Did you not shut the door all the way, or did it pop open from the body flex?

Huh I didn't notice that in the photo

It just wasn't shut all the way. Truck isn't ALL crap ya know

Each company builds a test track to suit their trucks. Each track will show their truck to be superior to the others.

Remember in the '80s when Ford did the commercial with the cinder block mountain? The truck really did climb that mound/mountain of concrete blocks. However, they got one run with the truck and it was totaled after the climb. To it's credit, it was the only one that could complete the climb.

All in all, I'd say spend the extra cash and get a 1 ton diesel! A 1 ton saves you on insurance, and the diesel gets the best fuel economy. I wish I had gotten the 1 ton (didn't know about the insurance until after the purchase) and I will never own another truck without a diesel.

I own all three American trucks. The GMC is by far the nicest and best performing. Then again, maybe that's because my Ford is a '78 F-250 and the Dodge is a '90 Dakota. The Dodge has amazed me with well over 200k on it now, while the Ford is still solid despite some rust and runs well when the fuel filter isn't clogged (need to clean or replace the tank).

I went to a Ford dealership a couple of years ago to scout out used trucks. Having bought an '04 Mustang new a couple years prior I didn't want another new vehicle. My only stipulations were full sized and extended or crew cab (though 4wd and a 3/4 ton were also desired. The only truck on the lot was an '06 GMC Sierra SLT crew cab. I figured there was no way that: a) I'd get financing, and b) they'd take my Sentra as a trade-in. The thing was fully loaded with both the Z71 and tow packages and was a far cry from the Ford work truck I wanted to look at and eventually buy.

Needless to say, I drove off in the GMC only months before gas prices started sky rocketing. The Sentra had a rear main seal leak, the driver's door panel was loose where I had to break apart the window switch and use alligator clips to put the window up and down, the check engine soon light had just turned on at 150k on the way home from Fort Benning, and still a mechanic at the Ford dealership told me it was a nice car. He probably ended up with it. The GMC has been great, but I wish I had the foresight to negotiate a deal where I kept the Sentra. That said, the Sierra has handled weekly commutes between Richmond and DC as well as the move from Richmond to Baton Rouge and daily commuting to and from work. Gas mileage is okay but varies greatly on how I drive it and having a newer truck is great for the minimal hauling and towing I do.

As for visual and performance modifications, I keep them minimal. K&N filter, Mobil 1 or Royal Purple synthetic, and a billet grill and chrome bug guard picked up for less than $100 for both. Too much chrome is tacky, even for a big rig. Performance mods are expensive for my budget, and my usual driving habits don't warrant them. I'll save those upgrades for the Mustang. I feel like doing something to the truck, though, so the transfer case and transmission fluid might get changed later on.

I stay with my Fords.

GM or Toyota, the rest are just a waste of money.

Fair enough. You just bring your little Chevy or Toyo over and I'll take it for a ride in the back of my Dodge Cummins.

I've never had a truck

That Cummins is a hell of an engine too bad Dodge cant build a tranny to hold it.

..............and that's why I have the six speed. Autos are for sissies.


Kidding aside, I worked on some small components during the development of this truck (thermostat and throttle position sensor for the transmission), way back when it was the Cummins B and C series, an engine actually not near as powerful as mine today.

The original test vehicles, the torque was so high it was ripping transmissions out left and right even the Allison same version used in the M1 Abrams and Bradley (had a TPS on that tranny too.) It was such a problem, Chrysler had to delay the truck introduction 18 months despite having already doing a media blitz on the truck so that they could design a new transmission just for the engine. Watching a vehicle burn rubber like crazy all four wheels is quite impressive.

I'm afraid I'm too intimate with this topic and feel anyone who buys a diesel, no matter who's, is making a big mistake if they go with an automatic transmission. Diesels just have too much torque and it's bad enough they put a 250,000-350,000 mile engine in a 100,000 mile chassis to add to the problem by having a 100,000 mile transmission.

While you are rebuilding that front end and changing those "U" joints, you can change the clutch.

Tj

I agree a an auto tranny has no place in a diesel. I have seen a couple of 6 speeds grenade but not near as many as autos. GM was gonna use a CAT diesel engine but could not build a rear end or tranny that would stand up to the torque. It is amazing how much power a diesel truck will put out these days.

i've never owned a car.

1996 GMC 3500 454 Carbon Footprint Model
210,000 miles 1 rebuild
Suspension absolutely sucks on GMC's & Chevy's especially if you have a lift.
I have replaced Ball joints and virtually every component essential to suspension...
Love the interiors though, this is my 3rd Chevy/GMC and they are built Chevy tough..except the suspension...damn those suspension engineers not thinking that people are going to lift their trucks..

I just saw this, lol. I'll put my 1/2 ton up against yours....

I'd have that Nissan crying so bad my SS would idle across the finish line to keep it close, haha. I love your dodge though, I've owned Toyotas, Dodges, Fords, and Chevy--- and without a shadow of the doubt the absolute most complete for what I desire a truck to do and perform is my Silverado SS.

Oh man, you made me cringe. Though I have the tools and a process laid out, I hate doing GM ball joints.

I wish everyone had stuck to the old screw in types.

Tj

I love my 03 Dodge2500 diesel. I do agree with the fact that the tranny's suck though so I bought an aftermarket performance tranny to handle my TST and Smarty stack. This truck outruns my brother-in-laws 2000 TransAm WS6 6-speed. It's got a Kelderman air-ride suspension front and rear. I usually use it to haul my gooseneck flatbed but I'm a performance junkie so I want to play hard when I'm not hauling. I'm just about at the end of my turbo's life though. Pushing 35psi for over a year on the stock turbo hasn't done it any favors. Oh well, look out, twins will be on the way.



One of my best friends has an 03 Ford Powerstroke and we always talk about the ultimate combo being his truck with my motor. I like his interior space much more than I like mine. I haven't been in a new mega cab though.

As long as it doesn't overheat on the way to the mountains. Right?

Dude, nice ride..I dig those tires..I can imagine you need them where you are, but I would love to get my truck sideways in some desert mud with those things..

in defense of dodge cummins motors check out this video. not many other engines could take this repeated abuse with that big of injectors, twin turbos, and not to mention the NOS! Lmao

by the way burke i like your truck

Only real pick-up out there was the old Ford hiboys.
There is a reason all the old ranchers never let go of them.
First one i rode was my uncles 73 i think it was.
Remember having a hard time getting in.

Take any pick-up and throw it in the back of my 68 F250 4x4 with a 390 in it.
All manuel so not much to break.

Other than a Ford i would want one of the International pick-ups.
Only 500 were ever made of them.
Aunt had one on the ranch and it would go anywhere on it's stock 17in rims/tires.
Only bad thing about it was it was 6 volt.