HBarlow
Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
A great question, OP. You are on the right path. A lot of knowledgeable replies are here.
Excuse me while I step up on my soapbox. My first truck was in 1964 with an old used '55 GMC Suburban with factory original Pontiac V8 and a GM Hydramatic transmission. I bought a new Chevy long bed 1/2 ton in 1968 and a new '70 Chevy 2500 w/350 gas V8 then a '76 Ford F250 w/gas V8 which was the weakest, slowest engine ever built. Then I had a '94 Ford F250 w/gas 460 also slow and weak but a nice truck overall.
The first truck I ever loved was a new 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 dually w/Cummins HO 6speed. I put 325,000 miles on it as an RV transporter working out of Elkhart, IN. Next I owned an '06 Ram 3500 dually with MOPAR automatic then last, a 2008 Ram 3500 cab and chassis dually with 6 speed Aisin transmission. I put 235,000 miles on the '06 and, coincidentally, 228,000 on the '08 which I sold to friends back in Texas last fall.
To say that I am biased in favor of Dodge-Cummins trucks would be an understatement. My advice is simple, But a Dodge Ram 3500 srw with Cummins and Aisin.
The most common mistake made by new diesel truck owners is to buy a Class II (3/4 on) with a turbodiesel motor thinking they can haul or tow anything. They quickly learn they made an expensive mistake. A Class II diesel pickup with turbodiesel motor can pull anything a dually or 4500/5500 truck can pull but the 3/4 ton lacks the payload (carrying capacity) to carry much more than groceries.
Don't take my word for it, go snoop around dealer lots and study brochures for yourself. A typical 3/4 ton has a GVWR of 9900 lbs. A 4x4 pickup with diesel probably weighs 6500 - 7000 lbs with driver, passenger, full fuel tank, a spare wheel and tire, and a few tools. It does not have sufficient payload for a slide-in truck camper, the kingpin weight of a fifth wheel camper, or a gooseneck working trailer.
A single rear wheel one ton can go anywhere and park anywhere a 3/4 ton can go. The one ton will cost very little more than the 3/4. The one ton may ride a little stiffer but not much. The suspension of modern trucks is much improved over my last new one.
Diesel trucks are very expensive but if maintained they will run forever and resale value of one is many times greater than for used gas guzzler. There is simply no comparison between diesel and gas when you hang a big heavy camper or trailer on the back and start up a steep grade.
Unfortunately, 2021 is one of the worst years in the history of powerful turbodiesel engines in light trucks to buy one. The pandemic shutdowns followed by a worldwide shortage of semiconductor chips stopped truck production down for months. Dealers are going broke because they have nothing to sell but much of their overhead continues regardless. If a dealer even has a ruck you want they would be nuts to discount it when they are selling five cars per month. Now we have a senile fool in the White House causing record inflation which is increasing prices of everything we buy.
Can you wait for awhile, at least until production is restored? If not perhaps you can buy a clean used truck. Just steer clear of a truck that has been altered with a performance box, chip, or "desmogged."
Stepping down.
Excuse me while I step up on my soapbox. My first truck was in 1964 with an old used '55 GMC Suburban with factory original Pontiac V8 and a GM Hydramatic transmission. I bought a new Chevy long bed 1/2 ton in 1968 and a new '70 Chevy 2500 w/350 gas V8 then a '76 Ford F250 w/gas V8 which was the weakest, slowest engine ever built. Then I had a '94 Ford F250 w/gas 460 also slow and weak but a nice truck overall.
The first truck I ever loved was a new 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 dually w/Cummins HO 6speed. I put 325,000 miles on it as an RV transporter working out of Elkhart, IN. Next I owned an '06 Ram 3500 dually with MOPAR automatic then last, a 2008 Ram 3500 cab and chassis dually with 6 speed Aisin transmission. I put 235,000 miles on the '06 and, coincidentally, 228,000 on the '08 which I sold to friends back in Texas last fall.
To say that I am biased in favor of Dodge-Cummins trucks would be an understatement. My advice is simple, But a Dodge Ram 3500 srw with Cummins and Aisin.
The most common mistake made by new diesel truck owners is to buy a Class II (3/4 on) with a turbodiesel motor thinking they can haul or tow anything. They quickly learn they made an expensive mistake. A Class II diesel pickup with turbodiesel motor can pull anything a dually or 4500/5500 truck can pull but the 3/4 ton lacks the payload (carrying capacity) to carry much more than groceries.
Don't take my word for it, go snoop around dealer lots and study brochures for yourself. A typical 3/4 ton has a GVWR of 9900 lbs. A 4x4 pickup with diesel probably weighs 6500 - 7000 lbs with driver, passenger, full fuel tank, a spare wheel and tire, and a few tools. It does not have sufficient payload for a slide-in truck camper, the kingpin weight of a fifth wheel camper, or a gooseneck working trailer.
A single rear wheel one ton can go anywhere and park anywhere a 3/4 ton can go. The one ton will cost very little more than the 3/4. The one ton may ride a little stiffer but not much. The suspension of modern trucks is much improved over my last new one.
Diesel trucks are very expensive but if maintained they will run forever and resale value of one is many times greater than for used gas guzzler. There is simply no comparison between diesel and gas when you hang a big heavy camper or trailer on the back and start up a steep grade.
Unfortunately, 2021 is one of the worst years in the history of powerful turbodiesel engines in light trucks to buy one. The pandemic shutdowns followed by a worldwide shortage of semiconductor chips stopped truck production down for months. Dealers are going broke because they have nothing to sell but much of their overhead continues regardless. If a dealer even has a ruck you want they would be nuts to discount it when they are selling five cars per month. Now we have a senile fool in the White House causing record inflation which is increasing prices of everything we buy.
Can you wait for awhile, at least until production is restored? If not perhaps you can buy a clean used truck. Just steer clear of a truck that has been altered with a performance box, chip, or "desmogged."
Stepping down.
