I'm looking at getting an 04 or newer Chevy or Dodge diesel truck. With 4X4, and preferrably leather. Less than 60k miles. I'd like to stay at $25k or lower. <BR> <BR>Anybody have any suggestions of a truck you want to sell me? What are some things I need to be cautious of? Any known problems, etc... <BR> <BR>Thanks

Go with the chev. The dodge tranny's fail all the time. You never hear of a duramax failing. Also go look at both, you will see the chev's fit and finish is better. Ya it is going to cost a few more $$'s, but well worth it! It also holds its value better.

CR -- watch your sources....The early Duramax's were a true piece, gave tons of trouble. If you decide on a chevy, go as new as possible. Cummins on the other hand is tried and true... I think that Chevy makes a better truck than th dodge, but had much rather have cummins eng...

You can go as early as 01 with a Duramax--I have an '02 and have had no issues that have not been under warranty so far--100K miles on it--they replaced the injectors--one went and they replaced them all at the same time--GM warranties these to 200K. Just sold an 05 Chevy crew cab it was loaded with 75k for $24,500--just for reference--stay away from the Dodge--friends of mine who have owned and loved their Cummings are no longer enjoying their trucks

My brother has an 02 Duramax and he has only had problems with the injectors. They replaced all of his just as he rolled over 100K miles. You also have to remember any regular maintenece, like oil changes are gonna cost you much more because the diesel takes a ton of oil. My brother just replaced his batteries, again double the cost because it has 2 batteries. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by akdoc on September 24, 2007)

we have an 01 d-max that has been nothing but problems. replaced the ECM once, trans once, and atleast all of the injectors twice. on the other hand, we also have an 03 that has never been in the shop. i think it's luck of the draw. obviously the earlier models may have more bugs but it's hard telling.

The only duramax's to stay away from are the 01's. Yes they were a piece. They worked out all the bugs on the 02's and newer. They are bulletproof.

Duramax 4x4's tent to eat front hubs about every 60k miles.

i looks like my budget is going to put me in the 04-05 range... POSSIBLY an 06... are there any known problems with dodges or chevys in those years? i've never owned a diesel, but i test drove one the other day, and WOW.

C.R. you're going to have a pretty hard time finding a diesel <60K miles for $25 grand. I tried for 4 months and didn't even come close. You will find a dodge for a little less than the chevy's and GMC's. I ended up with a dodge mega cab diesel. Love the truck, pulls like a freight train. You won't find an 05-06 chevy for under $30K and that would be a good deal.

GO with the duramax best diesel on the market IMO

"Duramax 4x4's tent to eat front hubs about every 60k miles." <BR> <BR>I have had several friends with these trucks, some close to 200000 miles, and have never seen this. <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.dieselplace.com" target="_blank">www.dieselplace.com</a> is a good place for the chevy's on concerns, prices etc.

Cummins is unarguably the best diesel engine on the market, the truck is what's debatable.

i tried friends 06 ford and chevy... <BR> <BR>fell in love with the chevy and allison transmission.. not to mention better gas mileage off the chevy..

I sold my boat so i know longer need my duramax if you are intrested. It is an 04 LT fully loaded, crew cab, short bed, black, 4x4, auto, tan leather, 48k miles, 6" lift, 18" wheels with 35" toyos, shift kit, cat back exhaust. $32k firm. If you are intrested, email me at <a href="mailto:pf728@yahoo.com">pf728@yahoo.com</a>

That is a good deal on a duramax, good luck selling that patrick (even though you won't need luck).

what are some good resources to find some used diesel trucks... i've been hitting up carmax and ebay.. i live in the dallas area, but for the right deal, i'm not opposed to traveling. i'm in nevada and california for work often.. <BR> <BR>do you guys think my price point is off?? <BR>(in reference to nu bu's post) <BR> <BR>SCA, thanks for the site... i'm now OFFICIALLY in information overload! <img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/crazy.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR>Patrick, sounds like a bad a$$ truck but a little rich for my wallet.

