Diesel daily driver negatives

[hobigusn]

I was thinking of getting a diesel for a daily driver. I'm in Michigan so it will be cold. What is not good about having a diesel as a daily driver?

 

[Crunch]

I was thinking of getting a diesel for a daily driver. I'm in Michigan so it will be cold. What is not good about having a diesel as a daily driver?

Your "friends" are more likely to ask you to help them move because they want to ride in the truck and because you don't have the excuse that your truck is how you make a living so you can't risk damaging it. :-laf Trust me, you may buy it as a daily driver, but it will quickly become more than that.

 

[Scooby]

One negative in a cold climate is that you won't have heat for several miles! So if you have to park outside you'll be cold for the first 10 minutes of every drive (unless you high idle it for a while before you go - which isn't an option where I live)



I also don't like to start up for those 1 or 2 mile away errands - the engine just won't get up to operating temp even in the summer.

 

[Hoefler]

If your considering a newer one with a 6. 7, you need to consider your the distance and route in your daily commute. If you only go a few miles or don't get on the highway for more than 5 or so miles, you might ought to consider an older diesel or a gas burner. The 6. 7 is designed to be worked, in the grocery getter scenario, it is has been problematic.

 

[BHanna]

Even in the not very cold winter here, it takes me about 10 miles of highway to get to operating temp. My commute is about 12 miles. If you don't drive at least that far to work and back, you may not want to use it as a daily driver.

 

[Jim W]

I am retired now, but I used my truck as a daily driver for two years. I drove about 5 miles one way in city traffic. The reason for buying my diesel was that we tow a 5er during the camping season and a gaser would not work. Tried the gaser for two trips and said never again.

I live in northern IL near Chicago and it does get could here. I bought the block heater cord from Geno's garage along with the Wigidigit Block Heater BP 0309 Kit. This allows you to have a clean look and easy access to the block heater cord to plug into. In the colder months I would plug in with a timer, set to come on three hours earlier then when I need to leave for work.

I also run the Mopar winter front and have closed this down to just one vent open in the extremely cold temps. These two items have help tremendously in keeping the truck warm and functioning correctly in the winter.

Would I buy another Diesel again, Yes!

 

[hobigusn]

If your considering a newer one with a 6. 7, you need to consider your the distance and route in your daily commute. If you only go a few miles or don't get on the highway for more than 5 or so miles, you might ought to consider an older diesel or a gas burner. The 6. 7 is designed to be worked, in the grocery getter scenario, it is has been problematic.

So a 04-05 5. 9 ctd would be better for short trips?

 

[steved]

If you don't mind paying the electric to run the block heater, they will be up to operating temperature within a few miles except for very cold days using the heater.



Without plugging in, it takes about 15 minutes of traffic driving to get the thermostat to pop. An 03 through 07 5. 9L would be a good choice... the later 05+ models have the lift pump in the tank, which seems to be a plus. 2003 and early 2004. 5 HOs tend to get better mileage because they lack the 3rd injection (emissions) event.

 

[meanmatt]

Because of the cost of these trucks . I think alot of us are on daily driver duty. I'm in the 12 mile each way to work no problems in 3 years . I park inside th garage at night so that keeps the truck about 30 degrees above outside temps. So I feel heat out of the vents in a couple of blocks . usually at full temps by half way in the winter , by the freeway on ramp in the summer . Heated seats will help if you are really cold sensitive,and make the time before warm air starts coming out of the vents less painfull.

Keeping the truck just a daily driver is impossible. My intent was daily driver /pull my 5ht wheel on vacations. Now I have learned that owning a capable trucks means you are on speed dial ,especialy the inlaws will call . Need a tree stump pulled out call the guy with the big diesel pick up . Need more stone for the back yard call the guy with the big diesel pick up . stuck in a ditch , you got it call the guy with the big diesel pick up . You will learn a whole new set of skills owning one of these trucks.

