the GMC dealer. Their new trucks are incredible inside and out. Price is outrageous though.

One of my riding buddies has a 18 250 king ranch, traded in a 14 king ranch. Also incredible inside and out. Old one and the new one, both diesels. Old one he replaced the radiator at 150,000 miles. He mentioned they are plastic or mostly plastic, something to that effect. New one is the same deal.

Dodge makes, or made a Mega-Cab I rode in. Guy had work done to the diesel and dam that thing was fast. Extra room in the cab was real nice.

Vehicles have come so far since I started driving in the late '80s, its crazy. Back then if a vehicle had or near 100,000 miles it was done. Now I'm driving one with double that, crazy.

GM, ford, dodge all make great trucks. Have to hope you get a good one from the manufacturer you buy from. If I was in a position to buy a new truck, I would choice the interior I liked best and the best ride.
 
#22 ·
They are all great now indeed , each has their quirks and areas where they could improve , and there will always be the brand loyalty by some .. As I said I have owned all three and been very happy with each one .. I will get what I feel works best for me , odds are that it will be gas , and it will be a 3/4 or 1 ton or more .. This truck is the only half ton I have ever owned and it is great , but there have been a few times where I could have used a bit more .. And I will keep it ...

As I said if I can find a decent used diesel for the money , I will get it , but at my age , as bad as I want one , I cant justify a 65k plus pick up ..

Let's keep this going , not about me and what I want , show us what you got and want ... If it's trucks , Harleys or firearms and reloading , I'm ready to talk ..
 
#24 ·
Duramax guy here.. No I don't need it but want it!! First Gen only would not buy a Diesel with all the Emissions shit and this fucked up state has yearly inspections so can't mess with it.. The only issue in the North East is the drive train long out lasts the body's.. I will run this one into the ground 03 GMC only 180k on the clock so lots left in her..
 

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#31 ·
I haven't seen the new Ram interiors yet , need to go hit ewe toob and have a look see , but I have heard that they were really stepping up their game on the inside .. The adjustable pedals are something I can not figger , my truck has them .. Gots to be really short ..
 
#48 ·
Adjustable pedals are mainly to properly position an occupant so supplemental restraints will adequately protect the person. Someone really short would be critically close to a frontal airbag, especially for the full force secondary protection level.
 
#32 ·
Spending that kind of cash is a big decision. For me, I can't and wouldn't spend that kind of money on a truck that can't fit in my garage. This house, and my previous one, my avalanche fits but you couldn't walk around it. My wife has a CTS and that goes in the garage along with the bike. The avalanche keeps a coating on it but there is no way to keep it up like I want to because of the weather here. Keep it protected and wash it whenI have at least 24hrs with no rain.

That CTS is a fine ass ride and so is the wife. Need to keep both of them right
 
#34 ·
Saw a ‘19 Silverado 1500 with a manufacturer plate and the DuraMax badge yesterday. Googled it. New I6 D-Max in half tons, supposed to get 28mpg/282hp/450tq.
Wheels start turning in my head. Then I hit the pumps. Diesel is almost double when I filled up yesterday- $1.77 for 87oct or $3.29 for diesel. My K2XX gets 18mpg (leveling kit & metric 33s didn’t help mpg) and is rated at 9600lbs towing. Despite my urge to join the oil burner club, I can’t justify adding years of payments, dealing with the shear ugliness of the 19s, or increased fuel costs for something that runs 7-8k each year. When it rusts away, I’ll get a clone of @Swomack ‘s or go south looking for a low mileage K2XX with LTZ trim that hasn’t seen salt.
 

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#36 ·
My "truck"

2007 Ford Expedition - OK its an SUV but all the F 150 stuff fits it.
I have 216,000 miles on this 5.4 3V V8.
I tow a 38 ft Rockwood Windjammer Trailer (6800 lbs).
The vehicle had a tough adolescence. I bought it at 30k, it quickly needed a MAF sensor and vacuum hubs for the 4 WD - they were chattering.
At 80k I changed the spark plugs - these V8s tended to snap off the plugs when pulled - and 5 of the 8 did exactly that.
Some cooling system wear items came up during 80 mph 95 degree days while towing the trailer. Notably a heater hose leak on I 95 in South Carolina.
The a stuck thermostat on I 75 in Florida a few years later.

