Looking to buy a full size truck
- Thread starter wonderfulremark
- Start date
Booner
Observer
I was in a similar position last year, 2008 Chevy 5.3 or a 2006 Dodge 5.9 turbodiesel. I went with the Dodge and I'm glad I did. The SBC is a great engine, but the Cummins diesel is amazing :sombrero:. BTW, Dodge trucks aren't near as bad as lots of people claim. Mine is quite nice, comfortable and rattle-free at 82K.
wonderfulremark
Observer
Thank you for your advice folks.
It really is a tough call.
The Chevy drives real nice, A TON of room in the cab. The interior is MUCH nicer in the Chevy.
The truck felt quite powerful with the 350 but that was driving with an empty load, I just don't know how well the 350 would do with a camper in the bed.
Fuel Mileage concerns me also.
People are saying 10MPG is your real world numbers with a 350 in a 3/4 ton truck.
Whereas the dodge will get you 15MPG to 20mpg on a real good day.
I know the CTD will last you forever, However, I worry about other parts of the truck.
Pushing 230k miles, lots of stuff WILL go wrong right?
Yikes I still don't know which route I should go with.. :S
I wish to start building this truck in a couple years but until then, I want this truck to be a reliable daily driver and weekend fishing machine.
I really wish I could stretch my budget.
It really is a tough call.
The Chevy drives real nice, A TON of room in the cab. The interior is MUCH nicer in the Chevy.
The truck felt quite powerful with the 350 but that was driving with an empty load, I just don't know how well the 350 would do with a camper in the bed.
Fuel Mileage concerns me also.
People are saying 10MPG is your real world numbers with a 350 in a 3/4 ton truck.
Whereas the dodge will get you 15MPG to 20mpg on a real good day.
I know the CTD will last you forever, However, I worry about other parts of the truck.
Pushing 230k miles, lots of stuff WILL go wrong right?
Yikes I still don't know which route I should go with.. :S
I wish to start building this truck in a couple years but until then, I want this truck to be a reliable daily driver and weekend fishing machine.
I really wish I could stretch my budget.
lstzephyr
wanderer
The beer pondering comment is the best recommendation I have ever read in one of these threads!
Personally I would pick the dodge but I am biased. For a small child I think I would consider a suv and a trailer though.
Buliwyf
Viking with a Hammer
Thank you for your advice folks.
It really is a tough call.
The Chevy drives real nice, A TON of room in the cab. The interior is MUCH nicer in the Chevy.
The truck felt quite powerful with the 350 but that was driving with an empty load, I just don't know how well the 350 would do with a camper in the bed.
Fuel Mileage concerns me also.
People are saying 10MPG is your real world numbers with a 350 in a 3/4 ton truck.
Whereas the dodge will get you 15MPG to 20mpg on a real good day.
I know the CTD will last you forever, However, I worry about other parts of the truck.
Pushing 230k miles, lots of stuff WILL go wrong right?
Yikes I still don't know which route I should go with.. :S
I wish to start building this truck in a couple years but until then, I want this truck to be a reliable daily driver and weekend fishing machine.
I really wish I could stretch my budget.
But all those things that go wrong from high mileage are easy to fix. Bearings, Brakes, tie rods, hubs, etc, are all shade tree gigs.
As long as the Dodge body isn't rusty swiss cheese (yet) and it has a manual, you should be ok. Most of the Dodge mechanicals are pretty fair.
Sure Dodge uses flimsy bearings, rods, etc. But those aren't a deal breaker when they're so easy to fix.
Besides, when all the Dodge stuff dissolves, you can allways plop that engine into a Ford! (The engines are Fords durability weak spot IMO)
High Country Hillbilly
Observer
Not sure you mentioned?
Are both trucks 4X4's? I'll agree with your last comment, the Chev interior of that era is likely the nicest of the big 3. I'm NOT a Chev guy, but drive a 1/2 ton Chev (2wd) for work. It has treated me quite well. (202K very little maint.) If your looking at 4X4's, I'm all about solid axles on a 3/4 ton or larger truck. Not a fan of the indepentent set-up! (yeah, I'll get hate mail over this one!)
