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Re: tow rig?
[Re: bigbertha72]
#183395
01/04/09 01:27 PM
01/04/09 01:27 PM
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,393
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
Dragula
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,393
Taxes & Virus's R-US, NY
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Quote:
I'm trying to deceide on a truck to tow with. I have a 18ft all steel 2 axle dovetail trailer weighs bout 2k or so. I don't tow that often so I can justify picking up a cummins. I'd say I tow the max of 10 times a year and no farther than 200 roundtrip. I'm thinking a pre 90s ram either 250 or 350 whenever they still had the 904/727s in them. I'm thinkin the 360 would be able to tow. I live in Tennesse so I do have quite a few hills to go up and down. Just dont want to spend 15k on a diesal truck that I really don't need. Only tow either duster, satellites. So nothing over 8k including trailer. What do you guys recomend? I had a v10 ram but the trans crapped out, front diff needs new wheel bearing, body is shot. not worth fixing and am just going to pull the motor/trans and use it in my satellite when I get a chance too.
The newer 5.7 will do better on millage than a 360. Your still ok with a gas engine, but towing will slow you down. I towed for years with an 18ft open trailor and a 318 W150 truck with upgraded suspension on all four corners. It was ok, but only with the small block car. The big block really took its toll on it and the millage. 5500lbs is around the break point, unless its very infrequent. I have had diesel since '98, and it has no lack for towing ability even with a 24' enclosed, and a D100 inside and all my tools. It will out tow almost any truck up and down the hills at +70mph.
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Re: tow rig?
[Re: bigbertha72]
#183397
01/04/09 07:26 PM
01/04/09 07:26 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,198
aZLiViN
J_BODY
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,198
aZLiViN
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Quote:
I do have a 97 ram with a 360 thats a parts truck but it is still together and runs so i could tow my trailer with it and see what i think.
I towed my 24ft enclosed with my 95 1500 4x4 3.5 geared 5.9 engine Ram. Wrong tool for the job, but it would do it. I would definately change out the rear gear lube for the 75/140 synthetic.
Keep in mind I was towing regularly to Vegas from the Bullhead City AZ area... 500ft elevation up a 6% for 15 miles, up a few more to 3700ft, back down to 2500ft, and back up to 3200 before dropping to the 2100 track elevation. Factor in wind and it was a rough pull on many occasions. Just took my time and let it do what it could.
Dumped it when I could finally purchase the "right" tool for the job.
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Re: tow rig?
[Re: J_BODY]
#183398
01/04/09 09:54 PM
01/04/09 09:54 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,812
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Wagonmaster
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,812
Tulsa, Oklahoma
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I'll throw a monkey wrench in, here.
I have a 1981 D-150. 318 [360 "J" heads]. Stock, other than that. No headers, no nada. 4-speed, 3.91 gears, VERY stiff suspension.
I have towed, to date, a 32' fifth wheel travel trailer all over the Ozarks, a 21' steel U-haul trailer with a BB Nova back from Chicago IL to Tulsa, OK, and many, many go-fetch trips [cars and stuff] around OK, KS and into AR.
I don't get outrageous with the speed, have trailer brakes on everything I tow. Gets about 9 - 10 MPG at between 55 and 65 MPH.
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Re: tow rig?
[Re: bigbertha72]
#183403
01/07/09 03:17 PM
01/07/09 03:17 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,068
Irving, TX
feets
Senior Management
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Senior Management
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 28,068
Irving, TX
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How about this one ? I did a quickie search on autotrader.com within 200 miles of your location and turned up lots of cheap trucks. Bunches of diesels too. Personally, after owning a Cummins for 13 years I'll never go back to a gasser.
We are brothers and sisters doing time on the planet for better or worse. I'll take the better, if you don't mind.
- Stu Harmon
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Re: tow rig?
[Re: bigbertha72]
#183410
01/08/09 10:51 PM
01/08/09 10:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
patrick
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,123
Grand Haven, MI
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another option woulda been to pick up that '86, and toss about $2k into the motor to slap a cast 4" stroker crank and some KB356 pistons in it to make a 408....add a comp XE256 or 262 and that would've been a very nice tow setup.
1976 Spinnaker White Plymouth Duster, /6 A833OD
1986 Silver/Twilight Blue Chrysler 5th Ave HotRod **SOLD!***
2011 Toxic Orange Dodge Charger R/T
2017 Grand Cherokee Overland
2014 Jeep Cherokee Latitude (holy crap, my daughter is driving)
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Re: tow rig?
[Re: patrick]
#183411
01/10/09 03:21 AM
01/10/09 03:21 AM
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
blown340
master
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master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,310
Walnut Creek, CA
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Quote:
another option woulda been to pick up that '86, and toss about $2k into the motor to slap a cast 4" stroker crank and some KB356 pistons in it to make a 408....add a comp XE256 or 262 and that would've been a very nice tow setup.
But no where as cool as the jeep FC! You should post some pictures as you go. Those FC jeeps have a small but fanatical following.
-Jon
70 challenger convertible. 340/5 speed. blown, intercooled, efi, blah blah blah
71 valiant scamp 318/A833OD/AC/PS
00 dakota RC 4.7L 5 spd autoX'r. SRT10/T56 swap in process
73 W200 Power wagon, PTO winch, 4 spd
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That 86 sounds like just the ticket.Cheap buy-in, solid 3/4 ton truck. Even if you pay the full $700, the $4-5k you save by not going to a diesel will buy alot of gas for the small amount of towing you plan on doing. 
