What type of truck do you use?

[jeff morocco]

we have an '05 chevy crew cab diesel/allison. it pulls the 53' w/ 2 cars, golf cart and everything needed for a weekend of racing just fine. only get about 250 miles per tank but pulls real well.

[gb70]

[ QUOTE ]
we have an '05 chevy crew cab diesel/allison. it pulls the 53' w/ 2 cars, golf cart and everything needed for a weekend of racing just fine. only get about 250 miles per tank but pulls real well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is it a 1 ton? What size diesel is in there?

[Chateau Slate 66]

The ultimate tow rig IMO is the Dodge Cummins with the 5.9 liter (pre- 6.7 liter) and the later 48RE automatic transmission (post- 47RE). The year range should be around 2004-2007 I believe. I have worked on a LOT of the different diesels. My distant second choice would be a Ford with the 7.3 liter only.

[CamarosRus]

I've been told by the CUMMINS customer advocate at Chrysler that the 03-04 1/2 was the sweet spot engine for the 5.9

"The reason to avoid a 2004 5.9 DODGE made after Jan 1, 2004 is because of the changes made to the injection system and how it's used to meet the tightened NOx regulations that came in with the start of 2004 calendar year.
2004.5 trucks run higher rail pressure and fire the injectors up to 4 times to reduce in-cylinder combustion temps.........this leads to stress on the injectors and is just inefficient combustion. Diesels dont like to have combustion temperature artifically controlled - it goes counter to their nature and makes them less effecient overall.

I'm still shopping and cant deny the cosmetic appeal and comfort of the GMC Sierra SLT ........

[Bad Brad]

I have a 97 Foed F250 4x4 4door 7.3 with 240,000 miles and I wouldnt trade it for a new one. The best truck I have ever owned.
Also it is the last truck to roll off the assembly line for 97 with the style side body and my truck is a 1998 title and ford did not make any trucks for 1998 but mine.

[Chevy454]

[ QUOTE ]
The ultimate tow rig IMO is the Dodge Cummins with the 5.9 liter (pre- 6.7 liter) and the later 48RE automatic transmission (post- 47RE). The year range should be around 2004-2007 I believe. I have worked on a LOT of the different diesels. My distant second choice would be a Ford with the 7.3 liter only.

[/ QUOTE ]
Dodge detuned the Cummins when the automatic trans was picked up until '04 I believe, so that should tell you how much confidence ChryCo had in their automatic transmissions up to that point! The 48re trans was indeed better, but it ain't no Allison, either.

Some things to ponder are, how often will you be pulling a trailer, and is it gonna be a daily driver? The earlier diesels (LB7 Dmax, 7.3 Fords, pre-'04 Cummins) are gonna be your mileage leaders but sacrifice a little power & grunt to get there. If you're just an occasional tower, then any of them will be fine, and you're wallet will thank you for the lower initial buy-in cost & fuel savings...as the newer diesels added power, they sacrificed mileage...and the EPA has made things significantly worse due to all the cat/dpf/egr mumbo-jumbo the diesels have to carry around now.

We've covered a large portion of the GM spectrum...in 3/4 & 1-tons we've had 454s, 454 w/supercharger, an 8.1/4L80e and 8.1/Ally, a Dmax/Ally, even a 3116 Cat (ok, that was a C4500 chassis!)...our LB7 Dmax has been a wonderful truck, and has pulled 2car+junk trailer whenever/wherever we want...only minus has been the LB7 injector fiasco (which was covered under the 7yr/200k warranty) and I smoked a ring gear once as well (which I think was due to improper service). I know the 8.1L gets a lot of grief, but it truly is a good engine...won't get the empty mileage of our Dmax, but loaded it's nearly the same...it has more grunt off the line, is a lot less complicated & finicky, and was a HECK of a lot cheaper! And it's got the same Ally trans...

[Lee Weber]

...I call it my little mans disease truck. F-250, 6.0 Disiel, crew cab, King Ranch..loaded. Only issuie I have with it is I've heard quiter versions of disiel. But strap 15K to the back end and I just as well could be pulling a skate board...she pulls like a mule on steriods and then some. Drinks like a fish too .

[gb70]

What is the good/bad on the 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 with the 24v Diesel motor? Looking at one owner with 102k miles on it that is a 4x4 dually.

[budnate]

[ QUOTE ]
What is the good/bad on the 2001 Dodge Ram 3500 with the 24v Diesel motor? Looking at one owner with 102k miles on it that is a 4x4 dually.

[/ QUOTE ]

good trucks overall but have 3 major issues to deal with, they get about 15 around town struggle to get 19 on the road is the downside to me.

make sure it dont have the 53 block!!!!!!!!! run if it does.
http://www.stamey.info/Truck/Cummins...NewInformation

if the fuel lift pump and pump have not been rebuilt there probably ready to die...google 24V lift pump, 24v fuel pumps, and you will understand what is going on with them.

also if its a auto and has about a 100k on it, make sure its been serviced well from new, if nothing has been done since new its probably going to die soon.

good luck.

[CamarosRus]

Rob, FYI, I found a gorgeous 05' GMC ExCab Long Bed 4x4 LLY close to Portland, OR. I was down there a couple weeks ago for big BlueGrass Music Festival. Seller opens garage door and rolls out this 35K mile cream-puff looks like NEW. Loaded SLT, even had a sunroof. Guy wants over $29K, over retail book..........seems that the NICE trucks, you either step up or step back.........I walked!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still looking........just hate to spend TOO MUCH $$$ on a truck that's going to sit most of the time.....bought a fancy trailer, but dont think it will depreciate as fast as truck.

Thanks for all your advice, I'll continue to look