Thinking of buying my first diesel truck… is it worth it?

I’m seriously considering getting my first personal diesel truck. I’ve had experience working with larger trucks for work, but this would be my own. It needs to handle heavy loads, farm work, and construction materials since I work both on a farm and for my dad’s construction company.

I’ve been using a Colorado in the meantime, but it’s just not cutting it for the kind of work I do. I’m also capable of doing most of the maintenance myself, so repair costs aren’t a dealbreaker.

Would love to hear your thoughts or experiences with diesel trucks. Should I go for it?

If you’ve got heavy work like farm tasks or hauling equipment, a diesel is definitely a good move. It’ll outperform your Colorado for sure.

Darwin said:
If you’ve got heavy work like farm tasks or hauling equipment, a diesel is definitely a good move. It’ll outperform your Colorado for sure.

No doubt about it. I’ve owned 3/4-ton trucks before, but this Colorado was supposed to be a temporary thing. It’s really struggling to keep up.

@Keegan
Yeah, the Colorado’s fine for light stuff, but it’s not made for the heavy-duty tasks you’re describing.

Darwin said:
@Keegan
Yeah, the Colorado’s fine for light stuff, but it’s not made for the heavy-duty tasks you’re describing.

Exactly. I’ll give it credit—it tries. But it’s clear that farm work is way above its pay grade.

The 6.7 is great, especially if it’s tuned and deleted. I’ve got a 2012, and it’s a beast for towing and hauling.

Olen said:
The 6.7 is great, especially if it’s tuned and deleted. I’ve got a 2012, and it’s a beast for towing and hauling.

The one I’m looking at is tuned, but I’m not sure if it’s deleted. Is deleting really that important?

@Keegan
If it’s tuned, there’s a good chance it’s deleted too. Most of the issues with these trucks come from emissions equipment. Deleting it makes a big difference in reliability.

Make sure you budget for when the CP4 pump fails. Either get a disaster prevention kit or swap to a DCR. It’ll save you a lot of headaches.

Ainsley said:
Make sure you budget for when the CP4 pump fails. Either get a disaster prevention kit or swap to a DCR. It’ll save you a lot of headaches.

I second this. The disaster prevention kit is a must-have for any truck with a CP4 pump. Better to be safe than to deal with a catastrophic failure.

The King Ranch interior is beautiful, but the sound system is lacking. If you go for it, invest in a better stereo and speakers. Also, pay a shop to inspect the truck before buying it. $500 for peace of mind is worth it.

A diesel will handle heavy loads way better, but be ready for higher repair costs. If the Colorado is already struggling, though, this is the upgrade you need.

Dorian said:
A diesel will handle heavy loads way better, but be ready for higher repair costs. If the Colorado is already struggling, though, this is the upgrade you need.

Repair costs don’t bother me since I do my own work. The Colorado breaks every time I take it to the farm—it’s just not built for this.

Diesels are great if you need them, but buying an older one with high mileage might cost you more in repairs. Have you considered a newer gas truck?

Amari said:
Diesels are great if you need them, but buying an older one with high mileage might cost you more in repairs. Have you considered a newer gas truck?

I get that, but I need something for heavy towing and hauling. The Colorado is costing me more in constant repairs than I’d lose on a diesel with higher mileage.

Don’t buy a diesel unless you truly need one. As a diesel mechanic, I can tell you they’re expensive to maintain and repair.

Mai said:
Don’t buy a diesel unless you truly need one. As a diesel mechanic, I can tell you they’re expensive to maintain and repair.

That’s not always true. If you take care of it and actually need the capability, a diesel can make a lot of sense.

14-16 6.7s are solid trucks. Just make sure to get a disaster prevention kit or upgrade to a DCR pump. The CP4 can be a ticking time bomb, and fixing it is super expensive.

Diesels can be amazing, but if you’re not careful, they can drain your wallet fast.

Noel said:
Diesels can be amazing, but if you’re not careful, they can drain your wallet fast.

I hear you. But honestly, I’m already broke working as a trade worker. What’s a little more? :joy: