Would like honest suggestions about tow vehicle issues

[flusher]

I have 165k on my '01 2500 Ram; no tranny problems. Heaviest I tow though, is a relatively light 7000lb 5th wheel. I like the Cummins; the powerband reminds me of driving the fire engines and water tenders at our fire station. I like the "feel" of the inline motor better.

I would like to have a newer Ford or Dodge for the newer interiors, features, and ride. But my truck is payed for, no payments... And my replacement would be $45,000++

In my case, and the OP's, I would seriously consider a gas engine if were to get a different pickup. Unless you are hauling heavy, and frequently, diesel does not make sense like it did for me in '01. Diesel was cheap(10 cents cheaper than regular in Sacramento area in '01), it was not as expensive of an option back then either. Now diesel runs 30-65 cents more per gallon, and is an uber-expensive option; even the used trucks reflect that.

.

That's the way I went 2 years ago when looking to replace my 2001 F150. After looking at used 3/4 ton diesels with less than 100K miles showing and getting a good case of sticker shock, I found a 2004 Isuzu NPR stakebed (8x14 ft Supreme bed) with the GMC 6.0L LQ4 V8 gasser with the Asin 4-speed auto tranny showing 49,500 miles. Curb weight is 7100 lb, GVWR is 12000 lb; GCWR is 18,000 lb--enough rating for me to carry my 4000lb parade tractors on the bed or tow up to 10Klb with nothing on the bed. Cost: $11K on eBay. So far I've put about 2200 miles on the NPR in about 24 months.

That LQ4 engine is a gas hog (12 mpg empty, 10 with a load on the bed). So for everyday driving, I traded that F150 for a 2009 Ford Focus showing 33,000 miles, 35 mpg combined (90% highway miles)Cost $13K.

 

[handirifle]

Well I thought about the 3/4 with a gasser, but when a 2010 Dmax gets better MPG, has more HP at the rear wheels than I have at the crank, and over twice the torque, AND gets better mpg (did I say better mpg?) than my 4.7L Tundra, then a diesel is the way to go. We want to start traveling more with the 5th wheel, and I want reliable power. I do NOT want to go up a 7% grade at 35-40 like I did this last trip. I could have gotten 45mph but at the risk of running the engine over 4500rpm. Not worth it. Would a newer gasser 1/2t do this better, most likely, but I doubt fuel mileage is any better.

I don't care about "flying" up the grade (or any hill), since the towing speed limit here is still 55, but I'd like to be able to do that without worrying about running up the hill in 2nd gear at 4K. Also I think about grades like the 10,000+ in the Rockies. I just do not want to have to worry about where we want to go. Overkill is OK.

For the record, my '06 Tundra DC gets a whopping 13 MPG combined. Nice huh! So most ANY truck is a step up. It has been a VERY reliable truck though.

What I want is a RELIABLE truck, that doesn't accelerate like a 1964 VW Beetle and will tow and stop any 10K trailer I put behind it, and still gets good mileage. I'm retired and do not drive into town (about 15 miles) every day. Usually 2-3 days a week or less in the truck. Most of the time we are driving the '05 Accord at 30 mpg, if we go in more often. I drive the truck when I need a truck.

I don't want a 3rd vehicle, insurance is a rip off as it is, not to mention CA's annual registration and semi annual smog fees.

As mentioned, the friends 2010 DMAX would be sweet. Yes I do want a plush interior, it's NOT a work truck, I want comfort and convenience. A NAV system would be a HUGE bonus, but can add that aftermarket.

I do not want a lifted truck. I had to lift my trailer 4" to make it sit level with the little Tundra. Don't want it any higher.

Flusher
Another friend has a late model year Ford F250 with the 6.2 gasser, and claims he gets 14-15, but I think he's running fairly high gears, like 373, which is OK with me, but the mileage isn't worth writing home about. Seems I read most diesels get that with a lot more power.

 

[handirifle]

I've got a buddy that bought new an older 12 valve Cummins new years ago...
He is an independent mechanic and has had excellent service out of it...
Clutch replaced and that is about it...
They are very reliable...
I have an 03 F350 with the 7.3 modded to 330 HP...
It will be the last diesel I ever buy in a personal daily driver truck...
It will pull anything that I need and it is paid for...
The advise given here is spot on...
The truck before my 03 was a 92 F250...
I don't trade often but I always felt you were better off getting more truck than you needed for the occasional towing duties...
My 350 is overkill but that is ok...

What did that involve and cost if you don't mind my asking?

