What is the most dependable truck?

ErinP · #41 08/29/10, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolly

I once had an opportunity to ask the head mechanic of a major state agency what was the best pick-up. Said agency ran hundreds of pick-ups and the brand changed with who ever won the bid that year, so these guys ran all the American brands.

His opinion? He hadn't found one his guys couldn't tear up.

That's a good point, actually.
But you should check out what others are driving. I live in ranch country, and gas/oil. Hands down, Ford is the most common diesel pickup. Dodge is a close second.
Chevy is a rarity.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conhntr

2. That is "off-road" diesel not for use in highway vehicles

I'm another who would HIGHLY recommend not running ruby red in a highway vehicle. I also have never been pulled over personally, but i have known people who the highway patrol has tested. Or hang out at places like CoOp, the sale barn, etc. And dip tanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conhntr

However i dont think Any of the newer 250/350 size diesels have MT options do they?

Good heavens! I would hope not! lol Many cars don't come with manuals for the simple fact that too many people just don't know how to drive them.
But fortunately, that has not happened yet in the pickup market! Perish the thought....

Quote:

Originally Posted by jill.costello

I have a 1995 Ford F-350 7.3L Turbo Diesel Crew Cab 4x4. [ I love saying that!! ].

This truck is a BEAST, and I LOVE her dearly! Longest wheel base available; a towing MACHINE. Walks away with a steel 4-horse gooseneck trailer with 4 1200lb mares on board plus another 1200lbs in the bed in the form of a 150 gallon water tank filled to the brim!

278,000 miles on original engine & tranny, made 2 hauling trips Texas-Wisconsin, and 3 hauling trips Delaware to Florida, and every other hard farm job in between for the last 6 years.

Oh, now I can brag. lol
We have a '97 F250 extended Cab, Powerstroke, 4x4. Manual. Power everything.
We got ours 7 years ago, also for $10K (she had 120K on her at the time, highway only as she'd been someone's camper rig). She was pristine. Not quite so pristine these days, but certainly not showing 220K, either.

Our strength test was last summer when we hauled a triple-axled flat bed with 15,000 pounds of concrete blocks on it. The motor never faltered. The brakes, on the other hand, were the weak spot (consequently we drove all 100 miles at about 20mph. lol)

KY Bound · #42 08/29/10, 10:01 AM

From what I understand here it is $10,000 fine plus $1000 for each gallon in the tank if you are caught on the road with off-road diesel. One of the farmers locally got caught with it in his tank. It was a dual tank set up too.... ouch. As far as which truck is better, I have to truly say that all vehicles have their problems. Mostly personal preference is the deciding factor. If you see a truck you like, research it and then make an educated decision.

watcher · #43 08/29/10, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen W

$10,000 fine last I heard when you get caught. It takes more then one tank of fuel to get the dye out of your tank too.

Back years ago in MO they fined you a flat rate than so much a mile for EVERY mile on the trucks odometer. Seeing as how most farm trucks had tons of miles on them getting caught really hurt the pocket book.

snoozy · #44 08/29/10, 06:36 PM

If you would use the website link I posted earlier, you might find a truck that is more fuel-efficient than some of these gargantuan trucks and not need to run the risk of getting pulled over and fined.

Moreover, poor fuel-efficiency is a "tax" you get to pay every time you run your truck...Wouldn't you rather NOT pay that?

mightybooboo · #45 09/01/10, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordy

.
...........Also , don't forget that the 5.9 Cummins engines between 1991 and about 1995 were equipped with an Injector pump and were alot simpler too work on and IF maintained should be good for 300,000 miles easily . DONOT but a truck with an Automatic until about 2002 because the Auto's were very weak ! , fordy

That would be mechanical until 1998,97 being last year.Yup,weak tranny's,when it goes at 120,000 miles most people do a proper upgrade and have a very good drivetrain from that point forward.NOTHING beats a 5.9 Cummins from 97 on down.The joke is they arent broken in until 200,000 and its true.Bud has 350,000 on his with original clutch! Mechanic in town has 600,000 on his!Mine has 214,000 with the upgraded Tranny,still a puppy.HUGE aftermarket support for em too.

That Ford 7.3 gets high marks too,poorer mileage than the 5.9 though.But its a tough motor ,excellent reputation.

6.0 Ford,run for the hills,HORRIBLE reputation,we have one in the family,KID HATES IT,horrible engine,nightmare personified.

Cannon_Farms · #46 09/01/10, 09:29 AM

I have a 93 suburban with over 300,000 miles on it, drive it every day runs smooth and quiet
I have a 94 blazer, other than the windows crapping out on me right after the ac quite it has 275,000 miles on it and running strong.
We have a 83 ford ranger that we are just replacing the motor on and it has over 500,000 miles on it (still running better than most trucks but hubby is a fickle ***)

Now, the 2004 dodge 3500 diesel duely , has about 150,000 miles on it, granted its used for its purpose (burban hauls only a horse trailer) hauling a bob cat but we have had to have the trans replaced twice, clutch 3 times and the electrical worked on more times than i can remember, the things been sitting in alabama for several months now with problems and I just dont have the desire to go get the dang thing, course it was bought with cash so getting the dealers to do much about anything is very hard.

Cannon_Farms · #47 09/01/10, 09:32 AM

above being said we maintain our cars and trucks fairly well, we use store brand oil (do not use parafin based oil) regular gas and generic parts for the most part. Fixing an issue and not letting it go on and on is key to making something mechanical last long

Txrider · #48 09/01/10, 09:42 AM

Heh for me it's anything older than about 1975...

Or a Toyota..

farmgal · #49 09/01/10, 10:37 AM

I have always drove older 3/4 or 1 ton, heavy duty dodges with no problems. parts are cheap. they pull great. Thats what my truck is mostly used for, pulling a huge horse trailer every weekend.
My last dodge was getting rusty. here in NY it isn't worth it to buy a new vehicle. so I went from a 98 dodge 3/4 ton to an 87' chevy 5/4 ton diesel 6.2. It was only 3500$ and it has 24,000 original miles. solid as a rock. It's an old army base truck. This is what you need for a farm truck. I am not afraid to throw wood in it, tie a horse to it or put a calf on the seat. That is what a farm truck does. if you pay big money for a truck you will be afraid to use it. Check out the old army trucks they are solid and inexpensive. Parts are inexpensive and there isnt much to go wrong like the newer truck.

HermitJohn · #50 09/01/10, 02:17 PM

Q:Whats the most dependable truck? A:The one I can repair and maintain myself!

mightybooboo · #51 09/02/10, 11:29 AM

The kids 6.0 horror story? Had the 100,000 mile extra warranty,lucky thing! TWO major transmission repairs and it still keeps losing towing mode,at 70,000 they finally put in a complete new motor! At 70 thou!!!! Truck would sit at dealer literally months at a time while they ignored warranty and fixed paying customers first.He paid a fortune for it too.

He RARELY drives it now,has an old junky beater Chevy truck to put miles on.Hows that for a horror story?

ErinP · #52 09/02/10, 06:33 PM

Unfortunately, it's a pretty common one...