Posted 2009-04-09 9:52 AM (#103018) Subject: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 100 Location: Arkansas
I am starting my search for an older/used diesel 1 ton truck. I can't afford a new one. This truck will be my hauler (of a 2H straight load bp) and the work truck around the house. I am looking at 1993 and newer models.
I prefer Chevy/GMC or Ford (not much of a Dodge fan)...if I have my way it will be an automatic 1 ton regular cab dually with turbo.
But which has more power the 7.3L Ford or the 6.5L Chevy/GMC?
Any pro's or con's to each of these trucks?
Anything particular that I need to be looking for or looking out for?
Also, I've never owned a diesel anything...so what is TOO MANY miles on it?
I've always heard that 100,000 miles on a diesel means it's just getting broke in...is that true?
I already have a 1/2 ton 1996 Chevy 1500 Silverado 4x4 (gas) swb regular cab and plan to haul a 2H steel bp straight load horse trailer with about 3,000 lbs of horse and gear....is the current truck I have enough to pull this set-up?
Should I save my money and NOT get a diesel for this type of trailer set-up?
Any advice is appreciated...Thanks
Posted 2009-04-09 10:03 AM (#103022 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Originally written by Killrail on 2009-04-09 9:52 AM
I already have a 1/2 ton 1996 Chevy 1500 Silverado 4x4 (gas) swb regular cab and plan to haul a 2H steel bp straight load horse trailer with about 3,000 lbs of horse and gear....is the current truck I have enough to pull this set-up?
You already own what you need. Some small improvements will help out, but you won't need to send in more monthly coupons.
Posted 2009-04-09 10:26 AM (#103024 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
The diesel is overkill for what you are doing. Save the money and add a tranny cooler to your existing truck if it doesn't already have it.
What you are looking at on the diesels, if you were to do it...the 7.3 is a much better engine than the 6.5. I am a Chevy fan and had a 6.5 and switched to a Ford until the Duramax came out.
Posted 2009-04-09 11:25 AM (#103031 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 114 Location: Home of the WNFR at Christmas
I have to agree with that you already own enough truck to do what you are going to do unless it is a total POS of a truck.
As for the 6.5 GM vs the 7.3 Intl/Ford the 7.3 hands down is the winner.
If you are just wanting a good excuse new truck, like most of us, what you might look for is the Chevy/GMC 8.1 Gasser with the Allison trans, I re-geared mine with 4.56 gears and with my current truck would leave as hard as that one did.
I ran one of those quite a while and up some long western grades I made some diesel owners cry and wonder how a gasser could pull that hard.
I have seen those for half the price of a used diesel.
Posted 2009-04-09 11:39 AM (#103033 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 100 Location: Arkansas
Definitely not a POS truck....I inherited it after my dad passed away. He took very good care of it...now whether the previous owners did is another question itself.
I have everything fixed when it does go bad. This truck has the 3.42 gear ratio, with this gear ratio its tow limit is 6,000 lbs.
But this truck (per Camping Life's website)would have a 7,000 lb tow limit but will need engine-oil cooler, tranny-oil cooler, distribution hitch/bars, braking system, Z82 trailering Special package and 3.73:1 axle ratio.
Posted 2009-04-09 11:56 AM (#103034 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 114 Location: Home of the WNFR at Christmas
What motor is in the truck the 350 ? If so...
Honestly with a 2H BP and a couple of Haflingers tucked inside you will be fine, the trans cooler and a real trans temp gauge with temps would be a nice addition, a good brake controller if you don't already have one, and if you want to go nuts throw some bigger gears in the rear end and go.
Our little / local truck set up is a Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi with 3.92 gears, a 3H Steel BP, it never even slows down.
We have a couple of good sized Mustangs and QHs and now and then a couple of the neighbors Haflingers have been thrown in as well.
I have gone on hay runs with this truck and the hay trailer is a roll off construction trash box with axles welded on it about 4K pounds and put 5 tons of hay cubes in it and the little truck doesn't like it but it will pull it and stop it.
Posted 2009-04-09 12:05 PM (#103035 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 100 Location: Arkansas
350 5.7L V8 Vor-tech Automatic.
