Best Rig for 18-20k??

I figure it's probably got to be about a 97 or 98 model year? Yes, No??

From a diesel engine standpoint, what is the best rig probably gonna be?

Should I consider a big block engine as well or stick with the diesel? Pros/Cons??

Why the hell didn't dodge offer a crew cab (lame)!

How many miles are too many on a diesel engine this old? and how many miles should someone expect a well maintained diesel engine to run??

What manufacturer had the most all-around reliable rig?

what are some excessive "wear & tear" items to consider (items that might be visible and ones that require taking to a shop for pre purchase testing)

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

 

I would say anything post '94.

That is very arguable but I will say the Dodge Cummins through the 90's was the most reliable, most powerfull truck out there and when equipped with a manual last for a long time. I am also impressed with the early Ford Power strokes. My grandfather has a '95 PSD and has 275K on it with almost original everything. Regardless, still know one has matched the '01-02 Dodge cummins with a high output Cummins/NV5600 6spd, D60, D80, SRW, and all in a 3/4 truck. If I towed more than I do that would have been the truck I would have bought. Even then there isn't much difference in the autos like mine besides the tranny(obviously), tcase, and slightly smaller rear D70.

I wouldn't give a gas engine truck even a head turn, unless money is a factor. The pulling difference between a gas engine and diesel engine is considerable. THe diesel will always outpull a big block and get almost double the mileage.

I don't know. They offered the quad cab which wasn't bad but I agree, they could have put more effort towards a larger cab.

I wouldn't touch a 6.2/6.5 with more than 150K. Those engines just don't last as long as the new engines from the big three. I wouldn't touch a PSD or Dmax with anymore than 200K itself, and a cummins over 300K. The shape of the trucks at this much mileage is another story. I would think 300-400K should be expected from the Dmax and PSD with the cummins lasting for 500K+. The cummins has always outlasted the other two guy's diesel engines.

Once again thats very debatable but I'm going to go with the Dodge Cummins. Hard to beat a 12/24v manual rig when it comes to miles on the clock. I have 109K on mine and it doesn't burn a drop of oil, besides the fact that the truck looks and feels like new still.

. I have heard excessive wear on TTB ford front ends, wear on GM IFS, Dodge ball joints. I don't know enough about the Dmax, PSD to tell much of drivetrain problems but for Dodge look out for a weak lift pump on a 2nd gen 24v and the 5th gear nut on NV4500 manuals

 

Great answers already.

For that vintage, I would say Cummins all the way. Too bad it'll have to be surrounded by a Dodge. :stir:

 

waytogo rotfl rotfl rotfl :stir: opcorn:

 

For that price i would personally be looking at early Superduty Powerstrokes with under 150K miles, or the V-10's with under 75K. It should be easy to find either in your price range loaded to the hilt. But, it will all boil down to personal preference, everybody has a different opinion on what is best. They will all get the job done just fine, the diesels will last longer than most need when maintained properly, and they all have their own unique issues to be dealt with. It will all boil down to personal preference. I like the powerstrokes a lot, and like the superduty as a whole, so that is why i would be looking at those.

 

I have to add...

To rephrase RJF's response, his reply is, "Get the exact same truck that I have, as it is clearly the best." :stir:

I might take a look at some Chevy 2500HD's with the 8.1L big block as well. I'm not too big on the V-10's, too much reliance on horsepower (RPM) rather than torque if you ask me. The mere fact that Dodge dropped the V10 speaks volumes.

Particularly if you don't drive a lot of miles, the lower cost of admission to a big block truck may outweigh the better mileage you will get out of a diesel. That 8.1L is one serious motor that will keep up with most, if not all, of the 90's vintage diesels - stock for stock. Plus for your price range, you could probably get an '01 or '02 with an Allison tranny.

 

I in no way replied with that response nor did I even imply it. Yes I am brand loyal, no more brand loyal than you or BadDog are to your Dmax's....or shaggy to his Ford. I don't know why you said that, I don't know what sparked it. Yes I said I thought that Dodge was the best choice through the 90's....thats my opinion and you have a problem with that?

I take it you haven't spent much time in a later Dodge.

 

I'm not brand loyal to my Ford at all, don't know where you got that idea. I was on the fence about what truck to get for months, the Ford was the best truck for ME. Also, Marc has told me that if he were to buy a new truck now he would get a Ford, if only for the GVWR.

Whether it's intended or not, Marc is definately not the first person to point out that you nearly always come off as though your attitude is "This is what I have, and it is definately the best."

