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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
  
Location: Nebraska | So, my truck up and died today on my way home from work. It appears to be the transmission but will not know until at least Tuesday when I can have someone look at it. In the case my truck is shot, I need some advice on what I should get. It needs to be automatic and needs to have 4 wheel drive. I haul a 3 horse kiefer bumper pull and usually haul 2-3 horses. The catch is that my current truck does not fit in the parking garage at workso I have to park in an open lot. I also work nights and live in NE so I'm concerned with leaving it in an open lot in the middle of winter without it gelling up. I am unable to leave it running or go out during lunch (if I get one) to start it. I work 3 13-14 hour shifts per week and drive about 30 miles each way. My current truck is a 2000 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel.
Any ideas on what would be the best? |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
 
| Buy a new tranny and do the necessary fixes on your truck and keep using it, if you really want a payment buy a smaller suv to use as a commuter. |
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Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | supposedly it got a new tranny 3 years ago when we bought it. It has 250k miles on it and various other problems so not sure if it is even worth putting a new tranny in. I had originally planned on buying a small suv to commute as soon as my divorce is final (hopefully at the end of the month) but guess this had other plans. I've been fixing it since he left me with it 2 months ago. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| Just plug the truck in while at work.. |
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Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | FLITASTIC - 2015-09-04 11:03 PM Just plug the truck in while at work..
not an option. nowhere to plug it in |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 312
Location: KS | I know some of those older dodges are alittle worse about gellin up but try some diesel treatment when it starts to get colder. I use howes in my duramax, Ive never had any issues with things gelling up, Im in KS. You need to put it in every time you fuel up, the joys of diesels.
I also have never plugged my pickup in, I know that it would be easier on it if I did, but its always started for me. My husband drives 2000 Fords, always plugging them in, they wouldn't start real nice otherwise. I do however have a little gas pickup I drive quite a bit of the time, so I don't have to get the diesel out but its in the shop right now getting a new tranny also.
I like fixing the things I have because then I know what I have, (and I usually have a brother around that doesn't mind working on my things) unless your just ready for a new pickup Id probably keep it. Im a chevy girl myself. :)
Good Luck.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 679
Location: KS | Peewee212 - 2015-09-05 11:45 AM
I know some of those older dodges are alittle worse about gellin up but try some diesel treatment when it starts to get colder. I use howes in my duramax, Ive never had any issues with things gelling up, Im in KS. You need to put it in every time you fuel up, the joys of diesels.
I also have never plugged my pickup in, I know that it would be easier on it if I did, but its always started for me. My husband drives 2000 Fords, always plugging them in, they wouldn't start real nice otherwise. I do however have a little gas pickup I drive quite a bit of the time, so I don't have to get the diesel out but its in the shop right now getting a new tranny also.
I like fixing the things I have because then I know what I have, (and I usually have a brother around that doesn't mind working on my things) unless your just ready for a new pickup Id probably keep it. Im a chevy girl myself. :)
Good Luck.
I agree 100%. The additives help out a lot. There are also programmers you could install to help with cold starts. I also agree with fixing what you have. Everything breaks. Mine as well fix it and know you SHOULDN'T have that problem again. I like to know what, how and when things have been replaced on my truck. We keep receipts of parts and right down the day it was installed.
I like Power Service Diesel Fuel Supplement + Cetane Boost for my 2002 7.3L. Works like a charm.
Edited by ACowgirlsLastRun 2015-09-05 12:04 PM
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | We have a '12 F-250 gas truck (automatic and 4x4) that has done what we've needed and more towing wise. I would imagine it would work for your needs.
I pull a 2H GN with a large dressing room and it feels like nothing is back there. Hubs has pulled flatbed trailers and steel, machinery, etc for work with no issues and that mess is typically heavier than my trailer loaded. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | I agree with going with a gas truck this time if you are worried about gelling up in the winter. The newer 6.2 L gas in the Chevies looks to be a pretty good engine. The 6.0 was good until they got higher miles on them, and they started making lifter noise. I myslef am a Dodge/Ram fan, but the Dodge gas engines aren't as fuel efficient as either Ford or Chevy gas engines however I prefer the pulling power of a Dodge gas over a Chevy gas. Also, I think the Dodges are geered better for pulling than Chevies are. I've not had a lot of experience pulling with Fords as we haven't had one to use for some time.
