Opinions on Duramax vs Powerstroke

[agcntry]

I'm looking at new trucks for my wife to drive everyday and then in a few years sell mine and put a Hydra-bed bale bed on. I've got both a Chevy dealer and a Ford dealer down to the same price on 2008 1 ton single rear wheels with diesels. I know everyone has a truck they think is better and such, but can anyone tell me any real world opinions on the two. Both dealers are good and will provide good service after the sale. I think both trucks have their good and bad points.
Thanks for any input.

 

[Jogeephus]

I have both and like them both and think you will like either one. After adjusting the program in the engine's computer and modifing the air filter, I get 25 mpg highway and 20 around town. To me, this is a pretty good selling point. My 2000 powerstroke has been very reliable. 7 years old and I haven't even had to change the batteries. Can't expect much mileage on this on though since it has a flatbed with all my tools and fuel on it. (My friend just bought a new powerstroke and he was concerned over the limited type of fuels it can now run. Not sure if this applies to the Duramax though)

 

[Brute 23]

AT THIS TIME, talking about buying a brand new truck, I would go with the Duramax.

FORD just introduced this newer diesel motor they have and do not have all the kinks worked out yet. There are also many reports of horrible mpgs. Would wait a couple year before buying one.

The Duramax is going on around 8 yrs of prodction now with that motor and is solid, tried, and proven. You can never go wrong with an Allison trany either. ;-)

There is a thread that says 08 FORD F-250. There is alot of good info about all the new trucks there.
http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39259

 

[flaboy]

Yeah, go ahead and buy the Isuzu powered Chebby. While you are at it pick up a Iseki tractor too. :lol:

Some might think I'm a Ford man. :lol: Truth is Ford only needs to fix the MPG's to sell me one but until they do I will drive my old one.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Some might think I'm a Ford man. :lol: Truth is Ford only needs to fix the MPG's to sell me one but until they do I will drive my old one.

They sold me one. Bought my first new Chevy in '78. Bought many after that. Then Chevy ticked me off. I tried the Dodge diesel and the front end was gone in less than 50K. Too many miles pulling to heavy of a load across rough terrain. If you slow down, you get stuck. Heavy dodge diesel on that front end just didn't work. Now I am 75K into an '04 Ford F 350 4WD. In another 125K, I'll let you know if I am a Ford man too FlaboyGURU.

 

[Brute 23]

How did Chevy tick you off? :lol:

 

[flaboy]

Some might think I'm a Ford man. :lol: Truth is Ford only needs to fix the MPG's to sell me one but until they do I will drive my old one.

They sold me one. Bought my first new Chevy in '78. Bought many after that. Then Chevy ticked me off. I tried the Dodge diesel and the front end was gone in less than 50K. Too many miles pulling to heavy of a load across rough terrain. If you slow down, you get stuck. Heavy dodge diesel on that front end just didn't work. Now I am 75K into an '04 Ford F 350 4WD. In another 125K, I'll let you know if I am a Ford man too FlaboyGURU.

I have an 04 4x4 6 liter also. Love it!!!!! 18-19 MPG HW cruising at ~80MPH no load. I was actually referring to the new 6.4L Fords. Seems they are doing about 13MPG unloaded.

Funny, I had a 78 Chebby 3/4 ton also and I had the dang flimsy, rattling, rusting, Dodge also. Only two non-Ford trucks I ever owned. I learned pretty fast.

Oh, and I ignored your G comment. :lol:

 

[backhoeboogie]

Some might think I'm a Ford man. :lol: Truth is Ford only needs to fix the MPG's to sell me one but until they do I will drive my old one.

They sold me one. Bought my first new Chevy in '78. Bought many after that. Then Chevy ticked me off. I tried the Dodge diesel and the front end was gone in less than 50K. Too many miles pulling to heavy of a load across rough terrain. If you slow down, you get stuck. Heavy dodge diesel on that front end just didn't work. Now I am 75K into an '04 Ford F 350 4WD. In another 125K, I'll let you know if I am a Ford man too FlaboyGURU.

I have an 04 4x4 6 liter also. Love it!!!!! 18-19 MPG HW cruising at ~80MPH no load. I was actually referring to the new 6.4L Fords. Seems they are doing about 13MPG unloaded.

Funny, I had a 78 Chebby 3/4 ton also and I had the dang flimsy, rattling, rusting, Dodge also. Only two non-Ford trucks I ever owned. I learned pretty fast.

Oh, and I ignored your G comment. :lol:

Sorry about that G comment. I just remember all the trouble you went through avoiding that title.

