Well, I've convinced my Aunt to get a one-ton diesel. I would naturally recommend a Cummins, but she also wants an automatic and isn't going to do any modifications to the thing. And so, without modifications and with an automatic, would the Dodge 3500 still be the best bet? Mainly she's sick of trying to pull horses with a 5.4 gasser F-250 and wants to remedy the situation.

 

Depending on how much weight and what type of trailer yes the 3500 would be the answer. She could go with either the short bed or the long bed duallie.
No matter which one she gets she will love it ;D ;D

 

The 3500 sounds like it fits the bill for her. If she doesn't plan on modifying it, you might want to convince her to get the HO diesel since it will have more HP and torque than the SO.

 

What I want to make sure of is whether or not the stock automatics that they put in the Ddoge's are any good. Most everybody on this site uses manuals, and most of you use aftermarket manuals. I havn't heard anything about the stock automatic on the Dodge, though. Also, I'm not sure over whether or not the HO option is available in California. I've seen a couple driving around with California plates, but I've never seen one for sale.
The other option I was thinking of is, if the Dodge transmission wasn't any good, was a Chevy Duramax with the Allison. Although the engine isn't great, the Transmission is supposed to be the best thing on the market. Anybody know wether the Chevy 3500 is even in the same range engine-wise?

 

[quote author=Begle1 link=board=20;threadid=21547;start=0#msg202177 date=1067284807]
What I want to make sure of is whether or not the stock automatics that they put in the Ddoge's are any good. Most everybody on this site uses manuals, and most of you use aftermarket manuals. I havn't heard anything about the stock automatic on the Dodge, though. Also, I'm not sure over whether or not the HO option is available in California. I've seen a couple driving around with California plates, but I've never seen one for sale.
The other option I was thinking of is, if the Dodge transmission wasn't any good, was a Chevy Duramax with the Allison. Although the engine isn't great, the Transmission is supposed to be the best thing on the market. Anybody know wether the Chevy 3500 is even in the same range engine-wise?
[/quote]

Lots of folks here are running auto trannies. Just do a search for any thread containing the word "48RE" and you'll find more than you care to read. So far they've been pretty good trannies, but of course they're new so only time will tell.

The HO is not an option for sale in California. Your aunt would have to settle for for the "California Special" Cummins with a whopping 235 HP / 450 lb-ft torque. : Having said that, I'd probably opt for the Ford diesel if I were her. The new 6.0L has had it's problems but they seem to have the majority of them worked out now.

 

I figured that was the case about the California Cummins. But I think that you can always find a way to get a vehicle to pass smog, can't you? What you need is an aftermarket chip that can tune your engine to run very poorly but emit very little emmissions, which would also be useful for saving fuel when just picking up groceries. I don't know if it'll work, and I've never seen one. I think it might be illegal, too. :
Anyways, if Dodge has to use downgraded engines in California, does Ford or Chevy? The majority of diesels I see around here are Powerstrokes, but then again I live in a very Ford dominated area.
Last thing, does Dodge have a decent-sized 4-door truck around? Chevy has one, but it is rather small, and Ford has the largest, but how does Dodge's rank up?
Thank you for all the help.

 

[quote author=Begle1 link=board=20;threadid=21547;start=0#msg203298 date=1067476726]
I figured that was the case about the California Cummins. But I think that you can always find a way to get a vehicle to pass smog, can't you? What you need is an aftermarket chip that can tune your engine to run very poorly but emit very little emmissions, which would also be useful for saving fuel when just picking up groceries.
Thank you for all the help.
[/quote]

It's not a matter of "getting it to pass smog". A new HO cannot be sold or licensed in California. They don't check the emissions level they just won't license it. If you buy it out of state, and license it out of state, you can bring it in later ( I forget the specific details) and license it. But be careful, there are specific timetables or you get hit with sales taxes, fines, etc.
Interesting note: Some new out of state motorcycles are being sold as used and have used speedometers to to prove it. A few years ago (and maybe still) Volkswagon diesels could only be licensed in California after they had a few thousand miles on them. How ridiculous!

 

I think that the Cummins HO isn't licensed in California because of emissions laws, which probably means you're screwed even if you can get the thing to run off of water and exhaust lemonade.

How do you live in Denair, California and have a 2004 Cummins HO, just out of curiosity?

 

California does not allow to HO to be purchased new in Ca. However, once an out of state truck has 7,500 miles on it, you can then buy it and bring it into Ca. Ca does not require you to smog a diesel. For the exact way to register it look at the DMV web site: dmv.ca.gov look on the left side of their home page and go under "registering an out of state vehicle" and for questions about smog, it is there also. Hope this helps. Also, try the turning radius on the different trucks, dodge is much better and the interior in the ford looks old. However, the power in the Ca models does not seem to affect the ford, it has much more power, I like the cummins much better though. There are used 03's with a HO you can bring in from out of state! Then there is no comparison in power.

 

S.O + EDGE = ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

She finally got a Chevy 3500 Duramax today with an Allison tranny. She's happy. Hasn't hauled with it yet.

 

[quote author=Begle1 link=board=20;threadid=21547;start=0#msg221548 date=1071088086]
She finally got a Chevy 3500 Duramax today with an Allison tranny. She's happy. Hasn't hauled with it yet.
[/quote]

i sure hate when this happens

 

I know what people are going to say but, I think the Chevy is a good choice. My friends wife has one and she loves it. It's so easy to get in to, plush leather , climate control ,quite and hauls her horses as fast as she needs to go.
Just my .02

Be nice with the comments

 

Hey, his aunt got a diesel. Good for her!!!