The 7.3L Ford diesel was an excellent motor, far better than the 6.0L or 6.4L. The 5.9 Cummins is an excellent motor too. I wouldn't even consider the V10 truck. Bad mileage will kill any benefit to cheaper gas than diesel. The V10 truck should be alot cheaper to buy than the diesels though, about $4000 less, if it is priced correctly. Either of those diesel trucks should do you fine.
I would go with the Dodge if you put a fuel pressure guage on it. You can fix the lift pump problem for about $350.00 by installing a fass pump on the frame rail back by the fuel tank. The Fuel pressure should be around 14 psi at idle,
and never lower tha 8 to 10 while towing.
I get 21-22 mpg empty and 15-16 with the Lance 980 loaded up. Thats running 1800 rpm at 62 mph with a 6 speed and 3:55 rear end.
Good :uck with what ever you choose.
I'm the vanpool driver and drive an E350 van with the V10 every day to work and back. My truck is a '97 F350 dually 7.3 diesel and I carry a '94 Lance 990 camper. I used to haul the Lance with an old 460 powered '78 F250 Camper Special.
So here are my perceptions:
The diesel has it's 'things' It's a bit ungainly for driving around town or hopping over to Home depot for a box of nails but on the open highway it is totally in it's element and unmatched. Ditto for hauling or towing or going over mountain passes - the gassers just can't compare.
As for the V10 - well it's a really fun engine when the van is empty. I don't pay much attention to the mileage since I'm just the driver and don't pay for the gas but as far as hauling heavy loads I don't see it as a viable contender. The diesel is a real lugger - it just pulls strongly at very low rpm's. The old 460 was a lugger too but it was old tech with no overdrive or lockup and a carb. Still, it had a lot of low end torque.
The V10 isn't like that at all. I don't think it would be good with a camper. I think you'd have to have your foot in it and the rpm's up all the time to carry the load.
I like the diesel but it seems pretty obvious that the oil industry and the government are gonna shank you anyway - no matter what you do.
1994 Lance 990 on 1997 F350 PSD Dually
We also have a 'truck' that FLYS
Our 2008 trip to The Canadian Rockies
You may want to determine what rear end is in the trucks by the vin. I thought that dodge had a 4:10 option on their diesel. If so, the truck could probably crawl over your house, but would take a tank of fuel to do so. I'm just not familiar with dodge and ford, but I'm sure there are folks here that can let you know.
I bought my Chevy used in 03 and the only thing I have replaced is a right front hub. I didn't know there was a problem until a state inspection reveled the worn hub. The front end weight kept the nose on the ground.
Given your options, I would go for the 1 ton truck. When the government puts a ceiling of diesel price, it may qualify you to buy at a lower commercial rate. That's my opinion as to what the government will do to keep the economy from spiraling out of control
Slick Lizard wrote: Got an itch to shop for a newer truck today since the 87 silverado is getting tired, My camper is a popup and only about 2100 fully loaded.
As one can imagine the lots are filling up with diesel trucks as people are trading them in for fuel saving cars. since I will be driving it almost daily I wasn't sure if I wanted a diesel or a gasser.
Well after hitting about 8 lots I find myself drawn between a 2002 Dodge diesel 2500 with the 5.9, a 2003 ford f250 with the V10, or a 2001 F350 7.3 diesel..."
JMO, but if you are towing a 2100 lb. fully loaded popup, and don't envision anything larger in the foreseeable future, you are looking at much more truck than you need, particularly since it is also your daily driver. An F-150 or even a Ranger V-6,, would work fine; I've done it and will do it again some day when no longer lugging a TT around the countryside.
JMO, but if you are towing a 2100 lb. fully loaded popup, and don't envision anything larger in the foreseeable future, you are looking at much more truck than you need, particularly since it is also your daily driver. An F-150 or even a Ranger V-6,, would work fine; I've done it and will do it again some day when no longer lugging a TT around the countryside.
My opinion exactly. Why would you want a 350 to pull a PUP. DW and I pull ours with a V-6 Ranger, but it weighed a little less than yours. Only if I were planning on upgrading my camper would I go with a larger truck than 1/2 ton. JMO
Jim & Junnie
2005 Sunline Solaris T-2553 Our Web Site
You can get up to about 20 mpg out of some of the cummins diesels when not pulling. when you compare that with the 12-14 you might get with the v-10 it will be cheaper to run the cummins as a dailey driver. Now start towing, you will still probably get better mileage from the cummins while you are towing then the v-10 gets empty. The cummins will last as long as you care for it and then some. I reguarly see them with more than 350k miles and they still pull like a train. I buy and sell a lot of trucks for towing and I just don't have a market for the big gas model but right now I can't get enough well cared for diesel pickups. send some of those diesels you are seeing on lots to me here in Florida.
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That's my opinion as to what the government will do to keep the economy from spiraling out of control
