Tow Rig

jlalonde

Well-known member
So i'm looking for a new tow rig and wanted to know what people are using? I would also like your opinion on the 6.0L diesel in the ford.


Thanks



Justin
 

mucovich

Till Valhalla!
for me i went from a half ton to a 3/4 ton diesel, big difference in towing as well as piece of mind. Mines a RAM, i'm a mopar guy but to each his own.
 

mucovich

Till Valhalla!
We have a bunch of those fords at work and i'm not a fan compared to my dodge. Big time turbo lag and just don't seem to put out as much power either.
 

Farm Boy

Bought the Farm
The first Gen 6.0 were junk. By the '06 or '07 model years things were better. Personally I'd rather have the 7.3

What ever you do, only get a gas engine as a last resort, the diesel is WAY worth the money.
 

Baja

Well-known member
x2 on getting the diesel
I have a 6.6 duramax and love it. Used to tow with a half ton gas truck, but now I will never go back.
 

Kunker

Administrator
Club Member
The first Gen 6.0 were junk. By the '06 or '07 model years things were better. Personally I'd rather have the 7.3

What ever you do, only get a gas engine as a last resort, the diesel is WAY worth the money.

From what I've read 03/04 6.0's are indeed junk, and stay away from anything (Dodge, Chevy or Ford) that you see a tuner in. Yes, they can take some abuse, but if something blows up, it's a far more expensive repair.

Jon/Farm Boy probably has the most towing experience on the board, so I hate to argue with him, but seriously look at your situation, and how often you are going to tow, before you decide on diesel versus gas. If it's only a couple of times a year, and/or a lighter load, a 3/4T gasser might be a better option. The more often and the more weight you tow, though, diesel does become a much clearer preference. Mind you, my opinions come from reading a ton of threads on different boards about towing versus real world experience.
 
K

kbrousseau

Guest
If you have to tow alot the diesel does make more sense but if it is only going to a couple of times a year a gas may be the way to go. Strickly from a parts/cost side of things a diesel is WAY more money to maintain from everything from oil changes to fuel costs and fuel additives. Not to mention the cost of replacing engine parts etc. I have always swore that I would never own one after seeing how expensive the parts are for these things. That being said we never sell any parts for the Cummins diesel. 7.3 Fords(Intl) are not to bad. We seem to sell alot of stuff for the 6.5 GM. My brother-in-laws Dads 03 F450 6.0l diesel is constantly in the shop for one thing or another, and yet there old 97 F450 7.3l was practically bullet proof.

Don't know if this helps, just throwing out what I know.
:beer:
 

Farm Boy

Bought the Farm
From what I've read 03/04 6.0's are indeed junk, and stay away from anything (Dodge, Chevy or Ford) that you see a tuner in. Yes, they can take some abuse, but if something blows up, it's a far more expensive repair.

Jon/Farm Boy probably has the most towing experience on the board, so I hate to argue with him, but seriously look at your situation, and how often you are going to tow, before you decide on diesel versus gas. If it's only a couple of times a year, and/or a lighter load, a 3/4T gasser might be a better option. The more often and the more weight you tow, though, diesel does become a much clearer preference. Mind you, my opinions come from reading a ton of threads on different boards about towing versus real world experience.


Kunker, you make a good point about the tuner, but then agian it's not hard to take them out before selling and deny it was ever there. Generally better to get one that pulled an RV around than a work or plow truck. Old guys are usually easier on their truck and look after them better.

I had an '04 Duramax. Loved the truck, pulled 12,000lbs daily with ease, truck never even flinched.
GMs are great cruisers -- car-like ride
Fords are great work trucks -- feel more like a truck should
Dodge have great motors, too bad about the rest of the truck.
I like the last gen 7.3 due to it's support and wide avialabiltiy of parts. International has been making diesels engines forever.

Good questions,
What is it that you are towing?
How often?
Where are you towing?
What else do you plan to use the truck for?
 
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D

Dirk

Guest
GMs are great cruisers -- car-like ride
Fords are great work trucks -- feel more like a truck should
Dodge have great motors, too bad about the rest of the truck.
I like the last gen 7.3 due to it's support and wide avialabiltiy of parts. International has been making diesels engines forever.

x2

The Ford trucks with the 7.3 Powerstroke, 94.5 to 97 and the 99 to 03 are both good choices IMO. The later ones have a bit more hp, 20 IIRC, mainly due to being intercooled, which helps with EGT's.
My 97 just pulled 2 trailers to Alberta for 3800km in 40hours pedal to the floor and never missed a beat.
They are a proven engine, identical (except for externals) to the International 444E used in school busses and medium duty trucks.
The previous 7.3IDI which is a bored out 6.9 is not a bad choice and alot cheaper and are all mechanical. The turbo'd ones make good power while the naturally aspirated 7.3 and 6.9 will not impress as far as power goes.

Ofcourse i would suggest a standard trans....but thats a whole other discussion/can'o'worms...:stir:

Now if I had choice to build a tow rig.....Ford chassis and a 5.9 Cummins would be the ticket. :beer:

As far as Diesel vs Gas, I would go diesel even empty your milage will be better and towing is way better. I used to tow with a build 460, and loved the power, but would never go back to a gas engine in a pickup. Plus Diesels sound cooler, are smellier (in a good way) and are just way more manly. :glasses:
 
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jlalonde

Well-known member
Thanks for the help guy's!



What is it that you are towing?
Full body jeep (+/- 4000lbs) About 6500lbs with trailer, no gear.

How often?
Once a month
Where are you towing?
East coast, RC, would be the longest trips, most withing 2 hours
What else do you plan to use the truck for?
Short commute to work (10 min)

Justin
 
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Kunker

Administrator
Club Member
A question for the diesel truck guys - I know my Jetta TDI won't even get close to warm in a 10 minute commute in the winter, and I would guess that the large truck engines are even worse. Are these short trips harder on the engine than on a gasser? I'm thinking about soot build-up in this case from not getting warm enough.
 

mucovich

Till Valhalla!
I had my high idle activated on mine so i always let it warm up for a while before taking off. Before i got that done it would automatically idle up to 1100 rpm on cold days but that wasn't nearly enough, with the high idle i can get it up to 1500 rpm which gets her up to a better temp.
 

Baja

Well-known member
Ya it takes a while to warm up. But like Merek's truck, mine if it is cold it idles up. I just start mine a good 10-15 min ahead of time and keep it plugged in whenever possible.
 

Kunker

Administrator
Club Member
That's what I figured...just wanted to add some more food for thought on the diesel/gas debate for Justin. Do you guys notice a fairly large drop in fuel milage in the winter as well? Back when I was doing a short commute (15km?) I dropped from 850km a tank to 600ish in the winter. Not so bad now that it's longer (40km hwy each way) though.
 

Farm Boy

Bought the Farm
Everybody's milage drops in the winter gas or diesel. My current F150 with the 5.4 drops 25-30% in the winter

Yes short trips are not the best for a diesel but not much of an issue as long as it reaches operating temp before it is shut off. Winter fronts are a great idea on a diesel vehicle.
 

Kunker

Administrator
Club Member
Guess you just notice it more when 20% now becomes 200km, rather than the 60km or so in my old S-10.
 

jlalonde

Well-known member
Thanks Kunker I hadn't though of it warming during the short commute. Now my question is , do i really need a diesel? I only tow once month. So is the added cost and maintenance worth it? Would i be better of with a 3/4 ton hemi ,ford 5.4, or 6.8 V10?
 

Farm Boy

Bought the Farm
Skip the V10, they are a pig on fuel. My 5.4 is gutless, some of the newer ones are 300hp so they may not be as bad. Then again, I'm a diesel guy and have towed with a Duramax. Pass on the Hemi also, if you are going to (sigh) get a dodge, atleast get the Cummins.

Here's a thought:
If you know anyone that has a tow rig that they will lend you, hook up your trailer and load and take it for a spin. You'll quickly see if you are willing to sacrifice on the gas engine or willing to step up to the diesel.

:beer:
 
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