With that out of the way, as mods let's not start hijacking threads... :doah:

 

Just because dodge dropped it means nothing. The dodge V-10's didnt sell, because dodge relies solely on the general public to buy thier trucks. That, and you were pretty much guaranteed single didgit fuel economy. Arround here, there are tons of Ford V-10 vans and superduty's running arround, 90% of them either fleet vehicles or work trucks.

 

The Ford V-10 actually makes around 95% of its peak flywheel torque under 2000 rpm. Just for an example, this is around 400lbft tq at 1900. 100% peak torque is 425 at 3250RPM. Sure, its not the 610 lbft of tq a Cummins makes, or the 570 the PSD makes, but its not bad. Almost all of the Ford modular motors (4.6, 5.4 and 6.8) make peak torque under 2000 rpm. Not bad for some gassers, and yes they do tow well.

 

Let me add more to the question then,

This rig will MOSTLY be used on the weekends once or twice a month in the summer, then in the winter for the occasional drive to work (28 miles one-way) I would anticipate putting MAYBE 2-6k miles a year on this truck. However some of those trips will be 2k miles each, some will be only 200 miles.

So towing IS the focus, but with relatively low amount of miles per year.

Now what do you think.

Also someone posted earlier that I can get an early PSD; what year did the PSD first come out? And how many liters was that??

 

PSD began in 1995, but a 1994.5 7.3L will be nearly the same engine. They were all 7.3L up until 2003.

 

Powerstroke started mid '94, in 1994 you could get either a N/A IDI 7.3, a factory turbo IDI 7.3, or a 7.3 powestroke. It was an overlap year.


For that ammount of use, i would honestly look for a low mileage, V-10 Superduty or Excursion. They have really dropped in price as of late, and still get fairly good fuel economy for what they are. Unless, like baddog said, you really need the diesel, really want a diesel, or just dont want a gasser. The ford V-10's are good motors, and tow real well. Just for example, check out this excursion's BIN price on ebay. LINKY

And then compare it with a similarly equipped powerstroke with more miles, HERE

You can find powestrokes for cheaper, but as the pice goes down, mileage goes up. Just my personal opinion, look for a V-10 superduty/excursion. Unless once again, you need or just plain want the diesel. My $.04, take it as you like.

 

I am sorry RJF, I didn't mean to offend you, I thought that the big grinning face and the dude stirring the pot just meant I was messing with you, not that I was minimizing the importance of your comment. I said in a previous post that they were great answers.

Oh yeah, I looked at all three brands when shopping for a truck. At the time, the 6.0 in the Ford scared me, and the Dodge's back seat wouldn't fit my kids' carseats, so the Chevy was it. Of course I get to stir the pot and say it's the best though, just because it's fun though.

If you didn't notice, I agreed that 90's vintage cummins' were probably the best of the 3 diesels at the time, and at no time did I infer that Chevy's or Fords were superior. Anywhere.

Actually, I owned a '94 Jeep (a Mopar product), as well as a '98 Dakota. So yeah, I've spent a little time in later Dodges. The comment about being surrounded by a Dodge was a JOKE, meant to stir the pot and make people roll their eyes.

Lighten up man!

 

I retract my former statement about V-10's, there are clearly others who are more informed than I am about those motors. (This is serious, not sarcastic.)

I would still take the big block V-8 though. :dunno:

 

I live in Denver Colorado and will tow to the east coast and across the mountains at LEAST twice a year.

I actually like Gas engines, but only because I have no experience with diesels.

 

I can't believe that price difference maybe going with a V-10 would be worth the savings

Thanks for the vivid example waytogo

 

I have little interest in debating like I used to so I'll keep this short...

You don't walk into a Dodge dealership and expect them to tell you that the Ford is the very best truck ever known to mankind. They are going to tell you that Dodge is the truck of choice.

I am a Dodge guy. I prefer the 2nd gen Dodges over anything else of the same vintage. Newer models are a different story, all three have me dissapointed currently because someone needs to slap the Dodge pickup designers and I still don't get excited enough over a V8 diesel to want one.

So....when someone asks "whats the best truck for X amount of money that isn't almost or brand new"....I'm going to say a 90's Dodge Cummins because I believe them to be the best bang for the buck of that vintage. If anyone wants to take that as "you should get this because I have it meaning it is clearly the best".....then so be it, regardless if they take notice that I hardly ever, if at all, recommend an auto version (which is what I have!) over the venerable 5&6 speed manuals.