considering a new truck

[bcmarinamanager]

2004.5 Dodge 2500 here with the 325hp-600lb.ft of torque inline Cummins 6 cylinder. Nothing has the power numbers of the Cummins. Great truck, and gets really good mileage for what it is... a 9,000lbs beast! Mine has been very, very reliable.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by bcmarinamanager

Nothing has the power numbers of the Cummins.

The DURAMAX has had the CUMMINS beat for several years in HP and IIRC torque as well. FORD is still 3rd in numbers amongst the big 3. The CUMMINS is a great engine, as well as the DMAX. The NAVISTARS are also good engines in INTERNATIONAL trim level, but once FORD entered the picture it went downhill. The DMAX also has the ALLISON backing it, but the cab and chassis DODGES with the CUMMINS have an ALLISON copy in them(the regular 2500/3500's use a DODGE built tranny designed off of the 545RFE). FORD's TORQUEFLITE is a turd I think that has proven it's weakness's time and time again. FORD sunk to much money into designing them to abanden them once they realized what they were. The best bang for the buck is a 96-98 DODGE with a CUMMINS or a 94.5-97 FORD with the 7.3L POWERSTROKE.

[cterrebonne]

i was trying to get somthing in a 2000 ands later though

[THEFERMANATOR]

7.3L POWERSTROKE is about the most reliable one out there. The CUMMINS up until 03 had a fairly problematic injection system lift pump that caused ALOT of injection pumps to fail. The DURAMAX is also a nice choice, but pricey even used. The common rail injected CUMMINS is NICE as well, but DODGE's autos never impressed me when stock(they can be built up to hold-up better, and the lat 03+ 48RE has an OK track record stock.

[cterrebonne]

yeah the d-max's were the ones i was probably set on. esp with the alli' trans. i heard about front wheel bearing problems with them though. its probably not true just hear say