Since you're in Texas...give these guys a look. I bought an 04 Dodge Cummins 4X4, last year loaded, not a Lariat. 28K miles for 25K with a 4yr unlimited mile warranty. Warranty covers anything &amp; everything except the stereo. Delivered to my house in CA. They get new stuff everyday. <BR>Oh yeah &amp; Dodge = REAL TRUCK!!! <BR> <BR>http://dieseltruckresource.com/ <BR>http://www.turbodieselregister.com/ <BR> <BR> <BR>(Message edited by pri3st on September 25, 2007)

CR I think your price point is a little off, not way off. You might have to take a higher mileage truck for the 25K. There are some good deals out there but what I found was up to and over the 100K mile mark. Doesn't really matter with a diesel as long as the truck's been taken care of and in good shape. Don't forget about autotrader.com.

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1><b>quote:</b></font><p>"Duramax 4x4's tent to eat front hubs about every 60k miles." <BR> <BR>I have had several friends with these trucks, some close to 200000 miles, and have never seen this. <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.dieselplace.com" target="_blank">www.dieselplace.com</a> is a good place for the chevy's on concerns, prices etc.<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote> <BR> <BR>Search <a href="http://www.dieselplace.com" target="_blank">www.dieselplace.com</a> for "wheel bearings" or "hub" in thread titles only, and let me know if you still think it's not a fairly common problem.

It may be a problem, but is def not a common problem. You have to remember, a lot of people go onto dieselplace only when they have some issue. So for every ten people who go onto it with a problem there is a thousand who never do, because it is not an issue. Like I said, I own a duramax, and can easily name ten others who do as well, and have never seen this issue.

Fair enough. I've replaced both of mine pre-60K, and I know one other person who has had to as well.

I wonder if maybe it is a problem with a specific year, or something else. Where I live it is dry most of the time, maybe its a moisture thing. Who knows.

I have 4 D-maxes an 2001 with 290,000 miles on it no bearings to date tranfercase last week. 03 drivers side font bearing at 130,000 it now has a 190,000 miles on it. an 05 150,000 miles on it drivers side bearing also last week. an 07 Lmm no problems this truck pulls like a fright train these are all farm trucks &amp; worked hard in the dirt &amp; 4 wheel drive every single day so take what you want from that, these trucks are great Gmc all the way you will love your decision,(go with an 06 duramax) if you can probably the best D-max motor.. OH ya haven't touched a tranny yet..

it's just unbelievable that an engine can go 290k!!! my durango is limping along at 155k! can the other mechanical and electrical parts (in general) last as long as the engine, or do you have to work on it all the time as the mileage goes up? <BR> <BR>nu bu, i have found several diesels matching my criteria. plus or minus 5k miles and $500. i just havn't been able to snatch em up fast enough, or they were on the other side of the country. i cant wait to get a new ride!!!

Oops...forgot to post the link <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/Texas-Direct-Auto_Trucks_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ2QQftidZ2QQtZkm " target="_blank">http://stores.ebay.com/Texas-Direct-Auto_Trucks_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ2QQftidZ2QQtZkm </a>

C.R. there as been little things here and there door handles for one &amp; cd player &amp; replaced instrument cluster not to bad though maybe a few other things.

On my Dmax the driver's side bearing went at 30k then the passenger at 45k. The kicker is that they are a sealed unit and can't be rebuilt. Stealer retails about $450 per bearing<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/uhoh.gif" border=0> Thankfully I bought the extended warranty. <BR> <BR>Watchout on 04.5 to 05 LLYs for the driver's side injector harness too. <BR> <BR>C.R.- since you are just down the road I'll keep my eyes peeled. <BR> <BR>(Message edited by doug2 on September 27, 2007)

i do believe the cummins has the most tried and tested engine and therefore engine i would give to them, but with the newer dodges they have a 4 speed automatic which doesnt provide very positive q/mile times or shift ranges. <BR>The interior on the chevy has been around since 1995 so its not very up to date, the ford and dodge have the best and if you get a king ranch or harley edition ford the interior in there will be the best. <BR>IMO dont buy a 2003 psd or a 2003 cummins due to that was the first year they were introduced and they had some problems. And this is just me but i believe the only reason that duramax changed there engines from the LB7 (01-04) to the LLY (04.5-05) to the LBZ (06-07.5) to the new LLM is because they cant find the right working fit, whereas dodge and ford have had very little problems in there engines and have not had to change from dodges 5.9 (03-07) and the ford's 6.0 (03-07) <BR> <BR>Dodge or Ford

liquid you are off gm first off changed there interior in 95 99 07 the d-max from 01 to o7 is a 6.6 liter just power upgrades and dif turbos &amp; emmisions ford went from 7.3 great motor, to 6.0 p.o.s to 6.4, dodge 5.9 to a 6.7 (but the cummings is a great motor I have three but in tracters. aaaaaaaand ford really hasnt changed there int. in like 10 years till this year. &amp; duramax with motor changed codes because ford &amp;dodge kept upping the power, although gm might change the displacment for 2010 emmi. gm 6.6 could make more power then the dodge &amp; ford when ever they wanted to. from the OEM stand point.

