Looking to buy a full size truck

[wonderfulremark]

I believe, this is the first thread I've created.

I knew I had to stop lurking at some point.

Previously, my go to expo/fishing mobile was a 92 Jeep XJ. As soon as I put brand new 31" BFG AT's, it was stolen from my drive way for a joy ride and she turned up nicely baked up on a logging road. :chef:

Having been slightly ripped off with the settlement from my insurer, I am on a hunt for my next vehicle.


I am thinking of buying a full size truck and eventually getting a hard side camper that will lead me to go on more road trips.



I've narrowed down to 2 vehicles.

$7,000
1999 Chevy 2500 with a 350 and auto tranny
Crew cab short box.
245,xxx km
Very well maintained.


and the other is,

$6500.00
1997 Dodge 2500 12v Cummins 5spd
Club Cab, reg box
366,xxx km(that's 228000ish miles)
pretty well maintained(according to the seller)

My heart tells me Cummins, reason being:
1. It's Cummins
2. diesel is better than gas. (better mpg)
3. It's Cummins
Though there are so many up sides for buying the Dodge,
with a 1yr old baby girl and the wife, I don't know if this truck is big enough for me?
How reliable is the 5spd tranny?

But the chevy, i know for sure it's been well taken care of but I don't know if i'd be 100% happy with this one.
Though the chevy doesn't have a diesel motor, it's got its edge over the dodge:
1. full size 4 doors. This truck would fit 5 adults comfortably.
2. 350 is a pretty motor
3. Automatic ( I know driving stick is the "cool" thing, but doing the stick gets old real quick, at least for me)
4. But it's not cummins...........(?)


Both drive quite nicely.

I've got a couple questions for you guys though.

To Cummins(The motor comes with the truck right..?) extracab Owners,
Is there enough room in the cab to store gears?? this would include fishing rods and waders.

To Chevy owners,
With the 350, what mpg should I expect?


I need some help choosing my next vehicle.

Thanks for reading.

 

[wonderfulremark]

One forgotten question, is that too many km's on the dodge?

 

[Spencinator]

Well since I own a Cummins, Im gonna say cummins but Ill give you my opinion on your situation.

Chevy
12-14mpg at best
More room then dodge
Engine rebuilds probably every 150k to maintain healthy power and efficiency


Dodge
18-22mpg regular
Less room then Chevy
No engine rebuilds

As far as mileage goes if the chevy hasn't had a rebuild, its probably losing power. My cummins has 179,000 miles and my friends cummins has 260,000 miles and they both run very well. If both are maintained they will last but a cummins will outlast any truck its in.

My Dodge is a single cab and I like the challenge of using the space to the most efficiency. When we go camping its me, the girlfriend and our 75lbs boxer Molly in the cab and our gear behind the seat and in the bed of the truck. We also sleep in the back of the truck, very comfortably I might add. Not sure of your situation but Id say you'd be able to pull it off with a extended cab long bed dodge if its you, the wife and your little one. There is another member on here currently traveling Peru in his ext. cab dodge short bed with a pop up camper. Its him, his wife and his young daughter. The only problem with the 5 speed is the 5th gear nut backs off. The fix is to weld it on so it doesn't back off. Sometimes they back off, sometimes they don't.

With that being said, test drive each one and see what you like. I have a auto but would rather have the 5 speed. Good luck with your decision and post pictures with what you buy!!

 

[chilliwak]

Wonderfull, the question is really about room. They are both good trucks. Do you need most of the room in the cab? Then buy the Chevy. If you need a long box, buy the Dodge. I am a Chevy man, but I love a Cummins. Most guys I know would rather sleep with their Cummins than with their wife, so that might be an issue you want to check out.:Wow1: The high mileage on the Dodge is not a problem as long as it was properly maintained.:ylsmoke:

 

[redthies]

Dodge. No question. The only issue will be back seat access. A '97 won't have four doors. Your one year old will not harass you for the slightly smaller space. The main difference to me, is after 5 years of driving the Cummins, it will still be worth what you paid, and easy to sell, whereas the Chev will be worthless, and not as easy to sell.

 

[Buliwyf]

I'd get the Dodge as it'll be the more durable and reliable truck IME.

The 12v 6BT5.9 is a sweet girl of an engine. But it's a FAT girl, a tall fat girl. That hurts the truck offroad. The manual transmission is the best way to choose an old Dodge. I won't touch an old Dodge with an Auto. Just find a way to keep your gear in the bed, not the cab.

Since it sounds like you're in the land of bagged milk, I'd look at some of the many Fords up there as well.

 

[ExpoMike]

I'm a Chevy man and have owned a number of trucks over the years. When it came time for a HD truck for putting a FWC camper on it, I was only looking at Dodge club cabs with a Cummins. I found our '97 and am very happy with it. It hauls the FWC no problem and I even towed a '65 Chevy C10 panel home with the camper on. It hardly even noticed the extra 7,000 lbs. behind it and still pulled 15 mpg.

