Build "The" Perfect Truck for me

[leechlake]

I've had three Suburbans and I'm ready to move on. I'd like to recruit the help of FM'ers to help me build the perfect vehicle. My only things I need are four doors, topper, rear entertainment for the kids and big tires. Kind of looking for handi and cool accessories that make it look good and perform well. I hunt and fish a lot, only pull a 18' ProV, I would like an engine bigger than the 5.3 I have now, but really not a diesel. Thanks, build away. If I get it I'll post photos, price isn't too much of a problem, for this scenario (unless someone goes crazy, but do it anyway).

[Biggestfish]

I agree that the ride in the 3/4 ton is rougher than a 1/2 ton, so if that is something that is very important to any buyer it may be best to stick with a 1/2 ton. My 04 F150 rode as smooth as any car and I do miss that, but on the plus side as time has gone I don't really notice the rougher ride.... That much.

[FL SNIPER]

A 1997 Chevy 1/2 Ton push button 4x4 Ext Cab Two Door, 5.7 vortec, BFG All Terrains, 132k miles on it, and a topper my buddy gave me. Her name is baby blue. Probably not the perfect truck for anyone except me.

Hope you find something you love too! Have fun shopping.

PS - Is there a half ton diesel out there? Just curious...thanks.

[Gissert]

Chevy used to sell half ton diesels with the 6.5, I believe. They quit doing it in late 90's. They are pretty hard to find now.

I'd love to see a half ton truck with a smaller in-line 4 cylinder diesel.

[LABS4ME]

Ford's got one in development right now... F150, small powerstroke diesel (I think a 4 cyl) est. 22-28 mpg. Projected release 2007. Keep watching for it... I am probably going to go from my Super Duty down to this. Now if they would only get rid of the "grocery getter" box on the 150 Super Crew!

Good Luck!

Ken

[Blaze]

Labs - where's you read/hear that? I've been looking online and can't find any info on it. I'd consider trading my truck too if these babies were available...

[Valv]

With diesel at $ 2.60 I bet A LOT of truck owners will trade in.....Cummins has a small 2.9 in project for Dodge Durango, they already have a 2.7l Mercedes on their Sprinter vans and another small diesle on Jeep Liberty CRD which I really admire as a second vehicle......

[wisconsinfish]

If you are looking to fit bigger tires and have good ground clearance you can eliminate all the GM's and the '04 and newer Ford F-150 which only have 8.5" of clearance under the exhaust and frame crossmember.

I have an '03 Chev 2500 HD with the 6.0 V8. I put 285 bfg's on the stock rims, but ended up buying different rims because they were too skinny (6.5" wide steel wheel) and the tires were wearing in the center. I had to cut the plastic away on the inner fender and the lower bumper and also tightent the torsion bars a bit. The Ford Super Duty's will fit 33x12.5 easy along with dodge hd's. Dodge may even fit 35's with no modifications. Don't forget to look at the clearance underneith the frame. My chevrolet is horrible. The lowest spot on the frame was 10.5" and with the bigger tires now is 12". Fords and Dodge run about 12"-16" clearance with stock tires. My 6.0 gets about 12.5 mpg on a good day. 10 mpg pulling a 16 foot alumacraft navigator. I will definately be switching to a diesel next time.

As far as the ford diesel, my brother has an '05 F-250 extended cab long bed and gets 18.5 mpg empty and pulling my boat, 17 mpg. He has 8,000 miles and has had it in for warranty work twice. Both were for a leaking oil pan. If it happens again, Ford will get to buy it back under the "lemon law".

I think I'm going to try out a dodge cummins for my next rig. I just wish they would make the power wagon with the cummins in it and manual hubs on the front axle. That would be the perfect stock-offroad heavy duty truck.

[LABS4ME]

My brother gave me an article earlier this summer from if I remember "Truck Trends". I could be wrong on the magazine as he gets many of them... I was intrigued when I read the article...

Good Luck!

Ken

[LMITOUT]

I'm not so certain for Fords baby 'Stroke quite yet. After their 6.0L Powerstroke debacle when they debuted, there were some hard feelings between Ford and International (they make the Powerstroke for those who didn't know) and they ceased development of that engine. International filed to recoup the costs in the development and Ford did finally pay them a sum of money and the last I heard the project was put on hold. They may have kissed and made up since then, or possibly Ford found another source...

Dodge is also working on a V-6 diesel for their 1500's and they may switch to a Mercedes V-8 diesel for the bigger trucks as well. This would leave the door open for Ford to drop the problematic Powerstroke and scoop up the Cummins contract. The Powerstrokes have made leaps and bounds to crawl out of their terrible first couple years but have left many doubters in this engine.

I can't see Dodge ditching their bread and butter Cummins, but Mercedes is part of the Chrysler family.

Should be an interesting next couple of years. With the gas crunch and more economical vehicles needed, I hope that the U.S. auto manufacturers start producing more vehicles with a diesel option. Look at the mileage that a VW Jetta TDI gets. We need engines like that in American cars too. I'm really hoping a smaller (V-6) diesel is availabe in 1/2 tons soon as I wouldn't mind going down a size from the 3/4 ton to get the diesel power and mpg with a little better ride.