My Chevy went through many injector pumps, amongst other things. They wanted $1800 every 30 to 40K to put in a new injector pump. The one pump only went 800 miles before they replaced it but it was "free". Easy for them to say free. I was hooked to a trailer and a long way from home when it went. Lost time is lost revenue. I have a long list - things like to many door hinge bushing replacements etc. Chevy is not what it once was. Put a round bale in back of it, rolled it out by hand and it bowed the tail gate. The old chevy tailgates were tough hombres.

 

[Brute 23]

Some might think I'm a Ford man. :lol: Truth is Ford only needs to fix the MPG's to sell me one but until they do I will drive my old one.

They sold me one. Bought my first new Chevy in '78. Bought many after that. Then Chevy ticked me off. I tried the Dodge diesel and the front end was gone in less than 50K. Too many miles pulling to heavy of a load across rough terrain. If you slow down, you get stuck. Heavy dodge diesel on that front end just didn't work. Now I am 75K into an '04 Ford F 350 4WD. In another 125K, I'll let you know if I am a Ford man too FlaboyGURU.

I have an 04 4x4 6 liter also. Love it!!!!! 18-19 MPG HW cruising at ~80MPH no load. I was actually referring to the new 6.4L Fords. Seems they are doing about 13MPG unloaded.

Funny, I had a 78 Chebby 3/4 ton also and I had the dang flimsy, rattling, rusting, Dodge also. Only two non-Ford trucks I ever owned. I learned pretty fast.

Oh, and I ignored your G comment. :lol:

Sorry about that G comment. I just remember all the trouble you went through avoiding that title.

My Chevy went through many injector pumps, amongst other things. They wanted $1800 every 30 to 40K to put in a new injector pump. The one pump only went 800 miles before they replaced it but it was "free". Easy for them to say free. I was hooked to a trailer and a long way from home when it went. Lost time is lost revenue. I have a long list - things like to many door hinge bushing replacements etc. Chevy is not what it once was. Put a round bale in back of it, rolled it out by hand and it bowed the tail gate. The old chevy tailgates were tough hombres.

Was that the early Duramax.... like 00-02?

THey had issues when it first came out... as with any brand with a first year release. They have it all worked out now.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Was that the early Duramax.... like 00-02?

THey had issues when it first came out... as with any brand with a first year release. They have it all worked out now.

It is okay that they have worked it out now, but many customers were their Guinea pigs. It cost me a lot of nickels and that is just the way it was. I bought many Chevy trucks. If they wanted to keep me as a customer, they could have fixed the problem with my last diesel. Long term, it is going to cost them more having lost the customers they did. I was a die hard customer. I also bought each daughter a new chevy 1/2 ton (not diesels). There are many people who have to trade trucks every year. Some watchmen on petro leases have gone Toyota. Chevy shot themselves in the foot. Ticked me off so bad that I sold all GM Stock too. They should have never sacraficed quality to sell to city folks.

Aside from their engine problems, a tailgate should be capable of holding up the weight of a round bale without buckling.

Edit: Brute, I was so diehard Chevy that I still catch grief from old friends and family who see me in a Ford. What goes around comes around and believe me, I have it coming. I picked on Ford folks for years and years. Now I have a cross to bear :lol: My daughters are some of the worse.

 

[Brute 23]

Well, I will take losing a tailgate over lighting my $50K truck and $60K camper up goiing down the road like those little tanks you buy from the Fireworks stand. :lol:

At 12mpg with the FORD, $3+ diesel... how many tailgates could you buy buy driving an 18-22mpg Chevy?

Just giving you a hard time... FORD has burned their share of bridges. The Firestone tires, 6.0L, now the self lighting diesel truck... ITs always best to stay away from any thing first and second year. Boats, trucks, atvs, ect... no mattere what brand. ;-)

 

[flaboy]

The tail pipe flames from the Ford is a feature not a problem. Many folks went to a lot of problems to put spark plugs in their exhaust to create this effect. Ford does it without spark plugs.

Think GM diesels don't have problems? Read the GE diesel forums. They all have some sort of problem.

 

[Brute 23]

Its not the tailpipe flame it the dumping of too much fuel into the manifolds and lighting the whole truck on fire. :D

 

[flaboy]

Its not the tailpipe flame it the dumping of too much fuel into the manifolds and lighting the whole truck on fire. :D

I have several Ford sources and nobody has heard of that one. There was a report of somebody pulling over and starting the grass on fire. Not unlike any catalytic converter fitted auto would do anyway. Plus flames are cool. :lol:

 

[Brute 23]

I agree flames are cool! 8)

It started because I saw several new Fords on the side of the road with campers burnt to a crisp on my trip from down here to Florida.