I pulled a U-Haul auto transport trailer with a VW dunebuggy on it yesterday up a few grades of hills...it pulled OK but got slowed down quite a bit on the inclines. I know my buggy (if it's lucky) might weigh 1500lbs and not for sure what U-Hauls trailer weighs. But I would hate to see what this truck would do on some of the bigger mountainous inclines around here.
I don't think this U-Haul trailer and 1500lb dunebuggy should have slowed it down...but then again I don't mash on the accelerator any more than what I was while on a flat straight stretch.
Posted 2009-04-09 1:49 PM (#103045 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
I know 2 things.........90 % of Arkansas you will be fine. Highway 7 at and around Jasper, or Leslie mountain East of Leslie, ..........you will need to really watch the guages, have everything in working order, and be careful. I'd say it depends on where you are going....
Posted 2009-04-09 3:45 PM (#103053 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 100 Location: Arkansas
I live around the Hwy 7 right at the bottom of the mountains.
But mainly LOVE going to the National Chuckwagon Races in Clinton ...I usually take Hwy 9 to go that way though. A little mountainous but not as bad a Hwy7.
Posted 2009-04-09 10:33 PM (#103091 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
1) What you have will continue to do the job.
2) Regular cab DUALLY trucks are hard to find! I have customers looking for them all the time and the only thing I have been finding is flatbed work type trucks!
3) Both are really good engines, but for soemone that does not know diesels that well the 7.3L would be the way to go. Or have a change of heart and buy a DODGE!
pros and cons: Pros both would have enough power and both are actually easy to work on. cons: 1 tank of bad fuel will ruin you entire weekend!
4) Check for blow by (remove oil cap and dip stick while truck is running) some trucks will have a little haze of smoke which is normal. You need to pass on one that looks like a train smoking out of the oil cap.
5) On a well taken care of truck miles mean NOTHING! I buy truck every week with 200-k plus and most are better trucks than ones I have bought with 100-k.
6) KEEP you truck and spend a few bucks to fix it up and upgrade a few things. ie: intake, exhaust system and maybe a tuner of some sort.
Posted 2009-04-10 8:24 AM (#103100 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
I would stay away from the GM 6.5 turbo. The one I have has given me a lot of grief and I still use it for a flatbed service truck. SEL light comes on every time, has been to the shop many times. I have 5 7.3 Fords (96-02), had to make my first visit to the Ford garage with one of them 2 weeks ago. I knew what the problem was, just didn't have time to fix it myself. I have one 2002 Dodge with 360 gas and I wouldn't have another if you gave it to me. My Dad is a Chevy guy and he has a 6.0L which seems to have very good power. I would give that one a look, as I don't think the 5.4L Ford would have enough power. If you really want a diesel I would also look for 7.3 ext. cabs, they can be bought fairly reasonable.
Posted 2009-04-10 8:47 AM (#103103 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 100 Location: Arkansas
Huh...my 1996 Chevy 5.7L has its 'SEL" light come on and off...pretty much whenever it feels like it really.
My cousin works at the GMC dealership here in town (also owns his own shop)..he does all the work on my truck. He has checked the codes on it and says it the O2 sensors trying to go out on it...and told me not to worry too much on it.
Posted 2009-04-10 8:54 AM (#103104 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 188 Location: Ingalls, Ks
Yeah, I agree, but this 6.5 diesel not only has SEL light on, but the engine quits going down the road, then instantly refires (manual trans), puts out clouds of black smoke, won't start during certain phases of the moon, you get what I mean. It doesn't get more than 20 miles from home. Just a note, I borrowed Dad's 6.0 the other day and the SEL was on. Ran the diagnostics myself and it too was the O2 sensor. Just cleared it and went on.
Posted 2009-04-10 9:04 AM (#103106 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 100 Location: Arkansas
They sound pretty moody. I thought mine was at times but I guess I got lucky. My dad was a Chevy man...since he passed away and I inherited this truck - that's the only reason I have it and can't fathom letting it go.
