if you were to buy a tow rig...

[Ba-Riedo]

What would you get and why?

I have been debating buying / financing one for a few months now, and have decided I would like to spend around 15k on one. It has to be diesel, have a back seat, short bed if its a truck (I want to be able to park it) and get decent mpg while driving and towing, and the biggest thing is I want it to be reliable. So I have been looking at late 90's Dodges and not much else, suggestions? I would love to buy a 06 or so Ram because I like the way they look and they seem to work well for just about everyone but I don't have that kinda fundage.:booo:

-Alex

 

[FastEddy]

any 12 valve with a nv 4500 conditon depending of course... or a first gen powerstroke under 120k with a zf not an e4od

 

[rubikong1]

I hear the 12 valve with the manual is the way to go. I got an 02' auto 24v and I'm on the second injector pump. Other than that it's been great! Oh clean the rad every once in a while. As far as the short bed? I went long to fit a camper, but have since learned that I would rather tent than camper. Parking is not an issue. I parallel park no prob.

 

[mark]

From my "research" all the Diesel have their own little quirks/pros and cons. Especially when you start getting old enough to be in the 15K range.

Pick your poison, then go for the truck that is the most comfortable and fits your needs best.

Crewcab or extended cab? I was finding the CC added atleast a couple grand to the shopping price. Everyone wants the CC's now. But an extended cab is 2' shorter, and a little cheaper. If car seats fit better in the back seat of an extended cab I would have gone that route.

I liked the Chevy's, so I concentrated my search there. Dodges were coming in a little cheaper, wasn't searching too much for Ford cause most of them in my range were 6.0's, and I didn't want to go there.

 

[johninlv]

The sweet spot for the Ram Diesels is the 03 and 04 models but not the 2004.5. they went to a converter and EGR. Claim more HP but get fewer MPG. Mine is an 03 with 195K on it 4x4 quad cab short bed Auto. I bought it about 5 years ago to tow a 13K lb. sail boat. I havent got the boat yet but averaged 19.3 MPG from Las Vegas to Everett and back over Christmas. Last year I saw one on crag's list for $13K Loaded and only 125K miles. I almost cried. I love the auto transmission with the 4:11 gears. Run the stock tires for towing and H2 315 BFG Wheels and tires for hunting fishing and off road.

John in LV

 

[Cascade_Crawler]

cant go wrong with a 12 valve. I got a built one for 7k

 

[CHOP SHOP]

From my "research" all the Diesel have their own little quirks/pros and cons. Especially when you start getting old enough to be in the 15K range.

I dont know of any cons with a 12 valve. I got a nice 98 12v with 4 doors and 180k for 5Gs.


If you get a elecronic deisel, buy it new or you wont be able to afford to fix it.

 

[Boosted]

The sweet spot for the Ram Diesels is the 03 and 04 models but not the 2004.5. they went to a converter and EGR. Claim more HP but get fewer MPG. Mine is an 03 with 195K on it 4x4 quad cab short bed Auto. I bought it about 5 years ago to tow a 13K lb. sail boat. I havent got the boat yet but averaged 19.3 MPG from Las Vegas to Everett and back over Christmas. Last year I saw one on crag's list for $13K Loaded and only 125K miles. I almost cried. I love the auto transmission with the 4:11 gears. Run the stock tires for towing and H2 315 BFG Wheels and tires for hunting fishing and off road.

John in LV

X2 on the 03-04 sweet spot.

I did a lot of research before deciding on what to get. What I ended up with is an 03 2500 QCLB 4x4 for $16200 and absolutely love it.

 

[zukkev]

Alex, be patient, and you will find a later Dodge in your price range, just gotta be patient...:;

 

[zukkev]

The sweet spot for the Ram Diesels is the 03 and 04 models but not the 2004.5. they went to a converter and EGR. Claim more HP but get fewer MPG. Mine is an 03 with 195K on it 4x4 quad cab short bed Auto. I bought it about 5 years ago to tow a 13K lb. sail boat. I havent got the boat yet but averaged 19.3 MPG from Las Vegas to Everett and back over Christmas. Last year I saw one on crag's list for $13K Loaded and only 125K miles. I almost cried. I love the auto transmission with the 4:11 gears. Run the stock tires for towing and H2 315 BFG Wheels and tires for hunting fishing and off road.