I started asking around and some one told me that Ford dumps fuel into the exhaust to help clean it out. They said they were having problems with it dumping too much when the exhaust reaches high temps... and lighting every thing up.

A problem that would occur under load, as we all know the temps those things can reach pulling loads. Which explained the trucks with campers being like that.

I found some articles and stuff that supported that later on. It sounds logical to me.

Two years ago there were brand new Dodge diesels every where. Now they are getting more scarce. Now I am seeing brand new Chevy and GM diesels every where,,, but still not too many new Fords. That is this area.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Well, I will take losing a tailgate over lighting my $50K truck and $60K camper up goiing down the road like those little tanks you buy from the Fireworks stand. :lol:

At 12mpg with the FORD, $3+ diesel... how many tailgates could you buy buy driving an 18-22mpg Chevy?

Just giving you a hard time... FORD has burned their share of bridges. The Firestone tires, 6.0L, now the self lighting diesel truck... ITs always best to stay away from any thing first and second year. Boats, trucks, atvs, ect... no mattere what brand. ;-)

Brute I have been pushing the 6.0 with no problems. I am only 75K into it. The last chevy had gone through three injector pumps by this time, but it was under warranty and only cost me $100 per pump (until I hit 100K)

I am doing better than 12 mpg.

I put the 17000 lb track loader on my G/N and it is limited out. In fact, between the trailer weight, its limit, and the 1 ton truck, I actually go about 800 over the legal limit for licensed weight. The 6.0 pulls right up the hills with no hesitation.

No complaints with the 6.0 - yet. Once I get to 200K, my attitude may change.

 

[Brute 23]

Well, I will take losing a tailgate over lighting my $50K truck and $60K camper up goiing down the road like those little tanks you buy from the Fireworks stand. :lol:

At 12mpg with the FORD, $3+ diesel... how many tailgates could you buy buy driving an 18-22mpg Chevy?

Just giving you a hard time... FORD has burned their share of bridges. The Firestone tires, 6.0L, now the self lighting diesel truck... ITs always best to stay away from any thing first and second year. Boats, trucks, atvs, ect... no mattere what brand. ;-)

Brute I have been pushing the 6.0 with no problems. I am only 75K into it. The last chevy had gone through three injector pumps by this time, but it was under warranty and only cost me $100 per pump (until I hit 100K)

I am doing better than 12 mpg.

I put the 17000 lb track loader on my G/N and it is limited out. In fact, between the trailer weight, its limit, and the 1 ton truck, I actually go about 800 over the legal limit for licensed weight. The 6.0 pulls right up the hills with no hesitation.

No complaints with the 6.0 - yet. Once I get to 200K, my attitude may change.

Hey... you are in the wrong converstaion. We are talking 08 Models here. FORD 08 vs DODGE 08 vs GM 08
Both DODGE and FORD have made significant changes this year,,, wich means they ARE GOING/ AND DO have first year bugs. ;-)

No brand is perfect... they all have problems... but you don't need to add to it by getting a first year one to top it all off.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Hey... you are in the wrong converstaion. We are talking 08 Models here. FORD 08 vs DODGE 08 vs GM 08

You asked how Chevy ticked me off. I can give you more detail on that if need be. But it wasn't 20 years back.

For the '08s, I wouldn't buy a Dodge or Chevy.

The wife is getting a whole bunch of nickels now of her royalties. She is set on buying that Buick SUV, loaded with everything, for herself. I am trying to talk her into not going GM but will likely lose that battle. Oh well. It is not diesel and besides that I don't have to drive it :lol:

 

[Brute 23]

YOu would get the 08 FORD with the fire and the 12mpgs? :lol:

With all that jack you got why don't you get a trailer and quit putting bales in the back of the truck? ;-)

 

[backhoeboogie]

why don't you get a trailer and quit putting bales in the back of the truck? ;-)

Old habits are hard to break. There are more trailers I am paying to license that I care to admit to. Some do have farm tags but others are dual pupose. Lots of nickels spent on tags. Worse yet, I have a tumble bug and also have a grass hopper for moving round bales. Just didn't expect the tail gate to be so delicate. First time for everything.

If someone hit me today and totaled out my Ford, I have to buy another truck. Guess it would be 12 mpg in my near future. Brute, they ticked me off.