3/4 ton advice

[MikeRP]

Originally Posted by koller1509

While I agree with what you are saying, the overall lifetime cost of a diesel is higher for the first few years of ownership, but many guys put 300-400k miles on these trucks and many keep a diesel for a longer period. For the people in these two groups, the lifetime cost of the diesel is much lower. In my case, I would trade gas trucks every 2-3 years, but with my diesel truck I am planning to keep it for 10+ years.

You know I would have definitely agreed with you 10 years ago. But I’ve used the Chevy 6.0 towing, and the 6.4 for the Ram. We had a 2005 Ram 2500 with a 5.7l and it was a disaster towing. But these two motors and I think the Ford 6.2L is similar, are just freakin stout and that’s a combination of gearing, computer controls and advancement in engine technology. I think any of those trucks would surprise you how long they might run and 350000 miles I think is an easy mark for these trucks. Now in defense of the CTD we know they will run over 1000000 miles but I guarantee I won’t be driving that one. Haha so your analysis still works outside of the fact that I can’t seem to keep a truck more than 3 years until I find a new toy.

But I hope this Ram might end that sad fact for my DW or fun fact for me or wonder from my friends, by keeping this one 8-10 years.

We’ll see.

Ps when I start that Ram up and hear that Cummins rumble, that’s just feels really good for a 58 years old guy. Can’t chase the Ladies anymore so I just drive my truck.[emoji85]

[67L48]

Originally Posted by stealth2715

Most people buy way too much truck just to feel safer. [...]

Disagree. Certainly some do. I don't agree that most do.

I see far more people buying more truck than they need to future-proof themselves against potential RV upgrades in the future.

There's also laziness. If I get a 1/2 ton to tow a 7,000 lb trailer, I actually have to think about my payload and towing set-up. If I get a 3/4 ton, I only have to do a rough calculation. If I get a 1 ton, I don't even have to consider what I'm towing back there. That's less about being safe and more about me being lazy.

So, yeah, safety buffer is a consideration. I don't see it driving most of the decisions.

To the OP, why 3/4 instead of 1 ton? New, a 1 ton will only be around $800 more than a 3/4 ton with tow package. You get higher payload and other ratings with a 1 ton.

Good luck.

[itat]

Originally Posted by dbctmc

Planning to upgrade my tow vehicle (2010 F150 SCrew 4x4 w max tow pkg) to 3/4 ton gasser. TT is 2014 Coachmen FE LE 31BHDS, 35 ft long, approx. 8000# as towed. I been fairly satisfied with even the old 5.4 as far as powertrain goes, so I am considering all 3 mfr.s trucks equally. I am wondering if anyone out there has experience towing a similar TT with two or all three of the 3/4 ton trucks (recent models) in terms of handling the trailer on the interstate with semis, crosswinds, etc. to see if they are going to be equal in that regard. Thanks,

David

A 3/4 ton gasser will do great with an 8000# TT.

Choosing between a 1/2, 3/4 or 1 ton is a matter of payload capability. The weight you'll be pulling (as opposed to carrying), where you'll be towing and how often, determines the engine size, type (gas vs. diesel) and drivetrain you need. I typically recommend a diesel engine if you're pulling more than 11,000# but if you're towing full time or regularly towing in the mountains, a diesel would be preferable even with a trailer that's lighter than 11,000#.

[goduc]

I towed a TT with two different trucks and a 5th wheel with two different trucks
1st was a 2010 F150 5.4 3.73 Max Tow. TT, 31' @7200 lbs. It was just okay most of the time. 5.4 is a dog period. TT was not designed well with the axle too far forward. That caused some waggleing. Never white knuckle but it moved the F150 around a bit. Used an EQ with 4 pt sway built in.
Same TT with a 2012 Ram 2500 Cummins 3.73. rock solid. Even though I could see the TT waggeling it didn't budge the Ram 2500 CTD.
Moved into a 9300 lbs 5th wheel with the 2012 2500 CTD. An absolute joy to tow with in Oregon and the PNW and out to Montana and back.
Now tow the same 9300 lbs 5er with a 2018 Ram 2500 6.4, 4.10. Not near as much joy as with the CTD. However I don't have to deal with getting diesel or changing fuel filters, or draining them, worrying about water in the fuel, long warm ups in the winter and emissions clogging up.
Now the 2013 and up diesels are much nicer as a DD. But I couldn't justify the extra $9K when I only tow 4,000 miles a year and only put 9,000 miles a year on the truck.
My 2018 6.4 gets terrible mpgs towing. The fuel tank is also 3-4 gals smaller. I get around 8.5-9 towing. Got 10.5-12.0 with the CTD. It's not really the fact that I don't get as good of mpg's, it's the fact that combine that with the smaller tank and I'm about 100 miles on a tank in the hole before starting. 100 miles is a serious amount when taking a long trip.