 

[Fi-Q]

I was in the same situation 2 years ago, except i was shopping for a dually for my new 4000 lbs pin wirht toy hauler. Back then, it came down to a dmax ( lbz, mid 06 to mid 07) or a dodge mega ( specially for the mega cab). A 5.9 would have been prefered in the cummins , but it would have required a transmission upgrade for the 14 000 lbs rv.

Finally got a sweer deal on a 06 dmx dually, LBZ, 6 speed allison with 95 000 km. Been trouble free. Averaging 15 mpg local drivng. My wife got 19 mpg on a few long trip unloaded, I never did . The only thinh to consider with these years GM. Is to eventually do a transfer case pump rubbing issue before it hit 150 000 miles.

 

[handirifle]

I was in the same situation 2 years ago, except i was shopping for a dually for my new 4000 lbs pin wirht toy hauler. Back then, it came down to a dmax ( lbz, mid 06 to mid 07) or a dodge mega ( specially for the mega cab). A 5.9 would have been prefered in the cummins , but it would have required a transmission upgrade for the 14 000 lbs rv.

Finally got a sweer deal on a 06 dmx dually, LBZ, 6 speed allison with 95 000 km. Been trouble free. Averaging 15 mpg local drivng. My wife got 19 mpg on a few long trip unloaded, I never did . The only thinh to consider with these years GM. Is to eventually do a transfer case pump rubbing issue before it hit 150 000 miles.

What is a transfer case pump. Have had a number of 4wd's but never heard of that.

 

[Fi-Q]

It is a common issue for the 00-07 ( I think) GM transfer case. With mileage ( happen to my last dmax at 150000 miles, this is how I know), the oil pump in the t-case get some loose/backlash and start to rub on the casing ( wich is soft aluminum) . It eventually rub thru and the. The t case loose all of its oil, and then all the gear and bearing are over heating, pretty much self destroying the T case. And because of this issue, there is no used gm t-case to be found anywhere, and in canada, ir was 3000$ ( I got lucky and found a guy who jad one from a wreck truck in michingan for 750$). So for a few 100$ there is a retro-fit kit to prevent this few k$ possible issue. So id toure buying an older GM, and planned on keeping it, it s a good thing to think about this. If you go on the web or on youtube and search for gm pump rub, there is lots of info on it.

My dealer told me they never heard of this. Ya, right!!! And everybody within the online GM community seema to lnow about this.

Except this, I think the LBZ in the Dmax is a really good truck... I hope to keep mine for another 10 years... Let see how it goes.

 

[schmism]

What is a transfer case pump. Have had a number of 4wd's but never heard of that.

some transfercase designs share oil with the trans, but because of pasageways they lack sufficient oil movement to cool them so they integrate a pump into them to help move oil through them.

 

[timswi]

Do you really need the added expense of a diesel with a 5500# trailer? I pull a 7800# (dry) trailer with a 6.2 1500 4x4 GMC Denali and it pulls great...I'm a huge diesel fan, but the gassers are something else nowadays...

I have 3:42's and a 6 speed..Get 16 on average driving like an adult..14 with a heavy foot. Will do 18 empty on the interstate at 65mph...For the HP and performance, I really can't complain.

My last truck was a 6.2 GMC but not a Denali...not sure if your hitch would fit into a 6.5 bed which is what they had pre '13 on the extended cab..An 8' was available but that makes a tough multi-purpose vehicle.

So you know what I'm towing..32' BP TT as I was ready to head into the PA mountains from the RV dealer.

 

[handirifle]

Ok thanks for the pump info. Good thing to know ahead.

Timswi
the short answer is no, but the long answer might be i probably will in the future. If we start hauling like we want to, we will likely upgrade. The agrevating part to all this is we bought this trailer so the Toyota COULD haul it. We bought it to live in while we built our home, which we did for 7 months. Now we want to travel and lo the truck isnt up to it, and the last thing I want to do is be back in this situation again in a few years when we might want a nicer trailer.

 

[timswi]

Ok thanks for the pump info. Good thing to know ahead.

Timswi
the short answer is no, but the long answer might be i probably will in the future. If we start hauling like we want to, we will likely upgrade. The agrevating part to all this is we bought this trailer so the Toyota COULD haul it. We bought it to live in while we built our home, which we did for 7 months. Now we want to travel and lo the truck isnt up to it, and the last thing I want to do is be back in this situation again in a few years when we might want a nicer trailer.

You can pull an easy 11000# with a multitude of properly equipped gassers now..I wouldn't discount it completely.