3/4 ton diesel - single rear wheel - daily driver?

[frekeyguy]

Really loooking for a 1/2 TON Pick up - 4 DOOR - good size cab.....like a Sierra 1500, or Dodge Ram....but how about a 2500 DIESEL with a single rear wheel?

Curious to know sort of running costs are involved with DIESEL trucks? Any models that are good buys - that will be a daily driver?


I really wish they made a 1500 series 1/2 ton with a DIESEL.

 

[frekeyguy]

My other option would be a Grand Cherokee 3.0 DIESEL.....it would be way cheaper to run. But I could really use a BED to hawl / move stuff.

 

[blackcamaro]

If you don't need a 3/4 ton or bigger truck then they really are a waste. Your going to use just as much fuel in a diesel 3/4 as a gas half ton so no advantage there. Wear items go a lot quicker with the bigger trucks (especially in a diesel) so all your running costs are going to be higher. My experience with the newer trucks makes me believe that the newer diesels are a little too high strung, they just don't last like the old 7.3 Ford and 5.9 Cummins powerplants.

Have you ever driven one? A crew cab with a short box (forget a crew cab longbox lol) takes a bit of effort to drive around the city and is not for everyone, I am not talking about borrowing one the odd time as you really need to drive one for atleast a week or two.

I would stay away from the older GM's with the 6.2 or 6.5, early duramax (later models are supposed to be really good but I don't have much experience), 08+ cummins (emmisions junk and terrible mileage), and I have started to see some 6.4 fords with quite a bunch of issues. Diesel's are insanely expensive to fix when things go wrong.

If your cross shopping this and a Grand Cherokee stick to the half tons unless you REALLY REALLY want a diesel truck just cause you like them. It would be a purchase that makes zero sense but lots of guys do it anyways.

 

[Freestyle72]

btw the big *** diesel trucks get pitiful fuel mileage for a diesel. It really won't make a difference gas or diesel with the big trucks.

I plan on shoving a VW 1.9TDI into a ford ranger 4x4. That would be one wicked bike hauling machine that doesn't butt **** you every time you try to fill up.

 

[invictus43]

I personally hated driving my pickup as a daily driver. For the 5 times a year I needed to haul something, I'd much rather have a trailer and an SUV.

 

[ToSlow]

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[Mekirker]

Bigger trucks with the diesel power are not great for daily drivers, they are expensive to fix, and unless you need the power to tow or haul lots of stuff all the time, a gas powered truck/suv would be a better choice. You can put a trailer behind just about any vehicle.

 

[frekeyguy]

btw the big *** diesel trucks get pitiful fuel mileage for a diesel. It really won't make a difference gas or diesel with the big trucks.

I plan on shoving a VW 1.9TDI into a ford ranger 4x4. That would be one wicked bike hauling machine that doesn't butt **** you every time you try to fill up.

1/2 gas VS 3/4" diesel will cost the same for gas - real world.

How are you going to get that on the road? GAS VS Diesel - emissions?? Motor swaps aren't allowed in ontario anymore are they? even with classic cars?

I personally hated driving my pickup as a daily driver. For the 5 times a year I needed to haul something, I'd much rather have a trailer and an SUV.

Really? I Love pick up trucks ....need to pick up a bike after work...no problem ....need to move a buddy's bike for him...no problem.

I dont' have to drive all the way home to get my trailer to move something big.

 

[frekeyguy]

If you don't need a 3/4 ton or bigger truck then they really are a waste. Your going to use just as much fuel in a diesel 3/4 as a gas half ton so no advantage there. Wear items go a lot quicker with the bigger trucks (especially in a diesel) so all your running costs are going to be higher. My experience with the newer trucks makes me believe that the newer diesels are a little too high strung, they just don't last like the old 7.3 Ford and 5.9 Cummins powerplants.

Have you ever driven one? A crew cab with a short box (forget a crew cab longbox lol) takes a bit of effort to drive around the city and is not for everyone, I am not talking about borrowing one the odd time as you really need to drive one for atleast a week or two.

I would stay away from the older GM's with the 6.2 or 6.5, early duramax (later models are supposed to be really good but I don't have much experience), 08+ cummins (emmisions junk and terrible mileage), and I have started to see some 6.4 fords with quite a bunch of issues. Diesel's are insanely expensive to fix when things go wrong.

If your cross shopping this and a Grand Cherokee stick to the half tons unless you REALLY REALLY want a diesel truck just cause you like them. It would be a purchase that makes zero sense but lots of guys do it anyways.

I really really don't need a 3/4" ton, dont need all that supension or axle or frame.

never lived with a 3/4" ton, 1/2 tons with reg. box are just fine for me....

thanks for the advise!!!

 

[infernobuster]

Wait till you have to repair a diesel truck .. youll be crying than.

Thats why i love the new Eco boost. Will pull anything a v8 will and has torque like small diesel.

 

[invictus43]

Really? I Love pick up trucks ....need to pick up a bike after work...no problem ....need to move a buddy's bike for him...no problem.

I dont' have to drive all the way home to get my trailer to move something big.

I mean, it's personal preference really. I hated being the go-to guy everytime somebody needed something moved. "Can I borrow your truck? Can you move it for me?" And you're driving a boat that has no traction, wicked understeer mid-corner and snap-oversteer on the gas.. If you have stuff to move frequently and that's your thing, ok. But for me, driving back and forth to work, up to the cottage, wherever, I'd rather have an SUV. Now, if I LIVED at the cottage..that's different! But I'd still get a gas vehicle.

