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Opinions on newer 3/4ton trucks

Cornfield creations

Cornfield creations

1/2 ton status
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Oct 19, 2005
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Jasper, Indiana
My father is looking for a better truck. He currently has a 03 chevy 1500 Z-71 , and a 95 K-2500 454 for heavy work, hauling/towing.

He was looking to get either a newer 05-08 2500HD or f-250 to eliminate two vehicles and have one that he can drive everyday, and do the heavy work without breaking.

To be honest we are really leaning towards an f-250. He doesn't want a diesel, but I understand to retain any sort of mileage a diesel is sort of a must-have.

In stock form what are the opinions of these trucks, which would be a better choice, as far as overall quality and drivability?
 
we have an 08 HD with the dmax and have no negative complaints at all. it tows all of our equipment like theres nothing behind it. i know lots of people with HDs and everyone i know loves it.
 
Really look at the underside.

It only takes one overload to break the weakest link. I know this is a chevy site but really look at both new trucks and how they are made and the ford stands out. especially the f350. It has a solid front axle and a heaver frame. Everyone looks at the engine, but thats only one part. What does your local goverment use for a small dump truck? Odds are its a ford f350 or f450. Ask why. They beat the living hell out of stuff. I now have a chevy 4x4 for myself but if I was to look for a new replacement it would be a f350. I wish GM would get there act together and make a good HD truck again. and not a hopped up car with a pickup bed.
 
v30mongo said:
It only takes one overload to break the weakest link. I know this is a chevy site but really look at both new trucks and how they are made and the ford stands out. especially the f350. It has a solid front axle and a heaver frame. Everyone looks at the engine, but thats only one part. What does your local goverment use for a small dump truck? Odds are its a ford f350 or f450. Ask why. They beat the living hell out of stuff. I now have a chevy 4x4 for myself but if I was to look for a new replacement it would be a f350. I wish GM would get there act together and make a good HD truck again. and not a hopped up car with a pickup bed.
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everyone wishes that GM made the HD with a SFA, however the thing that appeals to most people about GM is the IFS. to us yea its junk, but in stock form it does work and offers a great ride. i hear lots of people who dont care for dodge, but why do they buy them. Cummins. just my .02
 
I've had my 04 2500HD since new and love it after 75k miles. In the long term I should've held out for the 6.0 but I got a real good deal for this one on the lot and no one wanted the 8.1 (wonder why). It's towed anything and everything I have fit on my trailer (and some stuff that I should not have) with no complaints. And when it's unloaded it drives like a half ton. No body or interior gripes to speak of.

My dad's 04 2500HD with the 6.0 has about 125k miles. Used for hauling logs/carvings and towing a trailer with logs and also plows with it when it snows. No body/interior issues except maybe a little wear on the drivers seat and just basic maintenance repairs. He chose this over the F250 because the ride was better for long trips, it felt stronger/had more pep, and the mileage was better.

With GM if you go a year or two newer they introduced Active Fuel Management. It shuts down cylinders while at cruising speed to get even better mileage.

I have nothing against the Ford, but limited experience with them other than a test drive here or there. The Ford felt sluggish to me. The ride was rougher but not something I couldn't live with. But that rough ride may make it or break it for someone who's older. Plus the added height of the Ford may be seen as a positive to us, but a negative for an older guy who has to climb in/out of that every day.
 
Yeah all good things to consider. We have always owned GM's, but because of the actions of GM in the past makes us want to buy a newer one even less. He gets poor MPG in his 03 1500, 11-12 in town, and best ever was 19 on highway. We already have two gas guzzling trucks, we thought if he could get a diesel, and have something that is reliable, yet for its strength and size economical.

I understand how it's going as far as emissions on these trucks, and power lacking slightly on them.

What are the thoughts on the new ford 6.4?
 
I love our 8.1 truck, the mpg is darn close to 6.0s but it would pull the moon.
 
Emissions standards has not sapped any power from vehicles today. Actually, making them run more efficiently has increased power.

Someone is doing a miscalculation on that 1500s mileage. I average 11mpg with a bigger, heavier truck and an 8.1 and I don't drive with a tender foot either. There's no way that 1500 averages close to that. My 03 1500 ext cab sb Z71 5.3 averaged 15mpg and I drove it like a race car.
 
496truck said:
Emissions standards has not sapped any power from vehicles today. Actually, making them run more efficiently has increased power.

Someone is doing a miscalculation on that 1500s mileage. I average 11mpg with a bigger, heavier truck and an 8.1 and I don't drive with a tender foot either. There's no way that 1500 averages close to that. My 03 1500 ext cab sb Z71 5.3 averaged 15mpg and I drove it like a race car.
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i agree, theres no way your getting 11:eek1: most people get 15-18. depends on driving of course.
 
496truck said:
Emissions standards has not sapped any power from vehicles today. Actually, making them run more efficiently has increased power.

Someone is doing a miscalculation on that 1500s mileage. I average 11mpg with a bigger, heavier truck and an 8.1 and I don't drive with a tender foot either. There's no way that 1500 averages close to that. My 03 1500 ext cab sb Z71 5.3 averaged 15mpg and I drove it like a race car.
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ever tune a truck that is fuel injected with all emissions equipment off. yeh they will run way better and far better mileage. emissions does not improve mileage overall. tho it will hinder mileage of a motor is it malfunctions
 
Im a ford guy and even I wouldnt buy a 08 Superduty. I hate the motor thats in it. The 6.0 LS is a great motor. He doesnt like the 5.4 4 door F150? I have one, and I love it. Its a 04 and Im creeping up on 160k. I have taken excellent care of it, and it shows no signs of quiting anytime soon.
 
ever tune a truck that is fuel injected with all emissions equipment off. yeh they will run way better and far better mileage. emissions does not improve mileage overall. tho it will hinder mileage of a motor is it malfunctions
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Good point. But I was speaking from a stock vehicle point of view.
 