first off there is no G in cummins! next their is no light duty diesel that can out pull a cummins 5.9 (from the factory) since it makes max torque at much lower rpm. if your going to drive the truck every day buy whatever you can get the best deal on, they all can handel that. if you are going to work the living hell out of it get an f-250/350 and put a cummins in it. fords should come that way since ford owns cummins. stay far far away from the early vt365(6.0)

The Ford 6.0 engine is terrible. They have had an extensive amount of issues with them. So much to the point the Ford is currently or just got out of legal litigation one with the sub manufacture for the engines. The previous 7.3L or current engine are the only way to go with Ford. If you go with Cummins, their new 6 spd automatic should be right up their with Chevy's Allison 1000. Their previous trannys are known to have a high failure rate. Cummins made a nice upgrade in 2004.5 I believe.

the Allison's are not all that they are cracked up to be.

? and their downfalls would be? They have been the best transmission to hold up to the amount of torque these diesel motors are putting out. What tranny would you recommend then?

^^^Yes they are I got to see one all apart this week. It was getting upgraded clutches,shift kit and converter. It is one massive unit.

t-bag electrical problems is about the only problems you will see out of an allison, good tranny behind a dura max, they do not hold up behind any thing that makes real power! a cummins 5.9 or the new ISB's will smoke an allison fast. DT 466's tend to eat them too. you are correct that there is no real competitor to the allison for an automatic.

"the Allison's are not all that they are cracked up to be." <BR> <BR> <BR>^^^^LOL^^^^

I have a DT366 with an allison 545 in a lifted 72 passenger school bus and runs like raped ape. The allison is by far the best tranny on the market, I will be doing a conversion swap into my 1999 7.3L PSD when my current tranny nukes. Which is gonna be pretty soon.<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/wink.gif" border=0> <BR> <BR>(Message edited by nasty530 on September 27, 2007)

just don't want ya'll to think that they are bullet proof. DT 366 ?

DT 466 dont use the Allison 1000 6 spd that is used in the Duramaxs' as to my knowledge. Sorry, DT360, typo

I have at least 18 DT 466's in the fleet I work on with the 1000's in them.

NOTHING is bullet proof. Give it to me I can break it!!<img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/clipart/proud.gif" border=0>

shane sorrrry for the ttypo I didn't noo we were in school my mistakee and the torque range is what 200 rpms diffs betweeeen dodge &amp;&amp; GM. go to pickuptruck.com 4.10 gears in the dodge (cummins!!!!!!!!!) got it .... to 3.73 in the GM who wins.. should be the 4.10 but nope its the gm

The only thing wrong with the 5.9 cummins..is the transmission. 4 gears just will not compare with a 5, or 6 speed. Time will tell with their new tranny, and 6.7L.

michael, i know they had a brand new layout in 95 and a new one this year but in 99 they only freshened up the look, i ride in an 03 silverado tons and i can still see the same look and lines from the recent ones. I know what years the diesel engine years but i was saying that they have had a longer run than a d-max, having never owned a d-max i cannot say anything bad about them but i hear that the 6.6 is staying a while, also they havent changed the interior on the ford since 99. And for all you 6.0 haters i can tell you that the first few years for it were sh*t but i have experienced no major problems, only smaller ones like the injectors on the gm's. I think the 7.3 is way better than the 6.0 but the 6.0 isnt crap either, it still gets the job done, and then some

GOT MY NEW TRUCK TODAY!!! 05 chevy 2500 4X4 duramax... everything i wanted but leather... already has nice wheels! i'll try and post some pics tomorrow. i'm so pumped! I cant wait to get my boat behind it.

That was the best choice! How much did you spend? Miles?