F550

[extraspecialman]

I work at a feed and fertilizer mill in the winter.My boss bought a new F550 with the powerstroke diesel to haul feed and such on.That poor truck hauls 6 tons of feed at one time.Sometimes 3 or 4 times a day,and fairly long hauls too,some hauls are over a 100 miles each way.His has the automatic.While any truck that hauls 6 tons must be pretty tuff,it does seem a little weak to me.I would say its due to the auto tranny.It does get good fuel mileage tho,11-12 mpg wether loaded or empty.As far as the Kodiak goes,that 8.1 gas engine is hard to beat power wise.It will walk off and leave any diesel with the exception of a Cat.While the mileage of the 8.1 in a truck the size of a Kodiak may only be around 8 mpg,its still cheaper than diesel.Im ready for the bad rep,but Dodge trucks are pure junk.Dodge pickups have a great engine in the cummins,but the rest just sucks a$$.My 98 2500 dodges tranny went at 60,000.Wheel bearings went at 70,000,along with the ball joints.Rear end got to loud to drive at about 75,000.Body lines were off a 1/4 inch directly from the factory.The dodge gas engines are sick.Even the window tracks in the passenger door broke .Plus Dodge parts are sky high.Stick with Ford.Chevy a close 2nd.

 

[motoroilmccall]

I work at a feed and fertilizer mill in the winter.My boss bought a new F550 with the powerstroke diesel to haul feed and such on.That poor truck hauls 6 tons of feed at one time.Sometimes 3 or 4 times a day,and fairly long hauls too,some hauls are over a 100 miles each way.His has the automatic.While any truck that hauls 6 tons must be pretty tuff,it does seem a little weak to me.I would say its due to the auto tranny.It does get good fuel mileage tho,11-12 mpg wether loaded or empty.As far as the Kodiak goes,that 8.1 gas engine is hard to beat power wise.It will walk off and leave any diesel with the exception of a Cat.While the mileage of the 8.1 in a truck the size of a Kodiak may only be around 8 mpg,its still cheaper than diesel.Im ready for the bad rep,but Dodge trucks are pure junk.Dodge pickups have a great engine in the cummins,but the rest just sucks a$$.My 98 2500 dodges tranny went at 60,000.Wheel bearings went at 70,000,along with the ball joints.Rear end got to loud to drive at about 75,000.Body lines were off a 1/4 inch directly from the factory.The dodge gas engines are sick.Even the window tracks in the passenger door broke .Plus Dodge parts are sky high.Stick with Ford.Chevy a close 2nd.

Just saying a 8.1L Chevy Kodiak will blow past any Diesel shows your lack of knowledge. Then saying a CAT motor is the quickest just adds to the bad rap, heck, the 6.6L Duramax is quicker than the 8.1L, and it pulls with more authority too! My 97 Cummins Dodge will rip the teeth out of any 8.1L Chevy 2500 or bigger you can show me, a Kodiak won't even put up a fight! And I'll waste half the fuel doing it...

Its all about luck when buying an older vehicle, didn't your Dad ever tell you not to buy anything built on a Monday or Friday? There's a reason. Obviously you beat the hell out of your truck. Mines going well over 300K strong, with no major repair to the truck itself, besides 1 Don Thuren Track Bar, and a set of MOOG Balljoints. $20 Front U-joint I cracked (too much power will do that), and typical oil changes, brakes, coolant flush, the norm. But I keep my vehicles greased, and washed. You'd be amazed what a good once a week washing will do for rust prevention, and what a little grease can do to extend the life of ball-joints, u-joints, sway bar end links, bearings, and everything else.

 

[gink595]

I work at a feed and fertilizer mill in the winter.My boss bought a new F550 with the powerstroke diesel to haul feed and such on.That poor truck hauls 6 tons of feed at one time.Sometimes 3 or 4 times a day,and fairly long hauls too,some hauls are over a 100 miles each way.His has the automatic.While any truck that hauls 6 tons must be pretty tuff,it does seem a little weak to me.I would say its due to the auto tranny.It does get good fuel mileage tho,11-12 mpg wether loaded or empty.As far as the Kodiak goes,that 8.1 gas engine is hard to beat power wise.It will walk off and leave any diesel with the exception of a Cat.While the mileage of the 8.1 in a truck the size of a Kodiak may only be around 8 mpg,its still cheaper than diesel.Im ready for the bad rep,but Dodge trucks are pure junk.Dodge pickups have a great engine in the cummins,but the rest just sucks a$$.My 98 2500 dodges tranny went at 60,000.Wheel bearings went at 70,000,along with the ball joints.Rear end got to loud to drive at about 75,000.Body lines were off a 1/4 inch directly from the factory.The dodge gas engines are sick.Even the window tracks in the passenger door broke .Plus Dodge parts are sky high.Stick with Ford.Chevy a close 2nd.

