I can see your and others arguments. I tend to look at my older truck as a hobby more than anything.. I am older than you by a bit, so the interest for me is just to have my own project to work on. I have buddies with new trucks of all brands and the woes don't seem to go away plus they have huge payments to deal with. My truck was paid off when I bought it and fixing it up to this point has been cheaper than the payments on a new one. Do I have all comforts of the new ones? NO, but for me its just a fun way to get to site with an older truck. I had to rent a Ford F150 when I had my truck in for bodywork last year. It was different to drive with no cold starts etc., but it was not anything great on mileage compared to my old iron that weighs a good 1500# more.

If the interest of the truck isn't there anymore, then its on to greener pasture. You're young, theres plenty of time to play... Its only a piece of iron and no vehicle is an "investment" really. It gets old, looses value and needs work.. Eventually they die.. when they die is up to the owner..

 

When I traded my 04' 1500 in on my 06' 3500 last year, there were numerous times that I have regretted it. Some being because I felt I should have just stayed with what I had, or the fact that it's only a Reg Cab and I should have gotten a quad even though I got a good deal on this. But all in all, my 3500 gets better mileage than my 1500 ever did, I know it will last forever if maintained properly, (maintenance costs don't really bother me, and it's a highly reliable vehicle. If anything I'd probably change maybe 2 or 3 things about my truck, but I don't think I would get rid of it. It may be that I never get heat going to work, pay a higher price for diesel, and the truck consumes more money in general than a gasser. But, there's just something about driving the truck, that is way different and better than anything else on the road. If anything I would like to find a cheap diesel Jetta to drive, but I wouldn't get rid of my truck('s).

 

They certainly ride better and run a little smoother when it gets cold out.


But...

My truck warms up so the heater blows luke warm air within a mile. Just like my 1500 gasser did.
Around town I'm getting 14-15 mpg compared to 11 in my 1500 Hemi.... Even with the lift and 35's.

I like that the maintenance is more intense, it keeps me in touch with the truck . I spent more time finding a source for true CI4+ oil than I've ever spent in the store buying 5W30 for my Hemi I changed every 4K miles. One benefit is I don't have to get under the truck as often!

 

I'm 22 and own one from both worlds right now... a 1500 gas job and 2500 diesel.

The diesel weighs far more, has 4x4 and big rubber, holds more people and still gets better mileage no matter what the speed. I live in the city right now finishing up my degree and I'd still rather drive the 2500 even in the traffic and with longer warm ups.

With the 1500 I've hit a wall for performance. It is on nitrous right now because I don't want to spend a fortune on forced induction and beefing up the bottom end. A decent turbo or supercharger system is $5k - $7k and then you're still limited by the internals. And then you're gas mileage is really shot. Especially with pickups, IMO the performance wall is worse for a gas job then the diesels.

From what you posted, I think if you spent a week with a Common Rail truck you'd still be willing to own a diesel. I'm getting rid of both trucks for an 08 6.7L truck (now that there's something you can purchase to get far better mileage out of them).

 

Name another vehicle that can do all of these things!

1. Potentially run the quarter mile in the 12s.

2. Run a half a million or more miles before rebuild.

3. Protect the occupants of the vehicle from a 50mph "T Boned" crash from a mid size car.

4. Tow 15,000+ lbs. of any type of trailer.

5. Still get 18-20+ mpg running empty.

I will keep my truck. I have been very fortunate so far and haven't been back to the dealer in ages. Even then it was only a couple little very minor things. Currently I have 85,000 miles on it.

It's my daily commuter, project truck,, race truck, tow vehicle, grocery getter, and sunday driver all in one! What more could you want from a vehicle!

 

pretty much any mods you do on any rig don't pay off in any kind of return when selling it. i used to do alot of street rodding and street racing in the seventies and early eighties and when i grew less interested i sold rigs and bought what i wanted. i can see your point. now at 49 coming at me i still drive my little 84 chev 6.2 diesel since i ordered it new. and have money enough for alot of other rigs. try not to go thru alot of rigs over you life if buying new to me its a waste of money.

 

WCB you live in Bakersfield with a 2nd gen truck. Just drive it! Is there a chance you are creating problems by reading too much?

Just drive it respectfully.

"They're not daily driver or city friendly. Gassers... Just jump in them and go. No plug in, no slow warm-ups, no expensive fuel, no expensive maintenance, no driving 67 mph on the hwy to conserve fuel, no worries about idling, no worries about remote gas stations carrying diesel, no anti-gel or other fuel additives, no engine noise on those long trips, cheaper performance parts, etc."

They aren't city friendly compared to a econobox but compared to a gas truck of equal size I don't see a difference.

Run the same gas truck down the road and you'll find that the mileage isn't any better or could be worse if the gasser has close to the same pulling power.

