Most RELIABLE? Chevy 2500 vs Ford F250

If the payload and tow rating of the Tundra just won’t cut it, and the single and only factor take into consideration is RELIABILITY, which HD work truck is closest to Tundra reliability?

Any era, new or old, any budget, less than 5k or over 50k, whatever.


There doesn’t seem to be any consensus on the interwebz (and I fear it is for good reason). For everyone who swears by a certain answer there are dozens who disagree and horror stories galore.

Can it be that there’s just no such thing as a reliable HD truck, or is there a consensus I’m not finding online.

3/4 ton or 1 ton, just Reliable. Not a single other feature. Don’t care about safety, electronics, etc.

Obviously no vehicle is problem free. Not trying to live in LaLaLand here. But having had 300k on several Toyota 4x4s, even 400k on one and buddy with 500k on another, I can’t help but cringe when my work buddies say “yeah man, it’s super reliable, it made it all the way to 150k before I had to replace the tranny” about their work trucks… It seems all they do is take them to the shop constantly for major issues.

Im assuming something 90s, 00s, through the early teens, not too old, not too new, probably a Ford, since GM has dropped off and RAM is still a Chrysler product? Am I way off? Is there such a thing a “most reliable” year/gas engine/etc of F250/350?

Any discussion/opinion/facts welcome.

 

The Ford 6.2 L Boss is coming up a lot in reading.

 

You never to buy used early tundra if you want to tow anything over 3000lbs.
The early v8's like the 4.0 in the Tacoma are fixable and reliable.

 

Not a ford guy but the old 7.3 power strokes are knows to be bulletproof. Mid to late 90’s.

 

7.3 F250 Diesel. Hands down.

 

Chevy/GMC with the vortec 6.0 gasser. The new 6.6 gasser is proving to be a very good successor, but the 6.0 has 15 year of proven reliability with both the motor and the 6L90 tranny. It's pretty much the HD equivalent of the 5.7 tundra. The 7.3 powerstroke was great, but good luck finding one with less than at least 200,000 miles. It's also at least a 20 year old truck now and the rest of the truck is worn at at this point and needs a lot of maintenance/upkeep.

 

That’s what I’m finding. Anything older has stupid high miles and heavy abuse.

I do strongly prefer a gasser over a diesel.

I’ll look more into the 6.0

Currently own two 1500s (2002 and 2013, looking to sell the 02) that my father drives. They’ve been problem free so far.

 

Will add to the research list. Thank you.

 

Noted, will look into.

I prefer gas>diesel but not as much as I prefer maintenance free > hassle so will consider all options available.

 

Id personally never buy a 1500 newer than 2012-2013. Last years of reliability in my experience.



I do like how cheap it is to replace a Chevy engine around here though. Hope to never have to, but they’re cheap to say the least.

 

Sold my Taco for a 2500 Cummins, love it

 

Great engines! Haven’t had reliability and Chrysler products go hand in hand for me in the past, but always open to hearing new statistics.

 

92-96 Ford F250, F350. Any of their engines 460, 351 or diesel are very reliable, the same with Ford E4OD auto trans and ZF5 manuals that are in those trucks.
The Ford 4.9L straight 6 is probably one of the most reliable engines ever made but those were mostly in the F150's

 

So far what I’m reading on 6.0 Chevy gasser vs 6.2 Ford gasser is all personal preference. The Ford appears to get slightly better mileage, but whoever owns each seems to just say that one is the most reliable. Will go check out both in person when I can.

 

I love a straight 6. Miss the old ‘59 GMC I learned to drive in.

The 92-96 body style certainly looks better (although the 99-07 were the best looking to me) and prices are nicer. I’ll research those options right now, thank you.

 

The newer 6.2 gas Super Duties are quite good. Very stout trucks.

 

That’s the way I’m ever so slightly leaning currently, but not sold yet. I don’t mind something older but everything I’ve found so far looks like quite a project!

 

For diesel:
1994-1997 Ford F-series 7.3L Powerstroke
1999-2003 Ford Super Duty 7.3L Powerstroke
1989-1998 Dodge Ram 5.9L Cummins

I am not saying gas-powered heavy-duty trucks are the least bit reliable, but I would only want diesel because the MPG of a 2500 or 3500 gasser would make my Tacoma look like a Prius by comparison!

 

The newer 6.2 fords are trash compared to the first few years. Quality went way downhill the same time they switched to the aluminum bodies. Local company switched to chevy hd gassers since the fords were having so many issues. I drove a 6.2 myself for 10,000 miles before trading it in on my 6.6 chevy. It idled horrible, the engine itself sounded bad, and even just died on me in a parking lot for no reason at all. (i took it to the dealer and "nothing was wrong with it") Not to mention it did not tow well at all vs my chevy. Diesel mpg is overrated since the fuel itself is $1/gallon more than gas in addition to way more oil, fuel filters to change, injectors are expensive, etc. I've been down the diesel route and won't ever drive another one.

Oh and don't forget the infamous ford death wobble.

 

I just put $95 and $97 in my Tundra two days in a row and it read at 6mpg… I hear you…