towing question

[08flagvlite]

Hi bagged, I HAVE both of those vehicles basically. I currently tow with an o6 hemi 1500quad cab shortbed, with a 3:55 rear, auto, and 17" tires. My 04 Durango Limited hemi auto 3:55 rear end with tow package is scary as @#% anywhere above 55. AND, that is WITH the Reese Dual cam setup from my truck on it. Could be better with adjustments, though, and I only did this ONCE, and that was all it took. Truck was in the shop, at the time. As for my truck, I just returned from a 510 mile one way trip to the keys, my longest trip towing to date and it pulled my rig okay, but I have added many things, and really need to add a 3:92 rear end gear. As it is, I have added rear helper springs, LT rated tires, a K&N air filter, Flowmaster duals, and get around 7 to 8 mpg towing at 62-65 mph, and transmission wanders from OD to 4th almost every overpass or incline. The hemi has enough power, but it isn't put to use well enough with this gear in the rear.
Does it get the job done? Yeah, mostly. Would I do it differently, if I had the chance? YES. I would go with a 3/4 ton from the jump. I would probably go gas and 4 door cab short bed non dually, because I use my truck for a lot of other stuff. But that's me......
Randy

[trudinator]

We went diesel because of the awesome pulling power and mileage. We get 16 mpg towing our 32' TT with the cummins turbo diesel. I don't think you'd come close to that with a gas engine, it also gets waaaay better mileage when NOT pulling than our gas-guzzling durango, which gets around 14.

[jd-ford-hd]

May I suggest buying a 3/4 sized truck from a company whose headquarters are in America, have ALWAYS been in America and that is operating on their own good management skills and NOT our tax dollars..! Hmmm, let's see, that leaves FORD...! Also, consider only 4.10 or lower rear gears because of their towing superiority. Overdrive transmissions have made higher gearing (3.73, 3.55) useless, in my opinion, even for towing a light load. I ordered my Super Duty V10 with 4.30 rear and love it. Overdrive ratios are normally around .79 : 1. My effective ratio when in overdrive is .79 X 4.30 = 3.40...!! That's about the ratio found in passenger cars in the days when transmissions did not have overdrive..

[crocus]

You don't need a diesel, but you definitely need a bigger truck.
The new Ford ecoboost in their beefed-up F150 SuperCrew would do just fine.
By the way, all of those people who helped you with your "research"? They were lying. Nothing new there.

[chromeOkie]

Originally Posted by crocus

You don't need a diesel, but you definitely need a bigger truck.
The new Ford ecoboost in their beefed-up F150 SuperCrew would do just fine.
By the way, all of those people who helped you with your "research"? They were lying. Nothing new there.

beefed-up F150 SuperCrew ?? you would be stretching the limits with an EB Scab or even Rg cab, but the Crew has the lowest towing limits of the 3, doesn't it? but then maybe it's just that I've gotten conservative in my old age and don't feel the need to "live on the edge" as much anymore, especially when my loved ones are with me.

[crocus]

The Ecoboost truck is not a regular 1/2 ton.
It has a 3000 lb load capacity and will tow 11,000 lbs.
A friend of mine just bought one, and it tows the heck out of his 9500 lb GVWR fifth wheel.

[chromeOkie]

Originally Posted by crocus

The Ecoboost truck is not a regular 1/2 ton.
It has a 3000 lb load capacity and will tow 11,000 lbs.
A friend of mine just bought one, and it tows the heck out of his 9500 lb GVWR fifth wheel.

earlier you referred to a SuperCrew, the max payload for any Screw is 2000lbs and that's with the max tow package. without the max tow package you are also looking at max towing capacity at around 9800lbs, therefore stretching the limits with a 9500 5er. don't get me wrong, I have an EB Screw and so far it has been fantastic and it tows my FR Tracer 230FBS as easy as you please, but it's 25ft and maybe 7000lbs loaded. but hey, I am certainly no expert, just throwing out my overpriced 2cents.

[crocus]

The Ecoboost is rated to tow 11,200 with the right axle ratio, 3.73 or something like that, with the max tow package. That is what my friend bought.
Being an Ecoboost owner, you should know that.

[Steve38]

I have a EB Screw, 3.55 gears. We pull a XLR 27HFS toy hauler with no trouble. I would not do it with a chevy or dodge 1/2 ton.

[jimh]

i have the last (year) of the 7.3 in a duelly crew. it has no problem with my 33ts (11000) dry. the fuel economy leaves something to be desired; i get a constant 8.3 while towing unless i'm on the Natchez trace going 50; then i get 10.1

my eye dr tows with a V10 and, like me, has been to Yellowstone and points west. we didn't discuss millage but he says he has no problem towing.
my mindset is diesel so it's hard for me to consider anything else. there were a couple times, when i went west on US2, that diesel got scarce.
if anyone has used the diesel and the v10, how do they compare: performance and fuel economy?
by the way, i won't put a "program" on mine because i believe the transmission is under enough stress with the current torque available from the unmodified engine.
what ever u decide on, the duelly does not make a good vehicle when it comes to parking at the store.