 

[RockerGuy]

How about a diesel suv?

Problem solved thank me later

 

[frekeyguy]

Wait till you have to repair a diesel truck .. youll be crying than.

Thats why i love the new Eco boost. Will pull anything a v8 will and has torque like small diesel.

yeah, that F150 does sound sweet. Maybe I will wait a few years and buy that thing used.

How's the Grand Chrokee 3.0 in terms of fixing costs? I do most of my own work, but if a set of injectors cost a grand if they go bad....OUCH!

I mean, it's personal preference really. I hated being the go-to guy everytime somebody needed something moved. "Can I borrow your truck? Can you move it for me?" And you're driving a boat that has no traction, wicked understeer mid-corner and snap-oversteer on the gas.. If you have stuff to move frequently and that's your thing, ok. But for me, driving back and forth to work, up to the cottage, wherever, I'd rather have an SUV. Now, if I LIVED at the cottage..that's different! But I'd still get a gas vehicle.

When there is some $$ in moving stuff. I dont mind doing it.

How about a diesel suv?

Problem solved thank me later

SORRY! Cannot thank you...already came up with the Grand Chrokee 3.0L diesel ---- So thank me later _!!!

 

[Freestyle72]

1/2 gas VS 3/4" diesel will cost the same for gas - real world.

How are you going to get that on the road? GAS VS Diesel - emissions?? Motor swaps aren't allowed in ontario anymore are they? even with classic cars?

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As far as I know you just register it as a"hot rod" You need to show that the vehicle never came with that engine as a factory option. The only thing I am not 100% sure about is insurance. But I mean either way you go to the ministry they change fuel type to Diesel instead of Gas and that's it.

 

[mroberto]

How about a diesel suv?

Problem solved thank me later

What SUVs are diesel? The OP mentioned a Grand Cherokee but they only made the diesel for one year (2008). I don't know if that means it was crap but I do question why it was only offered for a year. And what's it going to take to repair one with parts availability/cost?

VW makes a diesel Touareg but it's $10k more than the gas version.

Mercedes and BMW might make diesel SUVs but will also come at a premium.

Who else? I'm asking because I really don't know and I'm in the market for an SUV right now.

 

[infernobuster]

Yep the Grand Cherokee came in diesel for a few years ..

There are the higher end SUVs that come in diesel ie Mercedes/Vw.

There is also the Jeep Liberty that was made for a short run of diesel engines as well.

 

[Xhumeka]

FWIW I live in the city and my only vehicle (with 4 wheels) is a 3/4 ton pick-up. Sucks for times when I want to park underground (not enough clearance with my lift and baja halogen lights on top) but that's about the only time I wish I had something smaller.

If I didn't ride bikes I might have a 2nd vehicle (with 4 wheels) though, not sure...

 

[crankcall]

just driving around in a 3/4 vs. 1/2 makes me tired. The 1/2's now drive like big heavy cars and 3/4's are still trucks.

You wont likely be doing a lot of diesel engine work on a newer engine in your driveway. Filters and fluids, but there is a lot of DEF pumps and EGR valves and electronic stuff that is just not user friendly anymore. You need to be pulling big loads or running long trips to make a diesel worthwhile IMHO.

We went Toronto to Niagara last fall, pulling identical boats @ 2500lbs each. Cummins Dodge 2500 4dr. vs. Acadian SUV gas, she was at least 30% more efficient than me with her diesel.

 

[RockerGuy]

What SUVs are diesel? The OP mentioned a Grand Cherokee but they only made the diesel for one year (2008). I don't know if that means it was crap but I do question why it was only offered for a year. And what's it going to take to repair one with parts availability/cost?

VW makes a diesel Touareg but it's $10k more than the gas version.

Mercedes and BMW might make diesel SUVs but will also come at a premium.

Who else? I'm asking because I really don't know and I'm in the market for an SUV right now.

Yes, Liberty

 

[Brian P]

If all you are doing is picking up and delivering the occasional bike, and you want to use this same vehicle for a daily driver, then I'd step down a size and get something like a Ford Ranger or Chevrolet Colorado extended cab. They're not as awkward to drive on a daily basis as the full size trucks (drives more or less like a car) and as long as you stay away from the gas-hog options, they can be decent on fuel. 4 cylinder 5 speed manual 2 wheel drive (or as close to that as the option sheet will allow - often they won't allow the combination of 4 cylinder engine with anything other than stripped-out contractor-special vinyl interior).

The big diesel trucks are good if you need to haul something huge across the continent, not so good as a daily driver. The fuel situation is one thing, the awkwardness / length / clumsiness / hard to park factor is another.

I know you can get a crew cab on the Colorado but it only comes with an extremely short bed.

I had a Toyota long-box (but regular cab) mini truck years ago, and aside from lacking inside storage space, it did what I needed to do. Hauled 2 bikes in it many times. Carbureted 22R 4 cyl 5 speed 2 wheel drive. Absolute base model - vinyl on the floor, vinyl on the seats, no A/C, no power steering, no nothing, and it was GREAT. Normal fuel consumption was around 9 L/100 km. I drove that truck for years until it rusted apart.

If I could get a Colorado with a 2 litre 4 cylinder turbo-diesel, that's probably what I'd be driving. But I can't, so I tow a trailer with my car.