If you haven't experienced a chipped diesel you need to do so, to really appreciate the potential of these motors, any of them. I have a 97 Powerstroke and I put a 99' intercooler and 80hp chip in it, I thought it was bad until I took a Duramax out with a chip in it. there was no comparison the Duramax just got it. But I could beat a stock duiemax. These diesel are 7000# hotrods that can haul the coal!!

 

[Peacock]

Just saying a 8.1L Chevy Kodiak will blow past any Diesel shows your lack of knowledge. Then saying a CAT motor is the quickest just adds to the bad rap, heck, the 6.6L Duramax is quicker than the 8.1L, and it pulls with more authority too! My 97 Cummins Dodge will rip the teeth out of any 8.1L Chevy 2500 or bigger you can show me, a Kodiak won't even put up a fight! And I'll waste half the fuel doing it...

Its all about luck when buying an older vehicle, didn't your Dad ever tell you not to buy anything built on a Monday or Friday? There's a reason. Obviously you beat the hell out of your truck. Mines going well over 300K strong, with no major repair to the truck itself, besides 1 Don Thuren Track Bar, and a set of MOOG Balljoints. $20 Front U-joint I cracked (too much power will do that), and typical oil changes, brakes, coolant flush, the norm. But I keep my vehicles greased, and washed. You'd be amazed what a good once a week washing will do for rust prevention, and what a little grease can do to extend the life of ball-joints, u-joints, sway bar end links, bearings, and everything else.

Your truck is an exception to the rule. I work as a tech at a Dodge dealer and the trucks have their share of problems.

Stock vs. stock an 8.1 will out pull a 12v Cummins. Modded is no comparison.

 

[clearance]

I like the '73-'87 Chev/GMC trucks. 3/4 tons, they are easy and cheap to fix, last for a long time. Tell me though guys, and I will believe you because many of you are mechanics. Now, what do you guys think of the trucks by the big three from the 60s, 70s and early 80s? For reliabilty, most of all?

 

[Peacock]

I like the '73-'87 Chev/GMC trucks. 3/4 tons, they are easy and cheap to fix, last for a long time. Tell me though guys, and I will believe you because many of you are mechanics. Now, what do you guys think of the trucks by the big three from the 60s, 70s and early 80s? For reliabilty, most of all?

I use an '81 3/4 ton Chevy myself.

I'd say that the reliability is about on par with current stuff. Remember that while the old stuff is MUCH more simple, it is also made with some pretty crude tolerances. The new stuff uses HUGE frame rails and differentials in comparison, but the curb weight is much higher to begin with. They also have about 100x the wiring and sensors to keep tabs on everything.

 

[clearance]

I use an '81 3/4 ton Chevy myself.

I'd say that the reliability is about on par with current stuff. Remember that while the old stuff is MUCH more simple, it is also made with some pretty crude tolerances. The new stuff uses HUGE frame rails and differentials in comparison, but the curb weight is much higher to begin with. They also have about 100x the wiring and sensors to keep tabs on everything.

Thank you. I have an '80, it is the last year for the 205 in 3/4 tons, also the last year all the 3/4 tons got the full floating rear axle. So the reliability is the same, but when you go to fix the new........$$$$. I will keep driving the beaters.

 

[Peacock]

Thank you. I have an '80, it is the last year for the 205 in 3/4 tons, also the last year all the 3/4 tons got the full floating rear axle. So the reliability is the same, but when you go to fix the new........$$$$. I will keep driving the beaters.

You are exactly right about price of parts.

My truck has the 208 and small 14 bolt. I've got a line on the full float 14 bolt and a 205, but I'm pretty sure it's for the early 465. Mine should have the fine spline output shaft. Do you know what year they switched output shafts on the 465?

I've hauled 5,500lbs in mine quite a few time and it hauled it like a champ, but I'd prefer a little the full float axle.

 

[clearance]

You are exactly right about price of parts.

My truck has the 208 and small 14 bolt. I've got a line on the full float 14 bolt and a 205, but I'm pretty sure it's for the early 465. Mine should have the fine spline output shaft. Do you know what year they switched output shafts on the 465?

I've hauled 5,500lbs in mine quite a few time and it hauled it like a champ, but I'd prefer a little the full float axle.

No, I don't. Maybe you could get a 465 that fits. I am not a mechanic, but I have heard about the different shafts, maybe read it somewhere. If you ask here, someone will know.

