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Am I the only one puzzled by the fact that Chevy, Dodge or Ford do not have a 1/2 ton truck platform outfitted with a Diesel??? Personally I think there would be a strong market for a vehicle that rode better than a 3/4 ton chassis, had some good diesel power and could achieve some economy better than the current gasoline options offered by the big 3. My Dodge Ram with the 4.7 in it tows fantastic from a platform/stability perspective but the engine falls short when the going gets tough. That same truck with a Hemi is probably a little better but the fuel economy of that engine is just plain unnacceptable. A smaller economical diesel would be perfect......
Chevy actually had a 1/2 ton with a diesel. A buddy of mine has one. I don't think they made many though. I wouldn't think the chassis would hold up very good. Most people that would want a diesel in a truck usually needs for more than fuel mileage. They need to work and work hard. Albeit there are alot of people that don't use trucks for work. Just my $.02.
First Since when did the American Auto makers do anything right for us here in AMERICA ? There are tons of smaller diesel trucks made by GM that are scattered throughout the world. just do a search for it in south America !
the big oil control America, VW, Honda , all have autos doing 75 plus MPG overseas, But just when they get ready to ship to US. the EPA changes emissions !! Smart car, also has diesel model.
I love toyota going ahead here in the US !!! Detroit to busy building HEMI, HUMMER H1 H2 H3 and they wonder WHY
they are losing market share ??? Damn did they even go to business schooL ?
Anyway if you would like a well built smaller Diesel truck you may have to go to south America
Am I the only one puzzled by the fact that Chevy, Dodge or Ford do not have a 1/2 ton truck platform outfitted with a Diesel??? Personally I think there would be a strong market for a vehicle that rode better than a 3/4 ton chassis, had some good diesel power and could achieve some economy better than the current gasoline options offered by the big 3.
What do you want?
The POWER of a true diesel, or the economy of a small diesel?
A VW Rabbit pickup had a diesel in it. Great mileage, but you couldn't tow anything with it.
Just because there is a diesel under the hood, doesn't mean that it can tow anything.
Why put a powerful diesel (or even gasser) in a 1/2 ton truck? You are still limited by the truck's frame and suspension capability.
If you want a small diesel in a 1/2 ton for economy, that's fine. But don't expect it to haul a 27 Grady just because it has an oil burner under the hood.
The small diesels are fine for economy, but not much else.
Ever see those Iveco bobtail trucks running down the freeway? They have 4 banger diesels in them, and they rarely last beyond 75K miles, since they have to run at such a high rpm to move the load.
A guy buying a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup with the diesel to tow a boat needs the diesel first, and gets the benefit of better economy as a side benefit. The extra price paid for the diesel makes it worth it.
For the soccer dad that wants a 1/2 ton p/u with a diesel, he wants it for economy first, then maybe a little light duty towing. But the added initial cost for the diesel engine takes away ANY savings in overall fuel/running costs for many, many miles versus the gasser. Do the math.
But of course if you just want the rattling of a diesel under the hood for "status" in your shiney new 1/2 ton, go ahead and get one.
Dealers just love ego buyers... Love 'em all the way to the bank!
Am I the only one puzzled by the fact that Chevy, Dodge or Ford do not have a 1/2 ton truck platform outfitted with a Diesel??? Personally I think there would be a strong market for a vehicle that rode better than a 3/4 ton chassis, had some good diesel power and could achieve some economy better than the current gasoline options offered by the big 3. My Dodge Ram with the 4.7 in it tows fantastic from a platform/stability perspective but the engine falls short when the going gets tough. That same truck with a Hemi is probably a little better but the fuel economy of that engine is just plain unnacceptable. A smaller economical diesel would be perfect......
I really hope GM did their home work this time and brings that motor to market as planned. IMO the first manufacturor to release a small diesel in a half ton will snatch a good chunck of the market space. Even a small motor like the Mercedes 3L that they putting in various vehicles (GL, RL and I believe the Dodge Sprinter) would be great. I'm sure there will be a few knuckleheads that will try to pull 12K because they have a diesel but most consumers are smart enough to stay within the rated capacity for longevity, lliability and safety reasons.
