jtrux
San Antonio, TX
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I bought my 1993 2500 4x4 with 454/NV4500 for 3500 bucks with 115k on the clock. Its super clean, has all the options that were available at the time and comfortable. I needed a heavier duty truck than my half ton Ford and I knew the history of this truck so it made sense. I've towed plenty with it already and I'm very satisfied but I will say that it really lacks some power once the elevation changes. Seeing as how I live in S. Texas I don't worry about it too much but I will agree that of you can afford the diesel its money well spent. Personally I didn't have 25k+ burning a whole in my pocket and didn't need it bad enough to go to the bank and finance it.
Several of my buddies have Cummins and have become huge snobs about it lol. They all give me hell about not buying a diesel and all that but there is just something cool about having a big block.
This was basically a useless post but to clarify, I'm not on one side or the other, buy what you can afford and what will do the job for you. If all you can afford is a used F250 with a 5.4 then by all means buy it but if you can afford the diesel I definitely won't talk trash about that either. If I lived in the mountains I would've found a way to get one but down here where its flat I just justify it.
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Proteus
Seattle
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In an SUV, its really no contest. The MB bluetec engine puts out an insane 455ft-lbs of torque from a mere 3L, and still gets 30mpg down the highway. The upcoming fiat diesel in the Jeep Grand Cherokee has similar performance. Not much point in a traditional big block V8 anymore. Big iron lost the horsepower war long ago, and with the new TDIs, torque isn't an issue either.
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phenrichs
Watertown, SD
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I can't wait to see in a year or two the real life reports for the new 1500 Dodge Diesel. I have been waiting years for someone to do this.
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RFOneWatt
Detroit, MI
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I just realized the other day (Maybe for the second time since I don't drive the truck very often) that my F250 doesn't have a redline on the tach.
Why not?!
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BlackSilver
East of Heaven, North of Hell
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RFOneWatt wrote:I just realized the other day (Maybe for the second time since I don't drive the truck very often) that my F250 doesn't have a redline on the tach.
Why not?!
Come to think of it my Chev doesn't either (I don't think).
My previous one had two red-lines, a low one (3500?) to observe when pulling, and another much higher one related to grade-braking.
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wolverine68
Alberta, Canada
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BlackSilver wrote:RFOneWatt wrote:I just realized the other day (Maybe for the second time since I don't drive the truck very often) that my F250 doesn't have a redline on the tach.
Why not?!
Come to think of it my Chev doesn't either (I don't think).
My previous one had two red-lines, a low one (3500?) to observe when pulling, and another much higher one related to grade-braking.
The two redlines that you're refering to have nothing to do with towing. The lower redline is for when you're on the throttle and the higher one(I think it's about 1250RPM higher) is while engine braking with no throttle.
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BlackSilver
East of Heaven, North of Hell
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wolverine68 wrote:BlackSilver wrote:RFOneWatt wrote:I just realized the other day (Maybe for the second time since I don't drive the truck very often) that my F250 doesn't have a redline on the tach.
Why not?!
Come to think of it my Chev doesn't either (I don't think).
My previous one had two red-lines, a low one (3500?) to observe when pulling, and another much higher one related to grade-braking.
The two redlines that you're refering to have nothing to do with towing. The lower redline is for when you're on the throttle and the higher one(I think it's about 1250RPM higher) is while engine braking with no throttle.
Doesn't matter to me. The truck is history.
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rhagfo
Portland, OR
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Took the Cummins to the coast, with family and the big dog. Got 20.6 mpg hand calculated for the round trip. Truck and passengers easy 8,000#.
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jevanb
michigan
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rhagfo wrote:Took the Cummins to the coast, with family and the big dog. Got 20.6 mpg hand calculated for the round trip. Truck and passengers easy 8,000#. that is nice, I see 22MPG empty and 12.5 towing 12.5K in the flats with mix hills, cant do that with a gasser, not with that much weight attached
* This post was
edited 08/05/13 07:07am by jevanb *
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Proteus
Seattle
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Just as a followup, I have to say diesel rocks, especially as an alternative to a "big block" v8. Massive torque allows not only for strong pulling uphill, but great engine braking downhill. Mileage while towing is great too. The turbo allows for full power at altitude. There really is no downside, other than initial expense.
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