And Dodge is the towing king

[longhauler]

Looks like Dodge pulls ahead, now that's a towing machine


Max
conventional towing — Chevrolet Silverado HD 3500: 18,000 pounds


Max
conventional towing — Ford F-450 Super Duty: 18,500 pounds


Max
conventional towing — 2013 Ram 3500 HD: 17,000 pounds


Max
fifth-wheel towing — Chevrolet Silverado HD 3500: 23,000 pounds


Max
fifth-wheel towing — Ford F-450 Super Duty: 24,500 pounds


Max fifth-wheel
towing — 2013 Ram 3500 HD: 30,000 pounds

[bdwillie]

Makes me proud of our old girl! 13 years old and still pulling great!!

[longhauler]

Originally Posted by bdwillie

Makes me proud of our old girl! 13 years old and still pulling great!!

I know how you feel I have 2003 with 132,000 miles and not problem.

[artgpo]

These numbers change constantly. GM's new 2014 pickups are being introduced at the Detroit Auto Show next week and will be in showrooms in a couple of months. Count on GM to up the tow capacity war. Same for Ford Super Duty. The pickup truck is the Big Three's bread and butter and as such there is a lot riding on bragging rights. If this keeps up pretty soon we'll see 2500 and 3500 trucks pulling semis!

No knock on any of them but how come Ford and GM outsell Ram many more to one?

[longhauler]

[QUOTE=artgpo]

These numbers change constantly. GM's new 2014 pickups are being introduced at the Detroit Auto Show next week and will be in showrooms in a couple of months. Count on GM to up the tow capacity war. Same for Ford Super Duty. The pickup truck is the Big Three's bread and butter and as such there is a lot riding on bragging rights. If this keeps up pretty soon we'll see 2500 and 3500 trucks pulling semis!

No knock on any of them but how come Ford and GM outsell Ram many more to one?[/QUOTE

Actually from 12-2011 to 12-2012 Ram sales were up 16.1%, Chevy up 6.1% and Ford up 0.7%. Yes Ford sold 645,316 trucks last year, but who knows how many fleet trucks help make up that number, then Chevy sold 418,312, Ram 293,363 then GMC 157,185. If Ram sells keep this up in my own opinion will pass Chevy in the coming years.

With all that aside I think they all make a very nice truck. I have always owned Dodges and knock on wood I haven't experienced any problems with them, but its always a good time to go back and forth with others about their favorite brand of truck.

Travel Safe

[coastn]

Having never owned a fifth wheel, why the difference in max conventional towing capacity and max fifth wheel towing capacity? Thanks!

[wardvoia]

I will hang on to our 2003 Ram 2500 for as long as I can. This truck pulls like a dream and rides better than most SUV's. Have to love the 27-30 MPG when running empty and also an average of 14-15 MPG when towing our fifth wheel. Has a mere 211,000 miles and the Cummins just continues to purr and pull.



My neighbor who does custom hauling/pulling for a living pushed his 2003 Ram 3500 5.9 Cummins to a mere 1,074,000 before he decided to park it and up dated for his beothers 03 Ram 2500 Cummins 5.9 w/ 311,000. When maintained these trucks will an amazing long time.



I have to chuckle that they make a conversion kit for Ford and GM to drop in the Cummins power house.

[cruzr4-2]

Difference between TT and 5th may be in the hitch reciever capacity
Dennis

[ewbldavis]

Best line I saw was when asked about TV on this forum:

"I tow with a Cummins...the Dodge came with it"

[Captain Mike]

Guys, was watching Ice Road Truckers the other night. The semi on the show had water in the fuel system and was running on a open loop (I guess somewhere around half power) they decided to strap the pilot car F250 or F350 to it to make a long grade. The Ford got the semi and load up to speed up the hill. This was fun to watch. These new TD are amazing.


Got almost 190k on the 06 now. Had to change the tranny a few months ago. Went with a stage IV and it is an amazing combo. If I get 500,000 on it I will be happy.

[tator447]

Wardovia,
27-30 mpg while towing empty? How do you do that? I realize you're talking highway driving, and I can see where you could get 14-15 towing, if you kept your speed at 55, but 27-30, how in the world do you do that? Do you have after market add-ons to accomplish this. I'm perplexed...not doubting you at all, just envious and want to know your secret. The 2013 Ram 1500 is only rated at 25, as is the F150 Ecoboost, so you have a real gem in the rough here and I would never get rid of it

Thanks,
Jim

[Captain Mike]

Programmer, open up exhaust, open up intake. My neighbor had an 03 and could get upper 20's. I can get 24.5 with highway tires stock size. Right now I have all terrains 285's and get 23 at 70mph.
But I am we'll over 450hp
Oh yeah, that is calculated by receipts not the digital read out

[camperjim]

I pull campers for extra money to help with retirement the company that I am leased on with has about 120 pickup trucks pulling about 65% are Fords 30% are Dodges and the rest are GMs you can go by that how things work out most drivers put 100000 miles on thier trucks a year that should tell you how things hold up to being under all weather and pulling conditions

[wardvoia]

Originally Posted by tator447

Wardovia,

27-30 mpg while towing empty? How do you do that? I realize you're talking highway driving, and I can see where you could get 14-15 towing, if you kept your speed at 55, but 27-30, how in the world do you do that? Do you have after market add-ons to accomplish this. I'm perplexed...not doubting you at all, just envious and want to know your secret. The 2013 Ram 1500 is only rated at 25, as is the F150 Ecoboost, so you have a real gem in the rough here and I would never get rid of it



Thanks,

Jim

Attention to details Jim.....27-30 mpg when running empty.....go back and read my original post.....14-15 mpgis obtainedwhen towing our CF325MK.....which comes in at 12,560 when fully loaded and that is running an average of 65-68mph on our last trip out to the Black Hills which is a 430 mile trip one way. The only add on I use is a Bully Dog Gauge Tunner. Have found out that the stock setting will achieve the best mpg but on occasion I have used the tow setting when running through the mountains. I use the device as a more extensive monitor of critical elements.



The 2013 Ram 1500 and the F150 w/ Ecoboost are a very poor comparison to the Rams that run the 5.9 Cummins. Most owners tune for better and bigger horse power which can easily be achieved, but in doing so will have to sacrifice mpg in doing so. The big three continue to run the horse power race and all they continue to do is give up the economical side of the diesel engine.



You are correct in the fact that I will be hanging on to this one until it dies or becomes unpractical to repair. The way we maintain the truck should give us many more years of enjoyment.

[wardvoia]

Just back from a trip to Tempe AZ. Walked through an open hot rod car show in a shopping center parking lot and ran acrossa radical motorcycle that I just had to take pictures of to share in this forum topic.........notice the air bag under the seat.............Cummins all the way!

[CampMacKay]

I am impressed!

[Captain Mike]

Add a goose neck on the back and they should be ready to go!