truck advise

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jack barnes

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Joined
Aug 5, 2005
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371
Location
Springfield, Ma.
I need some advise on trucks. I'm in the market for a heavy duty truck. I realize this is a loaded guestion because some will like GM over Dodge or Ford and so on. What I need is something strong enough to pull a 28' RV back and forth from NM to Mass. two times a year with out working it to death. With the price of gas it will set the rest of the time.

Thanks Jack
 
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I pull a 26ft. 5th. wheel (7000)lbs with a 99 chev. 1500 4w dr. 4.8 v8 9-10mpg pulling,16+ empty. fords are tough andlow mpg/ chev. ride like a caddy and better mpg. I have 230thow. + miles no major moto or tranny problems. if I would buy another truck it would be a chev. with a 5.3 v8. also Iwas told that 2wd pull more than 4wd. have fun chooseing
 
I believe in a margin of safety and extra power. I've seen, and known, too many major breakdowns on the highway with marginal tow trucks. For what you are talking about, my choice would be a Dodge 3/4 ton diesel. Dodge is currently giving a lifetime drive train warranty. Can't beat that.
 
I am with Dario, I would look to see if the Toyota will work well with the camper. The new version of that truck is really nice, and more loaded than a Town-Car if you have the money to deck it out!
 
From someone who owns a truck and actually USES it on a daily basis (not just a cowboy cadillac!)...I would highly suggest you go with a diesel. It will cost you more but will also get better mileage and tow better. I drive a Chevy 2500 HD Duramax and very frequently tow a 21' trailer with a SkatTrac skid loader. Loaded I am right at 10,000 pounds and I still get 14 MPG. Unloaded with no trailer I get about 17 around town. With my previous truck, a Chevy 2500 HD gasser, I got about the same mileage around town but when towing, I would only get 8 or so. Also, there is one steep hill that I have to go up to get to my house and with the gasser, I would have to get a run at it and end up berely creeping when I got to the top. With the Diesel, I can stop 1/2 way up and then start again with no problem.

Diesel will cost more and will cost more to get worked on if needed but most don't need any work. I have right at 100k of hard work miles and have done nothing except change the oil and filters. There are no plugs and no tune-ups to deal with. Also, if you are energetic, with a diesel, you can start making your own BioDiesel for about $1 per gallon! I am working on it right now myself!
 
I have a chevy 3500 2 wd w/260000 miles on it and a ford f-350 4 wd w/108000 miles on it. I would buy another chevy any day. I am selling the ford and giving up on the plowing business. My chevy will pull a house down if I could get the traction and will go all day with a full load of oak and a 12 foot trailer full of the same. The brakes are bigger and heavier duty. Everything about the chevy is heavier, yet it still gets me 12 city and 14 highway loaded with a 454 motor and a 4l80e transmission and 4:11 rears. The dodge has come a long way in the past 10 years and a lifetime warranty is great if they will allow towing to be considered normal use. I personally would not buy a foreign car since the last toyota ran for 75000 miles before it was ready to be junked. While any truck can pull a heavy load, remember to consider whether it will be able to stop the load when you need it to. I am shopping around now for a new truck also and will probably buy the chevy 1-ton to replace both of the other trucks. I pull a lot of different trailers and trust the chevy to do the job.
 
Over the last 5 years I have owned 4 Dodge diesels. (I was in the hot shot hauling business.) You can't beat the Cummins engine. The ONLY engine trouble I have EVER experienced was a head gasket on one truck at 498K. Transmission trouble is another thing with the Dodge. The transmission is <s>S@#t.</s> . However on a personal truck towing a RV you should never have any problems.

The Dodge I drive now gets 23 mpg empty, 13-14 towing.

Be sure that you get an electric brake controller put in whatever you buy.
 
Diesel would be a must have----and if where me---I would go with a one ton with dual rear wheels. They are just so much safer giving you the most control possible.
 
Everyone has a brand that they are fond of. My choice is GM. I beleive any of the big three deisel engines are ok, although I think i heard that the newest Fords had problems. I would suggest checking out the transmissions as much as the engines. You may have to special order one to get exactly what you want as far as trim level, towing options, etc.
 
To me deisel would be the go even if deisel engined vehicles are more expensive to buy first up and the cost of the fuel is greater. Deisel engines provide much more torque and you need that for towing. The gearbox and diff will need to meet your requiremnents because ultimately they are the weakest links.
 
Sure diesel motors lasts longer, but then you are stuck driving a NASTY, STINKY truck. I CAN"T STAND the smell of them!

Although for those of you who like the stink of diesels, Toyota might have a hybrid/diesel in 2010 ;)
 
Originally posted by jack barnes

I need some advise on trucks. I'm in the market for a heavy duty truck. I realize this is a loaded guestion because some will like GM over Dodge or Ford and so on. What I need is something strong enough to pull a 28' RV back and forth from NM to Mass. two times a year with out working it to death. With the price of gas it will set the rest of the time.

Thanks Jack
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If that's all you're going to use it for, and let is set the rest of the time, I'd pay someone to haul the RV for me and charter a private jet to NM for me and my entourage. Probably be cheaper in the long run than the cost of the truck, fuel, maintenance, insurance, hassle, etc.
 
