Diesel Truck Advice

JSJJ388

JSJJ388

GREEN GREMLIN
Joined
Aug 31, 2016
Location
HAMPTONVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
The time has come for me to sell my little Dakota and get a bigger truck. Looking for something to haul hay, tractors, livestock, and a camper. Don't need to have a 15k towing capacity, but need to be able to pull anything non cdl. Don't currently haul that much, but planning ahead for expanding the farm ect. Has to be able to seat all 5 of us, but doesn't have to be roomy with 5. Just need to be able to fit the family in a pinch. Not dead set on a diesel, but am leaning that way and looking for suggestions and or advice. Or maybe someone has a truck they are selling....... Due to budget, we are looking in the late 90s to early 00s.

Requirements-
10k lbs towing capacity
Seat at least 5
At least 6' bed
Reliable and able to do maintenance and basic work at home

Preferred-
4x4
Diesel
Flat bed
4 full doors
Manual trans
 
I own a Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab with the G56/Cummins combo, I have used it to haul 55hp tractors and various vehicles. I absolutely love this thing, meets all of your requirements (6.5' bed, plenty of room for 5, have had 7 in it before, but you need to be very familiar with the person that stradles the gear shifter).

If you can find an 06 (first year of the mega cab), it has no emissions equipment, and will be the last of the 5.9l, after 07.5 they switched to the 6.7l and added EGR. The DPF and DEF were added as time marched on. This generation has 3.73 gears stock, so pulling power is there, but I tend to run 70mph and under to keep the engine in the sweet spot, if you need to run 85mph up a mountain, be perpared to have it tacked up, or to regear.

You didn't mention budget, these can be found at a good price, but you gotta be ready to pull the trigger, they don't linger.

I have also towed with the last of the 7.3l Super Duty F250's with the ZF6, and I can say that would also meet your list (Full 4 doors and 6'+ bed). I know you can get a 6.0l with a manual, but I would steer clear....and duramax and ZF6's are super rare, and finding a true crew cab with 4wd will mean it is either beat to death or out of your budget. Those are my two recomendations given what you are looking for, be ready to buy, pre-emissions diesels with 3 pedals and 4wd do not stay posted for very long, unless the seller has them listed at the $40k+ price tag (and even then.....sometimes they move quick).
 
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Also had an 05 ram 6sp. Great truck, pulls everything, comfy, gearing felt right all the time. Later had an 05 auto ram and it's three speed suffered much when towing.

If the clutch is original plan on swapping it as the factory had some dual mass duhitchy that would come apart. I put a valair dual disc in my and it was great.
 
As a former 7.3/ZF6 truck owner, they're not without their issues. Glow plugs, glow plug relays, under valve cover harnesses, injector cups, hpop seals, turbo pedestal seals, vacuum hubs, etc. They just kind of got a good rep because there wasnt a big ticket item like LB7 injectors or 48re transmissions from the other two big players at the time. Upside, none of what I listed above is terrible to do in your own driveway/shop given some time. Finding one that isnt shitbeat and/or priced higher than giraffe snatch will be a bit of a challenge.

We have run a few of the V10 Fords of that era around the farm and I still have one. It wont break any land speed records but they take a beating and keep on going until the plugs go into orbit. (Currently on my list of winter shop projects).

The outlier of the group is finding an 8.1 equipped 2500/3500 Chevy. In that late 90's early 2000's era truck that is comfortable to drive but still plenty capable of towing.
 
shelby27604 said:
I own a Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab with the G56/Cummins combo, I have used it to haul 55hp tractors and various vehicles. I absolutely love this thing, meets all of your requirements (6.5' bed, plenty of room for 5, have had 7 in it before, but you need to be very familiar with the person that stradles the gear shifter).

If you can find an 06 (first year of the mega cab), it has no emissions equipment, and will be the last of the 5.9l, after 07.5 they switched to the 6.7l and added EGR. The DPF and DEF were added as time marched on. This generation has 3.73 gears stock, so pulling power is there, but I tend to run 70mph and under to keep the engine in the sweet spot, if you need to run 85mph up a mountain, be perpared to have it tacked up, or to regear.

You didn't mention budget, these can be found at a good price, but you gotta be ready to pull the trigger, they don't linger.

I have also towed with the last of the 7.3l Super Duty F250's with the ZF6, and I can say that would also meet your list (Full 4 doors and 6'+ bed). I know you can get a 6.0l with a manual, but I would steer clear....and duramax and ZF6's are super rare, and finding a true crew cab with 4wd will mean it is either beat to death or out of your budget. Those are my two recomendations given what you are looking for, be ready to buy, pre-emissions diesels with 3 pedals and 4wd do not stay posted for very long, unless the seller has them listed at the $40k+ price tag (and even then.....sometimes they move quick).
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Thanks for the input. I'm looking at $6k right now. If I dint find what im after in that budget, I may have to sell my truck and Wagoneer first. Im also fine with ugly and beat up, as long as it's mechanically solid.
 
awheelterd said:
4 door 2500 Chevy with 6.0/4l80.

Not what you "want" but what you need.
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Not a bad option. We've been happy with our yukon xl with the 6.2/6L80E for the most part. Admittedly, want factors into my choice. I don't buy vehicles often, and have wanted a diesel for a while.
 
