Hello everyone. This is my first post, though I have been reading your forum off and on for a couple of months. I currently own a '03 Z-71 Avalanche. Although I am happy with it, it will not tow a fifth-wheel trailer should I decide to get one in the future.

I sometimes analyze things too much trying to avoid a case of "buyers remorse", Expecially with a $40K to $50K purchase. I have noticed several problems being posted about the 6.0 Powerstroke and even the TorqueShift 5-speed Automatic. That being said, are these the exception rather than the rule? I have read posts where a person posting has had his Super Duty in the shop several times for serious problems yet he still thinks his truck is great. I am not attached to any particular brand or vehicle. I just happen to like the looks and advertised performance of the F-250 Super Duty Crew Cab, especially in King Ranch trim.

I personally know people with the Duramax/Allison who are happy with their vehicles and it is a good combo. It appears to also be a more reliable combination than the 6.0 Powerstroke/Torqueshift. Heck, D/A trucks are consistently getting 16-17mpg city and 20-21mpg hwy. From what I have read here, Ford 6.0/Torqueshift are getting anywhere from 12-16mpg city and 16-19mpg hwy. Their mileage is all over the place. Reliability also seems to be all over the place. If I were only concerned with getting the best mileage from a HD truck, I would not even consider Ford based upon the information obtained on this forum. I am even considering a V-10 just for the reliability even though mileage would certainly take a major hit, maybe 10mpg city and 13mpg hwy. I am looking to buy a truck and be so satisfied with it that I keep it at least 100K miles which is about 4 to 5 years based on my current averages. It would take that kind of use to justify the extra cost of the 6.0 diesel over the V-10. I know that does not take into account resale value. I am referring to annual cash flow, i.e. fuel savings vs higher cost.

Perhaps those who are completely satisfied never have any reason to post. Is there a thread for those satisfied owners to post to maybe balance out the seemingly distorted reliability issues? I am simply trying to get all the facts before making a decision. I am trying to keep emotion out of the equation, but that is difficult because I really like the looks and size of the '05 and '06 Super Duty. I just have to justify the purchase to myself.

Sorry for the long post. BTW, this is another great site. Thanks for all the input.

 

Buy the Ford, you won't be disappointed. I also saw all of the postings regarding the various problems and simply filed it away as a data point when I was looking. When I found what I wanted at the price I wanted (I was buying an 18 month old truck with 24K miles on it) I checked the truck for the items that are frequently posted as problems and it appeared to have one of them (leaking rear main seal). Since it was under warranty, I bought it anyway and Ford replaced the rear main as I expected they would. In retrospect, I'm not sure the rear main was actually leaking since it never did drip. It only kept an oil film on the bottom of the tranny bellhousing. I think it was probably excess installation grease that has been posted on here frequently.

I also had a problem with the brake master cylinder leaking tranny fluid. This was also corrected under waranty. I've had no other problems at all. Truck performs as advertised and much better than I ever imagined it would.

There are just as many if not more posts on here by folks doing mods (generally very happy campers) as there are folks looking for help with issues. I think you will find that very few folks here are having "serious issues" with their trucks.

 

I have been happy with mine even though I have been thru 1 trans. I have chipped it and paid the price for the lead foot. Reasonable enough. The Ford is much more of a truck than the others and personally I think a better finish. It is a hard decision at these prices however all brands have had recalls and dissatisfied buyers. I think a 1 year old truck is the way to go, just on the savings. Good Luck

 

I just bought a 2005 F350 DRW 6.0 PSD with moonroof and most options. MSRP $51100, paid $41500. I bought through the FTE plan from Jeff Clark at Van Bortal Ford in Victor, NY. I researched this for greater than 4 months and had the same dilemma as you describe. I narrowed the decision to the Chevy 2500/3500 or the Ford F250/F350. I test drove both and read as much as I could, especially the forums. My initial research, test drives, and bias favored the Ford. One night I mentioned this quest to my brother who said that what he sees mostly on the streets, doing the work, is the Ford Super Duties. I started looking around and also noticed mostly Fords, pulling the big trailers, as tow trucks, fleet trucks and ambulances. Our fleet of ambulances at work consist exclusivly of Ford F350/450s. Around here I just don't see the Chevys out there doing the work. For me that was a powerful endorsement.

In reading the forums I was initially worried by discussion of problems with the 6.0 PSD as well as the inconsistent fuel mileage. The 6.0 problems seem to be mostly with 2003. I am still not sure what to make of the inconsistent fuel consumption issue as this is rather subjective information. I don't know how people are calculating mileage, how they drive, ect. I have gotten 13-16 mpg without any real highway driving. I was able to ease my mind by my reading and to support my biasis toward the F350. In the end I bought the Ford, as much as anything because that's what I dig. No regrets, for me the right decision.

 

15,000 trouble free miles, 14-15 mpg around town. 17 on the highway solo @80 mph and 10 mpg on the highway towing a 10,000 pound TT at 80mph. Handles that load remarkably. Remember, there is a very small segmant of Ford SD owners here posting negatively because they are looking for anwers to their problems. This is in essence a problem driven web site. The folks without problems aren't searching the web for a site like this for the most part and therefore aren't here posting about how great their trucks are. Bye it, tow with it, you will love it.