[2rad4u]

Originally Posted by 67L48

There's also laziness. If I get a 1/2 ton to tow a 7,000 lb trailer, I actually have to think about my payload and towing set-up. If I get a 3/4 ton, I only have to do a rough calculation. If I get a 1 ton, I don't even have to consider what I'm towing back there. That's less about being safe and more about me being lazy.

[CurtPutnam]

Our TT us 33'0" long with a GVW of 8818 lbs and has been towed by two trucks: a '14 Tundra and an '18 Chevy 2500HD. They both pull and stop well but the Tundra had a 1400 lb payload and the Chevy has a 3300 lb payload. Happier with the Chevy.

[BigH]

Originally Posted by koller1509

While I agree with what you are saying, the overall lifetime cost of a diesel is higher for the first few years of ownership, but many guys put 300-400k miles on these trucks and many keep a diesel for a longer period. For the people in these two groups, the lifetime cost of the diesel is much lower. In my case, I would trade gas trucks every 2-3 years, but with my diesel truck I am planning to keep it for 10+ years.

I couldn't find much evidence of folks making it to 200k without issues related to emissions when I was gathering information to buy. Its interesting to me that folks used to buy a diesel for life...today you can find used diesels nearer the end of the warranty all over the place.

Anyway, it looks like the OP has done his homework and wants a gas truck. If reliability is the number one priority I would say that's the best choice.

[babock]

If I buy a 3/4T in a few years, I will be looking at the new Chevy with the new 6.7L gasoline engine that's coming out. Not sure I would buy it in its first 2 years of production so maybe the 2022 model year.

[koller1509]

Originally Posted by BigH

I couldn't find much evidence of folks making it to 200k without issues related to emissions when I was gathering information to buy. Its interesting to me that folks used to buy a diesel for life...today you can find used diesels nearer the end of the warranty all over the place.

Anyway, it looks like the OP has done his homework and wants a gas truck. If reliability is the number one priority I would say that's the best choice.

Go look at the Cummins forum - a lot of heavy haul guys getting 300-400k on stock trucks with no problems. Its just like the RVs, you only hear about the bad ones, not all the good ones.

One other thing, guys buy diesels, tune them and mod them, then end up breaking stuff and then want to bad mouth the manufacture - if you want to play, you gotta pay!!!

[BigH]

Originally Posted by koller1509

Go look at the Cummins forum - a lot of heavy haul guys getting 300-400k on stock trucks with no problems. Its just like the RVs, you only hear about the bad ones, not all the good ones.

I looked on there, the Ford forums and the Duramax forums. Sure there are guys that drive for a living and get some high miles but that is the best case scenario for 'good odds' on everything working. That group is on the other end of the spectrum from the complainers of 'bad luck', but the middle ground didn't look that great either. How about the guy with the GM 6.0 gasser that just turned 500k hauling...He replaced an alternator and two water pumps (or vise versa).

Its pretty telling when you find threads from folks asking about pulling a 10k trailer on the diesel forums and the diesel owners telling them to go gas...

Most telling is my co-worker who supervised a fleet of diesel trucks and switched them over to gas because of down time issues related to emissions. Or the local sewer and water company that switched all the Cummins over to gassers.

I really wanted a diesel and looked for evidence to support my 'want'. I had almost one year to research it because of getting rid of a lemon law Ford truck. I could have written the check for the diesel same as the gas truck but my number one priority in a vehicle designed to get my toys from point A to point B is reliability and you're not going find a great many folks willing to argue that the newer 'DEF' complicated diesels will win that comparison.

[Msgtret]

When buying my new to me truck I did my research for months. I looked hard at the Gas vs. Diesel option. My son works for CAT in Diesel Engineering. Told me not to spend the money on the Diesel until the big 3 get EGR/DEF perfected. I picked up a 2018 GMC 3500 SLE 6.0 gasser with 10,200 miles. Purchased it on the next to last day of the year so they were willing to make me a sweet deal....$38,000 and gave me $28,500 for my 2015 GMC 1500 SLE.

[aceinspp]

Depending on the weight you are towing a gaser can also last to 200,000 miles the new trucks with all the new tech can do just as well as a diesel. I bet half the folks here never keep there trucks as long as 8 years. Later RJD

[2rad4u]

Originally Posted by aceinspp

Depending on the weight you are towing a gaser can also last to 200,000 miles the new trucks with all the new tech can do just as well as a diesel. I bet half the folks here never keep there trucks as long as 8 years. Later RJD

I sold my 1998 (yes, 1998) Tahoe with 275,000 miles on the 5.7 and never did a thing to the engine except oil changes every 3k miles.

That Tahoe pulled several boats, a pop up and a 5k TT (mountains to the beach) many, many miles. A gas engine can certainly last a long, long time with proper maintenance.

When I decided to buy a new truck, Chevrolet and a gas engine were no brainers.