I want to tune our 8.1 to see if the power/mpg will come up.
 
pennsylvaniaboy said:
ever tune a truck that is fuel injected with all emissions equipment off. yeh they will run way better and far better mileage. emissions does not improve mileage overall. tho it will hinder mileage of a motor is it malfunctions
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Tell you what, explain exactly what you do to turn off all of the emissions equipment on a newer gas truck? Sure, you can "tune it" but I'm not sure what you can "turn off" in regards to pure emissions that affect performance.

Anyway, I have an '03 2500HD crewcab that was bought new. Now just under 100k. Only a couple annoying problems like the power window motor breaking and a weird door sensor problem. The only other things I've replaced are brakes pads, tires, shocks, and installed new belts (yes, there are two serpentine belts on it) just because I figure it need it.

It ride and drives almost as good as a 1/2 ton empty, and pulls my 9k car trailer.

Diesels do get a little better mileage, but the actual cost of fuel is pretty close when you look at the higher cost of diesel. I won't deny a diesel is nice but I couldn't justify spending the extra money for one.
 
Tell you what, explain exactly what you do to turn off all of the emissions equipment on a newer gas truck? Sure, you can "tune it" but I'm not sure what you can "turn off" in regards to pure emissions that affect performance.
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I think he was talking about a custom build. You can take a 5.3, 5.7, 6.0, etc. and tune the crap out of it and make great power numbers with no emissions equipment on it to hinder performance. But this would only apply to a hot rod, race car, off road vehicle...

The point is that emissions devices can limit peak performance numbers, but in factory built, moderate tune or daily driver status they have no effect on output.
 
Our area is mainly hills. His MPG is around 11-12. I had an 04 avalanche and if I babied it I could stretch 14, my mom's 04 tahoe gets about 13. Others in our area gets about the same in town and highway.

Our 95 K-2500 gets 8 in town 10 highway and 5 towing. He would rather have a gas engine, but he wants 05 and newer. 8.1's with 3:73's are great and have heard they are capable of getting better than the 6.0 w/ 4:10's.

The newer chevy's he doesn't like the looks of (neither do I) and the newer fords look better. When compared side-by-side (we have a lot coming through our shop everyday) the Ford, sad to say, feels like a more solid built, all the way around.

He may go drive a F-250 to see if it's even a consideration.
 
The 6.4s in the F series trucks is a joke. Weak rods which was found from hydrolocking fuel injectors.They get stuck in regen mode alot and consume alot of fuel. They turbos blow seals alot. Fuel filters must be replaced every 10K miles. The 08 F550 we had for a wrecker at the dealership I used to work at goes through an engine every 30K miles. They get horrible gas mileage (lucky to baby it and get 10, excepte when it goes into regen mode and your looking at 7). I havent yet had any experiences with the 6.7 and I'm curious about it. Honstly I hated the new GM trucks. They just looked ugly when they first came out. But what changed my mind is when I put a leveling kit and 285s on one. I suddenly grew fond of it.
 
Cornfield creations said:
My father is looking for a better truck. He currently has a 03 chevy 1500 Z-71 , and a 95 K-2500 454 for heavy work, hauling/towing.

He was looking to get either a newer 05-08 2500HD or f-250 to eliminate two vehicles and have one that he can drive everyday, and do the heavy work without breaking.

To be honest we are really leaning towards an f-250. He doesn't want a diesel, but I understand to retain any sort of mileage a diesel is sort of a must-have.

In stock form what are the opinions of these trucks, which would be a better choice, as far as overall quality and drivability?
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this is a chevy site and its gonna have some bias but i can tell you from experiance that the Chevy 2500HD with the 6.0 is your best bet.

in my job we have had all three makes with diesels and gas motors in them. the cummins of course has a lot of power and yada yada, but blows injectors and computers like clock work.

The fords are gutless diesels. now i know the powerstroke guys are gonna chime in and say oh bull my ford hauls ass. well they do. unloaded. Loaded they will pull anything it just takes them about a year to get up to speed. everybody knows about the 6.0 prolems but the 7.3 leaks oil just as bad.

The duramax is powerfull and reliable. but it burns out injectors and turbos also. other than that, the duramax's are usally the first trucks to leave the yard in the morning, then the dodges then the fords.

as for gas, the Hemi is a great powerful motor, decent on fuel and we havent had any other problems. but the dodge truck falls apart around it.

the ford 5.4 is a joke, no power or economy. the trucks hold together but the interior is not very user friendly.

the 6.0 chevy is powerful tough and decent fuel milege. they last and last and are very simple to work on. GM left the design of block the same over all these years so things like your spark plugs and just simple motor layout is all the same (not so with the ford or dodge)

we have three 2005 chevy 6.0 4d 4x4 work trucks that have been used and abused. we pipeline so ya the indepent front suspension takes a beating but we havent had any problems with them or the duramax's

the rest of the truck is fine and the interiors are very user friendly also i have a 05 2500HD at home and that motor impressed me so much i dont see any need to buy a diesel. I love the interior set up (long center consol) and after 90k miles all that has been done is an intake gasket and axle seals. Simple fix and cheap


Again maybe chevy bias but if you want reliable and power with milage and comfort, a 05-07 classic Chevy 2500HD cant be beat. get the long center console and you have everything like drinks and phones and notbooks yada yada yada right at your finger tips.
 
Yeah I agree the 05-07 classic would be the GM of choice, chevy or GMC. I feel diesel would be overkill for his needs. The 454 is an awesome beast of a truck, but for a DD it isn't very user friendly, plus it has 170,000 miles on it.

I will take all this into consideration and give him the information. Thanks guys!
 
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