bulletproof diesel?

I purchased a 2015 brand new GMC Dually Denali last April. I had a previous Chevy Silverado 3500 2007 Classic. I drove them all (the big 3) and decided on the GMC after doing a ton of research. If I were buying a Ford, I believe I would opt for the F450. The new ones are a bit pricey, but you get a very nice truck. My GMC dually does everything I need it to do. It does have the higher bed rails so be careful when selecting a trailer.

Good luck,

Paul
 
Diesel power magazine has writeup on 2017 model year F-350.Complete new design.Going to aluminum body and boxing of rear frame should solve flex problems.Heavier driveline,bigger brakes also.Much more.Its the February issue.Jim
 
I am unsure of what 'flex problems' refers to--having an '09 and now a '10 450, have not had any issue with the flex problem. But any increase in frame strength, brakes and driveline should work to increase towing stability. But really worried about the increase in MSRP...
Joe
 
Current f350 has c channel frame in box section.Its flexing under heavy loads in box.I witnessed this.Local farmer was parked on side of hill and door gap changed till he parked on level ground.Yes he was overloaded.New box frame rails will be 1.5 inches taller and said to be 24 times stiffer than current model.
 
Ford dropped it (the 7.3) because Navistar (who was the manufacturer) was problematic with warranty claims. Ford took it in-house and now builds their own diesel which is 6.7 litres (409 cu in). Very innovative design and high tech and so far it has proven to have good longevity also. Cummings (Ram) and Isuzu (Chevy) are pretty good engines as well. I think it's really a matter of personal preference as all the newer engines seem to be over the issues that were generated by emissions requirements. I have a 2014 that is pretty sweet.
 
I have done some extensive searches on the Dodge Cummins in particular. The general consensus is that the Cummins is hands down the best pickup diesel out there. Even the Dodge owners all seem to prefer the Ford cab itself. I am not sure why I was so fixated on the Ford. Especially when my worst owned vehicle by a mile was a 1990 Ford Bronco II. What a money pit! I swore I would never by a Ford again. I guess all the F-150 being the most popular vehicle got me thinking that way. Besides much better reliability on the Cummins, what also stands out is the fact that the Cummins has its max torque at a much lower RPM where it is useful.
Thanks for all your input! Cheers, Paul

Cummins. No regrets, and you'll never look back. Cummins- Donald Trump. Ford diesel- Hilary Clinton. For God's sake- make the right choice! (This oughta get you guys going!)
 
OK---my Ford is a lot prettier than Clinton......you have really insulted all Ford owners.
 
You guys just ain't right. I have never been brand loyal. We now have new Durango, wife's wheels. Smart car for my commute. Freightliner for towing. Have owned a Ford but 150 gas, Chevy gas and diesel, all were/are good vehicles.
 
My son owns and operates an engine rebuild shop and a all around mechanical repair garage. And from what I see coming in for major or minor repairs are older higher milage vehicles that are out of warranty. May just be luck of the draw but the older 7.3PS that I've seen is some injector troubles. The 6.0PS head gaskets, injectors,a few engines. The duramax few head head gaskets, quite a few injectors for some reason, and some drive line problems mostly fr.diff. and transfer case. The 5.9 cummins maybe just by chance he doesn't see them. And one more that I've been impressed with is the 8100 chevy gas engine, I have saw a few of them with 300 + thousand miles no trouble and the ones I have driven run excellent. I personally tow with 5.9 cummins 2500 been well satisfied once I come to the conclusion that I just don't get the fuel milage that others do.
 
Have run a tuner for several years, wouldn't go back unless with a truck under warranty.
New trucks have so much power now, no need for one.
Joe
Can I ask what kind of tuners and how much weight and do you have any temperature issues
 
Truck weighs about 10200 loaded for long trips; trailer about 17400 = 27600gross.

Using an H&S MiniMaxx tuner, DPF/DOC deleted, EGR deactivated, 4" exhaust w/muffler. Temps are only a problem if I try to beat everyone to the top of the pass...the real benefit of the tuner is no more regens at the worst possible time, there is no "2-5 mpg" improvement in mileage that I can see.

These tuners WILL destroy an engine if run at highest level under load.

