NSS Cuda is finally Done. Trailer and Tow Rig questions

Well for those that don't know my 68 NSS Cuda is finally done (well 99.9%.) We have started working out the chassis setup, and still have a few more items to clean up for tech.

It is a 68 that I have known since back in High School. We started the build several years ago, and due to $$$, and health issues, moving, kids ect, it took forever to finish. In fact if some close friends hadn't pitched in this year, it would still be sitting in bare metal in the garage!

I am running a 496" low deck with a Jerico and 9". We expect it to be fairly quick to say the least.... Looks like after a little more testing in the spring it will be ready to go.

Now I need to figure out what to do with my tow rig, and what to look for in a trailer. Currently I have an 01 Cummins 2500 Ram with 285k on the clock, and a flatbed trailer. This is fine for a close race, but it seems most of the NSS stuff will require a longer haul.

I have had great service from my Ram, but the wife HATES it. Something about our John Deere rides smoother lol.... I still trust it, but friends and family have been riding me hard about upgrading before the season starts. IF I do, it would need to be a diesel, and a single wheel, not a dualie.

What else is out there now days that makes a good towing rig? Obviously I lean towards the Cummins machines, but would like to hear real world opinions about some of the other stuff out there. I currently make 17 to 23 mpg with my old Ram, and fuel efficiency running unloaded is important. I usually run about 450 to 500 miles per week for work.

It seems like I am seeing new Super Duty Fords all over the place here where I live. Does that mean they have finally fixed their engine issues??? I also see a lot of the GM stuff, but by far the Fords outnumber everything else, at least around here (Houston Area.) I figure there must be a reason.

Next, I need an enclosed trailer. What would you go with for a 68 Cuda with Wheelie Bars? Should I go with a bumper tow, or look at 5th wheel or goose neck. The Truck will probably be a 4 door, with a short box because of some of the places I go for work. A long box or dualie wont fit!

-Dave

Car looks good... on the truck, I like the Ram but
I also like the dualie... if I was going with a fifth
whel or goose neck I would want the dualie(more stable)
so IMO the tag is your choice and I would think 28'
to 30' with triple axle and big wheels and tires

I pulled a 40' goose with a 3500 4 wheel truck for 7 years. It was a nice ride and didn't notice any sway or anything uncomfortable with a 4 wheel 3500 truck. Mine was a 454 and did fine for 125K until I sold the truck. It was mostly trouble free truck and saw all towing in those 125K miles. Then I got a 99 454 dually and regretted it for the 13 years I owned it. Didn't need the dually, the salesman tried to tell me, but I wanted a dually then and I was trying to pull a 49' goose(with a top alcohol dragster with 2 spare motors, 2 spare trans and lot's of clutch plates and a machine to grind them) which was too much for my BB dually with 456 gears in it. Then I got a toterhome.

I would think long and hard about today's diesels.

I recently got a new F250 with gas 6.2 motor after driving GM for 20 years. Before that it was dodge, but I didn't want the noisy smelly diesel in 1993 when I switched to GM(the 8000 dollar diesel was the only tow motor for dodge in 93). I had already burned up a 360 in a dodge truck towing a 28' tag trailer And I work on diesels everyday at work, I didn't want it to feel like a work truck at the time(93).

The new 6.2 has way more power than any 454 I have driven and get's almost twice the mileage... I did a ton of research before buying ford.

Dave,

Its great to see you finally get the car done! I remember back when you were figuring out what exactly you were going to do with it. I have my own opinions on a rig but I'm gonna keep it to myself this time!

Dave,I have a 68 NSS Barracuda. Get my # from Damon and give me a call in the evening. I'll give you first hand info. Been draggin the car around for 17 years or so.( both types of trailers , single and dual wheels,etc.) Tell Damon you want "Kermit's " Home phone #, the old cell # is gone. Tell Damon I don't know what He's doin', but hurry up.

I bought a 2012 Ram 2500 to replace my 06 Mega cab 2500 and the ride is night and day different the new rams ride totally different.

Car looks great!

We pull a 48ft 5th wheel with a 2500 single wheel 2012 CTD no problems here!

Casey

The heavier the trailer the better the truck will ride I had a 1998 1/2 24 valve extended cab short bed 2500 two wheel drive, it rode okay for me empty and it rode better with my enclosed trailers hook up with the race car(1971 Duster, 3200 lbs) in it I traded it in on a 4 door long bed 2006 ram 3500 4x4 single wheel for the snow when we moved to central Oregon, it, the new truck, rides softer than the 1998 ram 2500 did We bought a 34 ft fifth wheel camp trailer with three slide outs, it weighs 11,800 on the axles and puts another 1500 lbs on the truck with it hook up, the truck rides, tows and drives way better with the fifth wheel hook up than it does with the tag race traler, the race trailer weighs 8600 lbs. on the trailer axles and puts about 700 lbs more on the back axle of the truck. the fifth wheel trailer puts about 700 lbs on the front axle of the truck and the rest on the back axle I have been told by several different racers, ranchers and farmers, that a goose neck or fifth wheel trailer will always pull way better with the same weight than a bumper pull tag trailer will Look around for a 2003 to 2006 Ram 3500 crew cab with the high output 6 speed with the early(pre 2007 bigger motor) CTD, the 2003 and 2004 H.O. seem to get better mileage and have more power stock than the 2006 do is what I have been told and seen With all the after market power adders for the CTD maybe that can be remedy

Thanks guys.

Challenger1 you bring up a good point on gas v/s diesel. For me I would be worried about mileage. I have been spoiled to the good mileage I get with my 01. I just figured that a gasser would make terrible mileage. The other thing is I tend to keep my trucks a LONG time and would be worried about keeping a gasser much after about 150k.

Mr_P-Body, for me the single wheel is almost a nessisaty. I will drive it as a daily driver, and some of the jobsites I go to I am forced to park in parking garages. It is already a stretch with my 01 Quad Cab short box. Do you think there would be an advantage to going with a 3500 instead of a 2500?

BJS, I was just reading my notes from the Dave Morgan class last night. Seems like forever ago!

Rumblefish68, I will talk to Damon hehehe. You know without Damon and Mark this car would not exist! Couldn't have done it without them!

biff426, I was looking at the 2013-14 Dodges on the web, and could not see the big difference in the Megga and Crew cabs other than the Megga makes the bed extra short. Was there a reason you didn't go back with the Megga Cab?

-Dave

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BJS, I was just reading my notes from the Dave Morgan class last night. Seems like forever ago!

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You know he is coming back in Janurary for the final time. No more seminars after this one. Refresher course?