The CampFire

[Orion]

Kurtis took the tranny out of his truck last week and has been using mine until his is fixed.
Just got word. Apparently he's put a rod through the block on mine.

I'm getting a used engine installed and selling it. It's getting a little long in the tooth and is starting to cost me. Can't really complain though, I've had it nearly 14 years now. It's been a great truck, I'm going to be a little sad when it's gone.

Anyway, I'm going to start looking next week.

Likely get another GM or maybe a Dodge. I've never been a Ford fan.
_________________
Orion

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DCMG #13

"I'm just preparing my impromptu remarks."

- Winston Churchill

I will appeal, not to the freedom of speech or religion, but to the sacred and inalienable right to be left the hell alone.


- Andrew Coyne

[Quill]

Sorry to hear that.I think all the main companies are making fairly good trucks these days. It does fall to a matter of choice. There is good and bad in them all. Hope you find one at a good price that someone hasn't been beat up.

[Old Judge Creek]

I drove Fords from 66-86... enough! !

Frankly, my 98 Jeep Wrangler was one my (if not "the") all time favorite vehicles, with the 66 Mustang a really, really close 2nd.

If I had it to do all over again, I do believe that what I have now would be my two choices: Honda CRV 4WD and my Dodge 2500 Cummins Diesel 4X4

The CRV is a great all around vehicle especially in the city and the Dodge is the perfect work horse for me. It's done everything I've asked of it with power to spare. Pulling the heaviest loads over the high Sierras, I've been able time and again to pull into the second lane and pass traffic like it was standing still.

The nice policeman that stopped me doing just that one time when Kalifurban and I were heading over to the 1881 one time, told me "Nevada is very tolerant up to 85mph. The airplane clocked you doing more than that, but seeing how you were driving here [coming into Reno] and you didn't tell me you were just trying to keep up with traffic, I'm only going to cite you for exceeding 65mph. Don't exceed 84mph."

IIRC, when I bought it, the 2001 Dodge was the most expensive vehicle I ever bought. Out the door I paid right at $30,000 for it, but it stickered out at $44,000 because the late Mrs OJC insisted that we get "the whole package" in anticipation not needing to buy another truck after I retired. Nine years down the road I'll have to concede that once again, She Was Right, although I half believed at the time, it was folly. The only available option it did not have on it was the snow plow front end suspension.

I only wish I'd bought one much sooner. I do like my Dodge.
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OJC - DCMG #1



Every time I see the Compass and Square I am reminded of the man I aspire to be.

[Conservative]

[Wilbur]

Are you looking at diesel or gas?

As a GM fan I like the new Sierra HDs....but I think they all make pretty good trucks today...I am just always leery of getting an engine its first year out...I think its better to give them a coupla years to work the kinks out. I have a friend who loves his Dodge's too.

I do like the ride of the GM's also. I have had enough of getting the heck beat out of me.

Good luck! I hope you find one you like!
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"A prisoner of war is a man who tries to kill you and fails, and then asks you not to kill him." -Winston Churchill

Wind and fire. Help you one minute and kill you the next. All depends on the time and place. -Richard Proenneke

[Orion]

[Mahachippy]

*Pssst* Orion...Camaro...*Pssst*
_________________
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalms 46:10

Defend the weak, protect both young and old, never desert your friends. Give justice to all, be fearless in battle and always ready to defend the right. Show welcome and good cheer to all of true heart.

Live with no excuses. Love with no regrets.

Buy when you're scared to death, sell when you're happy as hell!

[Hank Dodge]

My dad bought a new Dodge diesel last year. It's the 2500 series 4x4 long bed 4-door. It's a long truck, but very comfortable. He got the automatic (which is a new 6-speed) and it really does drive nice. He's been averaging 22mpg with it.

My truck is like OJC's (although not as nice). It's an '01 Dodge with the Cummins, 4x4, long bed, extra-cab, automatic. Again, a great truck. The only trouble I've had with it is the transmission. If I was to do it over, I would get the 6-speed manual knowing what I do now.

