What is the most dependable truck?

[thestartupman]

I am still making plans for my big move, and I am planning to buy a diesel pick up truck for the move, and to be the "farm truck". Looking for opinions on what everyone thinks would be the ideal truck. Best Make, Year, Power Package. I have been told by several people that the 99-2004 Ford F350 with a turbo Diesel is the best choice. I am hoping to find something cheaper, but will consider something in this price range if it is what will last the longest.

[thestartupman]

By the way, I have been warned by many that I need to stay away from the 6.0L engine, and stay with the 7.3L engine

[big rockpile]

One that runs Couldn't help myself.

big rockpile

[golden]

My understanding is that Fords have a great engine, while the Chevy's have the better transmission (Allison). The Fords seem to be more popular but I've heard that the turbos tend give out early and need replacing.

We have a Silverado 2500 HD and it's a great truck. Keep your eyes open for a deal - we got ours used from a dealership for $12000 below kelley blue book.

Good luck in your search!

[MO_cows]

We have always had Ford pickups, from F150 to F350, from 1978 to 2002 models. Because of how well they held up, we go buy another one. I have "heard" that about the diesel engines, too, but don't know first hand if it's true. Our '02 F250 has the 7.3 and it is a beast, amazing what it can pull without breaking a sweat. And gets 16-17 on the highway, IMO incredible for a vehicle that weighs over 7k. We also have a 90's F350 for a farm truck, it is a tank. So we only have experience with the Fords but it has been good.

[thestartupman]

From what I understand about the Ford,s is that if it is older than 1999, they do have problems with the Turbo's. I have heard that the 99 and newer turbo's are last forever.

[CrashTestRanch]

all FORDS....

99 Explorer
99 F350
06 Excursion
99 F250
04 F250

All run like champs.

[watcher]

Run away SCREAMING from any Ford which has the overdrive override button on the end of the shifter. That's a sign that it most likely has the E4OD tranny which is one of the worse transmissions out there.

And you need to do a google search on Chevys to see it the model you are looking at is one with the bad gauges (speedo, fuel, etc.). If so it could cost you $500 to get them fixed.

[CrashTestRanch]

Originally Posted by watcher

Run away SCREAMING from any Ford which has the overdrive override button on the end of the shifter. That's a sign that it most likely has the E4OD tranny which is one of the worse transmissions out there.

What gives with the e40D?

We tow with ours all the time, huge loads of batteries, ATVs, WATER, etc (an old school cadillac, HUGE BOAT, one time from Vegas to Phoenix). Even used several times to pull out huge Diesel Pusher RV's stuck in the sand up to their basement and towed a RAV4 with a popup in tow on it about a 1/2 mile thru sand dunes to a camp site.

Just take care with maintenance and all is well.

[shawnlee]

I am new here ,but not new to trucks...go with a ford ,I have had 300 straight 6 to the 460 , all of them were great ,have a 1994 f-350 with the banks system on a 7.3 and it is great.

I have a 89 that has the 460 gas that has over 250,000 hard miles on it and it still runs great !

[julieq]

We have a 2001 Chevy Silverado diesel dually crew cab which is still going strong with over 140 thousand miles on it. It's the second one we've had. Got one the first year they came out with the Duramax diesel and Allyson transmission. (Sold the first one along with our 35 ft horse trailer as a package when we sold our ranch.) It'll pull anything easily in tow haul mode, handles well on slick, icy roads here in Southern Idaho and if we get a chance for a new one someday we'll definitely buy the same exact truck.

[snoozy]

You might want to factor in fuel economy:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm

I have found this to be remarkably accurate.

[Beeman]

Originally Posted by shawnlee

I am new here ,but not new to trucks...go with a ford ,I have had 300 straight 6 to the 460 , all of them were great ,have a 1994 f-350 with the banks system on a 7.3 and it is great.

I have a 89 that has the 460 gas that has over 250,000 hard miles on it and it still runs great !

Those are antiques and most have 250k hard miles on them already. Check out how bad some of the newer ones are. It's russian roulette playing for big bucks. Trucks that cost a lot and cost even more to maintain and repair.

[Beeman]

Originally Posted by thestartupman

I am still making plans for my big move, and I am planning to buy a diesel pick up truck for the move, and to be the "farm truck". Looking for opinions on what everyone thinks would be the ideal truck. Best Make, Year, Power Package. I have been told by several people that the 99-2004 Ford F350 with a turbo Diesel is the best choice. I am hoping to find something cheaper, but will consider something in this price range if it is what will last the longest.

What's your reason for a diesel? In many cases it's just a "because" reason. Do you really have a need for a diesel?

[Conhntr]

Unless you are doing alot of heavy towing the gas motor will save alot of money. I love disiels and drive a frieghtliner at work. But if you afent doing regular heavy hauling the diesel is just a waste. My 5.4l 250 went 180k and was still running great when i sold it. My 3.0l ranger has 170 and is still perfect. With the 250 the gas motor will save you 5-10k new or used

[ErinP]

Diesels also tend to last quite a bit longer than gassers.

By the way, I have been warned by many that I need to stay away from the 6.0L engine, and stay with the 7.3L engine

Very true!
The 7.3 was rock solid (especially under a standard transmission). The 6.0 is a crap shoot.
BTW, I've never heard about turbo issues in the older Powerstrokes...?

[SageLady]

Chevy Silverado, hands down.

[Darren]

Look at a Ford with a 6.9 or 7.3 with mechanical injection. Same with the 5.9 Cummins in the Dodge. I'd take a 12 valve Cummins over the later 24 valve. I've had problems in the past with the Ford C6 behind a diesel. FWIW, you can run an Allison behind a 6.9 or 7.3. International did in their medium duties up to 26,000 GVW. That may not be the "new" Allison developed for the Duramax but one of the older heavier Allisons. I know an Allison is not a simple install in a Ford diesel van because of the flat floor. BTTT on an 85 E350. A pickup should be another story.

[Conhntr]

I dont understand the obsession with allison. At work the have ~500 under 26k step trucks. ALL the AT vehicles have issues sooner or later including the allisons which are most prevelant. The gas with autos also tend to have issues. The various 5spd diesels dont have transmission problems. However i dont think Any of the newer 250/350 size diesels have MT options do they?

As to diesels lasting longer:
The initial 5-10k savings of a gas motor will more than pay for a proffesional install of a brand new gas motor when/if you wear out one

Again if i was hualing a 10k+ trailer often diesel all the way

[highlands]

We have a 1996 Ford Econoline E-250 extended body cargo van which we use as our farm vehicle. It hauls six pigs in the live transport section in the back, six pigs of meat in the chest freezer in the middle and six people up front plus a dog. We also pickup 800 lb crates of apple pomace, barrels, wooden pallets and such. I like that it is an enclosed body. We got it used for $1,375 and put about $1,000 into it including a new set of tires. It has needed minor repairs along the way bit seems very reliable. It gets 16 mpg - almost the same loaded or empty. Since we virtually always haul full loads it does better than a Prius at pounds moved per mile per gallon. I would like to find another van just like it and have my eyes out...

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
Pastured Pigs, Sheep & Kids
in the mountains of Vermont
Read about our on-farm butcher shop project:
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/butchershop
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/csa