He says I need a dually??

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by tkowalyk

You cannot put the Cummins diesel Ram 2500 in same category as the other 6 cylinders. With 17,000lbs towing capacity and 660 (or 850) lbs of torque, it is not in the same league.

The point being that a V8 configuration is not necessary for big power. It's true that the HD Cummins really competes with the Powerstroke and Duramax, but also the old big 6 Cummins engines beat the Cat and Detroit V8s for longevity and durability and made great power, the little-6 Cummins in the Dodge/Ram were originally hobbled in early years by being installed in a truck that couldn't last like the engine did (and transmissions that couldn't hang with the Cummins) but they were still great engines. My dad was a diesel mechanic, almost exclusively Detroit Diesel stuff from the late '50s to the mid '70s when he left Stewart & Stevenson and even HE thought the big 6 Cummins were the best things going until the end of his career when Detroit Diesel came out with the Series 60 (in a big inline 6, go figure!)

[sckinton]

I know this thread has been centered on towing capacity of a F150, but I'm actually in process of considering a used Jeep Grand Cherokee for towing. The 4L I-6 has a tow rating of 5,000 lbs with WD hitch. My 65 28 ft Ambassador has dry weight of 4,400 lbs and loaded up at 5,000. Is that too much for the jeep? Do I need to be looking at something with more power, maybe the 4.7 L V8? I agree a pickup would do much better, but budget is limited and my wife will be driving it around town. So, no F 150.

[m.hony]

Originally Posted by tkowalyk

You cannot put the Cummins diesel Ram 2500 in same category as the other 6 cylinders. With 17,000lbs towing capacity and 660 (or 850) lbs of torque, it is not in the same league.

My point was that a V8 isn't the only option...that definitely proves the point...

[tkowalyk]

Originally Posted by m.hony

My point was that a V8 isn't the only option...that definitely proves the point...

Fair enough! How has your Tundra done for you? I have a 7 year old Durango with a Hemi that has done a good job for us. It is comfortable, and we average about 10MPG.

I am a bit intrigued about the Mercedes SUV, but not sure if has the safety factor I wound be comfortable with.

[m.hony]

I am happy with the Tundra- I will be much happier after 5 more payments!
Countin' 'em down!
With 32,000 miles, it will be possibly my last pickup.

[m.hony]

We can occasionally get 12 mpg- if the wind is at our back or no wind- towing at 55-60 mph. If we go 70 fuel Economy drops off to 7-8 mpg- so I don't go 70-

[andreasduess]

Originally Posted by tkowalyk

Fair enough! How has your Tundra done for you? I have a 7 year old Durango with a Hemi that has done a good job for us. It is comfortable, and we average about 10MPG.

I am a bit intrigued about the Mercedes SUV, but not sure if has the safety factor I wound be comfortable with.

The Dodge and the Mercedes are more or less the same car. They share identical underpinnings. The only reason to go with the Merc is better finishes and the BlueTec engine.

[switz]

Per the CAT scales, my 2007 Mercedes ML 320 CDI diesel had all the correct numbers to tow our 2013 25FB International Serenity fitted with a Hensley hitch home from the dealership "empty".

Camping ready, the news was not so good.

The Mercedes front axle was overloaded and the GVW was exceeded. The nearly 50% more trailer weight than the tow rating strained the engine and gear train on nearly level terrain around Phoenix going to the scales to discover the weight issues.

Thus began the tow vehicle search.

When I speced out a Ford Eco-Boost 150 with King Ranch trim, the payload number of a bare bones truck was decreased by over 450 pounds. So to get the payload numbers I would require, I was looking at an XL trim line.

I ended up with the 2012 Dodge Ram 2500HD with Cummins diesel because I knew more about that engine and it's service life history. A straight six is the most smooth running engine unless you had a straight 12.

YMMV

[norfla71]

I pull a 12,000 fiver with a single wheel truck. Tires used to be scetchy, especially in hotter climates. Tires are so good now, even fully loaded, I haven't had any blowout on me. Same for trucks; even the most basic models now have such advanced tech that is almost makes needing a dually reduntant.

ST tires are a different story; I've had 2 blow out/tread separate and cause nearly $4,000 in damage to my trailer.

[PharmGeek]

I went for 16' michellins - LT's on my trailer because of the mountain of anecdotes on that subject...but lets not get into a tangent he heh

[Al and Missy]

I found an error in the alternate cargo area. It was working until I improved it :-)

Sorry for any inconvenience, but, as I said in the notes, there may be more.....

Here's a link to the corrected version:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/atta...3&d=1386951152