cat i know.

I checked out some other truck forums and its hard to know what is decent info and what is just ford or GM basing by detractors.

my opinion
 

Best Engine:
5.9 cummins-it'll tow anything and does well on fuel efficiency
Best Trans:
Auto:
allison in the new Chev
Stick:
6 speed in the Dodge

Duramax has potential but i question the durability vs. the Cummins.

The V8's just can't compare to an inline 6 for torque or durability :cool:

How about the baby Dodge ram with the Mitubishi motor, thats a torque monger,:p

Catitude, I am not a Ford (Navistar), GM (Isuzu) or Dodge (Cummins) fan either. Notice none of thses guy's actually builds or designs their own engines. If I had my prefference I would buy a Caterpillar diesel, nothing else really compares. Straight six engine configurations cannot be beaten for torque or smooth running (no primary order imbalance). The Dodge is just too small (5.9L). It has a way high power per cubic inch displacement ratio. But you know, people swear by 'em. By the way, they are dropping that motor. Something about a conflict of interest between Diamler and Cummins.

I just like to stir the pot once in a while. I own the PSD cause my father was a division manager for Ford and I get a wicked discount. Besides, it does an awesome job towing.

Someday someone will get smart enough to use a Cat with the Allison......Then there will no longer be a debate !!!!:eek:

I get a kick outa watchin the too small trucks burning rubber trying to get their rigs out of the water.It can be quite entertaining.

Guys, we got a little off Puder's topic here. He's looking for an inexpensive single purpose pulling vehicle to pull his current and future boat.

Consider a first generation dodge/cummins with a manual trans. May be the uglist truck ever made, but won't your boat look all that much better next to it? 4wd is always nice, but you may not need it. You have to make that call.

For what it's worth: I too use a 96 350 to pull about 10,500 of boat and trailer. Yes, I'd like more power, but it is adiquate.

My ford is a 93 and it already
 

had frame problems towing just over 5,000 lbs. If you intend to tow anything over 24 foot and 6,000 lbs, I would think you would want to have something a little newer and more reliable, frame wise that is...

Puder, We have a 99 GMC Suburban with a 350 in it and it doesn't have any problems towing our boat. We usually tow 100 mi or so. The boat is usually full of fuel so I guess it and the trailer are about 6500#.

I don't know if I would use it as the primary tow vehical for something the size of your boat if you are planning to tow for very long trips though.

We use a 2001 Ford F250 diesel now and the suburban while a great vehical now has been moved to people mover status

i found another one.

1987 f 350 1 ton 4x4 manual with a diesel, non dually. Are the older ford diesels really that bad? This truck is pretty cheap. She needs some paint but is DIRT cheap.

comment please.