The right truck for the job....??
 

I may be in the market for a new pickup truck at work soon.......current truck is a Dodge 1500......not big enough to tow my 35' Sonic.......if I go for a new truck I want to make sure she can handle towing my 35' Sonic and possibly my uncle's 38' Intrepid........what will be the right truck for the job without being a pain in the a**...... to be a truck I run around with a lot for work.......thanks in advance guys.........

At least 3/4 ton diesel, minimum. If you can live with a 1 ton that would be better even if it's not a dually.

Diesel all the way however.

I know for the GM's, the only difference between the 2500 SRW and 3500 SRW is the rear suspension. The parts are fairly inexpensive for the upgrade. Cheap if you can do the work yourself.

I think there might be some insurance issues with that. Maybe the upgrade works but the GVWR might still be an issue. I'd call my insurance company first.

You don't want to have the wrong rig for your safety, and most importantly the safety of your passengers and other motorists. You want to be covered if anything does go wrong which means having the right tool for the job.

Look in the trucks, trailers, and transportation forums here and do a search, there's been tons of great information in there to keep you in good shape. The bottom line is that you need to comply with your truck's ratings and be within them for what you tow.

The other thing with GM's is that they go in limp mode every 15 minutes.

huh?

I got a 2001 Chevy Dually and it has been flawless for 10 years!

You need to go 350/3500 and I prefer dual rear wheels but single axle is ok. Long wheel base is a key part to towing as well as suspension.

I've owned three and borrowed one for a trip once from a friend and all of them (none were older than a year or two) went to limp mode at one point or another. All diesels.

All had to do with the injection rail. Most frustrating thing ever and it usually happened going up a hill on a highway towing a cat!!!!

Once I dumped the truck in Jacksonville FL at a dealership and flew home I was so frustrated. Flew a guy later after it was fixed to bring the thing back. They are very unreliable engines.

buy a FORD and quit D!KIN around !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:bigbird:

All three stock or modded?

I have 165K on my 03 and never been in unscheduled...

106K waterpump
135K front wheel bearings/brakes
145K injectors (warranty)

If that is all the bigger you are going boat wise you will be fine with a SRW. Virtually zero price difference in the 3500 vs 2500 so I would go 3500 SRW.

I have an 08 Dodge Laramie 3500 SRW it pulls my 36' Apache (Heavy SOB) no problem. The exhaust brake is another must have. You hardly even have to use your breaks with that baby turned on.

dont know what you are looking for but i have a 95 f350 turbo deasil long bed crew cab for sale cheep 90000 miles, new trans ,built to the hilt nice truck..tom

X2

dont know what you are looking for but i have a 95 f350 turbo diesel long bed crew cab for sale cheep 90000 miles, new trans ,built to the hilt nice truck..tom

I daily Drive my truck - I would say that depending on where you live I am of the opinion that there is no reason NOT to go with the dually.

The only downfall in my opinion is that if you ever need to service it, the parking brake is in the rear hub.

just my .02

Thanks for all the opinions so far guys.......gonna have to do a lot more research before I pull the trigger (spring time).....

tw50.......thanks but most likley goning new or very close to it.......

RunninHot and Johnny.......you guys serious on the Ford......I happen to like them the best but have heard mixed feelings on them..........

Sounds like a good route also.......

I eventually saw the light a couple years back...

http://www.limestonedev.com/mti/2009..._4Internet.JPG

Now that would be ideal!!!!

I am sure that would be a blast to drive in NYC! :lolhit:

GLH... that 'Chariot of the Gods' is SWEEET!!! but I was talkin' maybe something for peasants like myself!:
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/DSC00001.jpg
but when your done with that... LET ME KNOW!!!

One other thing about the SRW vs the DRW is snowpacked and snow rutted roadways. I would much rather drive the SRW in the snow because the DRW seems to hook on the snow/slush ruts more than the SRW.

While I have... maybe once or twice, been pulled ...ever so slightly, by slush (not even enough to drive with more than a finger), I would never go back to a srw! Not trying to start the old single v. dual argument, ('cause everyone knows duallys are better!), BUT??? pulling your boat in snow??? Did you accidentally hook up the boat instead of the snowmobile trailer?? Or was it just in the way??!!:lolhit:

:bsflag:

125k miles on an 06 duramax with a lot of heavy towing. Never seen limp mode or any other repair apart from being on my 3rd set of batteries.

Well my friend I am only relating what happened to me personally.

Multiple time with an '06 GM 3500 Dually Diesel I got new, and an '08 GMC 3500 Dually Diesel also new, once with an '05 3500 GM Diesel and during the whole trip about 10 times when I borrowed drypipetiger/Neil's 2500 GMC diesel to go pick up my MTI in KY two years ago.

