If your set on ford's. Stay away from anything with a 6.4 or 6.0 powerstroke. Horribly expensive to maintain. The old 7.3 powerstrokes are good. 7.3 idi better in a way. I was a mechanic for 12yrs. In my opinion you'd be best served by something 5 or 6spd manual with a 12valve cummins. We have a 1996 12 valve 5 spd f700. Not fast but it gets the job done and gets around 10mpg loaded.
New member dump truck advice...
What's up fellas. I run a small-medium sized operation in the Seattle area (Bainbridge Island for those from around here) and am looking to buy our first landscape dump truck. Been running around with a larger dump trailer, but for those who know the area accessibility/maneuverability can be tricky; especially with a long bed 250. Looking for something newer (60k-70k) range. Been seeing some F450/550s I like. Just started my research. Anything is appreciated.
P.S. I'm sure this topic has been beaten to death, but it was the first thing that came to mind. Need to hit those 10 posts!
P.S. I'm sure this topic has been beaten to death, but it was the first thing that came to mind. Need to hit those 10 posts!
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All the newer trucks suffer from ongoing emissions system bugs (and catalytic converter thieves). Check engine lights are a frequent occurrence with the Rams.
The inline-6 Cummins is the best engine, but the Ford truck and dealer network is superior.
If you could buy a Ford F-550 with the Ram's Cummins 6.7 and GM's Allison 1000 Series transmission, you'd have a truck.
The inline-6 Cummins is the best engine, but the Ford truck and dealer network is superior.
If you could buy a Ford F-550 with the Ram's Cummins 6.7 and GM's Allison 1000 Series transmission, you'd have a truck.
I'm assuming Washington does emmisions testing? If so I would never buy anything newer than 2005 in a diesel. Dpf egr scr systems are highly expensive and if your state does emmisions testing you can't even delete them. If your looking at a gasser. Ford's 6.8l v10 is sturdy as is there older 460 big block gasser v8. Gms older 6.0s before the cylinder deactivation crap are good. As is 454. I would never own another dodge unless I had a cummins. Chrysler has to many problems. That being said last year I worked on a dodge 3500 dually with over 830k miles on original cummins.
if you don't need 4x4 isuzu is about the best for normal landscape operations. gassers are the way to go now. we have several gas isuzus (its a chevy v8) and one f550 with the 7.3 gas. the ford is a monster but for non-towing the isuzus due the bulk of our work.
Would a dump insert work? What are you planning to haul/dump?
Too much blue oval talk in this thread for me. Wouldn’t own a blue oval if you gave me one. Cheap junk, from the motor to the body and everything in between.
The problem with dump inserts is their weight takes so much away from the load capacity.Would a dump insert work? What are you planning to haul/dump?
On today's pickup trucks, the load capacity is less than they used to be in, for example, the 1990's.
The 6.7 Powerstroke was designed by AVL in Austria, one of the world's finest contract engineering firms. I know them well. Ford spec'd a V8 though, just as Isuzu and GM created a V8 Duramax, because they felt Americans prefer a V8 to an inline-6. I myself don't think it mattered. I will say, by it's very nature, the internal stress forces, an inline diesel will generally outlast a V8.Too much blue oval talk in this thread for me. Wouldn’t own a blue oval if you gave me one. Cheap junk, from the motor to the body and everything in between.
Chevrolet/GMC is a distant third, not worthy of consideration.
Dodge (aka Ram) has the nicest interior and overall execution, but the thirstiest gasoline engines. But customer feedback suggests Dodge owners are not pleased with dealer warranty repair execution.
Isuzu is the best value play amongst the Japanese light truck brands. But they're not cheap, and neither are spare parts. If I was driving the truck myself, then I might go that route.if you don't need 4x4 isuzu is about the best for normal landscape operations. gassers are the way to go now. we have several gas isuzus (its a chevy v8) and one f550 with the 7.3 gas. the ford is a monster but for non-towing the isuzus due the bulk of our work.
WrongOn today's pickup trucks, the load capacity is less than they used to be in, for example, the 1990's.
🙄🙄🙄The 6.7 Powerstroke was designed by AVL in Austria, one of the world's finest contract engineering firms. I know them well. Ford spec's a V8 though, just as Isuzu and GM created a V8 Duramax, because they felt Americans prefer a V8 to an inline-6. I myself don't think it mattered. I will say, by it's very nature, the internal stress forces, an inline diesel will generally outlast a V8.
Chevrolet/GMC is a distant third, not worthy of consideration.
Dodge (aka Ram) has the nicest interior and overall execution, but the thirstiest gasoline engines. And customer feedback suggests they are not pleased with dealer warranty repair execution.
Gettin deep.
