Diesel Powered Pickups

Glenn F.

(15,000/14*$2.30*14%)+(10,000/10*$2.30*19%)=$782 year.

If you drive that truck for 10 years at 25,000 miles a year you will save $7,820 over that 10 years.

It cost approximately $3,000 to $6,000 more for a diesel. If you take $4,500 and invest it for 10 years you would have gained $1,547 in interest at 3% not to mention you don"t have to pay interest on the extra $4,500. Of course maybe some of us pay cash, but I cant afford to.

So if you keep a truck for 10 years you will save about $1,772 not including maintenance according to these very rought numbers.

Now let"s talk about towing. The numbers I used to compare above when I did it 2 years ago was between a 97 2500 chevy ext cab long bed with a 454 compared to a 97 250 ford ext cab long bed with a 7.3 diesel. The chevy will pull 14,000 lbs as easily as the ford. I can drive the speed limit on the freeway with that weight and not loose speed on the hills in Ohio and so can the ford. Not sure if you need to go faster than that.

If I was going to buy a truck right now, I would look for a 2003-2005 2500 chevy with the 8.1 and a 5 or 6 speed std trans. If you find one, they are fairly cheap. Look at the same exact truck with a duramax and compare prices.

I think that you will also find that maintenance is much higher price on the diesels. My friend found out. 14 quarts of oil, expensive oil filters, recomended to add lubricant to the fuel at about $6 per tank. Compare to spark plugs $2.50 each, wires at $40 and cap ???. These things last pretty easily at least 60,000 any more.

I don"t know which is right or wrong, but I went gas and am happy I did. Maybe if I was hauling 20,000 lbs several times a year I would have a diesel, but it would probably be an International for a Freightliner.

If you look at the late 90's and early 00's I have found that you will still pay a 3000 to $6000 premium for a diesel. Big blocks like the 454, 8.1 and the V-10's can sometimes be bought for a bargin because people don't like to buy gas for them.

The Ford IH engines were different. They were never offered in a light-truck. The engines came stock - with gear-drive in front (no timing chain like a 6.2 or 6.5), forged steel crank (GM uses cast iron), hard valve-seat inserts and rotators on all valves (GM has neither), etc. etc.
My 94 Ford F250 - with the last 7.3 turbo offered with IDI, does all I'll ever need to do - with a pickup truck. And . . . it's pretty easy work on, and parts are very cheap - as compared to parts for newer diesel trucks. I paid $3300 for it with 160K in 2003. I know, with care, the engine will last to at least 400K and probably more. I pull my 10,000 lb. gooseneck just fine - and I have no need to work a pickup any harder than that. With my figuring, my diesels have been very cost-effective - but yeah, I have to work on them. But, at least I can. Not so sure if I could if I had a new truck with a price-tag of more than I bought my farm for. I assume, since this is an antique engine and tractor forum - that some people still work on their own road vehicles as well as their tractors.

Every time I jump in that thing to go somewhere (which isn't very darned often), I think there must be something wrong with it. No power..... ..... .. :>)

Allan

I bet 15 out of 20 diesel pushers out there were bought because they thought it would be Cool to have a diesel pusher.

It hasn't changed in over 40yrs that I've been buying new vehicles, never buy the first couple years of any new model change. This has worked well for me with the least amount of head aches.

I bought a 02 F350 dually PSD that was in the 4th year new engine production. Not a problem one so far. The bottom line is that the diesel has saved me over 2/3 the fuel cost vs my old gasser and I have twice the power available.

I might have considered the 6.0 in 2006 but it would be shakie. Too early to tell about the 6.4

I would probably be looking at a Dodge if I was wanting to buy last year in 2006.

I don't buy used pick-ups as it's not cost effective for me. I also don't buy another new pick-up until my last one is ready for the junk yard or is no longer cost effective to make repairs.

T_Bone

I buy used. I'll never have another new truck at this point in life, not with all this bullschitt manufacturing

Clint