[SaskCampers]

For any interested parties. The Dodge bible from the people that make them. This page is for the 07 Durango. BTW this info is out there for all to see from all manufacturers, IMO the Dodge one is the most comprehensive in providing all the right info for payload, gawr, gvwr, gcwr etc.

http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2007/docs/hb/mlup.pdf

[SaskCampers]

Originally Posted by herk7769

There are plenty of good used TVs around for sale right now and new truck dealers are dealing as well.

You have an awesome camper and I would be looking to trade up to a 3/4 ton class truck (2500 RAM with the Hemi engine as I stated would be an awesome combination).

We have a 2500 megacab 4x4 with a hemi and 3:73's and I would recommend 4:10's with a hemi to get it revving better in the hills and 4:56`s if you decide to get larger tires. When we were down at Mt Rushmore there was one place coming in from Wyoming that we were down to 40mph and I think the better gears would have kept it higher in the rpms to make better power. We were running at abt 15,500 with 4 people and the V-Lite. The hemi makes the power but Dodge chose to saddle it with an economy minded Mercedes designed tranny as they had nothing else to handle the power in an OD box so we are stuck with horrid gear spacing etc and even the 6 speed box in the diesel is not much better but the diesel has the torque to hide most of the issues.

[DBLLMe]

Buy the most truck you can afford. I'm currently pulling a Wildwood T25KS using an equalizer hitch with a Dodge 3500 dually, Cummins diesel. Pulling is only part of the equation, you also have to be able to control & stop your rig. I’ve pulled all sizes of trailers and never been sorry having to much truck - to little can get you and anyone around you killed.

[trudinator]

Let's see......1500 gets you around 7-8 mpg towing a 32 footer. Our 2500 turbo diesel gets 16-18 mpg pulling a 32 footer. No comparison in my book.....

[11XLITE28BH]

Without getting into a gas vs. diesel war, there are pro's and con's to both. I chose gas because it was the best fit for me and my driving needs. My truck is also my commute vehicle. I drive about one mile through town to work. I spoke to several mechanics and they said because I drive such a short distance, I would be doing more harm than good on a diesel engine. Do I wish I had the gas milage of a diesel....hell yeah, but I went with the truck that best suited my needs. Thus, do your research, find the tow vehicle that best suits your needs. Also, I wouldn't buy on specific brand based on what the company did regardless of government help or not.

[flyrotor]

Originally Posted by bagged123

Well, I can't, the tuck can't even get out of its own way with that trailer hooked up. So I was wondering what others are using as tow vehicles and what types of trailers are you towing with? I'm looking at some new trucks but looking for some opinons from others towing one of these trailers.

I use a 2011 Dodge 2500 Cummins crew cab long bed, 169" wheel base to pull my 23' Wildwood BHLE. I started with a 2005 1500 Suburban with a 5.3 and full tow package. The Suburban pulled the trailer, but not great, I can only imagine a Durango with a shorter wheel base.

Do I have too much truck? Never! Would I go with anything less? Never!

Good luck finding a new truck

[RollingDownTheHighway]

well, we did our first trip with the new truck and camper and I didn't even know the trailer was behind me. Went through the mountains of PA to Hershey and the truck pulled it like a champ, the tranny temp stayed around 178- 185 on the way down though coming home it hit around 205 due it, it was uphill for about 20 miles to my house. I was able to keep it around 55-60 (not looking for a land speed record) and when I went through the chicken house in PA I was at 7150lbs.

One question that I do have, is that at times coming down a hill I could feel the truck pull a little to the right, which is the side I have my anti sway bar on, what would cause that and should I run with 2 anti sway bars on it?

Other then that, it was easy as eating pie on a sunday morning.

[11XLITE28BH]

Originally Posted by bagged123

well, we did our first trip with the new truck and camper and I didn't even know the trailer was behind me. Went through the mountains of PA to Hershey and the truck pulled it like a champ, the tranny temp stayed around 178- 185 on the way down though coming home it hit around 205 due it, it was uphill for about 20 miles to my house. I was able to keep it around 55-60 (not looking for a land speed record) and when I went through the chicken house in PA I was at 7150lbs.

One question that I do have, is that at times coming down a hill I could feel the truck pull a little to the right, which is the side I have my anti sway bar on, what would cause that and should I run with 2 anti sway bars on it?

Other then that, it was easy as eating pie on a sunday morning.

What truck did you decide on???

[RollingDownTheHighway]

chevy