No F-Bdy Bs

Been shopping for new trucks for over a year now. Dispite the amazing options out there, im unsatisfied with what is available.

Last 2 trucks have been a 1999 5.3 Silverado, which went 177,000mi with very little cost of ownership. Brakes, batteries, ect. Tailgate latch, and a right, front hub.
Thats it.
Currently driving a 2006 ecsb 5.3 with 145,000 on it. It has been equally durable. Another tailgate latch, and a $69 A/C resistor. Thats it. 11yrs of ownership and less than $100 in repairs.

Truth told, if my current truck was a qc, id probably keep it. But, I bought it when I was single. Wife and kids =qc.

Anyhow, I dont turn vehicles over every 3yrs. My next one, ill expect to drive for 12yrs/150,000+mi,and I given current tech, I expect my next one to do it.
I want that time, and mileage without any major issues. I completely exlect disposables to fail, but engine, or transmission issues are completely unacceptable to me at anything under that time/mile frame.

So, options.
Qc, 4wd,and a little more power than my current 5.3.

I pull a 33hp tractor that weighs about 6,000 with everything, and a 23ft Pontoon boat. Dont pull either very often, maybe once a month, and less than 100mi.
All doable with current half tons.

Current 5.0 makes good power, but at 2100rpm,is making about 60ft lbs than the GM 5.3. Next gen Di 5.0 should bring the usable torque down a good bit in the Rpm range. Still waiting on hp/tq figures for the 5.0,but it looks promising. However, Start/Stop tech is NOT something im crazy about. Yeah, tune it out, turn it off, but, if it fails, will it leave me stranded?
Premature starter wear?

Next is the 3.5eb/10spd. On paper, this combo is perfect. Powerband is unbeatable, and is only slightly behind a 24v 5.9 cummins, but with a much longer powerband.
My issue, Did Ford remedy the previous issues? Will I be replacing Turbos in 9yrs at my cost? Cam phasers? Can this engine go 150,000/12yrs with periodic Mx? I dont want to be changing spark plugs every 40k.
Also reading the 10spd runs "lifetime fluid"? Not sure how I feel about that.
Again with the start/stop nonsense.




Now, the wildcard. 2500 6.0 Gm.
Yeah, I know the shortcomings. Horrid mpg, mediocre power, plus a 3/4-ton ride that I dont want.
Flipside. 6.0 Gm is probably the most proven, durable, and simplest engine on the road, period. No cyl deactivation, no Di. Basically, the same 6.0 for the last 20yrs. Not uncommon at all for them to go 250,000 without breaking a sweat. Oilfield fleets love then because they are absurdly cheap to maintain, easy to work on.
Also, say the unthinkable happens, and the engine completely grenades itself. I can have an entire longblock swapped in for less than $1,000.
About 1/10th of what a 5.0,or EB would cost me.

Before you say "Diesel!"
No, just nope. Y'all know the reasons why. On top of which, given my current mileage driven a year (10,000) I can pay for almost 6 YEARS of fuel by buying the 6.0 over a diesel.
Resale value is a moot point. Again, ill be keeping my next truck at least 12yrs. Dont care about resale.



So, can a new Ford outlast 20yr old GM tech?
I WANT a new EB, but fear issues, and cost down the line. Did Ford get it right?

bisley45

I tow a 36hp tractor on a gooseneck trailer, total weight is 9600 lbs. My 3.5 ecoboost with max tow pulls it like a train, and handles the weight well also.

The turbos grenading arnt an issue. Very few folks have had any trouble with their turbos. I would recommend changing the spark plugs every 40k, the good news is that it's easy ans the plugs are cheap.

My company has a small fleet of 2012-2016 gm 4x4 1500s with the 5.3s. I like the smooth ride that they have and I think the rear axle locks up really well. I find the power to weak. Whether it's the torque management or the hp isnt what they claim they are disappointing to me.

I'm not brand loyal at all, my last truck was a titan that I loved and I was eyeballing a ram 2500 with the 6.4 hemi when I found my current truck.

The 6.0 2500 idea isnt a bad idea at all.

idrive

iTrader: (3)

Nobody can make your decision for you.

Buy the one you think will make you and your family the most happy. That's on you.

You only get two guarantee's in life after the warranty period.

zx12-iowa

The 5.0 will be similar in power delivery to your 5.3. If you are ok with that, then the 5.0 should work fine. The eb would pull your loads far easier.

With the curthet eb the long term reliability should be good on both. Some just like a v8 for no other reason than its a v8. If that's you, then go 5.0. Some want the low end torque and ability to ceank up the power w a $500 tune - the the e.b. is for you.

