Thinking of getting an HD truck?

The 6.2 in half tons did not have cylinder deactivation for a long time. I believe 2018 was first year the 6.2 got it. 5.3 has had it since its inception.

The 6.0 has never had cylinder deactivation. Much like the Tundra 5.7, it is a traditional old school V8. Not as much fancy stuff going on once you get up in the HD truck market.

 

If I had to have a HD truck, I would shop for a pre-owned HINO.

 

Eh, the 6.2/6sp is a proven combo, it’s been around for years with good reliability. Guys having some whacky shit going on in the Tremor forums with the 7.3 and 10sp.

 

I will have to look up the exact years? When I was looking at used trucks the 6.0 did say it had cylinder deactivation. I quit being interested in that motor when I realized how underpowered it was. Very reliable, just not what I want. The 8.1 on the other hand!


This is taken from Summit Racing. I’m not a mechanic and you guys probably have forgotten more than I’ll ever know. There is confusing info out there. Here is why I thought the 6.0 had AFM:

The purpose of Active Fuel Management (AFM) is to improve gas mileage. It is also known as Displacement on Demand (DOD) or cylinder deactivation.

**The table below shows the engines that were originally equipped with AFM.**

Displacement RPO Code
5.3L LY5 LC9 LH6 LMG LS4
6.0L L76 L77 LFA LZ1
6.2L L94 L99

 

2 of my dad's work trucks Chevy 2500 HD (Construction) have the 6.0, one 2003 and a 2018. The 2003 has 500,000 miles (has had an engine rebuild, and tranny rebuild) but besides that just normal maintenance. The 2018 hasn't had any issues but only has about 40k miles now. Both trucks get worked hard but have held up pretty well in my opinion. I don't believe either have cylinder deactivation.

 

I work out of a 7.3 gasser. If you're not pulling heavy equipment, it's best to save on the diesel premium costs and maintenance. I'm an electrician so I dont have a need to tow 20k pounds. I have a service body and frequently pull lifts and booms, she gets around town just fine. It's a much stronger motor than the last v10. Unfortunately, it hasn't been as dependable as my Tundra, I'm at 16k and its seen the shop 4 or 5 times already. Never left me stranded but down time sucks.

 

I think they must be referring to the 6.0 that was in the Sierra Max 1500s in the 2007-2013 timeframe. That's an aluminum block engine that shares its architecture with the 6.2 and has nothing to do with the HD 6.0.

 

Given that you don’t even have the trailer yet, I’d wait a few months to see what Toyota brings to the table with the new Tundra. Surely payload and towing will be improved.

As far as gas HD trucks go, I have no experience with the new Ford 7.3 gasser but we had a couple of the 6.0’s. They were extremely underpowered, hopefully the new 6.6L performs much better. A coworker has a Ram with the 6.4 and loves how it tows his 26’ fiberglass ocean boat.

I much prefer the ride of the IFS GM trucks compared to the solid axle Fords.

Good luck!

 

Again I do appreciate everyone’s input. I guess I need to go drive some today. I’m trying to convince my wife she wants to drive a diesel...Not sure that will work.

I have thought of waiting for the new Tundra. I think it will be another half ton though. I bet it will be a monster.

I saw an F150 with a higher payload then our Tundras nearly change lanes pulling a Trailer in a light wind. I just can’t imagine doing that with my family in the truck. It’s why I think I have to go HD.

I will admit I am dragging my feet on getting rid of my Tundra. It’s pretty easy to find fault with other trucks. I like old school, simple and reliable. The new twin turbo doesn’t really have my attention. Maybe I’ll change my mind?

 

That diesel power is crazy addicting! All three are around 1000 tq, which is insane and so cool.

If you want the diesel, be sure to have her test drive it first. Then when she drives the gasser she will surely miss the nuclear power of any of the current diesels!

 

Diesel is a whole different animal!

 

The 7.3 is the future of 3/4 ton trucks IMO. Simple, reliable (as it seems), good power at all elevations, and for the most part pretty similar to the diesel, without all the emissions systems, 1200lbs lighter, and comparable towing numbers.

 

Sorry to hear that about the 7.3. I have a 7.3 Tremor on order right now, and have gotten pretty into the Tremor forum. You may be the only person I have read thus far having those types of issues. It sounds like the 7.3 isn't the problem though. That $24 coil pack issue is easily remedied. Like another poster stated, you must have had yours built on the 13th lol.

 

If you're going to tow, any 1/2 ton v6 with turbos isn't going to be a happy experience. The basic dimensions of a 1/2 ton towing any length of moderately sized trailer or camper is not worth it IMO. Go check out fordtremor forum. Lots of 7.3's towing heavy heavy weight. Around town only a 2-3 mpg difference too.

 

I'm still confused about this. Is Tremor Ford's new HD off road package or is it the name of that new 7.3? I've seen both.