It's got a weird whine in the transmission and I'll put a new one in when I have to.
The cam phaser is noisy sticks occasionally (rough idle) - but it always clears up and I'll get that when the engine needs replaced.

Load leveling air suspension is leaky, I've done replaced solenoids, seals and air bags. When towing a porky trailer, this feature is worth maintaining. Crank that Blue Ox Hitch torque bars down and the vehicle jacks itself back up. Priceless.

I put those wide ass telescopic F350 mirrors on it for towing - so it looks dorky, but I can see way back going down the road.

I went with (-1) tires to get a higher load rating, the trailer was taking the back end past the factory low profile tires load capacity - I was seeing early sidewall cracking. The bigger diameter higher profile tires have a much higher load rating, the vehicle rides about an inch or two higher from this.

Added new ceramic brakes and vented disks to replace the aging stock equipment.

I have a Pioneer Stereo in it and a nice subwoofer / amp. Bulldog loves the rear air.

I'd love a new powertrain - and I sure as hell would like a better motor than it came with.
 
#37 ·
5.4 is a good motor , but you are kinda pushing it with that trailer .. My 01 doesn't have the two piece spark plugs or whatever they are , plugs are a pita , I just did them and the coils last summer .. Just put a new battery in this week ..

Expedition is nice , but I'd like to find an Excursion somewhere that's been babied with the stroker and 4WD ..
 
#39 ·
Old chebbies are cool , had a 63 step side some years back and a 66 F100 , both were just things to tinker with ... Dad had a 57 GMC and a 49 GMC that I learned to drive in , the 57 was a half ton and the 49 was a 1 1/2 ton ..

Found a fully restored 1974 F250 HighBoy for 33000 yesterday , crew cab with a fresh 351 in her .. I wish ...
 
#41 ·
Old chebbies are cool , had a 63 step side some years back

My first vehicle was a 1963 C10, longbed fleetside. Paid $500 for it when I was 15 1/2. Rolling basket case. Had it mechanically sound by my 16th birthday. Did a full body off restoration on it during the 11 years I had it. I drove that truck all over the Western United States.
 

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#40 ·
All you boys are talking drivers. My work truck is an F550 Flatbed w/6.7 Power stroke. It's a 2 wheel drive with a 13' flatbed good for hauling 10.000lbs on the deck.It's a 2011 XL. This truck hasn't missed a beat ,runs delivering wear parts to the mines and excavation sites. Mud up to the axles ,sand ,rocks, dirt and swimming through rivers of compost and still begging for more. It's my moneymaker.
Driven 7.2s ,6.0 ,6.4 and the 6.7 with a Kodiak thrown in. I see some nasty harsh conditions hauling loader buckets into the mountains and for me diesel is the only engine that'll handle what I do.
I think the 6.7 is a winner.
My play truck is an 2004 Silverado 2500 HD with the LB7 Duramax. Still runs great.Hell I ran an 1984 Chevy 6.2L to over 700,000 miles with no engine work slow and steady.
 
#43 ·
I'd take a 550 for a daily driver any day , dealer here had a '12 XL single cab 4WD with a 13' flat bed a few months back , 60k on the odd o meter , asking 32 and change . If it had been a crew cab , I would a sold some stuff fast to get it .. Reason the 7.3 was so good is it was a medium duty engine to start with .. I think they finally got a winner with the 6.7 .. I'd take a 6 point uh oh in a flash if it was bullet proofed ..

When I bought my 83 K30 crew cab dooley with the 454 and four speed , it was a hoss , friend had the 6.2 , same truck , 84 IIRC , it would pull , but I always laughed at him , saying ya hadda down shift for a speed bump ..
 
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