Deisel tow vehicle

[SKEETERMAN]

Hi all,

Well the lease is up soon on my Ram pick up and now with the big three not leasing anymore it looks like i am going to have to buy a truck or sell the boat (not). I am not impartial to ford, dodge or chevy as i like all three but i am more concerned with fuel milage and cost. I think i am going to go the used 3/4 ton route and find a late model thats only a few years old unless i can fit a new one into my budget. Any suggestions on engines to stay away from? Most fuel efficient diesel? I will try to keep this truck for 10 years or so and it will mosty be used to tow the boat. Thank you!!

[Daddy'O]

My suggestion?

An 06 or early 07 Dodge with the 5.9l cummins with the 6-speed manual. This is what I looked for since November of last year but had a hard time finding a regular cab which is why I wound up buying new. I hope I didn't screw up! I guess time will tell.

Good luck!

Wayne

[SKEETERMAN]

Thanks for the info. What kind of milage am i looking at towing 4500-5000 lbs. I get 12 mpg now. Thanks!

[Daddy'O]

It would depend on the configuration of the truck. Regular cab vs Quad cab design, 2 wheel drive vs 4 wheel drive, axle ratios, and stuff like that. However, I can tell you that Lester (aka welder) is pulling 6K with his regular cab, 2 wheel drive, with 373's, 6-speed manual tranny & is getting right at 12 mpg. He just got his truck in June. It's an 07 with the 5.9l and only had 17 miles on the OD when he bought it. He's made a round trip to Pensacola Florida, and a round trip to POC Texas. I believe he's got less than 3K on the OD now so the mileage may improve a little as he puts more miles on her. Oh - if I messed up on the numbers, I'm positive Lester will straighten me out.

Wayne

[SKEETERMAN]

Thanks daddyo. Id be interested in either a quad cab or extened cab. 4 wheel drive, short bed and 373's. I am not interested in a stick but being that 90% of the miles will be towing and very little use without the boat the 6 speed automatic sounds interesting. There have been posts that i read where people are getting 15-18 mpg while towing. Think there is any truth to that or is it all hype like when people are spewing their outboard numbers?

[welder]

I would say 15 to 16 MPG with the Cummins 5.9 is doable with the load you are pulling.

My Pacific is pushing 11' tall and has a lot of wind drag but the Cummins doesn't know it's there.

The cummins [ 5.9 ] gets the best MPG out of the big 3.

The 07 5.9 has 325 HP and 600ft + foot lbs of tourqe , If your going to tow a bunch I would go with the 6 speed manual tranny.

With any Diesel ya dont want to break 2K on the tach. 2K on my truck [ 2500HD 2WD longbed , the HD has the 11.5" rearend and 3.73 gears ] at 2K I'm running 65 MPH , 2150 rpms is 70 mph, 1900 rpms is about 62 mph.

With my boat in tow I can go from 65 to 80 in a heatbeat , it will set ya back in the seat.

Empty right now I figure 18 to 20 MPG with 245 17E tires, Wayne has the 265's and he turns 1900 rpms at 70 mph [ I'm going 265's when thes wear out and that should give me 2 to 3 mpg more all the way around.

It pulls my boat up the ramp in 1st gear [ 6.21 to 1 ] at an Idle and does not lug at all, it's VERY impressive.

All I can say is " If ya don't want a CUMMINS , don't test drive one "

Here she is at Bluffman2's Casa

[SKEETERMAN]

Nice pic lester and thanks for the info. We have about 50 company vehicles in our fleet (all ford and about 40 of em deisels) and our mechanic just basically siad what you said. He is tired of the ford deisels of the last few years and the brand new model of this year is not proven yet!!

[Daddy'O]

Skeeter,

I have been a Blue Oval fan for the last 30 plus years.

My new truck is my first Dodge (Mopar) product......EVER.

Listen to your mechanic.

Wayne

[welder]

So Wayne , between the two of us , 62 years blue oval owners, Ford has lost two more truck buyers to CUMMINS/Dodge.

[cdail28590]

If you can find an 02 or early model 03 ford with the 7.3 you will have a great truck. The newer Fords are only getting around 14mpg unloaded. My 01 with 36" tall tires get 16mpg empty and I was getting 12 pulling a 6,000lbs boat. Cummins are hard to beat in longevity. The Duramax I have heard good and bad but I think with any of the diesels it depends on how much hot rodding you do with them that tears them up.