I'm very new to the diesel world (and even the heavy duty truck world). I currently have a busted 1996 Dodge Ram 2500, A classy Yukon, and a Honda Ridgeline. None of these vehicles will get my towing done.

I have a Bobcat 863, and a tractor/bushhog that I will be towing on a somewhat routine basis to do odd jobs for friends and relatives. I just purchased a 24' dovetail trailer thats rated to hold 14,000 lbs, so it's pretty heavy itself. Bobcat probably weighs in at 9,000lbs +/-.

The questions I have are more of a comparison on what you guys think between trucks.. What are the pros/cons of Auto vs. Manual? Would one better suit my needs? Looking for the most comfortable, best towing truck to get the job done.

The next question, should I steer my search towards a 1 ton truck for the better suspension, or would a 3/4 get it done? Are there any other benefits of a 1 ton truck that I'm missing?

I don't need frills and features, I have the Yukon for that. I just want a tough truck to haul my toys around.. Any insight/advice would definitely be appreciated. In my brief search I've been leaning towards a 99-06 F350, and a Dodge 3500 (same years).

 

First thing I would do is find out what your loaded weight of the trailer is with the maximum amount of things you would usually tow, then find out which truck is capable of towing that amount. <br><br> Refer to this chart here on this site. http://www.clubfte.com/users/monsta/TrailertowingV2.htm

 

If I read the chart right....... my load will be under 12,500 so I will be alright any direction I go. Hoping to go SRW, and 4x4..... but have definitely been contemplating DRW, but I hate how inconvenient they are when it comes to parking, city driving, etc.

 

Well, take it from a Dually guy... They are not the easiest trucks to maneuver. There are problems in the situations you mentioned and more. Parking, City, Drive-thrus (like banks/atm's are out of the question) 2 more tires to buy, Inner tire inflation, yadda yadda yadda. The DRW are good for long trips with a tall fifth wheel that likes to sway. The 2 extra tires are much more for stability than towing capacity. <br><br> When it comes to Auto/Manual trans... There are differences in towing capacity by a couple hundred pounds, otherwise it's just user preference. Some just feel more comfortable towing with a stick. Feel more in control. But my auto handles a 13,000# fifth wheel camper just fine and shifts fine. Manuals tend to last longer, however, and a lot less to maintain + rebuild.

 

For starters, welcome to FTE!


The automatic vs. manual transmission debate is really up to your personal preferences. I was brought up driving manuals, but I have come around to appreciate the newer automatics. Both are capable of the workload that you anticipate. As stated earlier, the only battle that the manual wins readily is the cost of maintenance/rebuild.

The F-250 vs. F-350 debate is a bit easier to settle. It looks like you buy a truck for the proverbial "long haul". That being the case, I would suggest an F-350. You can never have too much truck, after all.

On the single rear wheel (SRW) vs. dual rear wheel (DRW) front, I think Flaw really nailed the key points...especially the one regarding stability. If you frequently tow a large 5th wheel trailer or tow hauler type trailer that is prone to swaying in the wind, a DRW is the better choice. If not, save yourself the added costs & hassles by sticking with a SRW truck.


I am not sure how much you have looked/researched into Ford's Super Duties, so here is some additional input:

• Getting an OASIS report on any Ford Super Duty that you are contemplating is almost a necessity. This will reveal the service history behind the truck.
• The early 6.0L Powerstroke diesels (generally '03-'04) tend to be a bit hit & miss. Some have been plagued with issues while others have been pretty solid motors. The aforementioned OASIS report can shed a lot of life in this area.
• The 2005 and newer Super Duties have larger disc brakes on all four corners, and they have coil springs up front which drastically reduced their turning radius.
• Don't overlook Ford's 6.8L V10. It is a very capable motor with a solid history, as evidenced by countless V10 vs. Powerstroke threads here on FTE a lone.

I'm sure that there is more, but I'm drawing a blank right now. Probably because I am still on my first cup of coffee!

 

Sell all three of those current vehicles you got (only 2 are cosidered trucks in my book) and use the money for a nice 7.3 F-350 w/ auto trans. I love a stick, but when I get stuck in traffic pulling my boat, I don't miss it one bit. And I got a dually, you get used to driving it, and also which local drive thru's you can and can't make LOL. Either way, a longer wheelbase truck is gonna be a pain to park no matter how wide. Any good driver can park a dually just like any other truck. You get used to it. Good luck!

 

None of the cars are going anywhere except the dodge.. It's ready to find a new home with someone that doesn't mind a busted truck (used to be a work truck before the business was sold in 2000). The Yukon and Ridgeline serve their purposes, so no need to get rid of them.

I have heard/read about the problems with the 6.0 block, and that has made me nervous. I don't mind wrenching on a truck, but I don't want to buy a truck knowing the chance of rebuild sooner rather than later is a big possibility. I looked into a v10 rather briefly, but honestly I WANT A DIESEL. Love the way they sound, love everything about a diesel truck (Driven oil trucks, and previously was an armored truck driver so I'm not new into BIG diesel trucks, just personal trucks).

It sounds as though I'll be safe with a SRW, as I don't have a toy hauler and have no immediate plans to have a 5th wheeler.

Glad to hear that it doesn't matter if it's manual or auto. I've always driven manuals until the last few years when I got the yukon and ridgeline. I love having more control, shifting ect. And I think driving a stick diesel truck is fun, however I've gotten kinda used to the convenience of an auto especially in traffic. What is suggested in terms of gauges and operating temperatures in terms of towing? What is a safe EGT temp and trans temp?

Thank you all for the advice so far. It has definitely helped me narrow my search in the direction that will be appropriate for my needs.

 

Good on ya for thinking about gauges. If you mount your pyro probe pre-turbo like most of us do, try to keep it under 1200*, but just toolin' down the highway you should see about 600-700*. Your tranny temp, with the stock cooler, should be about 160-180. With a 6.0 cooler or a Tru-Cool cooler (in a 7.3 truck) you'll see about 20-30 degrees less on the tranny side, but up to 200 is ok, even higher for short periods but as with anything, th cooler it stays the better.