Opinions needed on Tow truck - Diesel or Gas?

[BARN FIND]

http://trucktrend.com/roadtests/ulti...0_intl_1_l.jpg

<font color="red"> </font> BIG RED

[musclcar]

we tow a 45' 3 axle 5th wheel race car trailer around with a 2003 dodge 3500 crewcab dually diesel.with the trailer fully loaded down we average about 15-17mpg and will pull both so. calif grades " cajon pass &amp; grapevine" with ease at about 55mph.this dodge 3500 is just awesome anyway you think about it.the cummins 5 valve 6cyl motor is just unbelievable it's got so much torque it's unreal. if you are looking for a diesel truck go with that but stay away from the ford powerstrokes they have alot of problems.i'm a medium duty/hvy duty diesel mechanic and have done alot of service calls on powerstroke equipped trucks.they have computer problem and the biggest problem is the oiling system .they are known to seize wrist pins and there injectors are run off oil pressure. have you seen the cummins connecting rods they're "huge" and dwarf both the duramax and powerstroke.just go to the turbo diesel registery and find out.

[musclcar]

[ QUOTE ]
The only downside to the FL60 route is your GVCW. According to the Federal DOT laws, anything 26,001 pounds and over requires a CDL. And, those FL60s are quite a bit heavier than your average 1-ton dually, as I found out with my TopKick. It would be easy to have a 2-car trailer in the 16,000 pound range loaded (more than likely it will be more), which means you're truck had better be 10,000 or less.I unfortunately had to find all of this out the hard way, which sucks, because the Medium Duty trucks are far safer to tow with than the 1-ton offerings when you start getting into some decent weights.

[/ QUOTE ] like i said in my previous post i'm a med-duty/hvy-duty diesel mechanic and BIT inspector . your right about the CDL being required for 26,001lbs and more. a freightliner FL60 is rated @ 18,500 gvwr and the FL70 is rated @ 25,999lbs the newer freightliner M2 is a medium duty truck rated @ 25,999lbs.the same goes for the international 4700 rated @ 25,999lbs and the international 4900 is rated as a CDL vehicle because it falls into the 26,001lbs category.

[CamarosRus]

I'd be very interested to hear misc comments from those with "smaller" 22-24' Two Axle trailers...regarding there tow vechicles, modifications, and fuel milage....
Thanks, Chuck S

[Pantera]

I did a great deal of checking around before deciding to go with the Dodge Diesel. I have a 36' Chapparal gooseneck trailer that we used to pull with a 454 Chev dually. it was not too bad on level ground, but when we hit the hills the speed would drop quite a bit.

On a trip to Calif one time, I will never forget the dam thing was down to 32 mph with my foot on the floor on one of those looooong up grades going over the rockies. I had to stop 3 times and let it cool down because I was afraid it would damage something.

This Dodge has twice the low end power the Chev had. Mileage is about twice what I would get with the Chev.

The only mistake I made was not getting a 2001 or newer with the extra valves and power. Mine is a '97 and it is good but I have drove the newer ones and they are just a little bit better. They also offer a 6 speed with them.

I think the Cummings is one of the best motors you can get in this size truck. I have yet to find anyone that has had a major failure with one of these motors and you can find them with 2 hundred and 3 hundred thousand miles on them that have had nothing but the top end freshened up.

I must echo what has been warned against the Ford Diesel's. I encountered too many that had had problems with them. Even when they were almost new.

You can't afford to be broke down on the road with a load behind you. I think most that have one of these trucks will echo how good they are?

Pantera

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

I did quite a bit of research before I bought a new truck to pull my Yenko to SCR7. I decided on a Chevy Silverado, 2500HD, 6.0litre gas, crew cab, 4WD, tow package, etc.... all the goodies. I pull a 24foot Haulmark Elite II Race Trailer which weighs about 4800lbs, and the Deuce at around 3500lbs, for a combined weight of around 8500lbs with me and some junk. This truck is rated to pull 10,200lbs with the dist hitch.

Bottom line: I love this truck! It pulls just like my 'advisors' told me it would over the steep Apalachians - especially the two biggies in WV. This vehicle is a compromise of course, it has to serve as the 'mini-van' for the family, the hauler for the home projects, the trips up steep, washed out, logging roads for deer hunting, and tow vehicle.

So far, excellent.

[djunod]

Having a vehicle that more then 2 people can be comfortable in during a long trip is a very good thing. Having enough room for at least one person to completely lay down to sleep while the other drives, is essential in my book.

After my last trip with the truck &amp; trailer (from Augusta GA to Boston MA &amp; back), I have decided to probably try getting a SUV that can tow the weight.

[Chevy454]

dj: Our '01 4x4 3/4 ton Suburban (496/auto) seats 7 (has captains chairs) and is rated to pull a 12k pound trailer...that thing is a HOSS! Talk about run...man, with/without the trailer you can pass anything on the road, except a gas station!