McIntraveler
WI
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Joined: 07/04/2014
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I'm getting close to having to buy something. I notified my employer last month that I'm retiring next year. It looks more and more like a full-time thing for a few years is coming. So I've been researching trucks. Man...
I had an '03 F250 7.3 that pulled a 24' FW. Before that I had a '96 460 F250 that pulled 2 snowmobiles. Comparing those 2 trucks, even given the difference between what they pulled, the diesel was the best hauler hands down. But my how times have changed.
I don't really want an older truck, I want a new/newer truck. We're planning to get a FW in the 30' range weighing 10-12k loaded. And I won't be pulling up the Rockies every day, either. That said, I'd prefer a diesel because they are indeed excellent haulers but also I'd have the option of switching to a large trailer without re-powering. But then -
DPF filters
HPFP
injectors
tuners
add on filters
head bolts
head gaskets
bad fuel
turbos
crankshafts
dropped valves
And on and on and on...
Reading the information out there, it almost seems certain that modern diesels give big, expensive problems no matter who makes it. For the price of these things we should be able to buy it, get in and drive it and do scheduled maintenance and be done with it. But it seems not so. Right now, I'm beginning to hope that modern gassers properly geared tow better than my old '96 did. These new diesels worry me. Maybe I should revisit the idea of having a park model in an RV resort and be done with it. I grow weary reading and worrying about all the problems that crop up.
2016 Grand Design 317RST
2016 Ram Laramie 4x4, CC, LB, DRW, CTD, AISIN, 3.42.
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JnJnKatiebug
NW Arkansas River Valley
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Joined: 10/14/2009
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dirtydan57 wrote:I'm getting close to having to buy something. I notified my employer last month that I'm retiring next year. It looks more and more like a full-time thing for a few years is coming. So I've been researching trucks. Man...
I had an '03 F250 7.3 that pulled a 24' FW. Before that I had a '96 460 F250 that pulled 2 snowmobiles. Comparing those 2 trucks, even given the difference between what they pulled, the diesel was the best hauler hands down. But my how times have changed.
I don't really want an older truck, I want a new/newer truck. We're planning to get a FW in the 30' range weighing 10-12k loaded. And I won't be pulling up the Rockies every day, either. That said, I'd prefer a diesel because they are indeed excellent haulers but also I'd have the option of switching to a large trailer without re-powering. But then -
DPF filters
HPFP
injectors
tuners
add on filters
head bolts
head gaskets
bad fuel
turbos
crankshafts
dropped valves
And on and on and on...
Reading the information out there, it almost seems certain that modern diesels give big, expensive problems no matter who makes it. For the price of these things we should be able to buy it, get in and drive it and do scheduled maintenance and be done with it. But it seems not so. Right now, I'm beginning to hope that modern gassers properly geared tow better than my old '96 did. These new diesels worry me. Maybe I should revisit the idea of having a park model in an RV resort and be done with it. I grow weary reading and worrying about all the problems that crop up.
I plan on retiring in 2020. Our plan is a new truck and a new fifth wheel. I want a diesel for sure. I am thinking new on each and the longest extended warranty we can get on both. Hopefully that will give us several years of travel with a fixed cost.
2016 Chevy Tahoe
2017 Flagstaff 26FKWS
(Picture in profile)
"The best things in life are the people you love, the places you've seen,
and the memories you've made along the way".
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rhagfo
Portland, OR
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JnJnKatiebug wrote:
I plan on retiring in 2020. Our plan is a new truck and a new fifth wheel. I want a diesel for sure. I am thinking new on each and the longest extended warranty we can get on both. Hopefully that will give us several years of travel with a fixed cost.
That or find an early 2007 Ram 3500 one owner in great shape and low miles. Very light EPA stuff, a 325 HP 5.9 will move a 12,000# 5er just fine.
I do it with an 2001!
Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#
"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"
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1stgenfarmboy
Southern tip of ILL
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Joined: 02/14/2011
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Russ! ! ! keep lots of nice clean fuel supplied to your VP44 pump and you need a fuel pressure gauge if you don't have one, and you mite get a few more miles out of it, I have owned 3 VP44 pump trucks and that is the first weak link.
I'm sure buy now you have broken the 300k mark.
* This post was
edited 11/04/16 02:06pm by 1stgenfarmboy *
1993 Dodge W350 Cummins with all the goodies
2014 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn 2wd 395hp
2017 Forest River Surveyor 243 RBS
2001 Super Sherpa & 2012 DL650A go along also
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1stgenfarmboy
Southern tip of ILL
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If I was going to buy a diesel truck with hopes of little to no problems, it would be a 94-98.5 12v NV4500 trans, almost no electronics are needed for the engine, and the trans ( as long as the 5th gear nut has been addressed and you keep the fluid clean ) will keep shifting even when some things wear out,
I have been pretty deep in the diesel world ( dodge mostly ) for the last 15 years in performance and personal trucks as well...heck my truck is 1st gen on the home page of cummins forum, I have driven most of them and worked on most of them, the sweet spot is a Dodge 98 12v cummins 5spd, sure some of the others have better frames, interior, looks, what ever, but for reliabity and if you do need something the parts are everywhere and not real expensive.
If you can get past the fact the truck is 18 years old, look for a low milage southern truck.
I should add I am a chevy guy and love the looks and fit and finish as well as the duramax/allison team, but the reliablility is not there and the parts are astromonical in cost.
Dar
* This post was
edited 11/04/16 02:19pm by 1stgenfarmboy *
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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Joined: 06/03/2012
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"the sweet spot is a Dodge 98 12v cummins 5spd"
I have one that the 5th gear nut was fixed. It has about 353,000 regional miles. Runs great.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"
"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600
2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable
2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD
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bbaker2001
stockton
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Joined: 05/26/2010
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I have a friend who has to give up traveling
he has a 2001 ram 2500
5.9 loaded
booster module
long wheel base
gauges
248000 miles
2wheel drive
he asked if I had any idea what it is worth
BB from California
2015 Ram 3500
2001 Cardinal
best friend is my wife ">
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Cummins12V98
on the road
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Joined: 06/03/2012
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bbaker2001 wrote:I have a friend who has to give up traveling
he has a 2001 ram 2500
5.9 loaded
booster module
long wheel base
gauges
248000 miles
2wheel drive
he asked if I had any idea what it is worth
Around 10K
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RPreeb
Colorado
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Joined: 10/27/2016
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I live at 4200 feet in NE Colorado, and tow over 11000 to 12000 foot passes. I'm not the least bit concerned that I'm not driving a diesel. My F-150 3.5 EB 4x4 does just fine. I don't haul a 30 foot, 8000+ lb TT though. My 24 footer is a nice compact 4250 dry (5500 max).
I love my gasser and have no interest in changing it for anything else. The more I read from you diesel "experts", the more convinced I am that I'm where I should be.
Rick
2016 F-150 XLT 4x4 3.5 EB
2017 Jay Feather X213
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FishOnOne
The Great State of Texas
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Joined: 02/12/2011
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Cummins12V98 wrote:"the sweet spot is a Dodge 98 12v cummins 5spd"
I have one that the 5th gear nut was fixed. It has about 353,000 regional miles. Runs great.
Agreed.... I would also include the 7.3 PSD with the auto transmission in the Super Duty platform.
'12 Ford Super Duty FX4 ELD CC 6.7 PSD 400HP 800ft/lbs "270k Miles"
'16 Sprinter 319MKS "Wide Body"
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