5moons

04 350 6.0 CC LB 4x4 stock

 

I too had a GMC z-71 (2002); made the decision to the SD fords. I have not regreted it. I bought a 2004 250 CC Lariet Fx4 and currently get 16.4mpg around town. Not towing highway ranges from 18-20 mpg. I made the decision because I needed a heavier truck to pull my new bigger boat (27' World Cat) and I was not happy with the fact that my new chevy was consuming oil and the dealership said this was normal with the 5.3L. I have owned chevy most of my life and this SD is my first ford, first diesel. The only issue is when I bought the SD, diesel was actually cheaper than unleaded gas, now diesel is more. Not sure why that is but considering I am getting almost as good mileage (better on highway) as I did with the last chevy gas and now i have a much heavier truck, I would do it again.

 

I recently traded my 2001 GMC for a 2005 F250 SD CC King Ranch diesel. I only have 175 miles on it but love the truck. A family friend who owns a construction company has a chevy with the duramax. He told me he would not buy another. He pulls some heavy construction trailers and large horse trailers and has pulled them with the duramax and a friends powerstroke. He has also done some mods to the duramax but still said the ford will out-pull the duramax anyday.

They probably all have some problems. I would make sure you feel comfortable with the service department of what ever dealer you buy it from. Then if it does have problems, you can rest assured they will take care of you.

 

A friend of mine got a 03 duramax and has ridden with me in our 04 SD. He said there is no comparison. Sure the GM rides like a car BUT do you want a car or a truck? My friend said he would have rather gotten a SD after riding with me. Also his truck holds I think he said 7 qts of oil and the PS holds 15. I would rather have a lot of oil in the engine to do work than just some to get by. PS I get better fuel mileage than he does. Has him fuming.

Also you have to remember that when there are hundred of thousands of vehicles sold there are bound to be some problems in anything mechanical. No matter what you do. And some can't be resolved. But 99.99% are. Some are simple fixes. Some more elaborate. Some are just the service department of the dealership making the experience pleasureable and getting the problem fixed on time.

 

Thanks for the reassurances and quick responses. Nothing quite like hearing from satisfied owners.

 

03 6.0 CC SRW 50,700 miles- This truck is considered an "Early 6.0" with a 1/03 Build date which I bought in Feb 03. It rides and drives better than ever... Pulls a large boat at high elevation with ease, hauls stuff daily (construction materials, debris etc) and roadtrips with the family so well that they named the truck Happy.

Oh yea, to top it off: It makes beer too! I bet a 6 pack against my Dodge Cummins 600 buddy as to whose truck was quickest... My 6.0 smoked his Cummins 600 and he paid up

P.S. I know many other 6.0 owners with a variety of configurations: F250/350 (SRW & DRW), E-450 and F-450
Every one of them is very pleased and has something unique in common... The 6.0 Grin

 

I have a 03 CC 6speed 8'bed 4X4 6.0 and absulutly LOVE it. For me there was no option so I bought it and never looked back(Chevys just dont feel or look like a truck to me). Everyone one that I know that pulls heavy uses nothing but Fords and beside here on this forum I have heard no complaints about them.

 

I have an 04 with no problems. I drove a 04 Durimax/Allison combo Chevy and hated it. A good friend of mine has one and he has the edge juice module and exhaust on it and my truck still out pulls and performs his and all I have done is a cta back exhaust. My last truck was an '03 SD V-10. Interior wise the trucks were identical I ordered it with the v-10 cause I couldnt geta 7.3 at the time and I didnt want to be a guinie pig for the 6.0. The truck did not perform that well and it got about 6-8 mpg in the city and mybe 9 mpg empty going down hill with a stiff breeze blowing it on the highway. The choice for me after 2 years with the V-10 was simple get the diesel. So I hope this helps and good luck you have your eye on the best truck on the road. As far as mileage problems go its mostly because we cant keep the go pedal at a resonable position. When you buy one you will understand.

 

jmbfin,

If you have any reservations at all, my best advise is to stop and speak to anybody you see driving one. Home depot, grocery store, walmart, gas station, bank are all good places for this. I did this when I was looking and I must have spoken with 25-30 different people. My thinking was that a random sampling of folks that size I would turn up any problems that are inherant to the truck. I did not hear a single person complain about their truck. Every one of them loved what they were driving and in many cases it was their second or third Ford diesel. I also found that once you got some of these folks going, it was difficult to get away once you'd heard enough.

Anyhow, the man on the street approach is what ultimately pushed me to take the dive and it turned out to be the best truck purchase I've ever made. Good luck and enjoy.

 

I had a few minor things when my 04 was just new, but otherwise it's been a wonderful truck. I fixed my little intercooler hose oil leak myself, and 13000 miles later it's never came back.

It'll pull anything I can hitch to it, hold 45 going into the mountains, and all the while keep me firmly in double-digit fuel economy. Loads of power, no matter where you have the pedal sitting. I can push 20MPG with it empty and with a light boot. Oh, and yeah, I'll admit it, I love the diesel clatter and the whine of the turbo.

 

I agree with texan2004-talk to people who own them on the street. These forums are typically used to find solutions to problems, therefore portray a ton of problems. I have an 05 PSD F250 CC FX4 King Ranch SRW and talked with dozens of owners of all the brands and tested all the brands numerous times. As I have mentioned in numerous posts, my best friend has an 04 Dodge equiped very similar to my truck and wishes he would have purchased the Ford. He would sell his Dodge and buy a Ford in a second if it wasn't for the Dodge taking a HUGE hit in resale value (here in Arizona). Even though the Ford is more expensive initially, if you compare depreciation rates (percentage of original value), the Ford does hold up better here in AZ. To me, a motor does not make an entire truck. Even though Dodge has the better motor in my opinion, the remainder of the truck is not up to the 05 Fords.