I just started out on the road and the truck just died.bought it new in 1999 and has never done any thing like this before''It will crank over fine but thats it..The transfer pump is running..any help or suggestions appricated.

 

I pray you're not a victim to the notorious VP44 failure.

Is the MIL (check engine) light on? Also confirm fuel supply to the injector pump after the filter. Crack the supply line (or open the bleed schrader) after a starter bump and while you hear the lift pump running. You ought to have plenty of fuel flow.

Try and get an OBDII scanner to read if any faults codes have recorded.
Typically any problem with you're truck will store a fault in memory, but not alway give a MIL indication. Once you determined the code through OBD, if posted, one can trace further into the system failure.

 

It is probably your Vp44. My 99 was the same, was sitting idling fine, took it out on the road, made it 100 ft. Started to sputter, no power so I shut it off. Checked fuel, fuel lines, all that stuff. It would crank and crank for as long as you wanted, but no start. Ended up being my LP and VP, replaced them myself within 5 hours for the first time.

Good luck!

 

A diesel is pretty simple, if you have fuel (at the right time) and air it should run. So assume you have air and look at the fuel system. Crack a couple injection lines at the head and see if you have fuel there. If not then check the supply to the VP44 (just because the lift pump runs doesn't mean its actually supplying fuel). If you have fuel at the pump but not at the Head then its normally the VP.....

 

There still may be fuel coming from the lines once you have a couple cracked, however if it's just a dribble, like a small squirt...your VP could still be shot. After mine took a dump, it would still crank and put a little bit of fuel through, just wouldn't have close to enough pressure to inject the fuel.