I want a little of both. Its 2007 and 1/2 ton pickups are still getting the same gas mileage they were 10 years ago. What I am saying is that you could put a 5.0 or so liter diesel under the hood of a 1/2 ton and probably achieve 22 MPG or better and still have the same towing capacity. The Ford F150 is advertising a 10,000 lb towing capacity on that chassis. I'm not looking to tow 10-12,000 lbs with a half ton pickup. I want to tow what a half ton chassis will tow but with better economy and durability.
Has nothing to do with ego.. If I wanted a 1 ton dually diesel with 4 wheel drive to tow my 3,000 pound boat I'd buy one.. But it would be pretty impractical. I made this post because I am in agreement with some of the responses that the first 1/2 ton truck with a diesel(if its a good combo) will sell...
That GM 350 diesel convert was not put into trucks. ABoater is wrong. It was a "mistake" used in some cars in the early 80's. The 6.5 diesel GM used in their 1/2 ton trucks was a pretty good engine. I put 170,000 miles on mine towing all the way. Little power but it ran.
The Duramax/Allison replaced it. LOSER in '01/'02. I lost all the injectors and pump plus the Allison. Awful trash.
Get a Cummins. Have 150K on mine now and going for more. Cruises at 22+mpg and will pull down a building if you let it. In the standard 250's they ride fine.
I want a little of both. Its 2007 and 1/2 ton pickups are still getting the same gas mileage they were 10 years ago. What I am saying is that you could put a 5.0 or so liter diesel under the hood of a 1/2 ton and probably achieve 22 MPG or better and still have the same towing capacity. The Ford F150 is advertising a 10,000 lb towing capacity on that chassis. I'm not looking to tow 10-12,000 lbs with a half ton pickup. I want to tow what a half ton chassis will tow but with better economy and durability.
Has nothing to do with ego.. If I wanted a 1 ton dually diesel with 4 wheel drive to tow my 3,000 pound boat I'd buy one.. But it would be pretty impractical. I made this post because I am in agreement with some of the responses that the first 1/2 ton truck with a diesel(if its a good combo) will sell...
I had a 6.2 liter diesel in my early 80's (83 I think) GMC Jimmy Sirerra Classic . I beat the bag out of that truck the entire time I owned it. The idiot side post batteries, blow plugs and a transmission were the only problem. 700 R-4 was not a good tranny and a Turbo 400 fixed that. Near the end of my ownership in 1988 I was not fixing the plugs an ether worked just fine getting it going. I worked driving trucks at that time and both my co workers/owner had P/U's with the same engine and drive train but in 2WD models. They had over 150 and 200 K on the clocks. The injection pumps were a weak link on most of them. These motors were not the POS converted gassers.
Sounds like GM never learned huh? Same issue on my 1998 6.5 with the pump but at least they got the tranny right. Why they still use side posts is another question.
I have great memories with that truck and would buy another if they still made them.
The guy I sold it to was putting a 454 in it.
__________________ 2003 Boston Whaler 255 Conquest w/ twin 200 HPDI's
I've never been a racist. I don't like the white half either.
Am I the only one puzzled by the fact that Chevy, Dodge or Ford do not have a 1/2 ton truck platform outfitted with a Diesel??? Personally I think there would be a strong market for a vehicle that rode better than a 3/4 ton chassis, had some good diesel power and could achieve some economy better than the current gasoline options offered by the big 3.
What do you want?
The POWER of a true diesel, or the economy of a small diesel?
A VW Rabbit pickup had a diesel in it. Great mileage, but you couldn't tow anything with it.
Just because there is a diesel under the hood, doesn't mean that it can tow anything.
Why put a powerful diesel (or even gasser) in a 1/2 ton truck? You are still limited by the truck's frame and suspension capability.
