What are the most reliable years? I need a truck for pulling in high altitude desert. What years are considered to be the best?

 

06 and 07 Classic are the most desirable. Most power, strongest engine and pre-emission.

 

How does this compare with the 5.9 Cummins?

 

I would take a Dmax over a Cummins any day, but I may be bias, With EFILive tuning, a Dmax even in stock form is AWESOME!

 

Well i'm looking to buy a diesel but it will remain totally stock and be used in high altitude desert application.

 

IF your going to leave it all stock, I like the duramax more than the cummins especially if you are wanting an automatic. If you want a handshaker I would go with the cummins. The dodge/cummins combo, in my opinion, rides rougher and doesn't seem as refined as the GM/duramax combo. I don't think you could go wrong with any of the diesels as long as you know what you are getting into. Obviously with the Ford/6.0 diesel, you need to know A LOT to keep them from having problems. Even then you will still probably get a few. Go drive them all and see which one you like best.