Hello,
I'm Kallell and I'm new here. I am about to buy a new truck (or at least new to me) and I have narrowed down my decision to 2 trucks. One is an '01 Dodge Ram 2500 with the 24V Cummins, quad cab, 6 spd, and 4wd. The other is an '01 Toyota Tacoma Double cab 4wd. I will be using my truck mostly just to get back and forth to work with some occasional medium duty 4 wheelin with the kids. I am looking at the Dodge because I feel I will probably get better fuel mileage with it and I like the Cummins for its reliability and longevity. But my question is it a waste of a good Cummins if I am not doing much hauling (just light duty stuff any pickup can handle) and no towing or is it still worth the investment? I am really leaning towards the Dodge and I have found one with 154,000 on the clock with a Cummins and a 6 spd that I am really interested in. Your input will be very helpful in making my decision.
Thankyou very much.

 

I would suggest getting a VW wagon [ diesel of corse ] for the comuting and then the Cummins for what you need it for .
The problum will be once you drive the Cummins , you'll not want to go back to anything.

 

Hey Kallell, welcome to the DTR. I am sort of biased to the 01 HO as Ive owned two of them and think they are the best thing since sliced bread . I dont do any heavy towing, basicly its my daily driver/work truck.
No major problems since Ive owned it. LP went out a few times, but thats somewhat normal on the 24 valves. The only thing I ever regreted about my cummins, was that I sold my first one

 

Get the Tacoma. Its smaller size and great reliability may make it cheaper in the long term.
Having said that, I drive a CTD. I just do not fit in a small cab truck, and the CTD is a great motor.
Diesels don't really thrive on a diet of short trips, if your commute is less than 10 miles- the more you run them the better they like it.

 

You have to make up your own mind. Drive them both. Not around the block either. Really take the time to drive them. Do your research on both vehicles. Maintainance and reliabilty issues. But remember all years have their own problems that others years might not. Are you going to need a lot of towing power, now or in the future? Will you need more truck space for family trips or yard work, ect. Do you maintain the vehicle yourself? If no then who will and where are they? Milage isnt a real big deal with the Cummins since they can (not do) last for hundreds of thousands of miles but what's the rest of the truck like at that point. But none the less thats why their resale is so high. The do last a long time. Will the Toyota accomidate you in everyway? No one knows exactly what you drive like or live like so again its your decision. Everyone here mostly loves and loves to drive their Cummins so you will mostly get biased answers. Go to a Ford site and guess what, Fords rule. And same for a Duramax website. The best time to look for a specific vehicle is when you dont have to have it right now. Thats when you make the best moves.

 

Welcome to DTR, good to have you with us.
Provided both trucks have been well taken care of, both are fine trucks.
As mentioned, this will have to be up to you to decide which truck you like better.

Rich

 

My cmmute is actually 25 miles one way, mostly freeway although it gets quite jammed (relatively speaking) during my commute causing a 45 minute drive.

 

A 25 mile comute wouldn't be bad for a diesel, it would give it plenty of time for everything to warm up before you shut it down. It all depends on what you need in a truck. Thier are many people out there that own diesels without ever hauling anything and they still love them. So advice would be to test drive them both, see what you like and go from there....*****.

 

I really don't know what to say here. You've got some good advice above.
Its up to you. If you want a bad butt truck motor that gets good fuel mileage even thought it more expensive than gas, go with the CTD. Make sure its not a 53 block. (look it up to tell how to tell) I love my truck. Its got 155K on it and its running great. Keep it stock, not mods, and use fuel additive. Diesel is dry with lubricate. I add 8oz of Type A tranny fluid or a combination of new motor oil and tranny fluid. Original VP44 and only the second LP pump.

4X4 don't do nothing for me were I'm at, But if you need it, you gotta have it.

The cummins will outlast the body on the truck.

Forgot to say, Welcome to the board. These guys here know whats going on.

Dave

 

I traded my 04 Tacoma Dbl Cab in on my 02 Ram CTD. No regrets here!

 

Not to butt in here or to change the subject but, CoastalDav I read that you use tranny fluid and engine oil in your fuel. I can only say that anywhere I have done research on this subject there is much feed back that tranny fluid contains detergents that are harmful to internal parts. Like VP and injectors. And also any used engine oil contains contaminates from the engine that it came from and new engine oil also has detergents thats bad to run in your engine for fuel. Good news is that some are finding 2-stroke oil (nothing synthetic) to be a good alternative for fuel additives. Supposed to smooth out the engine and give better fuel milage. Again not to butt in here, just though I'd share.

 

Just wanted to thank you guys in helping me make my decision. I decided that the diesel was more truck than I needed, especially with the likelihood of having to replace a lift pump and VP44 every 100k or so. I also decided that the Toy was too small. I ended up purchasing an '01 Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4 with the Off Road pkg. I am so far very happy with the truck and I am looking forward to taking it off road. My only dissapointment is in fuel mileage, but I guess that's the price you pay for having a full size. I am very happy that I still have the solid front axle and the awsome ground clearance, the very reasons that made the Dodge the right choice.

So many thanks to all of you who responded and welcomed me so warmly to your website family. Every time I see one of you (Cummins diesel Rams) I will look on with envy and know you love your truck.

Keep on Truckin' and I'll see ya around.

Later,
Bri.