ascMcLaren Enthusiasts

Need some help guys. I am looking to buy a 4 door diesel truck (3/4 ton) tough enough to pull an enclosed 16-20 foot car hauler. Car hauler with vehicle is approximately 7 to 8 thousand pounds. I am a Ford guy but have heard horror stories about some of the turbo diesels. Looking for something quiet, dependable, good looking and comfortable that doesn't do too bad on the gas mileage. Please share some opinions on this, I will value them all. Just cant make up my mind on the Ford, Chevy or Dodge. Also this truck will be my everyday driver in addition to pulling the Mclaren to cars shows. Thanks in advance.

I'm a Ford Guy for sport cars but All CHEVY for Heavy Duty Trucks. Why you ask Fords Solid Axle in Frt is Tough if you are going off-road but @ 75,000 miles when the Ball joints give out and Takes Special tools and LOTs of seals to do it. Not for the do-it your selfer. The 4x4 have a $50.00 Air seal that takes a $500.00 tool to install right. Chevy Trucks have just been easier to work on. And will ride down the highway nicer. I could go on but. Oh ya Fords are now using 2 ya 2 Alternators That has to be a nightmare to figure out But if you want to lift it or do mods GO Ford.

Ford Chevy

I don't want a 4X4, just stock height. no mods planned at all. i also heard diesels are a lot more expensive for standard maintenance, but the price evens out with gas mileage. i do all of my own maintenance work but have never worked on a diesel so i will be reading up a lot when it comes to it.

the truck in this shot didnt break a sweat trying to pull this. the new ford trucks are so nice i dont see why you wouldent go with the ford. i think the best way to go is to test drive one of each.

I believe that the Chevy, GMC, Dodge & Ford are all equal. However, I have found that when the vehicle is out of original warrantee, that Ford is more willing to bend the rules to cover some (or more) of repairs done at a Ford Dealer, on the truck, when there is no warrantee left. They seem more willing to work with the consumer in the name of customer relations, than do the other 3. The Chevy/GMC have the best ride (most forgiving) while I like the looks of the Dodge the best as well as the high line (read: fancy) interiors. But over the long haul of ownership i'd give the Ford a 40% and the Dodge & Chevy/GMC each a 30%. They ALL cost what a decent house did in 1970. and the mark-up (read: profit) on them is less than what it was IN 1970 !

My friend has hauled a Promod drag car all over the east coast with all three brands, he says the 05 dodge 1 ton 4 door dually 2wd 6speed is by far the best. he tows a 38' fifth wheel. Good power, great mileage. He had a ford f550 with the western hauler package, he said that was a great truck too but it was hard on fuel.

Are you looking to buy new or used?

Buy the Ford, then the Dodge, then the Chevy/GMC. I think the superduty Fords hold their value better in comparison of the other two.

Also, think long and hard about going with the diesel. I'm not anti-diesel, I think they are great powerplants for what they are made for. Punch some numbers on your calculator in terms of the up-front costs of the diesel and the small difference in gas mileage. (In addition, diesel is the same price as gas in my area). I've watched the price for the diesel option rise steadily through the years, it has! used to be a 3k option and I think its over 5k now, isn't it? The number of years/number of miles you'd have to drive to have the Diesel pay for the upcharge over a gas is way long. I can't remember the number, but its a ridiculously high number.

Yes, I have a gas V10. It was a $300 option over the V8 when I bought my truck new in 2000. (no brainer IMO) And it tows a large cigarette boat with ease. Never had a problem on the highway or on the ramps. I have 174,000 on it and its still going strong. no problems. I've change the alternator, had the front ball joints replaced, and done the brakes twice on it. Thats it.

Yea, my opinion. Good Luck

All of this talk is making me miss my pickup.

new or used. great price and condition and I'd buy an '05 and up. Really like the f-250 and 350's. The lariat is super nice. just still not sure about the diesel although it seems everyone has a diesel these days. They couldn't be that expensive for maintenance.

A Fords diesel Oil change cost around $100.00 at the shops not sure about the GM


Ford's take 15 qts and a filter that runs ya $15.00-$25.00

A GM takes 10 qts and a filter runs ya $4.00-$10.00

Most people I know change the filter and oil every 3,000-7,000miles

You can figure the math.

The last time I did the math For a Diesel vs. Gas engine using oil change cost, MPG, cost of Fuel, Plus extra cost to buy the diesel engine. You needed to drive around 110,000 miles which for me was going to take close to 20years for it to pay for it's self. Oh ya that was about 6years ago and things where cheaper.

Wow. Didn't know the diesels took 3 times the oil the gas engines do. Cripes.

-Mike

plumkrazy wrote:A Fords diesel Oil change cost around $100.00 at the shops not sure about the GM
Ford's take 15 qts and a filter that runs ya $15.00-$25.00
A GM takes 10 qts and a filter runs ya $4.00-$10.00
Most people I know change the filter and oil every 3,000-7,000miles
You can figure the math.
The last time I did the math For a Diesel vs. Gas engine using oil change cost, MPG, cost of Fuel, Plus extra cost to buy the diesel engine. You needed to drive around 110,000 miles which for me was going to take close to 20years for it to pay for it's self. Oh ya that was about 6years ago and things where cheaper.

I didn't know that about the differences between a diesel and gas oil change. Learn something new everyday.....

About the number of miles needed to have the diesel pay for itself over the gas, I remember that mileage number being higher than that, like over 200,000.

Oh, and this mornings fuel prices: regular unleaded - $2.94 and diesel - $3.31.

that is what i heard regarding maintenance costs. A v-10 sounds like it would be more cost effective than a diesel. of course gas is always on the rise and diesel seems to always be higher or at the same price as the middle octane. big decision ahead...

plumkrazy wrote:A Fords diesel Oil change cost around $100.00 at the shops not sure about the GM


Ford's take 15 qts and a filter that runs ya $15.00-$25.00

A GM takes 10 qts and a filter runs ya $4.00-$10.00

humm most diesels should take 16 qts and up. we just had a ford in at the shop last week that took 16 qts. my boss is super cheap so we buy alot of stuff from autozone. so we orderd 16 qts from them and they sent over 3 gallons... 3 gallons 4 qts in a gallon you do the math! when we called them back they told us that the brand they sent comes 5 qts in a gallon. im no math whiz but i think a gallon is a gallon... no matter what its always going to be 4 qts. this is why you should not shop at autozone.

but anyways i cant see 4 gallons of diesel oil and a filter costing more then 50 bucks if you DIY... just make sure you buy an extra large oil drain pan. nothing worse then trying to fit 4 gallons of oil in a 5 qt pan