Getting a new truck need info .

[Doug1810]

Ok guys i need a new truck . I have had 2 1st gens and 1 24v 2nd gen . I am getting a new job and will travel about 50,000 a year . So i need a truck that is going to make it every day. I was really looking at the 3rd trucks but i am reading that they also have ball joint problems along with u joint . but i have not seen alot of track bar issues . The truck will not pull alot of weight just 500lbs of tools or so . I would like to hop it up a little so should i get the auto or manual . I had stage 6 ats on 2nd gen but that is alot of $$$ to spend on a trans . What is a safe daily H. P i need this truck to be there every day .



Also what do i look for on a used truck is year very important . Is there problems with pump like vp44 do i need to take a gage for fuel pressure when i go look . The truck will be 4x4 i would like one from a non rust state . So i may have to judge the truck when i go to get it or pay a shop to do a insp. Should i buy a truck that is already hopped up or stay a way from that .

I know i write very bad so sorry good thing thats not what i do for a living . :-laf



Thanks alot guys

 

[JApol]

The biggest problems that the 3rd gens have are contaminated inectors (helped with GDP 2 micron filter kit). U-joints(not hard to do, get grease able ones). When you get the truck, take off the front tires and front calipers and check the front hubs for wear, they can and will leave you stranded on the side of the road.

 

[Doug1810]

So do you think the 3rd gen is more reliable than the 2nd gen ? I am just asking because my 2nd gen was always needing some kind of front end part at the begining. it was only at the end of owning it did if finally get it fixed good . But I had a hard time trusting the vp44 .

 

[JApol]

The ball joints are an issue with some of the truck, I haven't heard much of the 06 and up trucks having ball joint or u-joint issues but most trucks still have to few miles.

The 03 and 04 not 04. 5 trucks had the LP on the back of the fuel filter canister but there is a TSB to move it to the tank. If you get one of the trucks with the LP still on the filter canister get it moved to the intank as the one on the canister WILL fail, just like the LP on a VP. The CP3 is proving to be a very good pump. The only thing is that on a CP truck, if the LP fails the truck will not run unless you take out the LP and have a leak free system it will run fine with the CP sucking the fuel out of the tank. Glacier Diesel Power makes walbro lift pump kits for the 3rd gen.

I don't think there has been a CP3 failure yet other than contamination

 

[Doug1810]

Contamination? You mean like not changing the filter in time ?