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we are looking to replace old 1 ton truck with new one… used by concrete crew… will be trailering bobcat almost all the time and associated forms, equipment, etc on flatbed with racks.
am thinking of diesel with manual trans….any brand recommendations? hopefully will find somebody with personal experience on this size tuck.
thanks
eric
Replies
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The new Chevy 3500HD with the 8000 liter V8...unless you need the Diesel...then go Duramax option...$5000 extra. Test drive one and be prepared for whiplash even going straight up!
A two year old Ford 1 ton with Powerstroke would save you close to $10,000...you can find one for $25,000 just broken in.
near the stream,
aj
Love the new Allison transmission...but it is new...so we are all test pilots for a few years.
*Local dealer has new 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 cab and chassis 2WD with Cummins H.O. diesel, 6 sp manual, a/c, criuse and tilt, antispin differential for $26,000 ....much less than Ford or GM. Think they are all good trucks ......new GM DuraMax diesel is sweet ......quieter than Ford or Dodge but it has no track record .....it has aluminum heads which gives me some concern. The Navstar diesel in the Ford is quieter than the Cummins in the Dodge. The Cummins, imho, is easier to maintain, being an inline 6 ...more room under the hood. The Navstar in the Ford is pretty cramped under the hood. Both the Dodge and Ford automatics have had some problems ......I believe they have been rectified but thing a manual is a better choice. Properly equipped, I don't think you'd go wrong with any of them.
*Very good post j and I agree with all of it...My costs included 4x4 as I need that where I am too often...the posi rear is great if it stays together...I know of some that failed repeatedly even in less than 10K miles...I have no posi experience yet but will...near the stream,aj
*I have the 1-ton Ford with the Powerstroke and an auto. I have not had any problems in 50K miles. Has about 2500# on it all the time , and pulls 773 Bobcat(6300#) on a Butler double axle(2200#) with no problems. The auto may be the weak link in time though. Have buddies with the Dodges, motors are strong, trucks are falling apart. No experience with the Chevy, I know the horsepower is more, but a call to Gale Banks made my Powerstroke quite a bit more than that....just a matter of bucks(that and a good dose of ego from what my wife tells me...over and over and over again) Keith C
*We have everything from Dodges, Ford, Chev. Chev's tend to go into the shop less often. Ford is respectable (and really gutty) Dodge is the highest maintinance. Based on our experiance I expect the Dodge to run the longest. That inline six is the way to go (most over the road trucks that get a million miles use inline six's) Chassis maintinance will be the highest. The ford will gradually get too expensive to keep but I hear the fewest complaints about Fords. The Chev is too new to have atrack record yet. (Part of the deal to get a new guy). Experiance tells me, get them what they want...it's easiest, and in the long run cheapest.
*Ya get more towing out of an automatic tranny. And the skinny kid in the middle doesn't get his knee's bashed in........I still prefer a stick shift though. Especially with 4 wheel drive. Jeff
*Get your new one yet, AJ? Gas or diesel? Some posi problems are due to the wrong fluid .....most posi rears require different fluid. I've heard of some cases where the wrong fluid was put in at the factory.
*Last year I ordered a new chevy 3500HD cab and chassis, stake dump body, doulbe eagle dump through lift gate, under-body mounted tool boxes, trash tarp, trailer tow package and welded on steps( easier to get up on the stake bed). I spent $36,000 on this truck, and I love it. I've never had to pull anything yet, but I'm ready for almost anything. The only thing I really wish I would have waited for was the extended cab. I realize my truck is now "the old model", I have put on 10,000 miles without any hint of trouble.Barry
*Eric,Before you walk into any dealership be sure to check out ...www.edmunds.com and http://www.carbuyingtips.comThese sites gave me the ammo to get a good deal on my new Dodge Dakota Quad Cab.Martin
*And it has to be changed regularly too. There used to be a separate oil for posi; but, now they just use an additive.
*If you have an Autofair dealerships (many brands) in your area check them out. Paid $100 over invoice, their offer if I ordered. But watch out for delivery from factory (not dealer issue) Took 3 months for factory to deliver AFTER it was built.
*I have a friend who has the 10 cylinder Dodge diesel for hauling his bobcat -- 2 or 3 years now, no problems.-- J.S.
*John...How well do you know your friend and Dodge trucks?...Enough to post here I guess...Well, what's this new motor...i 10 cylinder Dodge diesel ???????????near the stream,aj
*Thats the regular gas engine that he forgot to put oil back into, just sounds like a diesel
*I have a Dodge diesel 1-ton. 247,000 miles still strong. Only 6 cyl. though. The rear end gave me sometrouble, didn't keep check on the gear oil. I learnedthe hard way. That cummins is the most reliable engine made.
*Frenchy,Regarding those Jake Brakes. In the Rockys where 2500 ft hills are commonplace and 3,500 ft ones are not unheard of, when pulling or being pushed by 8,000+ pounds a diesel automatic just isn't gonna help slow you down like that old 400 c.i. chevy gas engine that I used to have. It is not so much a matter of pad wear -- it's more a matter of having them cool enough to do anything by the time your halfway down the hill.Granted, there is an issue with how that back pressure can adversly effect diesel engines -- primarily the exhaust valves. Most people don't believe this is a problem. My guess is that even with prolonged use, a 10% decrease in longevity would be overstated.Although, I will be happy with 400,000 miles my Cummins engine, if your theory of 1,000,000 miles holds up then one could expect to only get 900,000. 360,000 in my case is a small price to pay for not taking on runaway truck ramps at 100mph or worse if it's icy.It's just too bad that the rest of the truck is not up to that longevity (Dodge in my case but I've heard the of the same problems with the other two).That posi traction rules --- however make sure that the lube place puts in the right 90 weight (or 20 weight for anybody up in Fairbanks). It does require a special additive or it will start getting jumpy.Jim Malone
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we are looking to replace old 1 ton truck with new one... used by concrete crew... will be trailering bobcat almost all the time and associated forms, equipment, etc on flatbed with racks.
am thinking of diesel with manual trans....any brand recommendations? hopefully will find somebody with personal experience on this size tuck.
thanks
eric