As someone posted, the fit & finish of the Dodge during this era (IMHO) doesn't compare with Chevy or Ford. (more hate mail If the Dodge is a 4X with that mileage, the front end will need work. They tend to wander like a homeless goat at highway speed. (my brother has one...and yes Ive driven it). But motor wise, the early 12v Cummins is one stout costumer!
Wish you luck on your decision.
ps....real trucks have 3 pedals! (more hate mail
Hillbilly
Are both trucks 4X4's? I'll agree with your last comment, the Chev interior of that era is likely the nicest of the big 3. I'm NOT a Chev guy, but drive a 1/2 ton Chev (2wd) for work. It has treated me quite well. (202K very little maint.) If your looking at 4X4's, I'm all about solid axles on a 3/4 ton or larger truck. Not a fan of the indepentent set-up! (yeah, I'll get hate mail over this one!)
As someone posted, the fit & finish of the Dodge during this era (IMHO) doesn't compare with Chevy or Ford. (more hate mail
If the Dodge is a 4X with that mileage, the front end will need work. They tend to wander like a homeless goat at highway speed. (my brother has one...and yes Ive driven it). But motor wise, the early 12v Cummins is one stout costumer!Wish you luck on your decision.
ps....real trucks have 3 pedals! (more hate mail
Hillbilly
AbleGuy
Officious Intermeddler
Don't forget bed size
Had a 1989 Chevy LB, reg cab, 4wd, with the 350, hauled a 10 foot camper on it all over the NW, Canada, Yukon and Alaska, kept it for 11 years, still ran great when I sold it.
With Dodge, stick with the stick.....some early models with auto's had problems......could not handle the power of the Cummins (Google this to see which years had bad reps).
Big thing not getting talked about.......load capacity and load balance with hard side camper.....
Chevy, less load cap due to wt of crew cab.
Dodge, less load at due to wt of the Cummins.
Be careful with your load ratings.....really can't get all that much wt in a 3/4 ton, even with helper springs. You may be surprised to see how much wt you are carrying with people, dogs, camper, gear, fluids, etc.
Definitely recco helper springs or rear air bags at any rate.
Nother issue tho......LOAD BALANCE
Chevy short bed limits you to 8 foot camper and puts lots of wt too far back of best balance point (IMHO),
The eight foot bed is better for hauling camper....could easily go up to a 10 footer, again depending on GVWR, and gross cargo ratings
Had a 1989 Chevy LB, reg cab, 4wd, with the 350, hauled a 10 foot camper on it all over the NW, Canada, Yukon and Alaska, kept it for 11 years, still ran great when I sold it.
With Dodge, stick with the stick.....some early models with auto's had problems......could not handle the power of the Cummins (Google this to see which years had bad reps).
Big thing not getting talked about.......load capacity and load balance with hard side camper.....
Chevy, less load cap due to wt of crew cab.
Dodge, less load at due to wt of the Cummins.
Be careful with your load ratings.....really can't get all that much wt in a 3/4 ton, even with helper springs. You may be surprised to see how much wt you are carrying with people, dogs, camper, gear, fluids, etc.
Definitely recco helper springs or rear air bags at any rate.
Nother issue tho......LOAD BALANCE
Chevy short bed limits you to 8 foot camper and puts lots of wt too far back of best balance point (IMHO),
The eight foot bed is better for hauling camper....could easily go up to a 10 footer, again depending on GVWR, and gross cargo ratings
chilliwak
Expedition Leader
Because my wife is much softer to snuggle with.
Yes, but is she as reliable as a Cummins?
chilliwak
Expedition Leader
Not sure where you are from, but around here (alberta) for a little more $ you could be looking at a 2500 with 6.0 which is a much better match for the platform. When we bought ours, we did the research and could not find anyone who was unhappy with this motor. A year since purchase I would have to agree. We looked at diesels but the difference in price and maintenance costs = a whole lot of gas. Regardless if you like the chev, I would go newer.
ExpoMike
Well-known member
So far... :ylsmoke:
chilliwak
Expedition Leader
Glad to hear that Mike!:Wow1: Thats a positive sign!:ylsmoke:
