Real world towing

[johnw3474]

"some a-hole from New York who tried to order trout back in 1987"

Can't add anything to the towing discussion, but I just wanted to acknowledge this incredible reference. Thanks for making my afternoon. @taskswap

 

[Harvey_NW]

I couldn't imagine trying to pull 10k+ with a gas engine compared to modern diesels. I don't even pull often anymore but the additional fuel mileage and power when I do pull my camp trailer or even drive long distances unloaded always feels worth it. Not sure where you're gonna be located, but there are plenty of good shops in the PNW that will work on deleted rigs. The '11's definitely were prone to issues being a new generation, if I were in that situation I'd upgrade into a newer one and get a warranty, drive til it's up, then T&D it, and roll on.

 

[Choupique]

couldn't imagine trying to pull 10k+ with a gas engine compared to modern diesels.

Just hold the pedal down and let it whine.

One bad injector on that big bad ass diesel will make the appeal of a gasser more apparent. If money isnt a problem, yea a diesel 1 ton is amazing for dragging heavy weight up and down mountain roads.

 

[doc holiday13]

Just hold the pedal down and let it whine.

One bad injector on that big bad ass diesel will make the appeal of a gasser more apparent. If money isnt a problem, yea a diesel 1 ton is amazing for dragging heavy weight up and down mountain roads.

Bad injectors are fairly easy to defend against nowadays, just has to be a case of "ask everyone how they die" Change the fuel filter every 15K-20K miles(sometimes less sometimes more depending on where you buy your fuel). The biggest issue across all brands for the last 10ish years has been bad fuel pumps. I've rectified the need for DEF on my truck and I'll be premptively swapping the fuel pump from cp4 to cp3 next spring.

 

[Beendare]

Good conversation.

I get it, it's so nice to run a 1/2 ton around town....vs a big heavy duty truck.

I have 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton and 1 1/2 ton trucks in my one company.
I too have made the mistake believing the tow ratings of these 1/2 tons- a 6000# tractor on a 2,000# equipment trailer made my 1/2 ton feel like it was running balloon tires. Much like the poster who was hauling cattle, the trailer moves the truck.... It's an accident waiting to happen.

Personally, the max trailer I would haul a long distance over mountains with my 1/2 ton Ram w/v8 is about 5,000#.

 

[RancherJohn]

Good conversation.

I get it, it's so nice to run a 1/2 ton around town....vs a big heavy duty truck.

I have 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton and 1 1/2 ton trucks in my one company.
I too have made the mistake believing the tow ratings of these 1/2 tons- a 6000# tractor on a 2,000# equipment trailer made my 1/2 ton feel like it was running balloon tires. Much like the poster who was hauling cattle, the trailer moves the truck.... It's an accident waiting to happen.

Personally, the max trailer I would haul a long distance over mountains with my 1/2 ton Ram w/v8 is about 5,000#.

Lots of truth here. My F450 makes my 3/4 ton feel like a 1/2 ton.

And my 3/4 ton has a new transmission on order from regularly towing ~12-18,000 lbs in the mountains. Even with good brakes and cooling systems, it's asking a lot of a truck to do that very often. Sizing up on the front end can save lots of money in repairs down the line.

 

[doc holiday13]

Lots of truth here. My F450 makes my 3/4 ton feel like a 1/2 ton.

And my 3/4 ton has a new transmission on order from regularly towing ~12-18,000 lbs in the mountains. Even with good brakes and cooling systems, it's asking a lot of a truck to do that very often. Sizing up on the front end can save lots of money in repairs down the line.

jumping from a 3/4 or 1 ton to a 1.5 ton is HUGE extra truck weight and width make a YUGE difference

 

[Harvey_NW]

width make a YUGE difference

Those fat boy front axles turn on a dime. I just went from a 550 back to a new 350 at work. I'll forever miss the turn radius of the kidney beater. That's all I'm gonna miss though.. Lol.

 

[Choupique]

A 5500 truck with 3500-equivilent spring rates would be soooooooo awesome.

Kinda sucks that the F450 pickup is the only real option in that market.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Kinda sucks that the F450 pickup is the only real option in that market.

FWIW, we don't have any Cummins because our local dealership wouldn't lift a finger to locate us any plain white or cab and chassis trucks any time we asked, but we have had a mix of GM/Duramax and Ford/Powerstroke both standard and cab and chassis trucks from 2011 to present cycled through an ag service fleet of 10. I can tell you the Fords have by far and large spent less time in the shop, and cost exponentially less to maintain. Knowing Dodge transmissions I would assume they would compete with the GMs on cost due to how often we tow.

 

[Weldor]

Had a few Ram 4500 sterlings for weld trucks, they were ok. Mostly electrical problems. Never did have def issues with them. I guess we got lucky.