If I could afford a new truck, would not consider using one as all the new ones have plenty of power as built--trying to improve on them is mostly pointless, and the delete tuners are now a black-market item due to pressure by EPA.

Prepping for repeat of 2012 AK trip this June.

Joe
 
No doubt the Cummins 6.7 is a great 6 cyl engine, but Fords newest 6.7 8 cyl will outperform the Cummins in every performance category, except possibly fuel mileage. My problem with the Ram is the truck...not the engine.
None of these trucks are trouble free, especially with the DEF systems.
I'm on my second Ford 6.7, and I would not have bought a second one if I were not happy with the first one. More raw power than any passenger vehicle I've ever owned, including an SS396 a hundred years ago.
 
Joe, I agree with you 100%. I know of several Ford 6.0 engines that have well over 200k miles and still towing strong, but the owners did not put tuners and oversize tires on them and then see if they could plow through six feet deep mud every weekend. Those are usually the engines that don't hold up well. Could the 6.0 be improved? absolutely, but given decent care and maintenance, they do a good job. The 6.4 was a little tougher, but didn't get the best fuel mileage, due in part to the dual turbo arrangement where Ford was trying to get rid of the lag in turbo response time. They seemed to have gotten it right with the 6.7.
 
Diesel power magazine has writeup on 2017 model year F-350.Complete new design.Going to aluminum body and boxing of rear frame should solve flex problems.Heavier driveline,bigger brakes also.Much more.Its the February issue.Jim
I am on my 3rd F 350, my current is a '15 CC, LB, Dually.

This flex thing I find interesting in that I regularly haul 5500-6000 lbs in the bed of my truck, I drive Interstate to the back ranch roads here in Texas. Some of those times I am also pulling a trailer up to 10,000 lbs.

All I can say is: Flex, what flex, where, when and how 'cause I have yet to see it.

I grew up on a ranch here in Tx and I remember well the ONLY truck was a Chevy/GMC, anything else was driven by 'sharecroppers'.

Uncle Sam drafted me in Jan of '67 and I headed out across the world to make a living and get the hell off that ranch...40+ years later I am back and I needed a ranch truck. But by now I am a multi-displined Engineer and just maybe the Chevy/GMC of old is no longer an answer and the game I play is at the 350/3500 level.

Like the good engineer I am I researched and the following reflects a good six mo:

Chevy/GMC Dealers: Can we help you? Yep, show me you 3500, diesel, dually.............we can order you one! Fine, got a brochure? NO, got one on the lot? NO, know anyone who does, NO. Ended up finding a few 'white' trucks over on some of the big dealer commercial lots, but wife would not even get in it.

Dodge Dealer: They called around and found some at other dealers usually outside of town. I had a big Cummins engine in my RV (505 HP IIRC) and can say nothing bad about it, but the Dodge Cummins is not a commercial grade engine, its made for Dodge and while they seem good and I have friends who have them, they are not the million mile Cummins I had in that RV with 1750 lbs of torque to haul that thing around. Certainly not afraid of buying a Dodge with a Cummins...but one of the things I hate about Dodge is that like a Harley if I hear it I know its a Harley and that is NOT a bad sound, but that Cummins diesel in the tin can Dodge sounds like a cheap truck and the fit an finish really is, wife passed.

Ford Dealer: Well its Texas and yep, got Dually's in stock. The new (as of '11) Ford diesel, made by Ford is state of the art, while the rest are playing with Aluma and iron Ford has a better idea and its 'charcoal briquettes' they make into a block. Its QUIET! Wife loved the fit and finish, the paint (Tuxedo Black) may be one of the best looking paints on the market for anything vehicle. My '15 King Ranch is one hellava nice truck, seats like a Lazy Boy and with 860 lbs of torque, I can go from 0-100 mph faster than this ole Corvette driver can believe, WOW! I load almost 6000 lbs in the bed, throw on a 10,000 lb trailer and I drive the left lane of Interstate with cruise set on 80 mph on I 10 to El Paso...and see mpg in the 10's. The truck never breaks a sweat and if I need to pass, I can make folks eyes get real wide and I go around in a hurry.

So I am on my 3rd one and I trade about 50k miles, never an issue. I did have to reflash computer on my 14 right after I got it, but that was the computer and the software reload fixed it.

3 x F350 and I would buy another one without hesitation...
 

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