I'd stay away from the Chevy trucks myself. Just a personal belief that with the problems that company has had of late and my experience working on the darn things, I would think you better served with a Dodge (or even a Ford at this point). Whichever you go with, get at least a 3/4 ton.

Good luck with whatever you decide.
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DCMG #3

"Shoot them big guns.....you can see the holes better!"

[dusty]

I do like the Cummins in my Dodge. It blew an oil line under heavy towing uphill and fried the rear piston. I pulled the engine, made the pertinent repairs and have had no more problems. If I had to replace it $$$ which I dont even want to think about, it would be either another Dodge or a good hard look at the Fords. Frankly with the prices I have seen on the Fords, it would have to be a truck that I could at least partially write off for business. They are pricey. Happy hunting Orion.....dusty

[riverdog]

[Orion]

Well, after looking at a whole bunch of overpriced vehicles, GMs Fords and Dodges, one of the salesmen we talked to called last week and told me he had a truck I should look at. He said they'd just got it in, a lease return 2007 GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 crew cab.

I didn't really want to but one that was 3 years old. I was hoping to find one that was a year or maybe 2 years old. However, this truck is immaculate with very low mileage. It looks like it's never seen a gravel road. Matter of fact it looks like nothing's ever been put in the truck bed.

So, after looking at it and driving it we decided to go for it. We picked it up on Saturday.

I like it. It drives great and is comfortable to drive. It's loaded up fairly decent with power windows, power door locks, AC, CD player with satellite radio, lots of storage in the cab and a spray in bed liner and LR-E (10 ply rated) LT265/75R17 tires.



Hopefully it turns out to be as great a truck as my '97 GMC was. I put a couple hundred thousand miles on it.
It was starting to rust and was getting a little tired.

I picked up a used motor for it for $600 and put it in last week. I gave it to our oldest son Dustin so it's at least staying in the family. I drove it in to the town he lives in on Saturday before we picked up the new one. It should do him fine for getting back and forth to work.
I was sure sad to see it go though.


_________________
Orion

........................................................................

DCMG #13

"I'm just preparing my impromptu remarks."

- Winston Churchill

I will appeal, not to the freedom of speech or religion, but to the sacred and inalienable right to be left the hell alone.


- Andrew Coyne

[riverdog]

The old one looks like it was taken care of. Most that age around here have plenty of rust around the wheel wells and the quarters.
Your son got a good deal.

I have to admit not being a GM fan, but the 3 or 4 I've owned were the most fuel efficient of anything else I've had.

GM just can't quite seem to get one from the design phase to the street without adding some crazy bump or angle here or there. But in the end it's what works well from behind the wheel.
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"The shallow-minded modern who has lost his rootage in the land assumes that he has already discovered what is important." Aldo Leopold

[Mahachippy]

Very nice trucks, Orion!

Ya' know as much as I don't like what GM did (a la the bailouts and such), I have to admit that I am a GM guy at heart.

My dad is a GM guy and his dad was a GM guy and dangit for some reason I just like they way they look (especially here recently) and honestly I've never had a problem with the ones I've driven over the years.

If I'm honest and had a chunk of cash I can't say that I wouldn't look seriously into getting another Impala...they aren't the prettiest nor are they super sports cars but they get decent mileage, are comfortable both to drive and ride in, and IMO, are just a good sedan (note, I'm commenting on the 2006 models onward).

Further, I dream of one day having the cash to blow on getting a Chevy Express Van and configuring it as close as possible to the old Astro van I used to drive - yes, I loved my Astro van as it was comfortable, easy to park (loved having a short nose on it), and was IMO, the most useful vehicle I've had thus far in my life...though things could get interesting on an open highway when the wind picked up!


Granted though, I'm a guy that likes big comfortable full size sedans above all else so my Impala pick isn't all that surprising. That being said, my ultimate dream car is still an Aston Martin DB-9.


Anywho, what were we talkin' about!?
_________________
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalms 46:10

Defend the weak, protect both young and old, never desert your friends. Give justice to all, be fearless in battle and always ready to defend the right. Show welcome and good cheer to all of true heart.

Live with no excuses. Love with no regrets.

Buy when you're scared to death, sell when you're happy as hell!

[riverdog]

[Mahachippy]