Forget the plug in you don't need to, but they do take longer to warm up. Fuel does cost more and you are paying for that because you wanted a hotrod.

What is the expensive maintenance you are doing???

Oil changes do cost more, but that's about it.

Why do you need anti gel?? you live in Bakersfield. If you go to the snow yeah you might need some, or not it takes a good bit of cold to get diesel to gel.

Who told you, you need any fuel additives??? You don't.

You are correct about the road noise on short or long trips. Add some insulation to the cab and behind the seat. The noise sucks!

Cheaper performance parts? People grind their own fuel plate and gain tons of power find that on a gasser.

"Frankly, the way it is for me now, I feel like I spend more time fixing little things on the truck (that probably don't need fixing but I like things to work solid) than I actually drive it. "

Either you are very abusive to your truck or you got a mellon. Are these things diesel engine related or cab/chassis related?

"I only use it for leisure activities now. Last time I went up to the mountains I loved how I had 4wd in the snow. But seriously, if I would've taken our Honda Accord and spent 20 mins. putting chains on it, it would've been cheaper and less of a hassle altogether."

Cheaper yes. What is a bigger hassle than putting on chains?? I love to drive around people on the shoulder chaining up. I'm warm and dry they are neither.

I have over 290k on my 97 my wife gets 14.9 with a Lance 3k + camper. I get 12.

I guess what I'm saying is just drive it and forget about all this crap that you think you have to do.

 

My BMW will do 2 and 5 and will handle great on a racetrack.
My Miata will do 5 and will handle great in autocross.
My Subaru will do 1,3, and 5 and handle great on paved and unpaved B roads. (Subaru's a built really safe, one survived being crushed between 2 big rigs)

And my Ram will do them all, except handle like a car on pavement, but will outhandle any car in a Baja-style race!!!

I bought this truck knowing the extra maintenance and the fact that it wouldnt be a great daily driver, but nothing I had will tow a racecar for when I fully convert my BMW or Subaru over to one. Also because it is an inline-six, like the BMW, maintenance is actually pretty easy compared to the Subaru, and there is plenty of room in the engine bay. Flat-four engine spark plugs are a pain to change out.

Also funny that the best I have gotten out of any of my cars has been 25mpg on the highway. Turbo gassers are just as thirsty when you are on the skinny pedal as a big diesel truck.

-Chris

 

I too have questioned keeping my 95 , but , it is almost paid for, and i DO use it as a truck occasionally. Being that it is almost paid for , and I still use it like it was meant to on occasion,( hard to pull a 30' flat bed with a car) I went out and bought an old cherokee to use as a daily driver. The jeep cost less than two payments on a new truck.

I have been considering buying a Newer Jeep Nitro ( local dealer has an RT edition in white on the lot) in the spring , to be my daily driver.

 

That is because you guys are driving a dodge. My 1T GMC has cummins power and rides like a caddy even with straight front axle.

 

I changed my springs out to improve mine. Couldn't stand it stock around Houston it was killing me in ride and performance. I can cut this B through traffic now and I'm not bouncing off the seat anymore .

 

I see a difference, I'm getting around 40% better MPG in town compared to a bone stock 1500 RC SB Hemi. I drive 5 miles to work in town (gas/brake/honk/gas/brake/honk/brake/honk/punch type driving) and it does just fine. But generally it doesn't get too cold around here. I know when the temp drops she gets a little loud.

 

Cummins recommends oil changes at 15K miles, Dodge recommends at 7500 severe or 15K. Fuel filter every 15K takes like 10 minutes to change. Or you can do like me and do fuel filter early and hit that oil change interval in between.


I crawl under this truck much less than I did on my 1500 Hemi. Doing 2,000 miles a month I was having to clear a sunday every month or two to do an oil change.

 

Cummins recommend 15K in applications that hold a LOT more oil than the Dodge truck application does.

And if you look a the definition of "severe service", it means using your truck in any manner other than continuous hwy miles in perfect weather with no towing. Cold Start? That's severe. Towing? Severe, too. Short trips? Again, severe.

Almost everyone I know meets the defintion of "severe" according to the O/M.

You think you HPRC guys have it bad. The VP trucks have HALF the oil change interval! (7500 normal, 3750 "severe").


JMO

 

http://www.everytime.cummins.com/eve...aintenance.jsp

If you're using a low emissions oil it says cut the interval in half. If I recall correctly it use to stipulate if you run the new oil and the old high sulfur diesel (ie off road or Mexican) that you'd need to cut your interval in half. I guess they just made it a standard rule of thumb though... FWIW, that's the rule of thumb I use in farm equipment if they have low emissions oil in them.

So you're correct in that most people will be using the off the shelf new oil CJ or CH or whatever it's called.

I just order CI4 in 5 gallon buckets now for all my stuff.