freeflir29 0 #1 May 22, 2005 It's one BAD ass truck. I just wish they had some more luxury options. The interiors on the Fords are MUCH nicer but I've been reading some not so nice stuff about the Power Stroke Diesel. Looking at a Laramie 3500 Quad Cab 4X4 Short Wheel Base with the 6.0L Turbo diesel. 614lb-ft of torque!!! 4 speed auto tranny. I guess I can do some interior customizing on my own. Any problems with this engine, tranny, or anything else? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #2 May 22, 2005 It should work for occasional hauling just fine... if you're talking about hauling every other weekend, or hauling heavy (over 10k lbs) I'd recommend the HO diesel option with the 6 sp manual. The full up Laramie interior is pretty plush...what other options are you looking for? The one's I've seen/spec'd online, they seem to have everything except an automatic fart de-stinker....Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #3 May 22, 2005 but I've been reading some not so nice stuff about the Power Stroke Diesel... *** He's a "Diesel Burner" that seems to have PLENTY of [B]Haulin' Power! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #4 May 22, 2005 Quote if you're talking about hauling every other weekend, or hauling heavy (over 10k lbs) I'd recommend the HO diesel option with the 6 sp manual. Mike won't get off his ass and tell me how much that trailer weighs! I thought about the 6 SP manual but it seems like it would be a bit of a pain on the HWY having to downshift. Probably get better gas mileage though. QuoteThe full up Laramie interior is pretty plush...what other options are you looking for? Lets see...........on the Ford they offer 4 captains chairs instead of a bench. They also offer a 7 speaker Infinity sound system. Power sliding rear window. Chevy offers a DVD player with a 7 in screen in the back. You can only get 17in wheels on the Dodge. Ummm..............and a few others I can't remember at the moment. The Dodge interior is fairly plain compared to the others. I'll spruce it up on my own I guess. Have a friend that owns a customization shop in town. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #5 May 22, 2005 You end up with better gear/installation going to custom shop, anyway.... captain's chairs I can't speak for...but imagine you could get them custom as well... Disadvantage to captain's chairs... hard to have the g/f snuggled up under your arm with 'em...Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paige 0 #6 May 22, 2005 Diesels are quite nice Tunnel Pink Mafia Delegate www.TunnelPinkMafia.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adrenalinejunki 0 #7 May 22, 2005 We have about 25 of them here at work and I am one of the mechanics. The only problem we have out of the Ford's are hard starting in cold weather, and the occational starter problems. Other than that they are good engines and we put them thru hell everyday in the oilfields of the appalachian mountians. They are 4 wheeling machines! __________________________________________________What's the worst that can happen? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #8 May 22, 2005 Clay, I drove a '01 4X4 2500 quad cab Dodge for 3 years. The problems i had with it are: Front traction bars-- NO grease fittings from the factory and they are a factory only part Had to be replace twice Front Brakes-- "I" felt they were slightly undersized they had to be replace about every 45K miles. (i put 160K on the truck total.) Automatic tranny- Was starting to slip just a little before i got rid of it last December. I had a chip installed that upped the hp and torque. I have been told that you need to put in a torque lock on auto's if you up the hp/torque on the engine. That is why the auto tranny on the HO from dodge is NOT an option. Interior--By far the worst part of the vehicle, uncomfortable seats, lots of plastic that breaks/wears out etc. And you are correct, not a lot of creature comforts. I suppose a custom shop could take care of those things for you though. Ask Chuck what he uses to pull the Ranchodelux, i believe he uses a Chevy 1 ton. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #9 May 22, 2005 Clay dear,, now you are getting it... but get the HO engine and the 6 speed like I have... its a LOT more fun.. that whole automatic thing is a pain inthe ass when haulin something heavey in the mountains... I dont care what anyone says I have YET to see an auto trans worth a shit on a >7% grade with a load pushing you down the hill. The Engines have been around for a LONG time and are good for OVER 500,000 miles if you just do the normal maintenance. Cummins makes a superior product. and all that plush stuff gets NASTY when you take it off into the mud... so get LOTS of seat covers and floor covers.... ( I mean you have been in mine... its roomy and they even have a BIGGER cab now.. Edited to add to the comments from Brains. The newer interiors are not that bad.. lots of changes in the last 6 years. .On my 96 3500 I replaced the front parts with aftermarket that could be greased when it started to get sloppy at around 150k...and drove it for another 50k before I traded it in on my new one in 2003...I also put in aftermarket brakes.. although the old ones NEVER had a probelm with all the towing I do in the mountains.... There.. take that Brains Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #10 May 22, 2005 Hmmm...............so the 6 SP manual is the way to go. Then wait until the brakes wear out the first time and upgrade them. I'm sure there is an after market fix for those traction bars. Order the cheapest interior they have and replace that with aftermarket. Then it'll be PIMPIN! QuoteAsk Chuck what he uses to pull the Ranchodelux, i believe he uses a Chevy 1 ton. Yeah............it's nice but nothing Chevy makes can come close to the Dodge power plant. It IS the #1 engine on the market. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brains 2 #11 May 22, 2005 QuoteThe newer interiors are not that bad.. lots of changes in the last 6 years. .On my 96 3500 I replaced the front parts with aftermarket that could be greased when it started to get sloppy at around 150k...and drove it for another 50k before I traded it in on my new one in 2003...I also put in aftermarket brakes.. although the old ones NEVER had a probelm with all the towing I do in the mountains.... There.. take that Brains I freakin loved my dodge! And i have ridden in some of the newer ones and they def. made improvements there. If i had it to do over again, i would buy a HO with the 6sp. for sure. Never look down on someone, unless they are going down on you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #12 May 22, 2005 Clay, I found that calculation I was looking for: 110" minimum wheelbase for a 20 foot trailer, add 4" for every foot above that... so, you'd need 166" wheelbase or better based on their recommendation... A crew cab Dodge has a 160" wheelbase...which SHOULD be close enough... What's the make on the trailer, again? manufacturer and model?Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adrenalinejunki 0 #13 May 22, 2005 I forgot to mention the freuquent tranny problems we have with the automatics in the Ford's. I can't remember how many times they have been rebiult each but we do put them thru pure hell in these mountains trying to get to the wellsites. __________________________________________________What's the worst that can happen? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #14 May 22, 2005 QuoteWhat's the make on the trailer, again? manufacturer and model? It's a Hornet by Mallard Mike says. I wonder if he will put mints on the pillows for me too? Is that 160" wheel base the 8Ft bed or 6 1/2? The 6 1/2 is what I want. I'd like to still be able to park the beast in something besides the Truck Stop turn around!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #15 May 22, 2005 QuoteI'd like to still be able to park the beast in something besides the Truck Stop turn around!! Ha... after 9 years.. its no problem.. I like putting it in the COMPACT marked spots at work.. where it hangs out 5 ft from the we little vehicles The new 3500's do not HAVE to come with the fender flares and duelies that the older ones did prior to 2003. Look around and see how many of the fenderwells are munched by people who cant park them... I never even touched mine.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mnealtx 0 #16 May 22, 2005 Crewcab/short bed is 140".... would be safe for roughly a 26-27' trailer according to their calculations... Found the mallard on the web... a 2005 Fleetwood Mallard (35') has a dry weight of 7800 lbs... figure between 9-10 once you get all your shit in there... Tongue weight is 800 lbs, so you'd definitely need a load leveling hitch...but pulling it wouldn't be a problem, especially with the 6 speed. The new 4 speed autos have the locking converter, now...Mike I love you, Shannon and Jim. POPS 9708 , SCR 14706 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #17 May 22, 2005 QuoteThe new 3500's do not HAVE to come with the fender flares and duelies that the older ones did prior to 2003. Oh yes............no dually for me. I want the single rear wheel option! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,078 #18 May 22, 2005 If you're really planning to haul stuff, go with the manual transmission. Automatics often have trouble hauling, since most of them are designed to slip to some degree, and slip=heat. That's why many automatic trannys have oil coolers if they're going to be used to haul stuff. That's not only more hoses/radiators to leak, but all that heat is wasted power that you can't use to get up hills. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #19 May 22, 2005 Good Boy.. with the dualies.. it was an infinitepain in the ass to take it off road... you were limited to tire choice and with all the weight in the front with the diesel.. and the dually in the rear. it was a HUGE pain when taking it into the sand at the beach.. narrow tires on the front were not good.. the new truck.. with 4 big tires....with a hefty load range.. are the cats whiskers when going to play down on the beach. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #20 May 23, 2005 QuoteGood Boy. Would you expect anything else? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gmittar 0 #21 May 23, 2005 Wow, that has got to be the biggest waste of dead shit(gas) that I have ever seen! Edit:: referring to the pictures of the flames out the ass pickup truck. |>.<| Seriously, W.T.F. mate? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #22 May 23, 2005 QuoteWow, that has got to be the biggest waste of dead shit(gas) that I have ever seen! Actually it's a diesel that gets 18-20MPG. Pretty good for a GIANT 4X4 truck. Besides..........I can afford the fuel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gmanpilot 0 #23 May 23, 2005 QuoteHmmm...............so the 6 SP manual is the way to go. Absolutely dude. I've got an '01 2500 w/Cummins HO and 6-speed manual. I pulled a 12,500 pound fifth wheel camper 500 miles to Quincy and to several other boogies as well. I passed on the pimp options though, and even requested a vinyl floor instead of carpet. It's a BEAST._________________________________________ -There's always free cheese in a mouse trap. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gmittar 0 #24 May 23, 2005 QuoteQuoteWow, that has got to be the biggest waste of dead shit(gas) that I have ever seen! Actually it's a diesel that gets 18-20MPG. Pretty good for a GIANT 4X4 truck. Besides..........I can afford the fuel. That's pretty impressive considering the flames shooting out and all. |>.<| Seriously, W.T.F. mate? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slappie 9 #25 May 23, 2005 Clay if you are serious about hauling and want ultimate comfort. International CXT Nothing I mean nothing can touch it ... Dodge, Chevy and Ford just wish. "Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