 

[extraspecialman]

gotta agree there.The old Chevys and Fords were some tuff ol trucks.If you were drivin down the road and the engine died,it was because you ran outta gas.My old 87 F 250 had 180,000 miles on the 351 W when I traded her off.Still runnin good.I once hit a deer with my 85 F 250 at 50mph,busted the front license plate.Had a 85 GMC 3/4 ton that would not squat with any load of wood I could fit in the bed.I like GM cause the parts interchange so well on the older models.You can bolt up anything from a 250 inline 6 to a 454 big block to the same bell housing.Intakes,exhaust manifolds,even most heads could be interchanged on the small block V-8,[except the 400 had steam holes].But again,I will say that even the old Dodges were junk.If the wheel bearing on a Dodge wore out,the wheel fell off.Dodge was always a box on wheels.Junk bodies,junk steering,weak suspension.Drive shafts in the heavier trucks would get thrown out about once a month .Dodge did have a fine engine in the slant 6 and the 318,although on the weak side.Anyhow,this has just been my experience with dodge,Im sure lots of folks out there have had dodges that never gave them a minutes trouble.

 

[gink595]

Im sure lots of folks out there have had dodges that never gave them a minutes trouble.

HAHAHA, yeah right

 

[motoroilmccall]

I'm one of those guys. Had more POS Chevy's and Fords than I care to even think about. Total pile's. I'd rather have an old Toyota over one of those old pieces of junk. As far as new trucks go; Dodge, Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Nissan... In that order.

I'll hook my "Weak" Dodge to anyone on here's truck, barring anything over class 5 of course, without hesitation. We'll see who makes a real truck then. I'd love to see a nice shiny new F-550 behind me, less than 20K miles on it... My 97 Dodge will pull it all over town, sporting over 300K miles on the odometer.

 

[gink595]

I'm one of those guys. Had more POS Chevy's and Fords than I care to even think about. Total pile's. I'd rather have an old Toyota over one of those old pieces of junk. As far as new trucks go; Dodge, Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Nissan... In that order.

I'll hook my "Weak" Dodge to anyone on here's truck, barring anything over class 5 of course, without hesitation. We'll see who makes a real truck then. I'd love to see a nice shiny new F-550 behind me, less than 20K miles on it... My 97 Dodge will pull it all over town, sporting over 300K miles on the odometer.

motoroilmccall "my Dodge has outlasted my Cummins so far, no major repairs on the truck, but the headgasket has let go 3 times on my 97 12V"
Do you mean this one

 

[Texas Traveler]

motoroilmccall "my Dodge has outlasted my Cummins so far, no major repairs on the truck, but the headgasket has let go 3 times on my 97 12V"
Do you mean this one

We had a 55 ton RT Grove crane on a large freeway renewal project here in Dallas. The North Central project, from 635 to downtown. 3 different contractors did the work, our part on the southern part was in 2 different contracts.
The 55 ton had the same engine as what Dodge used in their trucks, I did most of the 30 ft. CTB barriers moving them without outriggers most of the time. You run the crane at full throttle doing crane work. I forgot what they weighed

With special tires designed by Michelin, you could lift & carry the barriers.
But any other tire on other machines with the same rating you could not. that got a lot of operators in trouble trying to out do me.

The point I am making the engine is not the trouble with Dodge trucks.
I once knew a owner operator that owned a 18 wheel cabover dodge truck.
It got so bad for him no one would lease the truck, I felt sorry for the poor guy.

 

[gink595]

The point I am making the engine is not the trouble with Dodge trucks.
I once knew a owner operator that owned a 18 wheel cabover dodge truck.
It got so bad for him no one would lease the truck, I felt sorry for the poor guy.

Exactly, I agree 100%. I've used a Dodge or two and I really liked the motor, my old man used to have one and I always thought it would be a great package in the Ford chassis. I just think the Dodge truck itself is kinda junko except the Dana axles!! In a perfect world you could do what the OTR trucks are doing, any motor/tranny with any chassis.

 

[motoroilmccall]

motoroilmccall "my Dodge has outlasted my Cummins so far, no major repairs on the truck, but the headgasket has let go 3 times on my 97 12V"
Do you mean this one

Thats the one! Notice I said truck, not engine. The Cummins motor has been great. Lasting 300K miles pushing 40+ pounds of boost, running 17* of timing, and only blowing the head gasket once (it just blew it 3 times after Cummins NE "repaired" it, morons never listened and didn't deck the head until it blew again).

The Dodge truck around it has only been through typical oil changes etc, like I said before. Find me a Chevy or Ford that has done the same, even if its been greased, lubed, washed, etc. The old Chevy's don't have the axles or the electronics, the old Fords don't have the tranny's or suspensions. I'll give you the fact that Dodge Tranny's (Automatics only) were junk, if they were abused, or not taken care of, the manuals were indestructible (NV4500 or 5600, or G56). But if your going to tell me the new ones are junk too you need to learn what your talking about. The 48RE and new 68RE have been near bulletproof behind a stock diesel, as have the Allison's. The 545RFE is a great tranny, not quite the right gearing, but they last longer than an E40D.

