Gas engines for towing?
Looking to buy a (very) used truck for towing. Don't really want the initial expense and maintenance costs of a diesel rig, but might consider a reasonably priced duramax or 7.3 powerstroke. Not in any real hurry to purchase, just need something to pull a 32'-35' fifth wheel in our eventual retirement.
Not particularly brand loyal, but anything with "horns" is at the bottom of my list.
Super or crew cab with 4wd of course. 5.4, 6.8, 6.0 8.1, 454, 460??
I know the membership here has real world experience with all the above and would appreciate your input.
Also, don't really want to spend much more than $15,000 - $18,000 on the truck so likely will have at least 100,000 miles on it.
At my age, this will be the last truck I ever own, so don't much care what it's worth when I'm too decrepit to get in and out of it.
Love to hear what you have to say!
Not particularly brand loyal, but anything with "horns" is at the bottom of my list.
Super or crew cab with 4wd of course. 5.4, 6.8, 6.0 8.1, 454, 460??
I know the membership here has real world experience with all the above and would appreciate your input.
Also, don't really want to spend much more than $15,000 - $18,000 on the truck so likely will have at least 100,000 miles on it.
At my age, this will be the last truck I ever own, so don't much care what it's worth when I'm too decrepit to get in and out of it.
Love to hear what you have to say!
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A few months ago when I was looking at 4x4 diesel trucks for the same purpose I found the F450 sold at more reasonable prices than the F350 or other one ton trucks. Tire maintenance would be higher as they run dual rear wheels.
I was just looking into prices to see what I may have to invest in a decent used set up in the future to get an idea of what I would need to have.
If you are going to go with a gas engine there are more 3/4 ton trucks than ton trucks available. So it would depend on the weight of your trailer, how many miles and what kind of elevations you expect to be towing through.0 -
I own 2 Chevrolet 2500 crew cab trucks. One is a 2000 model 2wd with 5.7 liter gas, 4 speed auto and is rated at 10,000 pounds towing. The other is a 2018 with 6.0 liter gas 4x4 rated at 14,000 pounds towing. I bought both new and the 2000 only has 76,000 miles. I tow a 30' travel trailer, boat, 10,000 pound rated equipment trailer and a horse trailer with both. With the new 8 and 10 speed transmissions on the newer models, you will probably be fine with gas. Diesel will give you more torque when towing up long grades. A dually is nice, but you have 6 tires instead of 4 when it comes time to replace. If you are doing serious towing and long hauls, the diesel may be your best bet. The gas 2500's do everything I need. Best of luck with whatever you decide. Don 0 -
Long past replacing for a dually diesel. Todays environment diesels cost way too much to buy and maintain unless you were in a business to use it everyday. I went with a 6.2 gas Ford F250 4x4. Difference in price of fuel they come out equal on miles per gallon driving or towing. 0 -
A 2500 series 6.2L gas should be plenty for what you are describing 0 -
For for a gas engine for towing then Ram 2500 with HEAVY-DUTY 6.4L HEMI® V8 ENGINE is best in class.
16,320 pounds towing. But your gas mileage in any thing towing is going to be low. Now if The USA manufacturers make a gas engine that had a turbo with variable compression system like the infinity then it would be much better. Why is it the Japs alwayshave the best efficient technology engines first while we lag behind?serfhttps://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/car-technology/a15942295/heres-exactly-how-infinitis-variable-compression-engine-works-and-why/
Infiniti's newest engine is an engineering marvel. The VC-T engine (for "variable compression, turbocharged") can adjust its compression ratio between 8:1 and 14:1 on the fly, offering high-compression efficiency under light loads and the low compression needed for turbocharged power under hard acceleration.3 -
Every Dodge I have owned eventually had wiring problems. 0 -
I tow our 30' (bumper to bumper) bumper pull camper with a Ram 1/2 ton and it does just fine. That has the 5.7L. If money weren't an object I'd get me a brand new 3/4 ton Ram with the 6.4L. That way I'd get me a bit more weight and a bit less wear and tear on the truck itself. That being said, the 5.7L and 8 speed transmission in my 1/2 ton both pull unbelievably well. I also get great mileage when not towing, with the 3:21 gears.
I agree with the above that with today's emission standards and their prices, the diesels are not cost effective for the average person. If towing is your living I could see going that route.
Jon0 -
We have an F-450 and F-650 with the 6.8L Triton V-10 Engine.
Are pushing 200K on the 450 in combined local and freeway driving, and even when pushing max GVW, it will pull any hill it has been faced with at 50+ MPH.
