Ok, am in the market for different diesel truck, am debating between the 7.3 powerstroke or the Dodge Diesel, looking at year models from 1997-2003 ..
Ford or Dodge ??? Been having the powerstrokes but been having lots of trouble with them lately too, wondering about the Dodge Diesels if they have lots of problems ...

 

BY BUDDIES 99 dodge 2500 4x4 is at 430,000kms and NOTHING on the engine except fuel pump and fuel filter assembaly has been repaired, front end is very expensive to fix though in regards to the bearing/rotor set up, the transmissions are just as weak as ours IMO, he has snapped 3 drive shafts from transfer case to front diff. Front diff is a dana 60, rear is a spicer 70. Better milage then my truck for sure, he is pulling low to mid 20's to my 16 highway. The cummins has way better low end but the powerstrokehas it beat in the top end. If I could do it over again, dare I say I would buy a dodge even though they are IMO one of the worst trucks to work on.

 

The only nice thing about a Dodge is the diesel motor and thats because dodge dosn't make it, lol. You'll have just as much trouble with any other truck as you have had with your stroker. Maybe more if you buy a Dodge. I do know Dodge brake rotors are notorious for warping and creating costly repairs. I wouldn't waste my money on another diesel. Stroker for life son! Good luck with your decision

Cowboy Steve

 

booooooo dodge trucks are junk IMO by the way this is ford country

 

lol, just reminding ya in case you may have contracted a slight case of alzheimers Smokey352

Cowboy Steve

 

Find that latest model 7.3 you can....02' or '03 would be the best. You will LOVE the truck...

 

My friend had a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 HEMI, it was 5.7-liter HEMI Magnum engine which make it a standard engine as one of the Dodge performance parts, producing a class-leading 345 horsepower at 5,400 rpm and 375 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm that provides best-in-class acceleration and towing capability compared with competitive vehicles with similar size gasoline engines... What I love most about his Dodge is the elegance and simplicity of the its design and it beats a dual overhead camshaft design in terms of torque and power for a heavy-duty truck... I say get a Dodge...

 

We need a moderator to take out the trash.

 

Ok here are my thoughts. Cummins engine great engine wasted on a junk truck! I would drive a chevy before I bought a dodge. They are difficult to work on, they have lots of weird computer systems and just plain strange compared to other manufacturers (must be something to do with the germans!) And who was asking about a Hemi??? gassers make the dodge even worse!

Powerstroke is also a great engine. both will last a million miles if taken care of. but you will probably need more maintence/repairs on the powerstroke. Its just a fact of life. But if you buy a ford you will have a solid all around truck that won't be breaking driveshaft (that has nothing to do with the power of the truck but the poor quality of parts). your front end (as long as you buy a f-350) will be the toughest availible. and the interior is much better than the dodges. When you are looking at Fords I would look for a 96 or newer. Not that the older one have issue cause they don't but they have a few tranny updates that help and they have a few things in the injection system that lend them selves to upgrades better (hpop drain back issues).


A dodge truck minus the cummins= boat anchor

 

I like the trash issue. In reality it sounds like a judgement call but I feel comfortable that you will be much happier with a 7.3 PSD. I love my '97 but if you like the new body styles go for '99-'03 I understand they have better Auto trans. My preference... Oh He** Ilove my truck.

Happy Hunting

P.S.: Ditto on the boat anchor.

 

Don't think I'm arguing with you on this but some of what you say I have to dissagree, I've seen ford break thier front driveshafts, just less frequent.

As for simplicity to work on, yeah, the OBS truck is easy to work on, but compare apples to apples. 99 and newer fords to the dodge with the 24 valve cummins is as much a biatch to work on as well.

As for the dodge gas jobber, that really is no comparison to a diesil... and have no idea why it was mentioned.

Ford is no dimond in the rough either when it comes to electrical issues, that stupid body modual that plugs into the back side of the fuse box on the 98-99 and new trucks can cause a nightmare of issues. I've personal changed 3 of them out myself and just recently we farmed out an 02 f-series truck (we where to busy) for a speedometer issue and that was a modual that went screwy. That took the dealership 12 hours to figure out the problem and replace the modual at $800 canadian.

I'm not trying to defend dodge, I fix both at work. We have light and medium duty fords from 95 and newer and light duty dodge pick-ups(93 and newer)and we run life cycling on the equipment. The OBS dodges are pretty easier to work on as well although the parts cheap and light duty. Ford is still cheaper then dodge to fix, but not by much. The life cyling includes the purchase and maintnance of the viechles but does not include fuel consumption into the cost so as to which would be cheaper is a toss up. As for GMC pick-ups, we will not be buying GMC again for a long time, they are just way to expensive to maintain. Those are junk.

I'm just trying to be un-bias and of corse this is all just my opinion. Ford and Dodge are both good trucks and here at work, both brands are abused hard.

 

When I said "take out the trash" I wasn't necessarily talking about Dodge trucks as a whole. I just didn't like the way that thread was going and could see it getting to be ridiculous. It has been re-directed and brought back into an acceptable range and the last few responses seem pretty sensible. I originally said that because it seemed like it was going to develop into a childish pissing contest with Dodge trucks and gas engines as its basis.


I love Ford diesel trucks. They're the only ones I would buy to personally own and drive(other than Toyotas). The only reason I would buy a Dodge truck is because I would have a re-sale set up and I could make a little money temporarily owning it and turning it over. I've seen many of them that would have made great anchors.

 

This debate is as old as the hills. It really is a mute point in the end to try and make clear which is "better". They both have good points as well as bad. I really like my friends Dodge Cummins engine as his engine compartment is not nearly as packed as my 7.3. With that being said, would I own a Dodge? The answer is NO. It is as simple as saying do you like your fries with ketchup, or mayonaise!

 

tomato or tomoto? this is almost better than hockey! gloves off bare knuckles, Fista Cuffs. I thought the Cup finals started Monday?
Smokey352, did you ask the same question in a dodge truck forum? If so did you get the same result? G/L choosing. I love my truck. When I was younger I had a 72 chevy 1/2 ton....loved it! I then went to cars.....then in the military all deisel trucks....thanks to an IED in Iraq I am a civilain again and had a car (ford) for a short period of time and then got my truck I could not believe how much I missed it! got into an accident and realized if I was in a car I'd be more "dumberer" (if alive) than I am today. I will NEVER own anything other than a truck for the rest of my years! and the deisel lasts longer and how this plays in to the question of Ford or Dodge I have no idea, I just wanted to say what I felt. Oh and by the way this is the best support group you could ever ask for if you go the route with a PSD! see you on the road or see you on the side of the road. tomato or tomoto?

 

You wanna a real truck, buy yourself a Studebaker son!

Cowboy Steve