My mechanic has been my mechanic for 10 years. He built two of my custom rock crawling jeeps, and did all the work on my 99 Chevy Silverado(95K miles and counting) and also wrenched on my wifes Passat and Liberty. He is well respected and runs a large shop here in Denver. Family owned for 60 years and his old man(80?) is in the shop everyday just holding up a wall.

I told them I wanted a Diesel and what was their opinion. Basically he said:

1. Glad your loking at Diesel, I feel it is the future and the power to weight ratio is awesome
2. Dont buy a ford PERIOD.
3. I personally like the Total package of the GM product.
4. Cummins makes a great engine, but the trannies are nutorious for problems and the rest of the truck is junk.

5. Isuzu( who makesthe Chevy) is the olded dielsel manufacturur around and the Duramax is great. Also the allison Tranny 1000, is bullet proof. Put it in tow haul and head down a hill and tap the breaks and the tranny shift dwon for you, and it puts the power to the ground better than any trnny out there.

I told him I liked the cummins and have been reading about it on forums like this and on the internet. I really think I wnat the dodge, basically due to reliability and simplicity of engine design.

He said the duramax is rated for 375K miles before a rebuild and the Cummins would probably be good for 500,000+ beforea rebuild, but it reality are youreally going to own it that long? I have 95K on a 6+ year old gasser now. If I kept going till 300,000 miles it owuld be 18 years old, and I will definately buy a new truck at least every 6-8 years.

He sees more dodge's and by far more Fords that GM products in his shop.

So whats a guy to do, when his trusted mechanic swears by the GM.

Graham

 

gm's pricing is good right now... and their slushbox is the best avalable i think

i like the gm trucks... if i were to get another truck, i would get a gm before a ford...

 

Ask a Dodge Mechanic and he'll say the Fords & Chevys are junk.
Ask a Ford Mechanic and he'll say Dodges, Chevys and Fords are junk.





It all depends on what you plan to do with the truck.
You have to be realistic with your future plans.

 

Ummm.....find another mechanic?? (OK, just kidding.)

Brand loyalty is hard to overcome. He may have a point about some of the 47RE trucks, but the 48RE is probably at least as good in terms of reliability as the Ford or Chevy automatics. Insofar as manual transmissions are concerned, the NV5600 has proven itself to be about the most bulletproof 6-speed manual available in the Big 3's diesel pickups. The jury is still out on the G56 - time will tell!

Rusty

 

I had to maintain a fleet of GM's - I would never own one!!!!!!!!! Tell you mechanic the Allison 1000 IS NOT bulletproof!!

 

He probably has some good experience and advice that he's throwing your way. I definitely agree on his assessment of engines, particularly Ford and Cummins, and from what I've heard and read pretty much as he says on trannies too, although you can get a Dodge auto built that will make you smile . As to Dodge being junk trucks though I have to seriously disagree. My 97 is in great shape with no rattles or squeaks and, knock on wood, everything works, plus I've had very good service from it so far. I think it only makes sense that if a vehicle is taken care of properly and not abused it's generally going to be good over the long haul. There are exceptions of course, like getting lemons due to poor assembly/parts right from the start or due to poorly designed/executed components that can come into play - I'd have to point to the PSD 6.0 in this case. Guess what I'm saying is I wouldn't be afraid to consider a Dodge CTD. When you're shopping for one just check it out as thoroughly as possible and maybe have a good mechanic, like the guys you're referring to, inspect it for possible problems you might miss. If the verdict comes up clean and it's what you want and the price is right, I'd jump on it.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Steve

 

How is GM's service going to be when it's handeled by whom ever buy's whats left of the Coproration? Just kidding (am I?).
I like the looks of the Ford, I have also heard good things about the Allison, heard and had bad experiences with my 47RE, but LOVE the Cummins. Yes, the wrapper is Crap, but the Dodge still has (2 & 3 rd Gen) modern styling and good looks too.
I don't know enough about the newer Ford diesels to comment, my brother in law has one and loves it. He also has a freind who "blew up" a cummins at 90,000 miles?? Not sure what happened there, but he seems to mention it ever time we talk trucks. He aslo claims that if Dodge hadn't had trouble with cab/frame flex with snow plowing he would have bought a new one. (when he bought the Powerchoke) Not sure of the truth behind that one either, but he's a Ford man now.....
Same as Shovel said, everyone has their preference.

 

thanks for the reply's.

I like all the opinions.

I will be towing my ATV in the bed and am thinking on getting a 25ft. travel trailer to pull.

90% of the time I will be driving to and from work, 20 miles each way, 17 miles of it are highway. Weekends I drive the Mountain Passes to and From ATV riding areas, and to cabin up in Summit County(Colorado).

towing about 3000 miles a year ( three big trips). Rest of time in the City.

I want:

reliability, ride comfort, and power( who doesnt, i know!)

Graham

 

Hmm

hard to say im deeply in love with those extended cab shorty 3/4 ton duramaxes.. mind you when i can afford one i want it to be just mildly modded, maybe 400 rwhp or so and auto and 4x4 (IE programmer and tranny)... Im gonna keep my cummins it is the best truck i have ever had and might be the best i ever will too, there is no replacing it.. and turn it into a real beast with at least 500 rwhp and 1000 ft lbs... that will be my toy on weekends and my lil duramax will be my dd and horse trailer puller... Coarse it will have gn hitches, a small front bumper, rear receiver and some nice tires and a toolbox but probly nothing further... hopefully these rebates last a while or like everything else theyll come back...


