Here are the guide-lines, that each 3/4 or 1 ton truck must excel in (1)Must not break and leave me on the side of the road !!! (2)Comfort, must be able to drive at least 250 miles and not have a broken BACK !!! (3)Must be a fuel MISER !! (4)Must be able to go off-road. PLEASE stick to the facts, I don't care which make of truck it is as long as it will be superior on the above guide-lines. THANK YOU  

I'm assuming your talking new trucks? What do you consider "off road"? A forest service road or going down a nasty deactivation to get to your favorite hunting area. None of the new trucks are going to break your back but the GM is known for it's smooth ride, reliable motor and auto trans and seems to be slightly edging out the others in economy. You cannot do any serious off roading in a stock GM there is just to much stuff dragging on the ground. You can get high centered on a speed bump and they don't take kindly to a big heavy camper I've seen the front ends bend. There is a aftermarket brace kit to try and help this. Dodge has a nice truck and a tried and true motor, arguably the strongest of the bunch. I hear alot of good stuff about the new Dodge 6spd auto. I think Ford makes the strongest truck but there isn't enough history on the 6.4 to say one way or the other. So I can't say one is superior to the other, it all depends on what you want it to do. Ive had all three and I run the Dodge because I feel it's the best truck for my needs.  

HI BCRAM, THANK YOU for giving me a reply. I was thinking of getting a new truck, but after reading, that they have all that expensive emission crap, that could go bad.I have a 99 FORD F250 space-cab with a long-bed, 7.3 liter 2wd automatic. In the 6 years,that I had it I only added a K&N air filter. I'm getting 15.2 mpg, but there is lot's of traffic in MIAMI,FL and when it's very early or very late, I'm always driving like JEFF GORDON #24 NASCAR !! As for going off-road, I like target-shooting and some-times my truck's tires will be slipping in the mud. So far I haven't gotten stuck, but don't want to press my luck.I also don't want to spend over $37,000 (wife has me by the BALLS)I want like 22mpg,4x4 that will last 12 years,with-out falling apart !!!!  

I think BCRAM gave a very good rundown of the current models. The primary negative thing I've heard about the new 6.4 Ford Power Stroke is that it's kind of a gas hog. Duramax seems to get decent mileage depending on how you drive it. The Ram will probably be a good choice. I know the Cummins are pretty fuel efficient if you don't drive them like a madman. Based on the attributes you're looking for, I'd probably go for the Dodge.  

HI esanchez, THANK you for your reply, I like the NEW look of the FORD SUPER-DUTY, but I've read that the new engine is spitting fire out the pipe like a FLAME-THROWER, and I can't get a 2007 because I heard that the 6.0 has issues!!!! I read that CHEVY ride smooth,get good mpg, but the IFS makes them weak, and heads are not STEEL. DODGE I heard they have great engine, but the tranny SUCKS and has the worst stopping power out of the three. I sorry if I hurt any-body's feelings, but I'm getting ready to drop a lot of $$$ on a truck, and I MUST get my monies WORTH!! I can't be bias, If the truck is crappy, I will say so. You notice that I don't care about the HORSEPOWER, cause I won't be racing it, or pulling in it. I must admit, even if MIAMI is flatter than a pancake, I like the DODGE POWER WAGON !!!  

Gunman, there are different theories on what caused the flame-throwing exhaust on the 6.4. The few I've heard are a leaking injector, that the guy removed the DPF, and it was just dumping raw fuel into the exhaust, or that he was spiking the fuel with kerosene. Not sure. For sure, stay away from the 6.0 PS. That engine has a terrible track record.

Cost-no-object, I'd get a Chevy or GMC and do a front straight-axle conversion on it. But it ain't gonna be cheap.  

Yeah, Power Wagon is one sweet truck. No doubt about it. I've driven it. That thing is begging for a Cummins, though. I know a few guys that have done the conversion. Here's a feature we did on one.  