So kiss my shaved balls with your BS flag my friend I am just relating what happened to me.

On the other hand I have had to change injectors on the F650 also but that is a Caterpillar so I don't know if Ford should be blamed... All this work was under warranty for all trucks but it's a PITA anyway.

I own a 2008 Silverado LT 2500 HD with a diesel in it. I put on a $450 tuner and deleted the DPF.... I have the tuner set at the 70 hp level - I can add up to 115 hp and 250 ft lbs of torque if I want - and now have 435 hp and 850 ft lbs of torque. I get 20 - 22 mpg when not towing, and I towed my 1995 31 ft Warlock SXT Cat - 9000 lbs with trailer - from LA to Reno NV over the Sierra Nevada Mountain range - including Donner Pass. I averaged 12.9 mpg on my trip back! Lets see the Fords, even the Dodges beat this MPG and combined HP with little smoke from the exhaust!!!

This truck is rated at over 12,300 lbs. I think it is 13,000 lbs but have to get my manuel out to make sure. Either way, my 9000 lb boat and trailer is quite safe to haul.

Unladen, truck is a dragster - outperforms most other vehicles on the road. I have 70,000 miles on it now. This is my first diesel and I will only buy diesels from now on!

Rick

traded my 08 f250 srw for my 10 dodge 3500 drw...the ford was a better ride but it swayed a little pulling my boat and the bumper pull 31' toy hauler (was overweight on that one) plus the fuel mileage sucked (13hwy and 6mpg pulling the toy hauler:eek:) the new dodge is much better interior wise compared to my 04 dodge 2500 is... and it pulls with no sway..I can't see having another swr truck for towing again... go drw, you won't regret it the fuel mileage is the same, just have two more tires to contend with.

Down and back NJ to Florida many times.

I also agree with the members who suggested a dually, I've always enjoyed the extra ground contact with the second tires on both sides in the rain pulling around my loaders and excavators.
I've owned a lot of dually's and stakebed super duty trucks from different Mfg's.
IMO, steer clear of the late 90's and early new millenium Ford diesels, I had overheating issues with them. I think the motor sizes were 7.3 and 6.0. I understand they have a new engine now which has addressed these issues.
I haven't owned a new Duramax with the Allison but have heard positive reviews from some of my subcontractors who use them for their work trucks.
My best luck has been with the 5.9 Cummins/6speed manual in the Dodge's but I've heard they have a new engine out now too.
No matter which way you go purchase a one ton.
Just my .02

See ya,
Kelly

It is almost a universally agreed upon FACT that 7.3 fords run between 1999 and mid-year 2003 are some of the most stone cold reliable diesels available.

That's what I thought until the o-rings on my 7.3 blew costing me $2500.

Hey Johnny,
Might be interested in your old 1500 if you're getting rid of it. Stepping up to a bigger boat myself.

wow:eekdrop: you got the bestttisss toys man, [rugrats]. thats like a explorer on roids. I always had good luck with fords for our family cars and suvs and work trucks vans and pickups. art

Perhaps my problems were unique to me.
I had one in the mid 90's that was good to me and a late 90's (98 I think) that wasn't, and an 04 that wasn't. I've just had better luck with our 5.9's.
Note these were work trucks for my pool construction company, we hump trailers with excavators and heavy pallets of rock all the time. That might of had something to do with my luck.

Funny thing is I'm currently taking bids for a new diesel dually,
my fleet sales rep from the Dodge dealer has the best price over the GMC, Chevy, and the Ford. When I asked about how good the new motor is he said "It's awesome" then I went and checked some diesel truck forums and they're getting pathetic reviews from owners, LOL!!!
I've always bought our trucks on low price and not by name brand of the Mfg.

See ya,
Kelly

A 1500 isnt big enough to tow what your looking at.

Buy a Ford

The DRW hook issue was actually more pronounced when empty/not towing. The DRW is the way to go hands down towing but if also a daily driver and you drive in a metro area etc. the SRW will work well for some like me.

"Kiss my shaved balls".
Gl
1/24/2011

No matter what diesel you choose you cant go wrong I have an 08 chevy dually that works great. I also owned an 06 F350 dually with no problems,friends have Dodges they're all good

to say they are unreliable engines is a stretch . obviously you had a bad expierance but was the 6.0 powerstroke reliable ? not hardly at least the fix was simple on the duramax . read the new issue of diesel power about the test between the super duty and the duramax ,conducted by a ford engineer . the duramax beat the pants off the ford