What to buy?

[blackdog1]

It looks like I'm going to pick up some commercial work and will be needing a 3/4 ton truck. I live in the sticks and commute about 100 miles total in a given day, This is commercial full service on call maintenance work. I will still be keeping my day job at this point. I currently commute with a 4 banger Subaru but will be unable to continue this as it's capacity for tools and materials is some what limited. Pretty tough to hang a plow on too :grinz Finally my question is what diesel to buy. I would consider used and may be able to swing new. Consider reliability, power, comfort, price, fuel mileage. I'm thinking manual trans but i'm not closed to an auto. Plowing, towing and daily driving duties. I'm very green when it comes to diesels:huh so I'm looking for experienced opinions. By the way, I have NO brand loyalty at this time I can'y afford to. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advace for any help.

[wyldman]

If you can swing it,the new 2004.5 Dodge with the Cummins 600 is a sweet truck. :D

[ratlover]

Older cumins with a manual is pretty good.
Old Chevys are ok but gutless.
Older Fords are ok but I would stay away from the 6.0's
Newer Chevys> I love the hell outa my Duramax powered Chevy with the allison. If you were hell bent on an auto I wouldnt consider anything else. JMO Its an expensive option though.
Beings you are considering a stick then the Dodge is definatly in there because the cumins is pretty sweet. I've heard Dodge has finnaly fixed thier autos but I dont know :confused:

I personaly wouldnt plow with a stick because its a PITA IMO but some people like em better.

If you go new they are running some great interest rates and if you were going to finance the plow anyway you can make em finance the plow with your truck so you get the low interest rate on it.

Chevy dont make a 3/4ton diesel though, the 2500HD is actually a 1 ton and the srw 3500 is a hevy 1 ton I guess :confused: .....I dont know what the marketing guys are up to but it dont make sense anymore.

Make sure you leave enough money to put a programer in it ;)

Cumins do get a bit better milage than the Chevys. I think I knock down 20 or so on the highway in my truck with 373 rears and 265 tires.

[jakegypsum]

If it were me I would go with an auto trans. I have plowed with stick for years and still do with my F-650 and F-700 but my pick-up truck use has been auto trans for over 12 years now.
When using heavy trucks it's one thing but in my opinion I feel that auto is better better when plowing with a pick up. Several plow manufacturers push auto trans also.

I'm a Ford man but have nothing but good news on the allison trans. That would be my choice. Good luck.

Jake.

[Lawngodfather]

I'm with Chris

[JohnnyU]

Mike- Thats got to be the 'stock-est' Cummins I've ever seen on this site!!


My uncle loves his 2003 2500HD D/A, It is quiet, comfortable and tows like a dream, I plan to move upt to something similar in the next few years. Once you go diesel, you'll never go back.

I don't think my knees would take the manual tranny all night and day though, especially for plowing!

[Lawngodfather]

It might be stock, but it's got 315hp and 555 ft# of tourque.

and it has just under 7,000 miles

[John DiMartino]

My first choice is the Dodge/Cummins, with the GM/Duramax 2nd. The Ford with the 6.0L PSD I wouldnt even consider unless you were going to unload it within the warranty period.