Big 3 diesel trucks comparison

PTMTJ · 2026-09-20T18:59:55-0600

I went through this about 2 years ago. I do get Ford and GM employee pricing for life but I'm not brand loyal at all.

Ford diesels still use a Bosch CP4 pump which I've never been a fan of but the 10R140 transmissions now have all the issues worked out. GM diesels use a better Denso pump but they still haven't corrected the transmission issues that Ford already has (it was co-developed between them). The new L6P diesel will be out in a couple years if you want to wait for it. Dodge Cummins diesels are solid but they don't use the Aisin or ZF transmissions now. All the emissions equipment sucks regardless of brand.

I live in one of the flattest states so I ended up choosing a SuperDuty with a 7.3 gas and 10R140 transmission with the new bigger rear axle rated for 17,700lbs towing conventional. It tows my "cigarette boat" great but sucks fuel down and no mountains anywhere within 4-5 hours.

If you want to compare the trucks towing first hand, find an Enterprise Rent-A-Truck close to you and rent one of each for as long as you need to decide.

Woodrow · 2026-09-20T19:20:27-0600

Apparition said:
I think the problem is Mike put the money into it already and isn’t happy.

Buy new and you have at least 3 years fully warrantied. Extend the warranty and you can make it 125k and like 10 years for a couple grand.

Thats where I’m at. Predictably, a lot of folks here would favor sticking with something old and simple, and I am somewhat in that camp in theory. The complexity of emission systems on modern diesels and just the electronics in general on all modern cars does seem to increase the planned obsolescence. That just seems wasteful to me.

What I need is a truck that just works when I need a truck so I can focus on other things like the jeep family and my job. The truck is not my hobby. Unfortunately, I’ve come to believe that that means staying in a newer truck.

Also, old versus new wasn’t the question I was posing. The question is: Of the three new 1T diesel truck options, what are the pros and cons of each?

Rickyd said:
Kinda. The allison swap was a big gamble. They work great in chevys,but only with a perfect tune and components. Throw one in a dodge and it needs to go to a duramax tuner shop.and probably get rebuilt by the handful of guys who know tuned allisons.

He isn't saying why he's throwing in the towel but i have some suspicions he wishes he'd just done a dodge trans with billet parts since even wildman can work on those

You’re right. It’s the transmission. Long, expensive story but the Allison swap isn’t what I had hoped.At all. Another minivan transmission might’ve been a better short-term solution, but the truth is I never liked that transmission even when it was new.If there was a manual that could reliably survive modern diesel power and fit in a light duty truck, that would be the obvious answer. But there isn’t and there are a host of other things that need attention on this 19 yr old, 180K mi truck. So its time to cut my losses (money and time).

Zorba · 2026-09-20T20:17:48-0600

Woodrow said:
What I need is a truck that just works when I need a truck so I can focus on other things like the jeep family and my job. The truck is not my hobby. Unfortunately, I’ve come to believe that that means staying in a newer truck.

When I keep reading about new trucks spending weeks and months in a dealership for warranty repairs that they can't get parts for and/or can't seem to fix - never mind the electronic bullshit; an older, well maintained truck makes more sense TO ME. You gotta do you. If it were me, and it isn't, I'd spend whatever money I needed to to get the '08 back to reliability - I think you'd end up spending a LOT less money, but I could be wrong. Apparently, something called an "Eaton Fuller RoadRanger" manual transmission can handle the power of a modern diesel pickup - but whether or not you can fit one in a pickup truck is an exercise for the reader...

Abendage · 2026-09-20T20:43:41-0600

I have a 2020 Powerstroke that I wouldn’t hesitate one second to buy again. It has absolutely been trouble free since new with only maintenance. I think it has about 130k on it now. It’s never had a wrench turned on it otherwise besides installing a 55 gal tank. Plenty of power, quiet ride, maybe not smooth but I’ll put up with how it rides empty for how it handles with my 5th wheel hooked up.

I personally prefer the Ford cabs over the other two. Rear seat is huge and so is headroom. Cupholders everywhere and they are big enough to hold a Gatorade bottle or the like (I had a Chevy 1/2 ton as a work vehicle for awhile and while it may seem trivial the cupholder situation in that truck really turned me off to the whole truck). I also want to hug whoever designed where the oil filter is. Completely accessible with nothing below it. No complaints with the truck.

Blove63 · 2026-09-20T21:18:42-0600

Zorba said:
When I keep reading about new trucks spending weeks and months in a dealership for warranty repairs that they can't get parts for and/or can't seem to fix - never mind the electronic bullshit; an older, well maintained truck makes more sense TO ME. You gotta do you. If it were me, and it isn't, I'd spend whatever money I needed to to get the '08 back to reliability - I think you'd end up spending a LOT less money, but I could be wrong. Apparently, something called an "Eaton Fuller RoadRanger" manual transmission can handle the power of a modern diesel pickup - but whether or not you can fit one in a pickup truck is an exercise for the reader...

After reading this thread I'll keep my 98 f250 HD, last of the square Ford's. I've had it since 04 and it keeps going. Granted this one has a 460 so it's like flushing a toilet when you step on the accelerator, but Diesel in CA is $8 a gallon so you don't save much with better MPG.

Search

Search

Big 3 diesel trucks comparison

PTMTJ

Member

Woodrow

now with 99”😎

Zorba

"The Veiled Male"

Abendage

TJ Enthusiast

Blove63

TJ Enthusiast

Similar threads