If you want a small diesel in a 1/2 ton for economy, that's fine. But don't expect it to haul a 27 Grady just because it has an oil burner under the hood.
The small diesels are fine for economy, but not much else.
Ever see those Iveco bobtail trucks running down the freeway? They have 4 banger diesels in them, and they rarely last beyond 75K miles, since they have to run at such a high rpm to move the load.
A guy buying a 3/4 or 1 ton pickup with the diesel to tow a boat needs the diesel first, and gets the benefit of better economy as a side benefit. The extra price paid for the diesel makes it worth it.
For the soccer dad that wants a 1/2 ton p/u with a diesel, he wants it for economy first, then maybe a little light duty towing. But the added initial cost for the diesel engine takes away ANY savings in overall fuel/running costs for many, many miles versus the gasser. Do the math.
But of course if you just want the rattling of a diesel under the hood for "status" in your shiney new 1/2 ton, go ahead and get one.
Dealers just love ego buyers... Love 'em all the way to the bank!
Wow, choosing a diesel over a gas engine to obtain FAR better fuel economy and far better longevity brands you as an EGO buyer? I am about to hit 100k miles on my diesel and plan on keeping it for many more years to come. It was $5k more expensive than it's gasoline counterpart. It is now paid for...yes it took a bit longer to do so. I originally bought it to pull my Albemarle but I now own a 24' skiff that could be towed with a much lesser vehicle. Have thought about trading it on something smaller.....but why? It carries my whole family (5 of us) with ease, including ANYTHING we care to take with us. It regularly sees 20 mpg on the highway. It can do high 13's in the quarter mile. It has 4 wheel drive too, so I can take it off road, on the beach, etc., if I choose to do so.
Would I be happy with a 1/2 ton diesel at this point? YOU BET I WOULD!!! I would see better economy, probably be able to attain at least the performance of my 3/4 ton and it would certainly be able to tow and carry what I do now. But my current truck is paid for now and I figure that in another 15k miles I will have overcome the cost/benefit of the diesel option.
ABoater, your opinion is ignorant and misinformed on many levels. I would try and educate myself regarding diesel engines and their future before spouting off your ludicrous opinions!
What I am saying is that you could put a 5.0 or so liter diesel under the hood of a 1/2 ton and probably achieve 22 MPG or better and still have the same towing capacity.
I get 23+mpg with my 07 Dodge Ram with the 5.9 Diesel, tow rating 15k.
GM makes many small diesels, they just don't sell them in the U.S. market. The American people have not been as receptive to diesels as other parts of the world due to the low cost of gasoline here. I know, gas is expensive but not nearly as expensive as in Europe and Central America.
I go to Central America from time to time and there are many cars and trucks there that are diesel but the same models are only sold in the U.S. in gasoline versions. I see Chevy S 10's in Costa Rica with four cylinder diesels, not to mention all the Asian cars and trucks are available in diesel. All gasoline and diesel in Costa Rica most be imported as they have no domestic production at all. As a result, all fuel is expensive and it is important they get the best fuel economy possible as Ticos certainly don't make the amount of money Americans do and must save where ever possible.
When Americans truly become interested in fuel economy there will be many more diesel vehicles available here but, not until the prices get to the point Americans are willing to put up with the generally decrease in overall performance in acceleration, increased noise, etc.
I originally bought it to pull my Albemarle but I now own a 24' skiff that could be towed with a much lesser vehicle. Have thought about trading it on something smaller.....but why? It carries my whole family (5 of us) with ease, including ANYTHING we care to take with us. It regularly sees 20 mpg on the highway.
My current Excursion is my third one and fifth diesel vehicle overall.
All of them have had either boats and/or travel trailers towed behind them.
They were bought for a PURPOSE. Fuel economy was just a bonus.
Were any of you diesel owner wanna-be's out there buying the Ford Ranger, Isuzu P'up, or Mitsubishi pickups when they were offered? Because they were offered. And right here in the good 'ol USA.
1/2 ton Diesel Pickups and SUV's... 