HI esanchez, Sorry to bother,but how reliable are the CHEVY/GMC ? That is the most important reason for buying!! I don't want my truck in the SHOP!!!Are the heads going to last!!! Don't want to spend $$$ on adding MOD'S to the front end. How good is 4x4 system? THANK YOU the gunman  

if you really want a solid relaible truck then get and 04.5 an up dogde with the cummins, the newer transmissions are plenty reliable, i don't know where you heard they have bad brakes cuz they dont, thier fricking huge and stop the truck with ease and the suspensions and frame are way stronger then chevy , i dont recommend ford becouse the f350 with the 6.0 if have now as a work trucks isn't making me a proud owner like my 04.5 dogde 3500 4x4 is, ive had no problems with 35,000 miles so far on my dogde, while the ford started giving me problems at only 20,000 miles.!!!!    

HI GEO450RACER, THANK YOU, for the advice. So far I'm leaning toward the DODGE. I'm going to have to TEST-DRIVE all of them, but you really don't get much feed-back in a 5 min. test-drive !! Right now I have 127,725 miles on my 1999 FORD F250 XLT space-cab long-bed 7.3 automatic 2wd. I've heard alot of good things about the 5.9 cummins, I would like it to give me 22mpg and for it to be easy on my back, when I drive 250 miles, and it must be a 4X4. I hope I'm not asking to much. MUST BE UNDER $37,000. All I want to do to it, is put a chip that will give me more MPG, better flow air-filter, and maybe one of those gad-jets that when you leave your truck it keeps your engine running until your turbo cools down before it turns off. I don't know if it worth spending the $$$ on that thing, but I want the turbo to last. THANKS AGAIN GUNMAN41MAG  

Hey Gunman41mag The Duramax is fairly reliable not quite a Cummins but close as there are now Dmaxs with over 400,000 miles on them with little to no problems. The only thing is From 2001-2004 they had injector problems and overheating problems. However if your Duramax does overheat then go to www.coolmyduramax.com and it will tell you how to fix it and it is fairly easy to fix.  

HI DURAMAXBEN, THANK YOU, for the advice.I like the fact that CHEVY'S give good MPG, and a comfortable ride, but I was told that the IFS was not made for off-roading. I also think that the chevy looks plain-jane. I call it as I see it. I been driving a FORD F250, but I'm leaning toward a DODGE right now. BUT before I buy a DODGE, I will test drive all 3 heavy-duty trucks.  

In terms of the Duramax, the LBZ seems to be the best one so far. Some of the Early LB7s had some injector issues. LLY versions were a little better, and the LBZ a little better yet, as well as more powerful. Can't really recommend the LMM since it's such a new motor, but it's essentially the LBZ with a DPF filter on it.

If it were me, I'd look between Chevy & Dodge. But that's just me.  

THANK YOU ESANCHEZ, I don,t trust those DPF filters !!! One more thing to cause trouble. I'm worried that if I buy a pre-2007, that ULSD will mess up the injectors. I feel that I'm in a DAMNED if you buy a pre-2007, and DAMNED if you buy a 2008 will the DPF filter. Do I really have a worry or I'm just messing with my mind ??????  

I would go with a Dodge Cummins. The Chevy/Gm Front end wont hold up offroading. Stay away from the 6.0 PowerStroke. Cummins Builds a great motor and the tranny has gotten stronger. You are looking used??? If so i would look for a 06 Dodge Mega Cab Dually put a leveling kit on it with a nice chip. buddy has one with the banks 6gun i believe and it is awesome.  

hey gunman no matter what year diesel you have the ULSD will no harm the injectors i have a 97 and hasnt hurt them, only thing i dont buy is the biodiesel since it gels up quicker but you shouldnt have that problem. id go with a 99 or newer cummins like they said earlier the dmax just sits too low and and get hung up on stuff, the cummins has both solid axles front and rear.