If buying used there are a small # of each engine that had some issues. The transmissions seem to have been very strong with very few failures.

Test drive both and choose your gear ratio well (5.0 w a 3.73 and 3.5 w a 3.55) and either can be great long term.

RL1990

Don't know where you're getting your numbers but the current 5.0 has 385 HP at 5,750 RPMs and 387 lb/ft of torque at 3,850 RPMs vs the 5.3 355 HP@5600 and 383 lb/ft of torque @4100. The 5.0 has considerably more horses and it's peak torque, which is slightly more than the 5.3, comes in at lower revs.

The 5.0 carries the Coyote name but at it's heart is just the current generation slightly bored out and upgraded 4.6 modular V8 which has been on the market since 1991. Modular V8s have powered thousands of Crown Vic police interceptors and taxi cabs for over 200,000 miles before being retired in the most grueling conditions. I don't think an oil field truck can match a NYC taxi cab for severe engine use. It's also a proven and reliable engine.

The GM 6.0 can't be compared to the 5.0, it has to be compared to Ford's 6.2 V8. That's the engine Ford uses in the F-250. The 6.0 has 360 hp and 380 lb/ft of torque vs Ford's 6.2 385 hp and 430 lb/ft of torque. Again the Ford engine makes more power and torque than the GM engine. Considering the F-250 is the best selling 3/4 ton truck and the majority are basic gas 6.2 powered work trucks it is a durable and reliable engine.

I can't speak on the long term durability of the 3.5 EB because I don't think they have been out long enough. And obviously there are the components of the turbocharger system that aren't there in a NA engine that can eventually fail.They have been out since 2009 and had a few issues but I think those have been addressed and resolved. But I will say that there is no engine from the competitors that put out as much torque as the 3.5 EB and can haul more weight. No Hemi, no Vortec, no EcoDiesel. NONE. In fact I will say the 3.5 EB has more capability than it's probably safe to do with a 1/2 ton truck. Towing 10,000+ pounds probably should be done with a heavier truck.

Sounds like you came here to make a point about GM engines' reliability, durability, and superiority over Ford. I'm no Ford fan boy so I can admit that GM's pushrod engines are good. The fact that and LS V8 can fit in everything from a motorcycle to a boat is amazing. But Ford's OHC engines are just as good or better in most respects. Yes, the OHC design is more complicated than a pushrod engine but I remind you Toyota, Honda and the rest of the world have been using OHC engines for over 50 years. The reason Ford's smaller 5.0 is more powerful than the 5.3 is the DOHC design. Time for GM to let go of the past and the venerable small block they have been using since the 1950's and go with OHC engines.

Cwprotek

Your a GM guy. Stick with them.

deapee

Honestly, the aluminum body should be a plus for the ford side of things since you expect to keep it long.

That being said, the last thing we need is some chevy guy who has had 2 perfect trucks having problems with their ford and complaining daily how much ford sucks. It's a crap shoot. Your next chevy could be junk and your next ford could be perfect or it could be the opposite.

Wannafbody

The problem with the 6.0 is that the intake port is too large and low end torque is sluggish. That engine really wakes up at 3000rpm. The 2500 rides like a brick.

My 13 3.5 EB will out pull my dad's 2500 6.0. The EB is worlds better for useable torque.

No F-Bdy Bs

I promise im not here to bash Ford. I'm on the outs with GM and them only offering the 6.2 in premium trim levels.
Yeah, yeah, Cafe standards, whatever.
Its not just that. Consider this, if you want to upgrade from 3.23 to 3.42 gears, GM FORCES you to upgrade to a 20in wheel, at a cost of $2100. That has nothing to do with Cafe, but everything to do with GM being asses.
Meanwhile, Ford puts the EB in everything, and Dodge putting a Hemi in any trim level above a Radio Flyer.

Basically, just to get a 6.2, over the price of a LT trim truck, it will cost me over $10,000. That is absurd.
Tired of playing GMs games

darkrider

All things considered, your really not putting high mileage on your vehicles in your span of ownership. I think the 3.5 EB is right up your ally! Turbos really don't add any maintenance. You just need to be religious about the maintenance you perform, especially oil changes. Heat used to be a problem, but with better intercoolers, and oil coolers, oil starvation is more likely to kill a turbo than heat these days. I don't think it's unrealistic at all to expect the turbos to go for 10 years or 150K. At that point, you can make the decision to replace or upgrade them. There are a number of 1st gen 3.5s over the 100K mark with no issues. The 2nd gen should prove even more reliable.