sredish Posted January 1, 2005 Report Posted January 1, 2005 3.73's will definitely be better for mileage, but if your planning on lifting, keep that in mind when looking at gearing. I have 3.73's but with my 35's, I don't really want to go taller w/o regearing. However, a lof of the newer fords, only came with a certain gear. My F250 would only come with 3.73, couldn't get 410 from the factory with it. Also, it's a mid-03 and not one single problem, same with my dad. As long as the build date was after May '03, you'll be fine, the very early ones were the pieces of shiz. Quote
boonman Posted January 1, 2005 Report Posted January 1, 2005 I have driven ,and ridden in all three. I personally own a crew cab 2003 F-250 powerstroke. I have a 7.3. They (Ford) offered the 7.3L in that year still because of fleet reasons. Anyways, the early '03's with a 6.0 in them, are plagued with difficulties. My brother in law has one. POS. I have a good friend that has a mid '03, and he has 8" of lift, 38" rubber, and a 3 stage flip chip on his 6.0. Runs great. No problems. Now, the 7.3, in my truck, gets a consistent 15 MPG. I am not nice to my truck. I drive 80+ MPH every day on my way to work. If I am normal with it, and drive like I should, I get 17. I have a 140 horse 6 stage flip chip from TS performance, an AFE stage 2 intake, and a 4" turbo back exhaust. There isn't anything in the area that will touch my truck, unless they are running propane, or different injectors. My truck rips. It's an auto. I haul anywhere from 4,000#'s to 16,000#'s. My truck does it all. Anything I ask of it, it does without flinching. I have a 3" lift with 35" tires. It did not flaw my fuel mileage at all. The only major problem(s) I have had withmy truck was an alternator, and an o-ring fittting went bad on the high pressure oil pump. The injector change that somepone spoke about in the Ford, is a Long lead injector they put in. It is to cure the idle cackle that sometimes plagues Powerstrokes. My truck cackles sometimes, and sometimes it doesn't.... I haven't taken it in for the change. The ride of my truck is good. I have airbags in the rear, for extra load carrying capacity, with onboard air, I can fill them or deflate them at the push of a button. I love my truck. The interior is great. VERY roomy. My brother just purchased an '04 chevy. I don't remember who spoke of the ford interior being "dated", but I think they read too many magazines. I heard that in motor trend and in Peterson's. I think my brother's interior in his Chevy looks like shit. The guages are a PITA to read at a glance. I have several guages in my truck. 4 on the pillar, and the dash cluster itself. The Chevy is confusing at a glance, and tough to get used to. Dodge, is nice, however, the interior is small. Cramped. Cummins engines are a tried and true engine. (with respect to the "B" series which is in the pickups). You will not have to omuch trouble with that engine. I personally do not like the noise of the Cummins when you put an exhaust on it. It sounds droney to me. (if that is a word...) ANyways, several of my buddies run Dodge trucks, and i used to run a DOdge myself. Not a cummins, but anyways, they love their trucks. It's personal preferance. Lots of leaks with a Cummins i have seen though. When the mileage gets up there. My boss has a Duramax dually. Loves it. He is a chevy guy. His truck is stock. Hasn't hada problem with it yet. However, I know of several other people that have had multiple injectors replaced. And the Allison transmission has failed more than a Dodge transmission fails. But, the ride of his truck is impressive. On the pavemement. I wouldn't go lifting it though. IFS is not meant for lifts.... At least not the way they have it set up..... Anyways, any diesel purchase you make will have it's own inherent difficulties. I was set on a DOdge, because I have been a DOdge guy for a while. However, I made my decision based on interior. Ford interiors take the cake. I have been in and worked alot of pickups. The Ford is the best IMHO. Second would be the Dodge. Mileage numbers for Dodge have been down from talking with owners. 13-15 with a Dodge. 14-18 with a Ford. And 15-18 with a Chevy. I have pounded my Powerstroke. It has withstood everything I have thrown at it. and while hauling a load, I can still smoke a Mustang GT, or a Z-28. How about that for a heavy pickup? I love it. I work my truck, I plow snow, I haul, I drive it daily. Wouldn't be in anything else these days. Quote