So let me ask you Gink, what do you drive again? And are you willing to hook to the back of my Dodge?

I really could care less what you guys think about trucks, who's better than who, who outlasts who, its your own problem. All I'm doing is adding my view the way you suckers added yours. Fair enough?

 

[redprospector]

I've got a friend who put a 5.9 Cummins in an 02 Ford. Made a nice truck.
I think the biggest problem with trucks being "junk" is a lack of maintenance.
When you work/beat the crap out of them, you have to put something back.
The bed on my Dodge is coming apart after 2 years of driving 30 miles a day on a rough, washboarded logging road. Does that make it junk? No, it just makes it time for a flatbed. Oh, did I mention that the bed on my Ford came apart on that same road? The bed on my GMC held up but both the shock mounts broke off, and the bushings in both door hinges broke.
I don't concider any of these trucks junk, they just had to have some maintenance. They're all still on the road, and going strong.
I just put a new transfer case in the Dodge, but you should have seen what it was doing for me when it came unwound.
Maintenance guy's, that's what makes a good truck good.

Andy

 

[gink595]

Thats the one! Notice I said truck, not engine. The Cummins motor has been great. Lasting 300K miles pushing 40+ pounds of boost, running 17* of timing, and only blowing the head gasket once (it just blew it 3 times after Cummins NE "repaired" it, morons never listened and didn't deck the head until it blew again).

The Dodge truck around it has only been through typical oil changes etc, like I said before. Find me a Chevy or Ford that has done the same, even if its been greased, lubed, washed, etc. The old Chevy's don't have the axles or the electronics, the old Fords don't have the tranny's or suspensions. I'll give you the fact that Dodge Tranny's (Automatics only) were junk, if they were abused, or not taken care of, the manuals were indestructible (NV4500 or 5600, or G56). But if your going to tell me the new ones are junk too you need to learn what your talking about. The 48RE and new 68RE have been near bulletproof behind a stock diesel, as have the Allison's. The 545RFE is a great tranny, not quite the right gearing, but they last longer than an E40D.

So let me ask you Gink, what do you drive again? And are you willing to hook to the back of my Dodge?

I really could care less what you guys think about trucks, who's better than who, who outlasts who, its your own problem. All I'm doing is adding my view the way you suckers added yours. Fair enough?

First, go to Wal-mart and buy your self a sense of humor, Second I like the Cummins, I'd take it over the Powestorke. I have 97 powerstroke since you asked and it has 250k on it, I've had no major issues with it other than injector and injector O-rings, I had to replace the trans at 200k with a factory Ford 4R70W. And for hooking up, It's not what you have for a motor or what truck you have it's how the power gets to the ground. I had a old high boy Ford that would yank my Powestroke backwards because I'd spin and hoop. But that old highboy couldn't pull 15k down the highway at 75either. But if you want to Hook up drive on down to Indiana I'm sure that will happen!! As for the suspensions??? Dana 60 fronts and 10.25 in the rear, geez don't Dodge use Dana. Have a good unopcorn:

 

[Peacock]

First, go to Wal-mart and buy your self a sense of humor, Second I like the Cummins, I'd take it over the Powestorke. I have 97 powerstroke since you asked and it has 250k on it, I've had no major issues with it other than injector and injector O-rings, I had to replace the trans at 200k with a factory Ford 4R70W. And for hooking up, It's not what you have for a motor or what truck you have it's how the power gets to the ground. I had a old high boy Ford that would yank my Powestroke backwards because I'd spin and hoop. But that old highboy couldn't pull 15k down the highway at 75either. But if you want to Hook up drive on down to Indiana I'm sure that will happen!! As for the suspensions??? Dana 60 fronts and 10.25 in the rear, geez don't Dodge use Dana. Have a good unopcorn:

The PSD does NOT use the 4R70W. It uses the E40D/4R100.

The 4R70W is basically an electronic AOD.

 

[extraspecialman]

I totally agree maintenance is very important to keep anything runnin,but my 98 2500 dodge mostly saw a pretty decent 2 lane road,and never hauled more than maybe 1 ton at time.And that was very seldom.I was trying to be nice and civil in my earlier post about folks having dodges with no problems,but as Gink pointed out for everybody,that was BS.I got a brother in law with a 79 F250 ,factory locking rear diff,60 front end,and a 460 with a 4 speed.Im sure he would be happy to hook up to that dodge.Those ol trucks are bullet proof.Any how,check websters dictionary for the meaning of the word dodge,it says:to avoid.