What's the best US diesel pick-up out there?

Dottore · 01-06-2009, 12:12 PM

A buddy of mine is part owner of, and writer and photographer for, a European-based publisher of travel guides.

He's been given the wonderful task of spending an indefinite period time traveling around the US for their new series of regional US travel guides. He wants to buy a diesel-engined pick up truck, and enclose the box so that he can sleep there occasionally, when not in a motel.

He asked me what he should buy, and I thought I'd ask you.

He could be on the road for almost a year.

Any thoughts?

legion · 01-06-2009, 12:15 PM

I'm partial to the Chevies. Did Ford fix it's problems with its 6.X liter diesel?

Dottore · 01-06-2009, 12:31 PM

Is there some conventional wisdom out there about Cummins vs Allison vs Duramax?

Or is this all much the same? (I know less than zero about this)

vash · vash's Garage

ok, here is my take. doesnt sound like your buddy is going to tow anything, so i think that puts all three trucks on an even playing field. for him, it will need to be comfy and fuel efficient right? my bro had a ford, and now a chevy.. the ford had the most comfortable interior. the chevy seems quieter, as far as diesel noise. i test drove and almost bought a dodge. the ride is by far the roughest. keep in mind that all i seen and and drove have been 4x4 rigs. he couldnt possibly go wrong with any rig.

but if i had to pick, i would go chevy. quietest motor, plush suspension, middle of the pack when it comes to interior comfort.

Joe Ricard · Joe Ricard's Garage

New Gas Tundra make equal gas mileage to the Diesel and carrys or tows nearly as much. Pretty spiffy trucks and I imagne a tad less money than a nice F250 Lariat PSD.

Oh and Allison is a Transmission that goes behind the Duramax. Cummins and Ford have their own transmissions and can be the weak link of the truck. Makes vote for Chevy easy.

Paul K · Paul K's Garage

+1 for Chevy. Quiet & Comfortable, simple as that.

Dan J · 01-06-2009, 01:22 PM

Chevy all the way I have an 07 and just flat love that truck 40k on it now and not a single problem.Much quieter and better driving then Ford or Dodge. With the cruise on @ 70 it'll give you 21-22 mpg no problem. If he happens to buy a 2 car trailer and a couple of 911's while he's here it'll handle that fine too

Jim Sims · 01-06-2009, 01:27 PM

Why in the world does he want a diesel for this application? Does he know that diesel fuel is more expensive per gallon than gasoline in the US?

Dottore · 01-06-2009, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Sims

Why in the world does he want a diesel for this application? Does he know that diesel fuel is more expensive per gallon than gasoline in the US?

He wants diesel because he is from Europe and like the simplicity and torque. He also wants to spend a lot of his time in fairly remote places (including Alaska), and believes the diesel will be more reliable and give him better range etc.

Thanks for all of the replies.

The Silverado or GMC equivalent is what folks here have been recommending to me as well.

HardDrive · 01-06-2009, 02:18 PM

My father has 85,000 miles on his Ford F350. It has carried his Lance camper from day 1, and he takes it on nasty 2 track roads to get back to fishing sites all the time. He is a very pleased customer.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

We have three dodges with the cummins. Those trucks and motors are bulletproof. If I was buying I would go for a dodge. Plenty of torque and if you get an auto with 3:73 gears it will do 20+ on the highway.

Jim Sims · 01-06-2009, 02:47 PM

"simplicity"?!

A modern diesel engine ain't simple.

ednj · 01-06-2009, 02:53 PM

http://www.earthroamer.com/tab_xpedition_vehicles/xvlt1_overview.html

VINMAN · 01-06-2009, 03:40 PM

Dodge. But then again, I'm biased!

Ford would be my other choice.

This subject can have 100 different opinions. I agree that the Chevy (or GMC) is the best riding and most comfortable, but it depends exactly what you are looking far. I tow a 32ft 11,000lb boat/ trailer combo. My Dodge is a tank. I wouldn't trade it for anything, even a newer one. It dosent have the best ride but then again it's a truck, that what I bought it for. Not for a comfortable ride.

The main thing is, the newer diesels do not get great mileage like the older ones do. After '05 the MPGs went down on all of the diesels, thanks to the emission requirements.

Dottore · 01-06-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ednj

http://www.earthroamer.com/tab_xpedition_vehicles/xvlt1_overview.html

Gorgeous! That's got me thinking....

ednj · 01-06-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottore

Gorgeous! That's got me thinking....

Their JEEP is pretty cool too =
http://www.earthroamer.com/tab_xpedition_vehicles/xvjp1_overview.html

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche4life

those trucks and motors are bulletproof. If i was buying i would go for a dodge. .

+1

woodman · 01-06-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ednj

http://www.earthroamer.com/tab_xpedition_vehicles/xvlt1_overview.html

$200k+....right...

I love my 08 GMC Crew Cab Long Bed Duramax/Allison 6spd.
Highest quality car I've ever owned. Launches off the line like a rocket, hauls like a freight train. When I'm cruising 18-24mpg.

Plus people get outta my way

aigel · aigel's Garage

He will want to go with the 7.3 liter PSD in a Ford. F250 or F350. If he is thinking "camper shell", he should consider the diesel equipped Excursion. It retains the solid front and rear axles and leaf springs for superior towing and dirt road driving, but has a much smoother ride than the pick up version. A diesel Excursion will also be cheaper than the truck. The Excursion has a 42 gallon tank and gets about 18 mpg if you keep 65 mph or under on flat terrain. The Ford truck part availability will be phenomenal in any remote location, as they are popular with farmers, loggers etc.

George

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodman

$200k+....right...

I love my 08 GMC Crew Cab Long Bed Duramax/Allison 6spd.
Highest quality car I've ever owned. Launches off the line like a rocket, hauls like a freight train. When I'm cruising 18-24mpg.

Plus people get outta my way

That's one hell of a nice truck!

Actually all of them are really nice if he's talking about buying new or slightly used. They are crazy expensive new if loaded, (Fords are up to ~$60k top-of-line), but there are hefty discounts on everything these days.

If he's thinking used there are crazy deals on pristine trucks that are 2 or 3 years old and barely broken-in. I've always had Ford trucks but I'd own any of the 3 in a diesel HD truck. The Dodge has arguably the most bullet-proof and efficient motor but is slightly less truck body/interior-wise, IMO. Still pretty nice though. All of them are incredibly luxurious and comfortable as an over-the-road machine. I did 7k miles in my '99 F-250 4x4 Power Stroke from coast-to-coast in 2007, it was a relatively plain truck with some miles on it and still drove like a dream. There is nothing better than a diesel PU when you set the cruise and just eat up the miles. They ride like a dream.

A couple years ago I test drove all 3 back-to-back in loaded, 4x4 trim, brand new. All were excellent if slightly different but the Chevy won hands-down. The duramax+ 6-speed Allison is an absolute bullet. I can't for the life of me fathom why anyone would chip one of those, it was almost too fast. Amazing power train.

As for the gas vs. diesel, I think that gas engines are not nearly as well-suited for a PU truck. I just rented a new Dodge Ram with gas V-8 and it was a nice truck but you needed to step down hard to make power and just waste fuel. Plus the torque is not in the same league as a diesel. If money is a consideration, he could get a steal on a late model truck and sell it for the same price when he's done with it, or close. If $$ is no object, buy new but he will pay a lot of depreciation in the first year. Maybe $1k @ month or more.