Originally posted by Proud_Poppa_of_2

Originally posted by jack barnes

I need some advise on trucks. I'm in the market for a heavy duty truck. I realize this is a loaded guestion because some will like GM over Dodge or Ford and so on. What I need is something strong enough to pull a 28' RV back and forth from NM to Mass. two times a year with out working it to death. With the price of gas it will set the rest of the time.

Thanks Jack
Click to expand...

If that's all you're going to use it for, and let is set the rest of the time, I'd pay someone to haul the RV for me and charter a private jet to NM for me and my entourage. Probably be cheaper in the long run than the cost of the truck, fuel, maintenance, insurance, hassle, etc.
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Or, you could just rent a truck for the times that you need one. Probably be a lot cheaper than buying one. Maintenance would be the responsibility of the owner, not you.
 
My wife drives a Dodge 250 Mega Cab with a Cummins diesel. We bought it because we need to haul horses and we went looking for trailer and truck at the same time. I did my research about recalls and satisfaction. Most of all I went to the horse shows and saw not a Chevy in sight, all Dodge and Ford among the heavy users. So we bought a Ford diesel, used. After two breakdowns I couldn't send my wife, daughter and horses out with a truck that might not get them there. We traded the Ford for the big Dodge; couldn't be happier. If it isn't a Cummins, you are going to have problems hauling that trailer.
 
Like Gerry said, Dodges are for women. Just kidding, don't shoot. But Lee, you can't be serious about the smell of the diesel, don't you know that you can put oil from the fry machine in it and it would smell like french fries going down the road, or at least that is what I saw on the discovery channel.:) I will probably buy the chevy for 2 reasons, 1. I like them and have had great luck with them and 2, I get a big discount on them because of a family member that works for a company that is part of GM. It's an easy choice for me.
 
I've pulled a lot of trailers over the years and nothing beats a diesel for towing. Right now I have a Ford 3/4 ton turbo diesel and I've pulled my 30' 10,000 lbs trailer coast to coast several times. It pulls up the steepest grades without complaining. Regardless of brand loyalty, IMO a trailer that big needs at least a 3/4 ton truck. Hard to say for sure, but my guess is the weight of that trailer will exceed the weight restrictions of any 1/2 truck.
 
Jack, I'm a Chevy guy... and I wouldn't sell you my Silverado for twice what I paid for it. I had a fleet of trucks and couldn't keep the Fords outta the shop. Now having said that, I'm going to change direction based on more recent experience. For what you want a diesel is the way to go. My brother has had good luck with his Dodge, and a few years ago, I spent two weeks driving my uncles Ford F-350 Powerstroke. If Chevy was using a more well known diesel like the other two, I'd recommend one, but...:(
 
For heavy duty towing I would recommend a Dodge 3/4 ton with a cumins inline 6 engine. I think they discontinued the I6 for the V8 in '06. They (the I6's) are a much better built engine than the newer V8's. If you are worried about not having enough power with that setup, I pulled a home down with chains using a truck just like that. My dad tows around a goseneck with a bobcat all the time and he's been very happy with it. I am a Chevy man but Dodges are some mean towers.
 
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION - I have a 36' 5th wheel with triple slides. It's a fairly heavy unit. I have a CDL license and was talking to my insurance guy regarding different sized trucks. He pointed out something I hadnt considered. If your trailer exceeds the wieght rating of the truck, and you are involved in an accident, the insurance company could refuse to cover the truck and trailer because you have exceeded the working limits of the vehicle which could change the handling characteristics of the vehicle. That was a simplified explanation, he used a lot of insurance speak. It made sence though because the same principles apply with heavy trucks. I asked a highway patrolman about this and he said it's true and citations could be issued as well, although it doesnt happen all that often. I bought a 1 ton Ford diesel and it does a great job. Diesel is the way to pull.
 
Oh -- would also buy a used one---something 2 or 3 years old.
Find something with 40 or 50K miles on it---that would be just broke in. With fuel prices as high as they are you could steal one right now. I am one of those Dodge folks also.
 
thanks everyone for the input. Micheal that would be to easy. I checked the price on some 06s with diesels with low 30,000 mile range, the dodge ran $34,000, Ford ran a couple thousand more and Chevy prices was the highest. I thank I would be better off buying new 08 with a V8. I know the diesel would most likely be better but I worry about it being used.

Jack
 
Originally posted by jack barnes

thanks everyone for the input. Micheal that would be to easy. I checked the price on some 06s with diesels with low 30,000 mile range, the dodge ran $34,000, Ford ran a couple thousand more and Chevy prices was the highest. I thank I would be better off buying new 08 with a V8. I know the diesel would most likely be better but I worry about it being used.

Jack
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the break in period on a Desiel is about 100k. Meaning buying a low milage 30-50k used one is really the way to go. You don't take the depreciation hit and many times you can find a Certified one that will still have a warranty. Also, I think that the warranty on Cummins engines is totally separate from the truck's.
 

the break in period on a Desiel is about 100k. Meaning buying a low milage 30-50k used one is really the way to go. You don't take the depreciation hit and many times you can find a Certified one that will still have a warranty. Also, I think that the warranty on Cummins engines is totally separate from the truck's.
Click to expand...

The Cummins is covered for 100K.
 
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