Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Diesel Engine Poll / Ranking

Trucks I either Have now or have had in the last few years. Thoughts on them, either with complete stock emissions, or deleted. or in some cases that issue doesn't apply. These are in chronological order, not my preference order.

1. 2000 Ford F-250 Superduty with 7.3L
2. 2005 RAM 2500 with 5.9 Cummins
3. 2006 RAM 3500 Dually with 5.9 Cummins (aftermarket exhaust brake)
4. 2012 Ford F-450 powerstroke 6.7 Fully deleted
5. 2015 RAM 2500 6.7 Fully Deleted Cummins
6. 2018 RAM 3500 Dually 6.7 Fully Deleted Cummins

270 Win. Kicks 7 rem mag ‘s azz

I have a '05 Dodge Cummins. While the body and interior is lacking in quality in some places, the engine runs great. So far, no issues with the 48RE trans, other than the parking pawl won't engage anymore.

But when I get in it, I don't have bells and whistles going off if I don't buckle the seat belt. No Sirius radio, no backup alarm, or camera tat takes the place of mirrors. Mine has no rust, so I'm putting money into it to keep it maintenance updated. I have no intent on buying anything new.

I hear you. I'm not gonna lie - I'd like a new truck, but I've been there before and don't want to fret about a new vehicle or pay for one, so I'll keep my 2007 gasser for as long as I can. The only thing it doesn't have that I'd like is Bluetooth, but an adapter takes care of that.

What is your ranking then?

2000 Ford F-250 Superduty with 7.3L with over 300,000 miles. Two clutches and one transmission. I pulled a lot of heavy loads

‘03 Duramax.

Injectors twice ... once at 114K-ish, covered by dealer for $500, and once at 170K done by yours truly for $1600 in (upgraded) parts and a long weekend-plus of labor.

Front end upgraded as stock parts wore out, Pittman, idler, tie rods, upper controls, bushings, ball joints ...

Approaching 220K now and runs like a raped ape ... no plans to buy new here at current prices and with current DEF/EGR crap.

All in all, great hunting truck that’s seen hard use and continues to roll. No regrets. Knowing what I know almost 18 years after I took delivery, would do it again, no question.

I had a 2000 ram 5.9 diesel, it was ok on power but a cold blooded SOB. Suspension in the 2000 was done by 65k, but a good truck overall. I now have 18 ram 6.7 diesel all stock, it has power to spare, warms up quick, and starts easy in the cold. The 6 speed auto and the jake in the 18 make in a joy to pull with, I'm keeping it for a while.

I have a 2004, runs great, 206,000 miles, got a 2018, like hell out of it.

Mine is a 1999 dodge 5.9 cummins. 390K miles, looks rough and just gets used as a farm truck now but runs as good now as the day I bought it new. I've got my money's worth out of it, it owes me nothing.

I never had a Duramax. I had a chevy gasser in early 90s, abused it pretty bad. ran it hard, pulled a trailer with it. the transmission crapped at 110k miles. the only truck I ever had that actually crapped a major component, I guess that left me with a bad impression. whether it was deserved or not.

I would say Cummins, due to what friends have had. Saying that, I have had three Duramax's and no issues. All of them now have HP fuel pump issues.

I like to bitch about the modern pickups but 99% of the time they are badass machines.


That said the emission systems are lame.


And unlike most we actually use our heavy duty pickups off-road.


2011 F350 DRW deleted 6.7 w/Hydrabed has been at work +150 days in a row hauling hay on the cow farm. 1.35 million pounds to be exact.


That pickup has about 97k miles on it and is starting to get a little wore out.



The engine is awesome.

Lol I just made a thread then found this one ...

I have only had the F-250 about a month. it's a long story but I traded the 2015 RAM 2500 for the F-250 because I didn't have the deleted RAM parts to go back to stock, and I don't trust the emission laws. (my opinion) It is only a matter of time before the Federal Government makes it so you can't register a vehicle with altered emissions. SOOO, I since I wanted a truck to last me my retirement years, the low mileage 7.3 was the way to go. I bought the 2000 F-250 with 30k original miles, I can't really compare it to the cummins..it is really a different beast, so I'm gonna leave it off for now. My ranking is this:


2006 RAM 3500 Cummins 5.9, I kick myself in the balls for ever selling this truck.
2005 RAM 2500 Cummins 5.9, once again, ball kicking.
2018 RAM Cummins 6.7 deleted (I have the parts to go back to stock if needed)
2015 RAM Cummins 6.7 deleted (no parts to return to stock- hence gone) this freaking truck was a monster, the tuned engine was off the scale. I sold it last month for more than I paid
2012 Ford F-450 6.7. this was a bad idea. CP4. Lawyers hounded me for 5 years to represent me in a lawsuit for the CP4. I got rid of it ASAP.

1999 f-250 Super Duty XLT 7.3 is at 429,815 miles. Rebuilt front end, replaced original trans @ 417k, injectors and glow plugs 2019, rebuilt fuel bowl, lotsa brakes, 2x drivelines, new oil cooler o-rings, radiator, original power steering pump went @ 412k, hydro boost @ 428k, steering column linkage @ 426k, 2x water pumps, 2x crank shaft sensors, original starter died @ 417k, new steering box and the fuel sending unit is tits up. Been a great truck, but it's going up for sale soon.

2000 f-250 Super Duty Lariat 7.3 is at 249,810. On its second trans and starter.

They've both been great work horses. I did new springs and Bilsteins on both a few years ago and it made them 100x better in the handling dept especially when weighted down. Highly recommended.

Trucks now:
04 Duramax —daily driver 200k+
2 93 Cummins over 200k
92 Cummins 190k

Routine and scheduled maintenance on all.
Knock on wood, would do it all over again!

Funny thing, an acquaintance made an offer on all of them,
last fall, almost accepted. Glad I didn’t, would rather have all
These than one new one with all that’s going down...

06 Cummins 5.9 - been a great truck until recently. Damned P0243 and P4— something or the other (engine fan)! I know it’s in the wiring harness somewhere as they apparently share the same circuit but I’ll be damned if I can find it. Probably have to go into the shop for that one. It’s ready for the front end rebuild too. Thought about getting rid of it but the cost of a new truck is stupid high so I’ll keep it for now. It’s set up how I want it and it’s long been paid for.

Had an 05 dmax for a while at work. Wasn’t especially impressed with it. My 06 would outdo it any day. Those older Ford 7.3 were a hell of an engine and I really likes the interior of that vintage Ford.

I’ve only had 1, 2006 6.Blow. Bought in 2011 with 45k miles for fairly cheap. At 100k miles did all the standard 6.0 stuff. Now at 185k miles and have added a new alternator. Forgot about doing a temp transmitter in the transmission in an OReillys parking lot in BFE, Wyoming a couple years ago.

Bought a new Tundra last year, but knew I’d get hosed trading it, so just kept it for when I do need it.

Mostly a pavement princess, but do work it occasionally.

The old 3406 mechanical Cat. The nicest driving engine any truck driver could ask for.