DrGaryDC

Looking at either the Chevy 3500 or F350. Heard issues with the 6.0 liter ford but 03 was last year for 7.3 liter. Any concerns with the 6.0 liter pulling approx 10k pounds. thanks
Dr. G

rumrunner29

I pull around 10k with my 6.0 PSD, it pulls the boat just fine. That being said, my 2 prev 7.3 PSDs were much better engines than my 6.0. It's well documented that 6.0s are more prone to failure than the 7.3 and if you put a programmer on it, crank it up and tow with it, WATCH OUT! You can however make a 6.0 a very good engine, just change the head studs and a few other things. i was told that 6.0 diesel engines are very intolerant of high EGTs so that's why you should becareful towing heavy loads with a high tune up. Mine is bone stock and I have never had a problem with it at all, but it doesn't have the power that either of the 7.3s did with the same load behind them. I read somewhere that 05' and up 6.0s are better than the 03 and 04s (mine's a 06). I don't have any experience with chevy duramax engines (ima a ford man). I am told they are good motors.

Catmando

Of those two the Duramax is the winner hands down. GM has not changed diesels like Ford has done, they have just improved the Dmax through the years. The Dmax can be taken to 500rwhp without changing the turbo or going to twins as you would have to do with the 6.0.

The big problem with the GM diesel trucks is the IFS. That suspension is not optimal for heavy towing on a daily basis which is why you rarely see them doing that. For weekend boat towing you will be fine.

The Ford had the best setup for towing. My suggestion would be to find a used 6.0 F350(they're cheap) and drop a 5.9 Cummins in it.

JPD Motorsports

towed with them both. 2wd duramax dually pullen a 40 hustler on a steel trailer. no problems. my ford is a 1999 4x4 single rear wheel. I prefer to tow with the duramax most of the time. as for 6.0 i cant comment on it. both my rigs are juiced up pretty good but even stock the chevy would out pull the ford with the boat behind it.

seltzer

Ever wonder why you rarely see a chevy tow truck.
If you plan on using the truck for personal towing i think its just which truck you like best.

Nykamp

Get a crew cab 4x4 Duramax, you will love it. Buy a 2005 or newer, the earlyer ones had some injector problems.

jeff32

DMAX all the way... more power, more torque, less fuel... much less fuel...

kick3pts

Never driven a Chevy, but had a 2005 Ford F350 Dually and a 2004 F350 single. Towed 10k boat with both and loved the way they towed. Had no problems with the 6.0, and there are a ton of them on the road so problems are bound to happen when you have almost twice as many out there truckin along. I have a 2003 2500 Ram w/ the cummins now. Will tow the boat this week for the first time. I'll post that experience as well so you can compare. Not to hijack, but I'd take the Ram hands down over the Fords I had. From what I hear I wouldn't hesitate to try the chevy, but don't like the looks of the older ones at all. My .02

noyzee

i tow a lot wiy my chevyfrom 2,00 pounds worth of sleds, to 12,000 pounds of enclosed race car trailer, and i love it. id say atleast 50% of my 37,000 miles on the truck in just over a year has had a trail;er behind it. i did a ppe programmer and removed the filter, cat and muffler and picked up big power and fuel milage, and for days without towing it is much much smoother then the ford. o did do air bags in the rear for my big trailer as with the tools etc up the very front i have a huge huge toung weight. way more then any boay getting toed will have

seafordguy

All the research I did drew me to the same conclusion - they were all decent choices. If I could have found a nice Cummins Dually in the newer body style from that era in my price range I probably would have done that.

I ended up with the 7.3 because they have such a strong reliability reputation. Lots of them running around with 300k+ that have never had the valve covers off.