Not sure of the overall history of the engine, but our experience has bee 100%. YMMV.0 -
I had a 1996 Dodge 3500 duley 4x4 with a 8L V-10. That thing would pull and haul a$$. 0 -
I never was a fan of diesel. I have towed a lot of different campers in lots of different vehicles. A powerful gas engine CAN pull those big heavy campers, they don't like it. They will like the mountains even less. And, as far as automatic transmissions, they also aren't really rated for that size of camper and associated weight without extra work generally. For that, I'd say a Duramax with an Allison transmission is the way to go. So, for anything heavy I am now a convert to diesel. But, to actually answer your question, the most powerful gas trucks I have driven are:As Sam06 posted, that era of Dodge V-10 was quite good. My mom's late husband had several different ones. When they started going to the mountains every year, he bought a Gear Vendor's brand gear splitter. That REALLY woke that truck up in the mountains. That's as close to a diesel as I've driven from a gas motor. I expect a two-speed rear differential and/or gear splitter would help just about any engine. If you find a setup that you find is close, but could use more, you might consider them.
My other good towing gas motors were an 80's era (I think) 454 manual shift with 4:11 rear was pretty good. We had a Dodge Trailduster with a 440 Engine in it and it pulled our 28ish camper well.
Currently I've got a 1998 K1500 Chevy with 350 (of older style block before the LS engines) with 4 speed auto and 3:73. Empty, I'll get 13-15 miles a gallon depending mostly on whether the AC is on. However, we had a 24' ultralight pull type camper and it SUCKED. It was OK and strong to about 45 mph, beyond that, I had to lock it out of overdrive so my mileage suffered. When I was bringing it home I was on a turnpike and running about 70 and I got less than 6mpg.
So, I'd definitely suggest thinking about fuel consumption and cost when making your decision, even moreso if you are going to tow in the mountains. I already had my truck, it was paid for, and we didn't tow much, mostly on flat land. So, I kept it until we later got rid of the camper.
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As I expected, I'm getting some good info here and thanks for the replies.
The 6.4 hemi is probably out of my price range, but happy to hear the 5.7 is a capable tow motor. A million motorhomes can't be wrong, but I've worried about the 6.8 v10 going the distance, so good to hear they're capable of 200k. The 5.4 Triton can be had on the used market, with lower miles, for a reasonable price. My concern is whether 330 c.i. would have the mustard I'll need. I like what I've heard about the 2500hd with the 6.0 or 8.1/allison combo, but some complain about body rot in the gm platform. That said, I have to admit I keep finding myself leaning that way. Kinda surprised nobody's touting the virtues of the 7.3 powerstroke. Thought I'd hear more on that one.
Thanx folks and please keep em coming.0 -
If you need a tow rig, you really don’t need 4wd
That would save you thousands or buy a better overall truck.
Also- an older Toyota Tundra can do anything the other half tons can do, and will be the most reliable.
Cheers,
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Thanx warbirds, but this is my reasoning.
My parents pulled a 35' 5th wheel all over the country with a 1990 Chevrolet 3/4 ton 350 c.i. automatic with 4.10 gears. It was a 2wd and, after a couple times cutting away from the trailer and finding himself stuck in wet grass, my dad's biggest regret was not spending the extra for the 4wd option.
Also, our plan is to explore the mountain west for retirement property. There, it can snow on labor day, memorial day and, when living in MT, we even had snow on July 4th.
I've heard lots of great things about Toyota, but don't think I'd be comfortable with any 1/2 ton truck standing up to the strain of a 35' trailer behind it.0 -
I cannot tell you how many times the 4x4 saved me from being stuck pulling a trailer. 0 -
I've "towed" with big blocks and small blocks and diesels. All have advantages and disadvantages. Make your choice depending on when, where, and how much you tow.
I've pulled some big loads with a Chevy small block. Not always as fast or efficiently as others but I always had gears to get the job done. I wouldn't expect to pull 10K# at interstate speed w/o some stress.
I've pulled some monstrous loads with a Chevy 454 at pretty much my choice of speed and distance but at a cost that was painful.
I've driven some turbo diesels that pulled seemingly anything anywhere but again there are or will be consequences (drivetrain wear and tear).
I don't pull big stuff with a pickup much anymore. I have a Chevy Kodiak that does such things safer(not cheaper but safer).
If you expect to pull something more than 50% of the miles, can tolerate the foibles and added expense of a diesel, and have a place to plug it in during cold weather, by all means get a diesel. Otherwise, get a big gasser and pay through the nose for every mile you drive.0 -
sxsnuf: 31535585109147/comments/31535591565339
Thanx warbirds, but this is my reasoning.
My parents pulled a 35' 5th wheel all over the country with a 1990 Chevrolet 3/4 ton 350 c.i. automatic with 4.10 gears. It was a 2wd and, after a couple times cutting away from the trailer and finding himself stuck in wet grass, my dad's biggest regret was not spending the extra for the 4wd option.
Also, our plan is to explore the mountain west for retirement property. There, it can snow on labor day, memorial day and, when living in MT, we even had snow on July 4th.
I've heard lots of great things about Toyota, but don't think I'd be comfortable with any 1/2 ton truck standing up to the strain of a 35' trailer behind it.Fair enough. I guess it didn’t take too long for me to adopt a pretty hard-wired “Florida” mindset😀
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