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by 2rad4u

I sold my 1998 (yes, 1998) Tahoe with 275,000 miles on the 5.7 and never did a thing to the engine except oil changes every 3k miles.

That Tahoe pulled several boats, a pop up and a 5k TT (mountains to the beach) many, many miles. A gas engine can certainly last a long, long time with proper maintenance.

When I decided to buy a new truck, Chevrolet and a gas engine were no brainers.

As I said half the folks do not. You be the exception to the rule and yes i kept one for 7 years but only had 30,000 miles on the dully when I traded it and it was an 8.1 passed everything but a gas station. Later RJD

[dbctmc]

Originally Posted by 67L48

Disagree. Certainly some do. I don't agree that most do.

I see far more people buying more truck than they need to future-proof themselves against potential RV upgrades in the future.

There's also laziness. If I get a 1/2 ton to tow a 7,000 lb trailer, I actually have to think about my payload and towing set-up. If I get a 3/4 ton, I only have to do a rough calculation. If I get a 1 ton, I don't even have to consider what I'm towing back there. That's less about being safe and more about me being lazy.

So, yeah, safety buffer is a consideration. I don't see it driving most of the decisions.

To the OP, why 3/4 instead of 1 ton? New, a 1 ton will only be around $800 more than a 3/4 ton with tow package. You get higher payload and other ratings with a 1 ton.

Good luck.

I understand the advantages of the 1-ton if I decide to go larger on the trailer down the road. I will be using the truck primarily as a daily driver, so the extra ride harshness of the 1 tons is the main reason I have been looking at the 3/4 tons.

[JohnD10]

I owned my 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9L Magnum V8 gasser for 18 years...

Had 165,000 miles on it... mostly all original.

And it is still rolling around Rochester, New York to this day...

[Msgtret]

Originally Posted by dbctmc

I understand the advantages of the 1-ton if I decide to go larger on the trailer down the road. I will be using the truck primarily as a daily driver, so the extra ride harshness of the 1 tons is the main reason I have been looking at the 3/4 tons.

There really is not much difference in the ride of my 3500 vs. a 2500 at least with GMC. I know my 3500 still rides much better that my bosses Ford F-250.

[cmysstailights]

Originally Posted by 2rad4u

I sold my 1998 (yes, 1998) Tahoe with 275,000 miles on the 5.7 and never did a thing to the engine except oil changes every 3k miles.



That Tahoe pulled several boats, a pop up and a 5k TT (mountains to the beach) many, many miles. A gas engine can certainly last a long, long time with proper maintenance.



When I decided to buy a new truck, Chevrolet and a gas engine were no brainers.

Im with ya, sold my 01 burb with over 300k and its still kicking. Only changed 2 injectors 2 fuel pumps and oil changes.

[dbctmc]

Originally Posted by Msgtret

There really is not much difference in the ride of my 3500 vs. a 2500 at least with GMC. I know my 3500 still rides much better that my bosses Ford F-250.

Thanks. I'll drive them both back to back and see. I know there is a big difference in ride on the Ram 2500 vs 3500, and yes, the F250's I have driven ride quite a bit rougher than either Chevy or Ram 2500's in my opinion.

[Lzerarc]

is there anything from the Big 3 that makes a certain HD gaser better than the other?
I know its all subjective, all personal, and they are all probably "good".

I have had 2 F150s Ecos with no issues (beyond recalls). First traded at about 80k and my current one (purchased new) now has 43k.

My late father has had a suburban (tranny went out at 90k) and a GMC Yukon XL (tranny went out little over 100k)- both of these were used to tow a 7k TT
A 2012 Expedition V8 (used to tow a 8500, 36' TT- yes, don't criticize!)- Mom still drives it, no issues. has 115k on it. Purchased new in 2013.
2 F150s (1 5.0 and 1 eco) both traded off at 100k without issue
He was on his 3rd F150 when he died.

My wife has a 2018 Chevy Traverse that has had constant transmission issues and its less than 7k miles. Dealer gives the classic response "its not acting up" when we take it in. It makes it difficult for me to want to look at GM trucks.

I do not honestly know anything about Ram. I have only heard "they are awesome" or "they suck". I do really like the way they look, especially the interiors. I certainly plan on checking them out before I make any decision as well. I am not a big fan of their back bench seat and the hump in the floor. I am used to the flat floors offered in the F series. I also love all of the cup loaders Ford gives you. It doesn't sound like a big deal but when your wife brings 7 things to drink at once on a trip, it is a big deal.

My go to was an F250, and I have driven one. This, like the OP, is the daily driver also at about 15k miles a year, 5k of it towing. Most highway miles.

I can get a used Ram for cheaper than a used F250. Also if the Ram rides smoother that may be a better option as well. I just have no experience with the durability of the Hemi engines and their transmissions.