MmmDieselFumes

To spend on a "new to me" truck. My current dd/work rig is about to give up the ghost. I'm a fabricator/fastner, so I'm always pullin a few tons of steel around on a 5th wheel, and I'm tryin to figure out what'll be in my price range. Defintely need a diesel, prefer a 6speed but a 5speed will suffice (no-go on an auto. Never owned one, never want to.), srw or dually, 12v or 24v, any cab style, color, package, ect, none of it really matters to me just as long as it's a cummins. I'll make and install my own trailer hitch and gooseneck (I am a steel faber after all lol), so I can leave that outta the equation.

Anyhoo, as you can tell from the ~$10k part, I'm on a budget. Full time college student havin to work full time, and buyin my first vehicle on my own to try and build credit (fun... HAH). I figure if I need to keep my payments below $300/month, have about $2000 down, and do a 36month term at 6.65% I can really afford $12k out the door, but I'm tryin to keep my payments under $300/month, not right at it.

So anyhoo, what kind of cummins do you think would be in my price range? Took a long time to get to the point huh? lol...

t-boe

Check the classifieds. Lots of trucks in there. 10k is not alot for the diesel market, but it'll get you one.

Homer S.

Probably a mid 1990's. Check around, milage can vary by hundreds of thousands of miles.

Danderson

I sent you a p.m.

gman07

I'd look at a '94-'98 12v for the best reliability for the dollar. A 1st gen ('89-'93) would also be a great truck, but the 4x4's ride pretty rough. Are you looking for 2wd or 4? The 1st gen should get better mileage.

MmmDieselFumes

2x4 or 4x4, aint really matter to me. Though 4x4 has always gotten me in trouble. Remember my first 4x4 truck many moons ago at the tender age of 15.

Dad: Just how in the hell'd you get your Toyoter stuck in a tree?!
Me: I went up the K5 hill doin a General Lee. I didn't land it...
Dad: I TOLD your mother not to let you watch that edited by admin show!
Me: I woulda landed it! I just didn't see the tree...
Dad: *Shakin his head* Grab the chainsaw. You do realize you're never driving again?
Me: What if I had landed it?

I got to drive again the week after... I thought it was quite the accomplishment though. One that my ol 4Runner could get up to 70 on a dirt road, and two, that I landed sideways inbetween two trees grown in a V. Coulda very easily crashed head first into it. Ahh, good times!


Anyhoo, sorry I get side tracked easily... So 1st gen's really get better milage than 2nd gens? Even with the new ulsd fuel?

Box5

you can get a nice 2nd gen 12v for that price. maybe even a 24v if thats ur thing, but i'd stick with a nice 12v 5 speed.

dieselfuelonly

^ What he said .

24v's would worry me with the VP44.

For simplicities sake I'd say get a 12v 5spd 2WD. Kill the KDP and you're good to go.

blackdiesel

im going to go with the 12 valve too. (i even have a 24v, wouldnt own another vp44 powered truck...)

i would get a 97 or 98 regular cab 4x4 5 speed with a flat bed. cant beat them for reliability, and the insurance on a flat bed is much cheaper. (im 17 and have FULL coverage on my truck in my name for less than 200 dollars every six months...)

MmmDieselFumes

Ok, well I dont wanna get my hopes up too much, but I think I might have a killer lead.

Got a 93 Club Cab Cummins. 4x4, Stacks, 5spd, new clutch, and said the previous owner said he swapped in a smaller turbo to spool up faster, but hasn't verified if he actually did that. Supposedly a cherry, or mint condition. Said only thing wrong with it is the bj's need to be replaced. I aint worried bout that, I've done numerous ball joints before. Forgot to ask about milage. Just woke up to that phone call, and it was all I could do to not say "Am I dreaming?"

Lookin to get rid of it for $5000. Haven't seen it yet, but hopefully some pictures are going to be emailed to me very shortly. Only thing is, is that it's down in Corpus Christi and I'm in San Antonio. Oh well, I'll figure that part out when it comes to it...

But what yall think?

Box5

It's a first gen, if thats ur thing go for it. Atleast check it out closer, the 1st gens right alittle rough, but the price seems ok.

MmmDieselFumes

I think 1st gen's look dead sexy, long as they have a dandy paint job. How rough we talkin? This-aint-no-caddy rough, or sweet-mother-mary what in the name of high school football did we run over, flat pavement or a road that been used for sighting in mortors?

Box5

well it's been said its like riding on a tractor, I've riddin in a 1st gen dodge gasser, and it was like a rickity horse, but i'm sure a good condition one will ride alot nicer.

MmmDieselFumes

Well I dunno. I used to work at a big landscaping place drivin a big ol d9 dozer and a komatsu with a 10yard bucket, and both of those had air ride cabs and were pretty comfy

But nah I know what you mean. I'm sure it caint be worse than a 1st gen 4Runner with front leaf springs so thick (10 ply) my cousin could flex his 01 7.3 F250 on the hood and it wouldn't even squat it... Especially on boggers, that thing rode on the road ROUGH. But shoot, for a good deal on a nice cummins, I'll TAKE the rough ride. Take that extra money I'll have, and get some kyb gas-adjusts, soft ply leafs, ply bushing, and all the other ride enhacements... Or not, maybe I'll just do power mods. Aww I'm excited! But I hate gettin my hopes up..

MmmDieselFumes

I got the pictures. Not exactly "mint" like he said lmao, but it's nice. Uploadin em now. See only a few minor dents, and nothin a new paintjob solve. And it's a dually. Well, well, well.