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looking for another work truck. what about the 6.5?

R

RedneckBuckeye

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looking to get another truck for work, seen a 94 with a 6.5 119k. What is the 6.5 like and what are the common problems to look for?
 
If you're not interested in that 94, could you send me the specifics?

Best I can tell you is the 6.5's must be worth having. Seems there's quite the few of us on the forum.
Things to look out for would start with the PMD - has it been relocated? Depends on the price of the truck whether or not that is an issue. It is an easily resolved issue. Ignition switches, mostly just normal wear and tear by my experiance.
 
94s don't have the ignition switch issues like 95+ does. Don't expect power levels like a dura bucks has.
 
First, define "truck for work".

Hauling guys from site to site?

hauling lighter materials around (ie: load of 2x4's gyprock, etc)

Hooking up a bobcat?

Hauling heavy loads up and down hills?

The 6.5 has always struck me as a decent recreational diesel. In other words, great for occationally hauling the boat to the lake or the occasional camping trip with the 35 footer, but not so much as a heavy work truck.

The engine itself is prone to main web cracking and head problems, along with the PMD frying itself, cooling issues, etc.

The truck it's in is pretty solid overall.
 
Properly set up a 6.5 can do any towing job out there, one of our members uses his in oil field duty daily 30K loads of pipe & drilling equipment, the description for "work truck" is a broad definition what is your definition.
 
One thing's for sure... Anything you need to do for it to work like you need has better support here than anywhere else on the planet.
 
Under 10K? You can pull that much with a Toyota! A properly set-up 6.5 will serve you well, RB. Like Mike mentioned above, this here is the best place around to figure out how to do just that.

Of course, if you decide to buy something else, we'll take the contact info on that 6.5 you were mentioning ... :) (Only 119K on a 94? Sweet!)

Seriously, have a look through the 6.5 Technical Reference Library. You'll find threads like this one that might give you some idea of what to look for.
 
JiFaire said:
Under 10K? You can pull that much with a Toyota! A properly set-up 6.5 will serve you well, RB. Like Mike mentioned above, this here is the best place around to figure out how to do just that.

Of course, if you decide to buy something else, we'll take the contact info on that 6.5 you were mentioning ... :) (Only 119K on a 94? Sweet!)

Seriously, have a look through the 6.5 Technical Reference Library. You'll find threads like this one that might give you some idea of what to look for.
Click to expand...

And it's awfully close to home for some people.
 
My work truck is a 6.5 and I can say it's definitely pulled it's weight thus far. Biggest loads ive had on it so far are probably a dump trailer with a few tons of dirt/ stone. Or a small bobcat. but I have put this truck through the ringer and she has yet to let me down ( knock on wood ) I've put a ton of screening and a skid of brick in the BED and she still got the job done. starts every morning, at the end of every day, and gets decent mileage compared to similar work trucks. Although the 6.5 is a 'problematic' engine in some cases, If you do the right mods and take care of it like any other vehicle, it's a great engine.
 
Best, most reliable, easiest to fix engine I've ever owned. Over 55,000 miles thus far......... Does everything I've ever asked of it, including over 22,000lbs on the trucks 6 tires.
 
The engine sounded fine the rest of the truck was literally falling apart around it, I havent seen it on craigs list anymore, so I dont know what became of it. Thanks for th response.
 
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