You could fix the Dodge you have now, but my experience with Dodge automatics are when the truck is a diesel they are REALLY expensive to fix, and you could use whatever money to repair it as a pretty darn good down payment on something else. JMO. But I'm not a good one to talk...my dad takes what he has and keeps fixing it no matter what no matter the car, ha-ha. |
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Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | Thanks. We're a lot colder up here than Kansas lol. We get weeks where the wind chill is -40 and the wind just howls. I do put the additive in during the winter and it has gelled up with the additive. The ex was driving it then so who knows if he was putting the proper amount in. I had a friend look at it today and they're thinking the torque converter so not as expensive as a new transmission. That, I can handle. I just am not sure if it's worth putting the $$ into it for a new transmission when it's that old, starting to get rusty, and has 250k miles on it.The thing about gas I'm most worried about is the cost of making it a daily driver. I feel like driving back and forth to work would really add up.
Edited by brlracerchick 2015-09-05 10:20 PM
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I just replaced my gas half ton with a diesel 3/4ton, I also bought a Honda Civic for commuting and daily driving when I don't need the truck. Once I looked at the gas savings the car is basically making its own payment (which is small to begin with). I like that I have the 4x4 when I need in the winter, and it can stay plugged in at home when I don't. When I do have to drive it in the winter we'll just have to see how quickly it wants to gel and go from there. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I personally would fix the truck
Then buy a cheap car for commuting you will save a lot in the long run
Edited to add, does Kansas have winter fuel?
I live in Alberta and we can have spells of 40 below for weeks without the wind chill and never had my truck gel off, but Alberta switches to winter fuel which has an additive to prevent geling. For your truck I would be calling to fuel stations to see if any do this.
Edited by cheryl makofka 2015-09-06 9:13 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 312
Location: KS | cheryl makofka - 2015-09-06 9:10 AM
I personally would fix the truck
Then buy a cheap car for commuting you will save a lot in the long run
Edited to add, does Kansas have winter fuel?
I live in Alberta and we can have spells of 40 below for weeks without the wind chill and never had my truck gel off, but Alberta switches to winter fuel which has an additive to prevent geling. For your truck I would be calling to fuel stations to see if any do this.
Yes, Kansas has winter fuel. Kills your fuel mileage also. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Peewee212 - 2015-09-07 1:46 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-09-06 9:10 AM
I personally would fix the truck
Then buy a cheap car for commuting you will save a lot in the long run
Edited to add, does Kansas have winter fuel?
I live in Alberta and we can have spells of 40 below for weeks without the wind chill and never had my truck gel off, but Alberta switches to winter fuel which has an additive to prevent geling. For your truck I would be calling to fuel stations to see if any do this.
Yes, Kansas has winter fuel. Kills your fuel mileage also.
Interesting
Our winter fuel, I have never noticed a difference in fuel milage |
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 I Drink Whiskey in Boys Shorts
Posts: 1882
| I wouldn't sell the truck if I were you. That motor in your truck is highly sought after, as they can and will run to one million miles if treated properly. I have been in your shoes with my truck. Ex was using and abusing it and I took it back in our divorce. Been a crazy journey but I have fixed more things than I care to admit on the truck and continue to learn as much as I can. My suggestion is to learn as much as you can about the truck and just take care of it. I would rather wrench on my own truck than get taken for a ride in an auto shop or shell out big bucks to replace it.
I am not super knowledgeable in super cold weather since I never deal with anything colder than 7 degrees F. I plug mine in at night and if I am out somewhere where it sits for a bit I just go through the wait to start process a few times. I can bet though if you posted this question on a diesel forum that somebody would be able to help you. |
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Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
Location: Nebraska | Thanks. A friend looked at it and doesn't think it will need a new transmission. Hopefully he is right and I'll still be able to afford a small car/suv to make my daily driver before winter comes. I'll call the mechanic in the am so we'll see. |
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