Banchetta Posted January 1, 2005 Report Posted January 1, 2005 This is very interesting. I have a LLY Duramax. So far the truck is nice, but they are needing a reflash and some injector replacements. Other than that, I love the truck. ONe thing you might want to consider though, I have a Edge juice w/ Attitude, exhaust and intake.....Allison trannys can't handle the extra power, so if your gonna juice it, get ready to spend another 2k to get the power down....One of my friends just bought the new 6.0 Ford last night. Traded in his '01 Ford powerstroke w/ 7.3. He had it in the shop 3 times in 3 weeks, mostly starter, turbo, and sensor problems. ONly problems he's ever had, but happended all at once. The new truck seems like a nice truck, sits lower than my Duramax though.... He has the 250 3/4 ton...not much for features inside. He said it rides way better than his '01 Ford diesel also...My other friend has the Cummings... He thought he was going to smoke my Duramax w/ all that claimed hp.... Then reality kicked in when I was leaving him at 15mph and just kept going...He's not to impressed w/ it performance wise, but still likes it overall, so far he's had that one for almost 2 years now w/ no problems...My father in law has the older Dodge ('97 I think) had a lot of problems w/ fuel pumps, turbos, etc. He bought a gas GMC this year. He won't ever go back to Dodge.. So to narrow it all down, they all have their nitches right now...I'd wait another year or 2 or just buy a gas motor especially where diesel is more than gas. Right now all 3 diesels are upgrading the technology and need to work the glitches out...Good luck. Quote
checkster Posted January 9, 2005 Author Report Posted January 9, 2005 thanks for all the replies guys. still trying to make up my mind what the hell i want. all three manufactures have things i want in a truck, but not the complete package. I could make one nice truck out of all three though. Quote
sredish Posted January 10, 2005 Report Posted January 10, 2005 especially where diesel is more than gas. 300670[/snapback] Yea, WTF? Anyone know what's up with that? Diesel should be cheaper than the frigging regular POS unleaded gas. Oh, and I'm a Ford guy, always have and always will be when it comes to trucks. I think the Ford's are just tougher than the Chevy's in regards to farm work and off road. I think the Chevy's ride a lot better and are much better for the cruiser or on-highway truck. I think Dodge has a good truck and a good motor, but it's power is over-hyped. I also don't like the looks of the Dodge truck, although I'm proud of them for having the balls to offer the "Power Wagon" with a winch, 33's and lockers. Wish they'd all follow that suit. Only complaint I have with my F250 is the brakes. I wish they were a little stronger, partly due to me having 35's on them, but being a big truck, they should be able to handle it in stride. Oh yea, and it's a mid 03 with no problems, just a little cackley in the mornings, just like me. Quote
PUSH THE THROTTLE Posted January 10, 2005 Report Posted January 10, 2005 One of my friends works at a shop that has been selling 6 door superduty's. They take a regular 4 door and add the extended cab from another truck I guess people must really like them. The just built a truck for a guy that hauls hay it's a tonner dually and gets 22mpg highway unloaded, the trailer he pulls when loaded is a 16 big round bale trailer. They also play with excursions at his shop the owner had one with 35's and he could spin donuts with it on pavement, some guy brought his brand new Hemi dodge out to show it off and they got out the excursion and started wipping nuts doing a smoke show when the excursion grabbed and T-boned the dodge, oops. Dodge totalled and the excursion minor damage. On a comfortability note: My F150 Lariat is a much nicer road machine than any Chevy or Dodge I've been in and it's my daily driver 1000 miles a week. But it's not a diesel. Quote
boonman Posted January 11, 2005 Report Posted January 11, 2005 The only Diesel half ton was one offered by Chevy. It was in the early ninety's. And I hear ya SRedish. Diesel is alot less expensive to refine, and plentiful. Just because every OTR truck uses it, and alot of pickups now, they gouge the shit out of it. Diesel is up to $2.35/gallon here. I get it on the indian Rezervation for $1.95/gallon. You can buy off road for $1.25/gallon, but I don't want to take a chance on getting D.O.T.'d and have them stick the tank and fine the shit out of me. Not worth it. Quote
pimp559 Posted January 11, 2005 Report Posted January 11, 2005 thanks for all the replies guys. still trying to make up my mind what the hell i want. all three manufactures have things i want in a truck, but not the complete package. I could make one nice truck out of all three though. 304191[/snapback] How much weight will you be hauling? Alot of people think they need a diesel and really don't. I've got an 02 3/4 ton with the 6.0 gas that pulls my 28ft fifth wheel #8000 pound trailer with no problems. I'm also gonna pull a trailer behind the fifth wheel for the bikes since I'm rated to pull 10,300. I get 15mpg unloaded and between 8-9 pulling the fifth wheel. I was thinking about a diesel too, but I'm not convinced that the extra cost is worth it. Gas is cheaper and the maintence is cheaper for gas too. Just my .02. Quote
sredish Posted January 11, 2005 Report Posted January 11, 2005 You can buy off road for $1.25/gallon, but I don't want to take a chance on getting D.O.T.'d and have them stick the tank and fine the shit out of me. I know, I have it for my..... {cough} tractors and equipment. Quote
