Ok, I'm in need of a truck for sidework really (I do landscaping) but having trouble deciding on one. At the moment I'm looking at a Dodge and a Chevy.

The Dodge:
2000 Dodge 3500 dually w/ Cummins diesel, 50k, 12ft dump......$17,000
Pros: its a dump! owner is friend of family and truck has been
more of a personal vehicle, never really "worked"
Cons: its a dump! not soemthing really want to take out
everywhere or travel in, its a regular cab, not extended

The Chevy:
2001 Chevy 3500 dually w/ 6.0L gasser, 47k, no dump, 8ft
bed....$18,900 @ Chevy dealer
Pros: crew cab and loaded interior, something i can use other than
just work
Cons: not a dump, big a$$ end on the truck

Now, I am kinda in a pinch because the Dodge I need to make a decision on this week as to buy or not from the family friend before he really lets it out on the market and really, its a helluva a truck.

The Chevy is nice I haven't had tiem to research a lot. Dad always had Chevy's but mostly 1500's for his business. I am just getting into really researching but a heads up would REALLY be appreciated on the Chevy. So its a '01 3500 with Chevy tranny, not Allison and a gasser. What may I have the pleasure of looking forward to with this truck, problems? Whats the gas mileage, 14? I know diesels have room to help with mpg w/ the addition of chips etc but what about gassers?

Thanks for the help and sorry for hte "noobness" but time is short. :)

Hands down, get the Dodge, but then you knew that.

I vote diesel. Dump bed a plus for your work. Yeah, it might look weird at a restaurant or whatever, but be assured that those w/o dump beds are envious whenever we haul gravel or dirt or bark and have to shovel it out by hand...

Last time I hauled 21 yards of gravel into my back yard, I got smart and rented a HD dump trailer from Sunbelt (couldn't have a 10 yrd truck breaking up my cement). Worked great, but hard to manuver in tight spots that truck by itself would handle easily.