John in LV

Hmmm, wasn't aware they went EGR that early; but as for the mileage loss claim, I have a good friend who used to work at United Rental, and his '05, '06, and '07 company trucks were getting an average of 18, and I have seen the 07 5.9L CTD get nearly 21 when we headed to E wa to pick up my wheeler....It's the 6.7L that really saw a drop in mileage (13-14 average), and they have had issues!

 

[Lucky Jeff]

The sweet spot for the Ram Diesels is the 03 and 04 models but not the 2004.5. they went to a converter and EGR. Claim more HP but get fewer MPG. Mine is an 03 with 195K on it 4x4 quad cab short bed Auto. I bought it about 5 years ago to tow a 13K lb. sail boat. I havent got the boat yet but averaged 19.3 MPG from Las Vegas to Everett and back over Christmas. Last year I saw one on crag's list for $13K Loaded and only 125K miles. I almost cried. I love the auto transmission with the 4:11 gears. Run the stock tires for towing and H2 315 BFG Wheels and tires for hunting fishing and off road.

John in LV

You are a bit off on your knowledge of these trucks....

 

[phew]

I'm not a dodge fan the cummins motors are great but the rest of the truck will fall apart around the motor. I would never own a powerjoke

 

[t1h5ta3]

my 2 cents:
chev, they ride the nicest
ford, ok ride quality, better buy it with a 7.3 if you want durability
dodge, generaly less expensive, ok ride quality

personaly when i grab another truck, ill be looking @ ether a 03-04 dodge, unless i get a deal on a mega cab like our istaller did ( 07 3500 4x4 loaded for $22k )

 

[crash2]

I'm not a dodge fan the cummins motors are great but the rest of the truck will fall apart around the motor. I would never own a powerjoke

I have heard that but never seen it or any more issues with them compared to any other company.

 

[Lucky Jeff]

I'm not a dodge fan the cummins motors are great but the rest of the truck will fall apart around the motor. I would never own a powerjoke

I haven't had any more issues then any of my buddies that own Fords or Chevy's.... It's a popular phrase for the competitors.. maybe it's to make them feel better when they get left alongside the road?

 

[Damnyankee]

the old 12V dodge are nice.

or a 7.3 powerstroke.

I have had mine for 3 years issues have been. (02,7.3)

1)high pressure oil pump.. 800 bucks
2)under valve cover harness 50 Cents.

i have put on 35k miles in less than 3 years.

 

[unclestripey]

I was always a chevy guy but I love my ford....Cummins would be great but I don't care for the rest of Dodge's truck, just seems cheap to me...Don't know much about the newer Duromax Chev's but they're butt ugly. Mines a 2000 with the 7.3/auto, bone stock mechanically, just over 100K so not really sure about longevity yet, and pretty gutless when compared to modded Dodge's my friends run. Still love it, big and comfy.

 

[zukkev]

the old 12V dodge are nice.

or a 7.3 powerstroke.

I have had mine for 3 years issues have been. (02,7.3)

1)high pressure oil pump.. 800 bucks
2)under valve cover harness 50 Cents.

i have put on 35k miles in less than 3 years.

So it was the UVCH! Didn't catch that in yer thread! (hijack off!)

 

[zukkev]

I was always a chevy guy but I love my ford....Cummins would be great but I don't care for the rest of Dodge's truck, just seems cheap to me...Don't know much about the newer Duromax Chev's but they're butt ugly. Mines a 2000 with the 7.3/auto, bone stock mechanically, just over 100K so not really sure about longevity yet, and pretty gutless when compared to modded Dodge's my friends run. Still love it, big and comfy.

We see 'em with well over 300K goin' strong quite abit, and take that damn heavy service box off the back, and it'll seem like you chipped it!!!!:haha:

 

[ceb0217]

I have a duramax DRW,CC 4x4 6sp man. I love the truck.I got the truck with the lb7 motor that has inj prob. also the duel mass fly wheel has been replaced with a southbend unit. I also have a super chips and a boost fooler valve and still get 14-17 loaded 19,600#. the only thing I really dislike is the ground clearance under the doors.its kind of low but it does ride good. oh ya I only have about 70,000 on mine one owner.