 

[rjones]

Ive used a Cummins for a daily drive since 96 with NO il effects as short as a 15 minute drive to work My buddy has a 04. 5 and drove 5 miles to work everyday since and has no problems... . and its a daily also no pulling,or off road. obtw I haven't used a block heater in mine since I bought the truck in 04 except for one -20 night here in Michigan

 

[steved]

You will learn a whole new set of skills owning one of these trucks.

Yep, you learn to say "no" a lot...

 

[Scooby]

Your marraige may suffer!

As a daily driver, you'll have to beat the women off with a stick..... daily! Chicks dig trucks! :-laf :-laf



(p. s. Please don't tell my wife I said that... . oh, shoot, here she comes..... delete, delete... !)

 

[Motorhead]

So a 04-05 5. 9 ctd would be better for short trips?

Anything from a '03 to a 5. 9, '07 would be good.
I see that you posted a few other questions regarding the third gen truck.
If you are planning to drive it in Mich winters, I wouldn't own anything but a 4wd. I live in Calif and my first Dodge diesel was an '01. 5 2wd second gen quad cab. I was suprised at how many times it got stuck even with a rear posi. I sold it and bought my '07, 5. 9 4wd and love it. Mine is a manual trans but with the free spin front hubs, I get decient mileage. Combined town and some freeway is 17. 5mpg on straight highway, keeping at 65mph, I can get 21

 

[steved]

Another thing I will suggest is that you find an auto... these manuals are fun to drive, to a point. But commuting in traffic can become a pain after a while.

The 48RE seems to be holding up fairly well, and I would have went that route if they had more time to prove themselves when I bought my truck... but I was still gunshy of autos after coming from a 99.

 

[BigRedRam]

Been using mine as a daily driver since it was new. Only real problem has been getting rear ended by tail gaiters on the freeway. Interstate 15 from LA to San Diego typically runs at 75+. Traffic will suddenly stop or slow way down and the little cars just don’t seem to understand how fast these trucks can stop. After 175,000 miles in five years, the score is 2 Hondas and a Toyota totaled with 3 new rear bumpers on the truck. Recent upgrade to road armor bumpers should eliminate bumper replacement and it will provide additional income for upgrades. Road armor bumpers purchased courtesy of State Farm and Allstate Insurance. :-laf



It uses more fuel, but it’s an investment in safety.

 

[Wiredawg]

All of ours are daily drivers. Dodge Ram Cummins rocks. My wife drives hers 36 miles each way to work... I drive 6 miles each way to work. We like the safety, reliablity and the coolness.



Wiredawg

 

[hobigusn]

Ive used a Cummins for a daily drive since 96 with NO il effects as short as a 15 minute drive to work My buddy has a 04. 5 and drove 5 miles to work everyday since and has no problems... . and its a daily also no pulling,or off road. obtw I haven't used a block heater in mine since I bought the truck in 04 except for one -20 night here in Michigan

Maybe it's just time i said the hell with it. All this worrying about which truck is the right one, 1/2 ton or diesel. Just go with what i want. Throw all that practical crap out the window!

 

[rjones]

There ya go tell us how you like your new Diesel lol Good luck buddy

 

[Motorhead]

Maybe it's just time i said the hell with it. All this worrying about which truck is the right one, 1/2 ton or diesel. Just go with what i want. Throw all that practical crap out the window!

I am sure that others will back me up on this but... . DON'T buy some guys jacked up, customized, hopped up, never been
drag raced, "recent engine work", P. O. S. !

Spend the money and buy a nice stocker with records if possable and fix it up yourself to your liking.

These are truly enjoyable trucks if you get a good one. MY $0. 02

 

[AMcCormick]

well I got one that was a little bombed. Bought it for the transmission. This is my second 3rd gen ctd. I have to drive a truck. 1/2 ton trucks just dont make sense to me. I get the same mileage or better as a 1/2 ton and I can do much much more with my ctd truck. Now if I could get a 3rd gen common rail 4cyl that would be something I'd be interested in.