How many miles is to many?

[alwaysxj]

Looking at upgrading to a diesel to tow my camper. I have never owned a diesel but I have heard they can run for a long time and 200k is just getting them broke in... I know the tranny's are crap unless they are built right. I am not being to picky on brand just want the best truck i can find. I currently have a four door but i could do the extended cab if i had too. Looking to spend around 11k at the most, also want it 98 or newer. The problem i am running into is i find a good built truck for a good price but it has 300k. Are these trucks worth it with that many miles? What are things to look for and things to stay away from? Thanks!

 

[Caleb]

I wouldn't get one at those miles. Problem is, even if the engine is still strong, the truck around it is going to have problems with those kind of miles. The engine is only one small part of the equation.

 

[alwaysxj]

That is exactly what i was thinking too. Is 200k still to much?

 

[mbryson]

I wouldn't get one at those miles. Problem is, even if the engine is still strong, the truck around it is going to have problems with those kind of miles. The engine is only one small part of the equation.

this


my next truck is a gasser

 

[rholbrook]

Love my twin turbo'd gaser. Go with an EcoBoost

 

[jeeper]

My brother is running a 97 cummins with 500k miles. Still runs strong. I think it's on trani #6 though
I believe 200k+ miles is not a problem at all. A manual trani with a Diesel engine and you should be set for waaaay more.

 

[flexyfool]

I had a '96 Ford Powerstroke with an auto. It ran good for 198K miles. I traded it in '06. No tranny problems, but it never pulled more than 7K and wasn't chipped, etc. I replaced the TPS sensor, glow plug relay, go-pedal assembly, rear drive shaft, idler pulley, the front disk brakes once, and the rear drum brakes never. The fit and finish was still good after 10 years. 18 MPG unloaded town or highway. 16 MPG towing 7k at 65 MPH.

I currently have an '06 Dodge Cummins with a manual 6 speed. It has 119K miles. There have been no problems at all. It has a mild chip, 4" lift, and 37's. 20-22 MPG around town. 18 MPG 65 MPH. 16 MPG towing 7K at 65 MPH. 11 MPG towing 7K at 80 MPH. I believe these numbers are similar to a new gaser.

If I were to buy another it would not be a diesel. The extra purchase price and 10-20% premium for diesel over gas is not a good deal for what I use it for. 80% as daily driver and hauler. 20% towing a 7k bumper pull. The newer gasers seem to have caught up with the diesels in terms of power, mileage, and reliability.

 

[alwaysxj]

I am pulling a camper around 7k and my truck struggles really bad... It is only a 1500 with the 5.9. It needs air bags and tow mirrors really bad. Maybe i need to look in to a 3/4 gas motor. The truck is my DD I pull the trailer maybe ten times a year, so maybe the extra cost isn't worth it. So what should i look for in a gas motor if i go this route?

 

[Houndoc]

Last month in an effort to free up some cash I sold my '05 Ram 2500 CTD with about 140k miles, bought an '04 Chevy Duramax with 315,000 miles. Even with initial repairs and tires, pocketed $6,000 in the deal.

Estimated we had been averaging over $2,000 a year the last 3-4 years on the Ram for repairs.

Time will tell if was a good decision of not!

 

[STAG]

I bought a turbo 7.3 when I was 18 with 260k miles. Paid $6,500 for it. It was a construction truck that pulled a heavy trailer every day of its life. It had a Superchip and the manual with 6 forward gears (L-1-2-3-4-D). I beat the crap out of it and drove it everywhere. Put on an 8" lift with 38" tires. A year later it had 330k and was beginning to become unreliable. Wouldn't start without the block heater plugged in, and needed starting fluid. Once it did start it wouldn't move for 10 mins (so cold blooded it wouldn't rev up) but once it was warm it ran great. Replaced unit bearings at ~300k. Transmission was getting tough to put in gear, rear ring/pinion gears made a humming noise, motor leaked out/burned a quart of oil within a week or two. But I still sold it to Larry H Miller dealer and got $4,500 for it.

Sometimed I wish I would have just fixed the trans and rear diff and put a new motor in it and I would have saved a bunch of money and had a nice truck.

2 trucks later I'm still driving a diesel, currently a 2007 duramax with 90k miles and I drive it like an old grampa and take really good care of it, hope to see it running strong at 300 or 400k miles.