Tx

 

Well, I'd also have to say the Isuzu is a decent engine. It revs higher, like a gas engine, where the cummins feels and runs more like a big truck engine. There is just something I just didn't care for on the Chevy. Maybe it is a bit too softly sprung, and the way the frame hangs down below the body makes it look like it has low clearance. As far as I know there have been no major issues with the motor. I think they had a couple with injector issues when they first came out, but if I recall they took care of their customers and offered an extended warranty. The auto is probably the best out there, but nothing is totally bulletproof.

I was a Ford man, and in the Ford I like the styling, the fit and finish, the crew cab/long box, and the steering seems sharper than the Dodge. Tranny seems OK. My employer, though, has a bunch of the early 6.0's... and I won't own one. They should come with a "Change Engine" light on the dash...

To me, that leaves Dodge. I wouldn't be afraid to own a 48RE, my NV 6 speed has been great, but I don't know if I would want to own one of the new G65 things with the dual mass flywheel. I don't think Dodge's fit and finish is quite up to Ford, but it is very close, and someone else could have the opposite opinion. Anyway, they are far from junk. I also don't think the Dodge steers quite as well. I bought the truck for the engine, though, and I am happy with my choice.

Good luck. Let us know what you decide.

 

I tap my brake going down a hill in tow/haul and it downshifts? I used to have a 47RE and it was good behind the V-10, but the 48RE is a great tranny. It's all electronic, but if you learn how to drive with it, it's great. Hey 100,000 warrentee here, I'm not worried

 

Remember the higher tech the higher price to fix it. my 3 dodges havent been cheap to keep on the road I will admit. Considering wows in the shop more, consider the pure number of trucks sold, ford seemingly being highest(im no ford fan either) The cummins is probably the simplest(12v) most reliable,easy to bomb but consider the rest of the trucks also. A cummins weighs 970+lbs, just right for wearing out front end parts etc. I havent seen to many truck bodies/chassis`s hold up to 500+k and still be worth much. Go drive them all first and see what does it for you. Personally if I could have my 75 F250 4x4 hiboy back with a Cummins id be a happy camper. IMO ,they just dont make em like they used to.

 

I guess I cannot get over the mistake GM made back in 1979. I know the duramax is not anything like the 5.7 conversions from years ago. I remember when GM introduced the 6.2 and it was supposed to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Both of them stunk. My dad and brother had two of the 5.7 diesels and my brother even bought a 6.2 when they came out. Nothing but headaches out of any of these trucks. I can't get over the burn that we had with these trucks. Matter of fact, I don't buy ANY GM product simply because of the experience with these trucks. Maybe the duramax is better. I am not going to be another GM victim ever. I have had two 6.9 fords and my brother had three of them. They were underpowered but they were dependable. I have had two CTD's a 93 and my current 03. My brother has a 89 and a 96. The 89 has over 500,000 miles and still going!!! These are awsome trucks IMO.

 

TROUT74;
Do you already have a Durmax that was in an accident and a house in Ft. Collins? If so, I am Nadine's Grandson. If not, what a coincidence and never mind.

Randy

 

According to our mechanics yours is sheltered from reality, Allison 1000 have not been without problems and are the smallest Allisons available with a torque limit of 545 ft/lbs as per factory rating. Isuzu is not the oldest diesel engine manufacturer still building engines Merky Benz is and the V8 in the Chev pickup is a new design already celebrating it's second version. Allison will not couple a 1000 series to a Cummins B or ISB in commercial applications but recommend a 2000 series tranny to handle the torque available at lower rpms. We will find out how good the Durajunk is as it is now the standard diesel in the C4500/C5500 trucks and will be used/abused in larger numbers and higher weight categories. Take a drive through any large industrial center and you will find the #1 pickups sitting at dealers with diesel engines removed will be FORD, this is not heresay but check for yourself. The #1 spot for front suspension rebuilds is no other than CHEVY when used hard for truck like jobs not a car with a box, and the #1 winner for electrical is DODGE. Your trusty well educated mechanic has some wonderful experience to share however he is not a heavy duty diesel mechanic with extensive (25yrs or more) experience and knowledge of diesels. The origins of the cummins are in industrial equipment, farm tractors and stationary power plants and the design is proven in it's almost "Cummins B 30 year" history. Isuzu"s claim to fame is it's little 2,3,&4 cylinder "reefer" motors which have a great reputation for reliability (20-40HP) their 6 cylinder motors in cab forward medium duty trucks stressed under high load are not as astoundingly wonderful, ask an owner. The IH/Ford V8 has had some good years but in comparison to the I6 DT series IH's they don't even come close to accomplishing the service hours without major work, again check with school bus fleet owners and medium duty owners. And just for fun go to any truck stop and count the number of V8 diesels our nation relies on to get us our goods loaded everyday all day under all conditions ie: IH,Mack, Detroit60, Cat, Cummins, Volvo- all Inline 6 high torque low rpm motors. Sorry No Suzies and No strokers. #1 pickup truck used for heavy and industrial work Ford F350,F450,F550 Crewcab 4X4 why because the donkeys at DC can't figure out how to build a crewcab Cummins diesel cab and chassis 4X4. #1 selling pickup for ride GM so the powder puffs wanting a truck to ride like a car can own trucks too. #1 selling pickup for pulling big loads daily Dodge work the rest out for your needs with research not one guy's opinion. PK