Your towing rigs and trailers

[GreatWhitehunter]

Patrick, what's with the " PowerJoke"? If you have a brand new PSD why would you consider it a Joke?

Matt T.

 

[patrick_g]

Patrick, what's with the " PowerJoke"? If you have a brand new PSD why would you consider it a Joke?

Matt T.

Matt, I had to leave that one out there a looooooong time before I got a bite. I had a much lower opinion of the PowerStroke engine when it first came out and for the first few years. That plus there was no Duramax at the time and GMC had not all that long ago been putting injectors and injector pumps on an otherwise gasser and calling it a diesel so if you wanted a decent diesel pickup in that era, in my opinion, you bought a Cummins/Dodge pand prayed the Dodge part held up (mine didn't.)

Through all this, CUMMINS built REAL DIESELS and I bought the Dodge because of the engine (and Ford didn't make the truck I wanted in '97 even though I have never owned a non Ford truck before then, ever. I had actually liked my 84 F-250 Diesel (IH diesel)

So anyway, I got in the habit of referring to the Power Stroke as the Power Joke, being the owner of a SUPERIOR CUMMINS diesel and passing lots of them on hills when ther=y wer more lightly loaded abut couldn't keep up wilth me, stock, and I really left them behind when I modified my performance.

What is in a name? Would not a rose by any other name be just as thorny?

OK, I'll try to be a better citizen. I only have 2000 miles on my 2008 F-250 diesel 4x4 short bed crew cab but so far I really like it. I have gotten used to it jumping from a low idle up to 1000 RPM while it gives itself some sort of dialysis treatment in the exhaust system. I notice because it has happened every time I have gone from a cold start to hitch a trailer and I am right by the exhaust so it is quite noticeable.

I hot rodded the Cummins a bit, just 4 inch exhaust and higher pressure injector pump and finer injectors and freer air filtration and a better intake manifold which gives me more HP and torque AND a little better mileage at the same time through higher efficiency but you have to have a pyro and not go crazy outperforming original specs on long hills when towing heavy. I like it and still have it BUT the Ford, totally stock, will leave it in the dust off the line (not a totally faior comparison as the Dodge has a heavy service body and 65 gal tank), passing at moderate to low speeds, and it is as quiet as a gasser and gets better mileage.

I really was startled at the acceleration off the line and at lower speeds when you really stick your foot in the POWERSTROKE. It has a better transmission, gear and ratio wise. The Dodge tranny is crap. I twisted off the input shaft. It can just about handle the stock Cummins if you drive like a little old lady. Dodge is missing a gear between 3rd and OD(4th.) Too big of a step. Bought an aux tranny to cure it. the Ford has probably the next best tranny after the Allison. The jury is out regarding longevity of the engine and tranny.

Time will tell if it is going to be as satisfactory as ALL the other Ford trucks I have owned. So far it is really the best diesel truck I have had in aggregate. The Cummins/Dodge excels in certain areas, especially after I so extensively modified it but over all, and especially right out of the box, the Ford is better although there is a little apples to oranges in the comparison.

You asked what time it was and I told you how to build a watch and the history of horology but, oh well, it may be like having a swarm of bees buzzing around inside your head , but oh well, there they are!

Pat

 

[Diamondpilot]

Everyone talks about the Allison tranny being so good but I like the Torque Shift much better for my needs. I had a 2005 1 ton 4x4 GM DuraJunk and Allison. It game me troubles down shifting with my 16,000# boat in tow with a triple axle trailer and surge breaks. It did ok with my tractor on its trailer, maybe 7,000#, and the trailer has electric brakes, but my F-150 pulls it just fine also. My 2006 F-350 with the 6.0L and Torque shift does much better job and gets 17 mpg towing this rig. I never saw better than 11mpg with the DuraJunk. Both trucks had basically the same chip and intake with 4" exhaust.

Chris

 

[AlanB]

Finally figured out how to make it all work so I could post pics again

Mowing truck, dump trailer and gooseneck.

 

[bigdad]

Just picked this up yesterday morning. Needed something to haul my Kubota around with as well as a little manure, rock, lumber etc. etc. Just put on the side boards on.

 

[volcamp]

My tow rig with camper.

 

[watchdawg]

My tow rig towing a friend's trailer and autobuggy.

 

[Gilford]

Since I saw another camper and tow rig, I thought I would post a picture of my camper and tow rig in case anybody like Caprices or antique campers.

 

[workinallthetime]

sunny day here and out to clean up after ice storm so i thought i would put one of my set up in

 

[Runner]

Here's mine. A flatbed for my tractor is on my shortlist of stuff I need to buy.