Inline engines are far superior. No matter gas or diesel. I think gm make the best overall pickup sized gasser work truck. (I don't like modern duramaxes) I think Ford has best medium duty bodies. Like f700 vs gm top kick. As far as the 6.7 powerstroke I've not gotten to deep in one but anything with a plastic drain plug I'll pass on. And if the Europeans designed the 6.7 I'll double pass on it. Ever worked on a BMW or audi or jaguar? Absolutely disgusting engineering
To op. Keep in mind. On the modern pickup sized diesels. Expesially ford's. You have to pull the cab off the frame for any major engine repairs.=not fun
🙄🙄I don't like modern duramaxes
You sound young. Early 30’s?
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Ford has best medium duty bodies. Like f700 vs gm top kick.
Ford is the only one cab removal is possibly necessary. It’s definite easier, but not necessarily required. You can do a lot more with the cab on than the book says.To op. Keep in mind. On the modern pickup sized diesels. Expesially ford's. You have to pull the cab off the frame for any major engine repairs.=not fun
Yet another reason not to own one.
Yes. 33. Was a mechanic for 10 yrs.meduim duty Diesel for most of those. (Schoolbus)Trust me I've blindly torched rusted turbo bolts to get them to come loose on 7.3 piwestrokes with the cabs on. Ive had to pull the fronts off of van style busses for waterpumps on 6.0 powestrokes. I have used cummins insight to trick ecms into thinking they just freshly regened. When in reality the dpf doc went bye bye. I do not like duramax at all. I did like the old-school ****box Detroit 6.5s. In my oipinion mechanical injection is tge only way a diesel should be made. Ecm controlled is nothing but gov. bs. 24valves are good. Keep fuel pumps and crank position sensors on hand and itll rin forever. 12valve and 7.3 idi are my personal favorite
I’ve been a tech more than twice as long as you have. Owned my own shop for 15 years. Heavy equipment and automotive. Worked for Case IH before that. Quit that and started a new business. I know all about diesels. I worked on 6.5’s when they were still in production. Own two now. Junk. Duramax is 1000x better. Own one of those too.Yes. 33. Was a mechanic for 10 yrs.meduim duty Diesel for most of those. (Schoolbus)Trust me I've blindly torched rusted turbo bolts to get them to come loose on 7.3 piwestrokes with the cabs on. Ive had to pull the fronts off of van style busses for waterpumps on 6.0 powestrokes. I have used cummins insight to trick ecms into thinking they just freshly regened. When in reality the dpf doc went bye bye. I do not like duramax at all. I did like the old-school ****box Detroit 6.5s. In my oipinion mechanical injection is tge only way a diesel should be made. Ecm controlled is nothing but gov. bs. 24valves are good. Keep fuel pumps and crank position sensors on hand and itll rin forever. 12valve and 7.3 idi are my personal favorite
Just my opinions sir. I would personally never own a duramax or a 6.0 or 6.4 powestroke. Just to much damn money to fix.
The advice I gave is from my experiences. You have more and differing experience. That's great! Maybe op can use your knowledge. I was just sharing what I know. I like ford medium duty bodies. I like gasser chevys as overal good work truck. I like manual transmissions and I prefer mechanical injected diesels.I’ve been a tech more than twice as long as you have. Owned my own shop for 15 years. Heavy equipment and automotive. Worked for Case IH before that. Quit that and started a new business. I know all about diesels. I worked on 6.5’s when they were still in production. Own two now. Junk. Duramax is 1000x better. Own one of those too.
Mechanical injected diesels are so much less efficient by far. Mechanical is easier to work on sure, but you can’t pull the power out of these smaller engines with mechanical injection. 6.6 liters is tiny in diesel motors. But 450-500 hp coming out of them. The old 6.5’s….. a pitiful 200 on the high end. Honestly they were just a higher torque 400 gas with better economy. That’s about it. 454 walked all over them. (I drive one of those too. And with a standard trans.)
Manual transmissions are good. I prefer them too. Had a CDL since I was 19. Been driving “stick” a long time. But most people can’t. And automatic transmissions aren’t like the days gone by. Do you rebuild them? Ever been all the way through a 68RFE? 1000 series Allison? Not even comparable to the old transmissions.
It’s nice to see a younger guy give homage to old mechanical diesels and standard transmissions. I like those too, but to anyone who doesn’t work on them, they’re obsolete. Shoot they’re obsolete period.
We could argue Ford vs anyone forever. I’ll put my 25+ years as a tech up to say I won’t own them or recommend them, and thank God I don’t have to work on them anymore.
Manual transmissions are good. I prefer them too. Had a CDL since I was 19. Been driving “stick” a long time. But most people can’t. And automatic transmissions aren’t like the days gone by. Do you rebuild them? Ever been all the way through a 68RFE? 1000 series Allison? Not even comparable to the old transmissions.
It’s nice to see a younger guy give homage to old mechanical diesels and standard transmissions. I like those too, but to anyone who doesn’t work on them, they’re obsolete. Shoot they’re obsolete period.
We could argue Ford vs anyone forever. I’ll put my 25+ years as a tech up to say I won’t own them or recommend them, and thank God I don’t have to work on them anymore.
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