 

[ChestonScout]

just like anything used......its gonna depend on how it was taken care of.


i wouldnt hesitate to buy a diesel with high miles. just have the mindset that you are gonna have to fix a few things here and there as they wear out

 

[alwaysxj]

Well I can expect to change things as they wear out on anything I am just not wanting to buy a truck and in 10k miles I need to replace the motor becuase it is old and tired. so would you guys say a diesle needs more up keep then a gasser? especially in the winter? If I'm not towing a lot is a diesle worth it?
Thanks.

 

[mbryson]

..... If I'm not towing a lot is a diesle worth it?
Thanks.

no

To me, a diesel is a ticking time bomb. (well, any car is) Diesels have multiple failure points. Injectors, injector pumps, turbo, motor and trans. Gassers have similar things with the exception of the turbo and injector pump. They have tons of torque and the turbo is awesome to use as you are trying to summit with a load at 8000 feet. For my money, an older gasser is a better use of my $ to tow with than it is to have a newer diesel (even more complex than the older ones with their pollution control junk/EGR/etc.).


(oh, and I just noticed you moved to the better part of the valley, congrats )

 

[alwaysxj]

(oh, and I just noticed you moved to the better part of the valley, congrats )

Yeah we found a screaming deal on a year old house with everything done already. for the price of a new house with out the basement and yard done. you are from smithfield arn't you?

 

[mbryson]

Yeah we found a screaming deal on a year old house with everything done already. for the price of a new house with out the basement and yard done. you are from smithfield arn't you?

Yes. Love it. Wish I could move back but don't see it happening. Nothing you hear about me is true (I'm sure gossip about me has LONG died down )

 

[RedeyeRacing]

It's all about how it is taken car of. I have an 01' Excursion with 215K on it. I bought it with 100k. It is totally reliable and is our main travel/pull vehicle. We drive it all over the west and I love it. For what you want to spend, you should be able to get something around 200k that is clean. Don't let the nay sayers sway you. I would own a diesel with 300k before I would own a gasser with 150k Just me 2 cents.

 

[Houndoc]

If I'm not towing a lot is a diesle worth it?
Thanks.

I think the real question comes down to what you are towing- both weight and design.

My boat, probably 6-7k with trailer, gear and fuel and obviously fairly streamlined is a totally different beast to tow than loaded horse trailer (10,000 pounds plus) that is tall and fairly flat front.

Boat was easy to tow with 1/2 ton Yukon XL. But the Yukon felt maxed out with two horses in the trailer. With the diesel we load as many as five and tackle some of the gravel/dirt roads in the Stansbury range.

But my business partner hauls his horses (identical trailer) with a camper on his truck with the 8l Chevy gasser and likes it.

As far as maintenance, a lot of that depends on the truck more than fuel type. Some, such as the Dodges have terrible reputation for tranny problems as an example.

 

[alwaysxj]

When I do tow I am towing my camper. 26 foot star craft it is light weight at 5800 dry but by the time I get it loaded with water and food for the week end or week I would assume it is about 7k or more. My half ton Dodge with the 5.9 is maxed out when I am going up Logan canyon I can maybe hit 25 mph on the dugway. I know I need air bags in the back with it loaded the assend sits about 5-8 inches lower then stock. I am sure that if I got bags and got it back to ride hight it would pull a little better but I am still pushing my truck to the limits I am afraid.
Here is a picture with it on the truck dry and it is still squating.

 

[Gravy]

7k load in that price range, get a 3/4 or 1 ton. gas or diesel the trucks are just setup so much better for the load. Lower axle gears, bigger brakes, and bigger trans.

That's a lot of tongue weight.

 

[Caleb]

7k load in that price range, get a 3/4 or 1 ton. gas or diesel the trucks are just setup so much better for the load. Lower axle gears, bigger brakes, and bigger trans.

That's a lot of tongue weight.

While a 3/4 or 1 Ton would handle it much more easily, modern 1/2 Tons should handle a 7k load no problem. I towed a 10k lb trailer without any problem at all in my Tundra:



If I didn't mind 4-6mpg, 75 up Spanish Fork Canyon was no sweat. I did have air bags and a heavy duty equalizer hitch which helped tremendously with sway and keeping it level. But stopping and going, the truck was all stock and had no problem. Granted, the Tundra's running gear is as large or larger than most 3/4-1 Tons.