I myself am a Ford person (though as of the past few years and to the present don't own one)
But my mom has a 2001 Ford F350 diesel CC dually and had to have ALOT of work done to the front-end and she doesn't abuse her truck at all. I've heard from other people too that they had to do they same thing but yet there is no recall on it.
Posted 2009-04-10 9:05 AM (#103107 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Expert
Posts: 1205 Location: Arkansas
Your truck will do Hwy 9 to Clinton fine, we make that run up that way too from the Mt Ida area. For the trailer and load you have described and stay away from those very worst grades... you should make it fine...
Posted 2009-04-10 9:23 AM (#103108 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 100 Location: Arkansas
I would hate to see my mpg's in this truck loaded down...I haven't done the actual math on it but I probably get 10-12 mpg's around town not pulling anything.
I asked my cousin (works a GMC dealership for years) if this was normal and he told me that for it's model and year that it was unfortunately pretty normal.
So I might be lucky if I get 8 mpg when loaded...don't know yet, but will find out sometime.
Posted 2009-04-10 9:58 AM (#103112 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 114 Location: Home of the WNFR at Christmas
8 MPG is a fine fuel burn rate for that truck, a diesel the biggest baddest one may only get 10 or 11 so do your math and watch how much unleaded vs diesel you would have to buy to break even.
On the other hand a new truck is always a cool toy.
Posted 2009-04-10 10:14 AM (#103114 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 100 Location: Arkansas
I LOVE new toys...even when they are used.
Sometimes it's hard to NOT find a reason for a new one.
I am selling 1 toy that I've lost interest in to get either:
1) a new-to-me, little-to-no-work needed used 2 horse trailer and put the rest in the bank.
2) a new-to-me used diesel 1 ton truck and no extra money left.
3) split the money on a new-to-me, a-little-more-work needed used 2 horse trailer and hope-I-can-get-lucky-and-find a decent used 1 ton or 3/4 ton diesel truck in the $2500 to $3000 range.
Also, does anyone have an idea of how much it would cost to change out the rear axle on a truck? My truck has the 3.42 gear ratio and I have looked on the internet and it says I need a 3.73:1 gear ratio.
And a rough estimate on how much it costs to have a braking system installed?
Or if you know how much (round-a-bouts average for everything my truck will need to haul, which is...
engine-oil cooler, trans-oil cooler, gears changed out,weight distribution hitch, braking system install (it says a Z82 Trailering Special Package - but I think this is the braking system).
Posted 2009-04-10 10:20 AM (#103115 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Veteran
Posts: 114 Location: Home of the WNFR at Christmas
Wow trucks must be cheaper back your way, a running diesel out here ( Las Vegas ) of just about any yeah or worth buying start at about 6500 and go up from there.
If I could find a 3K truck that is worth a darn I would have an extra flatbed today.
Posted 2009-04-10 10:40 AM (#103120 - in reply to #103117) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Location: Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain...
I had a 93 Chevy Ext Cab 6.5 Turbo 4X2. Put a motor in it at 118k. Drove it another 60k and sold it. All of the guys around here that work on those tell me that engine is a 100k engine. Run it hard and it is less, baby it and it is more. Where I had the eninge replaced...the owner had 3 tow trucks, all same engine as mine. He said the way he used them he felt lucky if they made 85k. I loved that truck, and knew a few people that ran 150-160k on them, but not a lot. Knew more people that ran 80-120k on them.
Posted 2009-04-10 11:51 AM (#103126 - in reply to #103018) Subject: RE: Diesel truck questions ?
Location: Colorado
You're getting a lot of good advice here. Having owned two, I would echo the "stay away from the GM 6.5 diesel". If I was trying to buy something to do what you're looking at, I'd look at any of the big three's big gas engines built from 98 or so and later. If you want to go the diesel route, the 7.3 Powerstroke(as opposed to the naturally aspirated 7.3) or the 5.9 Cummins in the Dodge would be my pick. And I wouldn't overlook the heavy 3/4 ton trucks for what you're doing. As someone else said, the care given to the truck makes more difference than the miles on it. Just my opinion. Good luck whatever you do!