 

Tremor is the offroad package. 7.3 refers to the new gas "Godzilla" motor that ford developed for the 250. Shockingly similar in many ways to the 6.7 PS. Roughly the same 30-60mph pull speed, about the same city MPG, a few less on the highway obviously. Pulls up to 21k.

 

I must have just read a few articles that said "Tremor" when they meant "Godzilla".

 

The Tremor comes with 430 gears. With the 35s it turns it into a 373.
I really love the look of it!

To get that ratio of 430 or 373 you have to special order it. The default 355 was work truck worthy, which is what it’s supposed to be.

My wife told me unsolicited that it was slow, so it wasn’t just me. I can’t go from my Tundra to that. I will have to order one. I may still do that? I do think the emissions controls have impacted reliability and that is why Ford came out with 7.3. I wonder if they need more time to perfect it?

 

Most of that doesn't sound like 7.3 issues, sounds like typical Ford F250 problems. I work in a company with over 100 F250,F350's on the project and talking to the mechanics it's about 50/50 they make it to 100k kms without major issues, almost all have smaller issues - common one almost every truck gets is the 4x4 vacuum hubs won't engage from the dash, have to get out and manually lock the hubs. As someone who changes from highway to offroad and back all day long it gets really old climbing in and out to manually lock the hubs to get 4x4. Beyond 100k kms based on what the mechanics see 80+% have dashes lit up like christmas trees. Part of that is lack of care by employees, but myself I hate having to drop my truck off at the shop after every shift after only 3-5k kms with more issues.

The way I see it from personal experience is if you are going to trade the truck in within 3-4 years and put 100k kms or less on it the Ford should be fine. And I wouldn't touch the 6.2 with a 100 foot pole, I carry 1000 lbs in the truck and I have to go full throttle to get up to highway speeds in reasonable time, there's just so much less power than what half tons have I thought for sure the air filter was clogged.

 

I'd only ever drive a Ford or Toyota. I've seen f250s with 300-400k miles. If you take care of your truck, it'll last. Your employees must have been incredibly hard on their 4x4s, as in dropping to 2wd while turning at 60mph lol.

 

I would only order the 4.30 for sure. As you said, the nice thing is that the Tremor comes with the 4.3 and Dana axle.

on the tremor forum there are a bunch of previous tundra guys. I drove the tremor 7.3 before ordering one. It's fast. Like diesel fast up to about 60-70.

 

It's not the hubs that commonly break, it's the vacuum tubes that either freeze up or get clogged. Not a problem if you only use 4x4 a few times a month, but for myself I'm in and out of 4wd 4,6 times almost every day, and having to jump out and lock/unlock the hubs every time is extremely annoying. Sure the trucks get up to 2-300k kms, but they have extensive amounts of work done, many are onto their second set of many mechanical parts (manifolds, water pumps, alternators, etc.)

I know I bash Ford a ton, I have a lot of first hand experience that has gotten me this way. And it's not like GM and Ram don't have issues either - I know GM had issues with transfer cases and a piece that supposed to stay connected to the case wall breaking off, so in the cab it looked like 4wd would engage but in reality it was only in 2wd. And Ram HD have front end issues to go along with electrical issues. To me the big 3 are very lucky Toyota has decided to stay out of the HD market. Bring in an HD with Tundra reliability and reasonable pricing and fleets would all over it in a heartbeat.

 

I agree, but Toyota is far too cheap and conservative to venture off the beaten path.

 

You bring up another great point for why the 7.3 is so good that I forgot to mention-- short drives like ours will absolutely wreck a Diesel engine. The resale on the 7.3 has yet to be seen. I think the myth about Diesel engines holding their value stems from the price tag being higher. You pay the premium no matter what.

 

It's certainly not a myth around here. New diesel costs ~10k more new, the few similar gas and diesel used ones available have about 15-20k more for the diesel. Used diesel prices are so insane here there's no reason to buy used.

 

Wow. Alberta is wild. Everywhere around my area, % wise, its maybe 5-10% better resale value. The new ford 7.3, based off the way they've been selling should have a great resale value.

 

I'd love to get into a diesel, I've looked at 2013's or 2012's, and anything at or under 200k kms is $40k+, then look at 2017-2019 and they're at least $55k-60k for 100k kms on them. Brand new for mid level trim is in the $75k-80k range MSRP, and I regular see or hear ads for 'free' diesel engines, so walk in and it's 10-15k off with zero negotiating. Combine that with 0% financing and I just couldn't see not getting new. It'll be interesting to see in a year and a half how the hybrid Tundra matches up to a diesel HD for pricing.

 

I think you’re right , many articles that were written about the new Tremor didn’t mention the Godzilla engine because it was the only engine offered in the Tremor .

 

You can get the Tremor in both gas and diesel