jinx44 Posted January 11, 2005 Report Posted January 11, 2005 I know, I have it for my..... {cough} tractors and equipment. 305198[/snapback] We can buy clear fuel and then get a tax break on it for the farm. I ends up a little higher than dyed fuel, but way cheaper than full road tax. $2.19 a gallon was the highest I had to pay. It dropped to $1.60 for about 2 days last week. Its back up to about $1.90. I could by taxed fuel at the station for $.79 when I was in high school about 6 years ago. Pimp, I get 14MPG LOADED (I have crossed the DOT's portable scales at 31,330lbs on 18,000 plates in my '96. OOOOPS.) with my '96 and '97 PSD's, my '99 is about 16. My cousins 6.0L PSD 6 speed is about 24 empty and he hasn't really pulled much to check the loaded MPG. When I drive our '92 and earlier non-turbo trucks I am amazed that I once thought they were powerful . Ford was supposed to release a V-6 diesel for the 1/2 tons a couple years ago. It didn't work out. I think the fact that they can't keep enough of the PSD's on the lot was part of the reason. Quote
boonman Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 ALot of people that don't have diesels don't realize the fun they can have with the diesel. My truck pulls 12-13 loaded. That's pulling a 14K# equipment trailer. With a gas job, I would be struggling all the way, and getting 6 MPG with that kind of weight. Maybe 7-8 MPG if I babied it. My brother has an '04 Chevy HD with the 6.0 L gasser in it. With my trailer, and the Kubota on it, (only tipping around 8K#) his truck seems like a dog. With my truck hooked to the trailer, you hardly know it's there, untill you hit a bump. And I say that honestly. You will not believe it untill you ride in a hopped up Diesel. I KNOW Sredish and Banchetta know what I mean on that. You will piss yourself smiling. Nothing beats a Diesel while towing. I can guarantee that with a diesel, and a small chip, you would be kicking yourself in the ass wondering why you didn't get a diesel sooner Pimp... Quote
Banchetta Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 I got a diesel for the easy pulling and now that I'm used to one, I don't want to go back, I borrow my old mans truck (GM 5.3 1/2 ton) and start going up hill and find my self squeezing the gas more and more until it downshifts to 1st or 2nd gear and screaming for .......I don't know,it just screams!!!! My duramax will just lug up the same hill and not even downshift at 1/4 throttle, I squeeze the throttle to 1/2 way and it'll accelerate uphill. Then once you put a "good" chip in it, then your all done. NOw your racing mustangs in the 1/4 mile and beating them, then you go to the NOS and take on the Ford Lightenings....Now your "worktruck" and everyday driver is a sleeper from hell.....At least, thats my oppinion..anyone else have this disease?? Quote
wesw Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 i have a 02 z71 with the 5.3. i pulled my dads 16 ft horse trailer, i pulls like crap up one hill it went to 5300 rpm in sec gear with the cruise set at 60 mph. thought it was going blow. i dont pull a load much but i regret not getting a diesel. my truck get 19 mpg goign to waynoka at 70 mph the whole way. but if i putted a trailer my god probably 9 i bet. now i debatign to trade it in for a diesel. ima chevy man but those powerstrokes are soem running bastards, cummins makes the best engine but dodge doesnt have the truck to handle it. if you want a balls out truck get the international cxt. http://www.navistar.com/site_layout/severe/cxt.asp this bitch is bad ass Quote
boonman Posted January 13, 2005 Report Posted January 13, 2005 ..anyone else have this disease?? 305458[/snapback] Ummmm, I don't know what you're talking about.... LMAO!!!! I love easing into it untill the convertor locks up in second gear, (about 30 MPH), which gives the mustang about a 5-6 car lead. At that point, You nail it, and smoke (literally) right past them. Whistling all the wayyyy.. ANd when you do it with a 4-5,000# trailer, that's even more degrading to the mustangs and Camaro's..... I can't wait for propane this spring..... Quote
lincster Posted January 13, 2005 Report Posted January 13, 2005 ALot of people that don't have diesels don't realize the fun they can have with the diesel. My truck pulls 12-13 loaded. That's pulling a 14K# equipment trailer. With a gas job, I would be struggling all the way, and getting 6 MPG with that kind of weight. Maybe 7-8 MPG if I babied it. My brother has an '04 Chevy HD with the 6.0 L gasser in it. With my trailer, and the Kubota on it, (only tipping around 8K#) his truck seems like a dog. With my truck hooked to the trailer, you hardly know it's there, untill you hit a bump. And I say that honestly. You will not believe it untill you ride in a hopped up Diesel. I KNOW Sredish and Banchetta know what I mean on that. You will piss yourself smiling. Nothing beats a Diesel while towing. I can guarantee that with a diesel, and a small chip, you would be kicking yourself in the ass wondering why you didn't get a diesel sooner Pimp... 305454[/snapback] Sorry Boon, I have to call shinanagans on the mpg you are stating. I have owned 2 diesels, 02 F250 and 04F350. Pulling my 12k lb toyhauler, I can't get over 10mpg, and that is on flat terrain. Both of my trucks are 100% stock, I know a programmer and exhaust will help a bit, but not 3-4mpg more. Unless you only tow at 55mph, which I doubt. If anyone is interested, go to www.rv.net or www.thedieselstop.com to get more inputs on the mpg of a diesel. I hand calculate my fuel mileage and always fill the tank to where I see diesel in the neck, no foam. Quote
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