Best Large Truck - Value and Reliability - 1996 - 2000

brick · #1 09-12-2006, 02:57 PM

I'm looking for a used truck for towing and hauling building supplies. I know nothing about trucks.

Any advice or links would be great. thanks.

I'm thinking one of the following or something similar.
Are any particular years better or worese than others?

Dodge Ram 2500
Ford F-250
Chevy C/K 2500

JRussell · #2 09-12-2006, 04:20 PM

For towing and hauling, you can't beat a Dodge 2500 with the Cummins turbo diesel. I'm definitely not a big fan of Dodge, but the Cummins engine is great.

Ray Zee · #3 09-12-2006, 09:45 PM

unless you tow bigger trailers a half ton will suffice. but any 3/4 is fine. i have had chev and fords for 35 years and both are great. dodge is good but has major repairs pop up.
currently i have an f250 supercab which is overkill for most. an f150 with a fuel tank. and an f250 with a camper. they all are good.

BiPolar_Nut · #4 09-13-2006, 12:33 AM

lol...best "large truck" I've driven as far as reliability has been a 2000 Freightliner FLD w/ a detroit 60. YMMV. Somehow I don't think you quite meant that class of truck tho, so I'd concur w/ the dude that said dodge/cummins. I heard a lot of "hotshot" haulers (in my 500,000 miles logged over the road) runnin dodge/cumnmins combos...most had the cummins modded w/ bigger injectors/bigger turbos, and they'd haul some insane loads for a lil pickup. Bottom line: if you're gonna haul stuff, at a minimum, get a diesel. Preferabbly a cummins... which pretty much just leaves dodge. I have heard very good things from super-duty ford diesel guys in the tow truck scene tho....I'd say they're a close second. Chevy's "diesels" are basically modified big block gas burners modded to run diesel. Decent, but they don't (IMO) have the longevity that the ford super duty and especially the cummins/dodge have.

brick · #5 09-13-2006, 02:26 PM

Thanks Ray. I'll be sure to get one with a gas tank. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

CORed · #6 09-19-2006, 02:27 AM

Peterbilt

esevans · #7 09-21-2006, 01:59 AM

I don't have any experience with any of your picks, however I have a 1999 f150. It tows fine, but maybe for everyday towing you would want a 250 or 350.

I suggest getting a 4x4. I don't use the 4x4 much, but it does come in handy at times. Moving a big load on grass without tearing up the yard for instance. Just a thought.