If you are considering a hard side camper, without question, the Dodge. The Chevy 350 gas engines are a great engine and I have had a ton of them over the years but when you start loading things up, there is NO comparision to the Cummins. Even with my rig sitting right around 8,500 lbs, bone stock engine and trans, I still can walk away from most people at red lights.

Only downside I can see is having a baby, if you are going to put her car seat in the back, with '97 and earlier not having an opening access door to the back, it will make getting her buckled in a little harder. For us, it's only the wife and the dog so the dog gets the whole back area.

Hard choice and good luck. Sorry to hear about the XJ. Great rigs and we just sold ours about a month ago after a great 5 years of ownership.

 

[locrwln]

Does the Dodge have the suicide doors for the extended cab? My buddies '97 12v, 5spd has the access doors on his ex-cab, which makes all the difference. If not, then I would pass. Too hard to get anything in and out of the "2" door ex-cab trucks.

Jack

 

[Flagster]

I'm a toyota guy but "inherited" a 2000 GMC 3500 classic with the 350 auto...
I am acutually surprised by the mileage...engine is a bit of a dog off the line but has great power in 2nd and 3rd with some RPMs...and I get around 15mpg unloaded hwy...around 13 in town...I was surprised b/c my 2005 tacoma only gets around 17...
Mine did have a new crate engine at 134,000...now has 157,000

 

[Rot Box]

I would take the Dodge in every way shape and form over the GM except for one thing--the four doors. I'm done with car seats, small children and two door/extended cabs its just too big of a pain for me especially when you're out exploring making many stops checking out sights along the way.

Does the Dodge have the suicide doors for the extended cab?
Jack

98-02 were the only years of this body style that used the small rear door or "quad cab". That being said early 98 was the only year (1/2 year) that a 12 valve Cummins had that option so it is pretty much the Holy Grail of 2nd gen Dodges.

 

[chilliwak]

Ok you Dodge lovers, why dont you go sleep with your Cummins?:Wow1:

 

[ExpoMike]

Ok you Dodge lovers, why dont you go sleep with your Cummins?:Wow1:

Because my wife is much softer to snuggle with.

 

[locrwln]

98-02 were the only years of this body style that used the small rear door or "quad cab". That being said early 98 was the only year (1/2 year) that a 12 valve Cummins had that option so it is pretty much the Holy Grail of 2nd gen Dodges.

I knew it was something like that, his is the early '98, 12v, 5spd with the "4" doors. And he does know what he has, because I have told him several times, plus he got the truck from his dad, who bought it brand new, so he knows everything about it.

Jack

 

[Cole]

I'd find a 1998+ club cab Dodge for a kid and storing gear in the back. The extra doors make all the difference.

How much do you drive and tow?

The extra mpg of the diesel ore offset by the cost of diesel fuel, the premium price of the truck and the extra cost of mainenence.

If you are not towing 10,000+ lbs on a regular basis you might save a boatload of cash getting a gasser.

For example. A v10 Dodge 2500 has all the identical running gear as the Cummins. I the years you are looking at the V10 had more power than a stock Cummins. Sure it gets 10mpg but 10mpg of much cheaper fuel, lower maint costs and the price of the truck will be 1/4-1/3 that of the same truck with diesel.


Depending on how much you drive it could take you a decade to make up the difference in fuel cost to justify the purchase of the Diesel and maintain it. Just a thought.

 

[WCO]

I've owned both.....It truely depends on what you want inside. The 350 is a great motor, with parts EVERYWHERE and for cheap. I've gotten over 250,000 mi to a couple 350's before rebuild. I had a club cab dodge with the rear suicide doors, and the back was still useless for anything other than the dog and some gear (maybe a child for their first few years) A true crew cab is very nice, espeically when taking long trips with firends and family.

The chevy's down sides are less ground clearance, and the obvious, no cummins. I sold my cummins at 265000 mi, and it was running fantastically with +HP over stock. The truck is still running with over 380,000 on it now. Dodge interior and body fit and finish is terrible, but that might not be a bother to you (but maybe the wife). As someone else stated, resale value will be held by the cummins, but not by the chevy. IMO if you are not buying a vehicle worth more than 10-15K, resale value is negligable. The NV4500 (5spd on the cummins) is a great tranny, with very little maintenance. Which auto does the chevy have? They go bad, expect it.

For a family oriented expo rig, the chevy sounds like a fair bet to me. But you still can't go wrong with the cummins and would be kicking yourself for not having bought it if you don't.....but if you do, you'll be kicking yourself for not getting a crew cab......:Wow1:

No I'm unsure of what my thoughts are.....I'm going to go ponder your predicament over a beer