JSJJ388 said:
Thanks for the input. I'm looking at $6k right now. If I dint find what im after in that budget, I may have to sell my truck and Wagoneer first. Im also fine with ugly and beat up, as long as it's mechanically solid.
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I think the diesel you would get for $6k would cost you another $6k in repairs in the first year if not the first month. You MIGHT be able to find a 1500/2500 Ram mega cab with a 5.7l hemi and an automatic that checks all of your other boxes though.
 
shelby27604 said:
I think the diesel you would get for $6k would cost you another $6k in repairs in the first year if not the first month. You MIGHT be able to find a 1500/2500 Ram mega cab with a 5.7l hemi and an automatic that checks all of your other boxes though.
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Think so? That seems to be the going rate for a turn of the century diesel farm type truck.
 

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I haven't been in the HD truck market for a while, but this looks like a deal to me....judging from the exhaust it will need more love than just the transfercase, but after 4 weeks on marketplace, I bet you can get it for a steal....lots of Ram 2500's being parted online, case and wiring can't be too bad $$ wise.
 
JSJJ388 said:
Think so? That seems to be the going rate for a turn of the century diesel farm type truck.
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4wd, Crew cab, diesel (pre-emissions) with a manual transmission...that is a very soght after combination.......the cheapest cummins with a straight drive I have seen lately was an 05 (4 doors, but more of an extended cab than crew), it was 2wd, had 450k miles on it and it was listed at $7k and didn't stay listed for more than a day.

I have seen a few decent regular cab trucks in 2wd in that price range. If you are finding these combos regularly in that price range.....let me know where you are shopping!
 
shelby27604 said:
4wd, Crew cab, diesel (pre-emissions) with a manual transmission...that is a very soght after combination.......the cheapest cummins with a straight drive I have seen lately was an 05 (4 doors, but more of an extended cab than crew), it was 2wd, had 450k miles on it and it was listed at $7k and didn't stay listed for more than a day.

I have seen a few decent regular cab trucks in 2wd in that price range. If you are finding these combos regularly in that price range.....let me know where you are shopping!
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Manual isn't a have to. I prefer a manual but if budget dictates an auto it's not an issue.

Marketplace. I'll gladly send you some links, after I buy lol :flipoff2:
 
IMO you're gonna want a Ford with a V10 or a GM product with a 6.0 or 8.1.
Old diesels will cost you a ton in the long run. You'll be looking down the barrel of a high mileage diesel that will likely have very costly fuel system, clutch/tranny issues, etc.
Buy a 3/4-1 ton gasser, let it eat and have a lower mileage truck this is cheaper to maintain and repair.
 
Jody Treadway said:
IMO you're gonna want a Ford with a V10 or a GM product with a 6.0 or 8.1.
Old diesels will cost you a ton in the long run. You'll be looking down the barrel of a high mileage diesel that will likely have very costly fuel system, clutch/tranny issues, etc.
Buy a 3/4-1 ton gasser, let it eat and have a lower mileage truck this is cheaper to maintain and repair.
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I'll take that into consideration. My thought was find an older truck that's mechanically solid but looks rough and rock on. Thanks for your input.
 
untchabl said:
Extended cab gas 2500/3500. Extended cab is less sought after so typically cheaper. Either GMT400 with 454 or GMT800 with 6.0 or if you're lucky and find one, an 8.1.
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Yea extended cab is fine.
 
Fwiw, these are a few that I was looking at.

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IMG_20251118_080752.jpg
IMG_20251118_135455.jpg
 
Hope you find a one owner unicorn that everybody and their brother hasn't owned and worked on before. Seems to be the problem for the trucks, era, and price point your looking to buy in.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
Hope you find a one owner unicorn that everybody and their brother hasn't owned and worked on before. Seems to be the problem for the trucks, era, and price point your looking to buy in.
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Very true.
 
i think everyone is right a Diesel isnt the answer for you at your price point.

I drive a diesel and aint no way in hell id buy one at that price point because something is wrong with it or at the end of its life because its been used and abused.

a mid 2000s ford v10 or chevy 6.0 or 8.1 is going to do everything you want easily. there are plenty of parts out there for them in a junk yard (aka cheap to fix)

This truck is going to be your work truck you dont want to get something thats always going to need work (costing you money twice, fixing it and missed money because it could preform)
 
Jody Treadway said:
IMO you're gonna want a Ford with a V10 or a GM product with a 6.0 or 8.1.
Old diesels will cost you a ton in the long run. You'll be looking down the barrel of a high mileage diesel that will likely have very costly fuel system, clutch/tranny issues, etc.
Buy a 3/4-1 ton gasser, let it eat and have a lower mileage truck this is cheaper to maintain and repair.
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I will agree with Jody on this having switched from a 6.4 powerstroke to the new 7.3 gas. The truth for me is newer diesel just don't make sense giving there maintenance schedule and added cost of fuel vs gas. True they don't make the tq numbers but they also don't shit the bed when the pump fails.

Eta: I have a 99 f250 with the 7.3 here at the shop and a new duramax... I would take the Ford over the chevy for the long run.
 
I love diesels. If I were in your shoes, I'd look for a 80's or 90's crewcab Ford or Chevy/GM with a manual and a gas v8 big block. You should be able to find a decent one in that price range. If you want a really nice 2017 Ram 5500 Crewcab with a blown motor and a dumpbed, I'll make you a deal ;) (but it's still gonna be about 4x your budget)
 
As much as I wanna say spend up for a mega cab G56 truck. (Slightly a Cummings fanboi)

I would say 8.1/allison 4 door and spend the money on gas and tires instead of high diesel repair bills.


FWIW I’m getting ready to drop $11k on a head gasket oopsie…… factor that into life fo sho….
 
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