How long will this truck last

[tomahs]

I bought a new truck 7 weeks ago and have 8700 miles on it already. I am wondering how long this truck will last and what I can do to make it last longer. I am installing a bypass oil filter and plan to use synthetic oil after 20000 miles. I tow a 3000 lb. trailer 90 % of the time. I have a egt guage and shut off timer which I have to use almost always. Would like to know the average life expectancy of brakes, starter, axels, u-joints, waterpump, and other whear out items. Thank you

 

[EB]

It will last quite a while. I'm over 152,000 miles now and have had the following problems.

1 Power steering pump leak, replaced under warranty

2 Limited slip did not work, replaced under warranty

3 u-joint in drive shaft, replaced sometiime after 100k miles

4 fan clutch, replaced around 130k miles

5 the only major problem, my CP3 pump (the main injection pump) went out at 149k miles.

That's not to bad considering that, like you, 90% of my miles are dragging a trailer except that mine weighs 7000 lbs empty.

There are people out there that drive more miles than I do and have had less problems than me. All in all, you have got the right truck for the job.

 

[bmoeller]

Really hard to say. Will depend on the quality of the original parts, driving style, maintanance/care, road conditions, and the like. You just never know. We had a water pump fail on the combine last fall at about 390 engine hrs. , but then, we've had some go over 16,000hrs on a Mack E-7 and a Deere tractor.



I have over 183k on my truck. Don't know how many miles this truck has actually towed, and would be factor. Having said that, my truck (as far as I know, I'm 3rd owner) still has the original u-joints, water pump, starter (with exception to the solenoid contacts), steering box (not for long, though), transmission(?, not sure) axles, for starters.



Most of the work I've done to this truck has been PM stuff and BOMBs. Couldn't be happier with ths truck.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Thomas you are off to a good start. Take care and keep EGTs down and you should run a long time. If EGTs start running higher than you like I would upgrade the turbo to something that flows better. Your engine will be happier for it.



I have a '96 Ram I picked up recently with 353,000 miles. There is surprisingly little wrong with it but I am finishing a head gasket job and it needs a few other minor things. Engine looked great inside, very very little cylinder wear, hone marks to the tops of the bores, no ridge whatsoever. Engine was run on Delo 400 all its life.



Vaughn