Tow rigs Pros and Cons

[Jim]

Doink previously posted:

[MultiScuf]

Jim previously posted:

[MultiScuf]

Other set of options I am looking at of 2500

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5429358535.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/5410540721.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5417784468.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/fod/5432282442.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/5402561315.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5403338369.html

[Fordguy77]

scout man previously posted:

[MultiScuf]

Top 3 picks so far out the list about. I leaning towards the 2008 Dodge Ram 2500 Bighorn Quad Cab. I know its a gasser but I not hooking 10k every week or weekend so what everyone's thoughts on that?

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/5403338369.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/5402561315.html

http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/5410540721.html

[redneck23ms]

Out of those 3 the cummins would be my pick. But in reality any of those trucks would work for you. The gasses will get worse mileage especially when towing but the cost to maintain them will be lower

[Patrolman]

Agreed. Of the 3, I would swing for the Cummins, particularly when it is close to the same price of the V8.

[newracer]

The Cummins is RWD if that matters.

[redneck23ms]

I didn't catch that. 4wd is a must for me where I live but alot of people could get by with a 2wd.

[dieseldoc]

2wd sucks. Good price but no 4x will suck.

[Patrolman]

The 2wd should get better mpg though and have less to go wrong. Unless 4wd is a necessity, a 2wd could make a great tow rig.

[newracer]

I rarely use 4WD while towing but I have on occasion going over passes in the snow.

[dieseldoc]

the front axle and T-case is 1000lbs less curb weight.
The only time 4x will be good is winter driving and soft dirt at a trail head.
Was very rare I used 4x in my '91 w250 cummins.
Empty was when I needed the 4x

The price is nice for sure.

[mattzj98]

I had a 2000 7.3 litre. could never get it out of a shop. Just constant issues.. tried few other trucks.. meh.

Finally found a pristine 2008 6.7 L Cummins. long bed, 4 door but not megAF.
Little tweak turned into major mods but in the end, I am pushing 800 hp and 1400tq, get 26mpg emty and 16 to 18 mpg pulling my 35ft gooseneck with 2 Jeeps on it (6k lbs jeeps) I absolutely refuse to trade this truck for anything.

As far as 4x4 goes. Yes. You will be using 4x4 a lot when towing to trail heads. Pulling my set up to Eagle Rock, I had to put it in 4 low because the weight of my trailer kept pulling me back down the hill. If you try to accelerate up hill on drt rd with rwd only, you will end up spinning a lot of tire, get your transmission hot and end up not going anywhere. Bill Moore is another trail i will throw the truck in 4low to get up to trailhead... there is lots of that. The only time I'd say you wouldnt need it would be if you did hotshot hauling, mostly interstate. Ive yet to put it in 4x4 on any regular paved roads.

If you get a cummins, you will definitely be happy for life, although it is true, ford is the more comfortable truck overall.. I know, ive spent a lot of time on the side of the road and was very happy about the comfort features.. with the cummins, i just get where I need to get real quick and worry free

[redneck23ms]

what sort of issues did you have with the 7.3? i have the same year truck is why i am asking. only had it for a year now but only issue so far was a glow plug relay and one of the plugs came off of the t-case so it wouldnt shift into 4wd. both were easy fixes. granted my truck is stock and i plan on keeping it that way.

[mattzj98]

I wish you luck. I got to know every tow truck driver on this side of the Rockies. I kept blowing transmission lines, losing heat, leaking Freon, tons of electrical issues, glow plug relays, glow plugs, block heater, injectors, two times over. Transmission, turbos, fuel pumps, alternator, starter, trailer harness, fuel gauge, it kept stalling every time wipers kicked on, hubs... and I've only owned it for 7 months... lol.. oh and boost leaks. New one every couple weeks. And interior filled with steam when pulling (still unexplained) my jeep usually end up taking the truck home..

[Brian]

I think it has a lot to do with the previous owner and how they treated and maintained the truck before you. I have had my 2000 7.3L since 2007 as the second owner. Other than the alternator going out last year and the batteries 3 years ago, all I have done is changed the oil and fuel filter regularly and fill up with diesel as needed. I have had zero mechanical issues, and have never been left stranded. A lot of guys get wrapped up in the "fanboy noise" of their brand and use it to validate their choice of truck/rig/4x4 etc. Most my experience with guys who tow/haul regularly shows that their are several good options across all brands, and all brands have some sort of shortcoming. It's all a compromise of some sort, just gotta do your homework and go with what suits your needs.

[mattzj98]

Yup. Ford has the roomiest interior
Chevy has the nicest ride
Ram pulls like a freight train.

[Jim]

mattzj98 previously posted:

[dieseldoc]

So the best truck would be the Ford cab an frames with a cummins engine and an allisson 2000 transmission.
The rest of the Chevy can be tossed as the strength is not there.
GM origanly tried to get the CAT C7 a 6.6l inline 6, CAT refused to contract after trashing a few prototypes. Bent the frame killed the front axles and the trans hardly fit.
Thus why they want with an Isuzu engine. Yet still the wrong engine as there is a 6.6l inline in the same family as the v8. The 6 is to tall to fit in the truck with the IFS.
GM is currently shopping for a new engine as the contract with Isuzu is up.
Rumors are they are jumping on the 5.0l cummins.
If you read the fine print on the GM comercials, they clam best towing in its class,
when you put a 6.6l diesel against 6.2l gas engines you will out pull them.

The current FORD engine seems to be far more reliable than the Navastar/IH engines.
The new engine is up to near 900 lbft and over 550hp.
They are trying to beat the cummins to the 1000 lbft....will see.

The 6.7l cummins is a great engine.
Built for the dodge, cummins don't like to sell the parts for it, they will tell you that's a dodge part.
There in lies the issue as the parts are far more expensive at the dodge dealer.
We have a clear of '07 and '14 dodges.
They seem to be well running and living with our guys abuse.
Now mind you these are chassis cabs with flat beds, the rutinly pull 20k lbs. on goose necks.
The biggest issues thus far is with the pinion bearings in the '07's.
As AAM eliminated the pinion snout support from the inside they work loose.
The steering box on 2 of the 5 of our '07 trucks have failed the anual DOT inspection due to
the sector shafts having to much movement.
These are the biggest issues with the dodges.
Big plus is the factory exhaust brake!


Matt- do us all a nice cool favor and build a thread on your truck.
I would like to see how the truck deals with 800 up for the long term.
Granted Cummins turns these engines down alot.
The biggest thing I want to see is how often the DPF has to be cleaned.
And that bring up a whole different part of the truck discution.
As Cummins builds 90% of the after treatment systems for all didesl engines,
I find it funny that the other guys are buying cummins parts to run in there junk.
This is also a very sore subject for many of us mechanics.
As a diesel engine produces NOx nitorgine oxides why is there a catilitic converter on the new trucks.....the carp is along for the ride.
The you have the DPF selectable catilist for the soot. Realy we have to capture the carbon and clean it. Realy it carbon.
So what we have now is the use of Diesel Exhoust Fluid, 20% bovine pee, 25% a minneral that you really don't want near you, this carp is killing the plant life along the freeways.
So the best pro for a diesel purchase has been negated by the EPA.
Fuel economy.....
Matt could imagine the MPG's you would be getting with out the DPF using 7-15% of the tank to burn carbon.