Towing with Gas

billyjp2

billyjp2

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Indian Orchard MA
I've been in the market for a tow rig for the past month or two and I've become increasingly frustrated with the lack of value in the selection of used diesel trucks around here. They all seem to be way over priced or pieces of junk. To this point I've kept my options completely open, not looking at one specific make or configuration. Now I've started to weigh my gas options. I'm strongly considering a Chevy 2500 with the 6.0L. I'm worried the Ford 5.4L will be underpowered for my application. This won't be a daily driver and I'm looking to spend around $15,000. Are the 3/4 ton gas powered Fords and Dodges worth looking at, or should I stick with the Chevy?
 
Having towed with a few different gassers I can say that the diesel is hands down better, but you already knew that. For $15k you should be able to get a decent later model diesel.

Here's my experiences all with about 6-8K lbs behind (different objects/trailers but close weights), engines only, obviously 3/4tons were better than 1/2tons in suspension / handling.

Chevy 5.3L/4L60e/3.73s (1/2ton) - Decent, no slow down on hills (not much accelleration though). Keep an eye on the trans. Good mileage without anything behind it & unloaded, horrible during towing.
Chevy 6.0L/4L80e/4.10s (3/4ton) - Better power, but honestly pretty similar until you hit the hills, then you can move up them a bit better. Horrible mileage both unloaded and loaded.
Ford 5.4L (both F150, 3.73s and F250, 4.10s) - Dogs. Horrible hill performance, expect slow lane and loss of speed with 3.73s. 4.10s a little better, but still worse than the Chevy's.
Dodge 5.7L Hemi (1/2ton only experience, and this was with a 4k lb camper) - decent, pretty close to the 5.3L Chevy performance with worse mileage.
Dodge V10 1ton dually - (same 4k lb camper as the 5.7L) Towed very well with horrible mileage. Pretty good until the very steep hills then lots of shifting.

None of the above means you can't tow with a particular gassers (so F150 and like owners don't start a argument here), but given what I've driven and witnessed I'd stick with the Chevy or the Dodge gassers. Ford also offers a V10, but I have no experience. Again really with $15k you should be able to find a nice Dodge or Chevy diesel.
 
Chevy 5.3L/4L60e/3.73s (1/2ton) - Decent, no slow down on hills (not much accelleration though). Keep an eye on the trans. Good mileage without anything behind it & unloaded, horrible during towing.


I will second this, only my experience was with the 4.8L motor.

I did not get horrible mileage though towing, I hand calculated it at like 13.5. Half ton brakes and running gear are not ideal for that sort of load, I was bascially at GM's max tow rating. WD hitch mandatory.

honestly, if it's not for DD duty and just going to be a truck for towing. Go start pricing crew cab international medium duties. They can be had with DT466's all day long for 10K.

Or if you don't mind being slow you can buy a cab and chassis running Uhaul truck for 2 grand and put a flatbed on it and just drive your rig up onto it. I'd venture a guess that you can pick up a medium duty proper truck for less money than a 3/4 ton diesel.
 
I can't imagine maintaining that thing is cheap...? I don't know anything about them though.

Also registering it must be more expensive?

Also going to be hard to fit that thing to some access areas where we park our tow rigs.
 
I would try to look for a 8.1L vortec w/ allison as my #1 gas choice. #2 Would be a triton V10 (HELL NO on the 5.4L) #3 Would be a 5.7 Hemi (not a fan of magnum v10)

I have towed with all 3 and many others, they will probably all get around 8mpg towing. I would say go gas over diesel anyway, they are WAY overpriced and the cost of fuel is getting to be ridiculous.
 
My limited experience...I owned a extra cab V10 F250 and I was satisfied towing the boat or Jeep. Later I bought a 5.4 F250 crew cab. Terrible decision. My logic was it was a daily driver and I wasn't towing 98% of the time, but really the gas mileage was about the same as the V10.

Ford should have never made a crew cab 5.4 F250 combo. Mine was a 2wd...I can only image how much worse the weight of 4wd would make it.
 
MoparManiac said:
I can't imagine maintaining that thing is cheap...? I don't know anything about them though.

Also registering it must be more expensive?

Also going to be hard to fit that thing to some access areas where we park our tow rigs.
Click to expand...

cheaper than you think.

You have to register by weight, in OH it would cost me $150 to register my box truck as a truck. Since it's being converted to an RV, $50.

insurance on a limited use basis is not much more than a regular pickup truck. Again, my RV registration will make it cheap.

Parking isnt such a big deal, I find my box truck easier to maneuver than a truck and trailer, and it's about the same over all length.
 
RCman said:
Having towed with a few different gassers I can say that the diesel is hands down better, but you already knew that. For $15k you should be able to get a decent later model diesel.

Here's my experiences all with about 6-8K lbs behind (different objects/trailers but close weights), engines only, obviously 3/4tons were better than 1/2tons in suspension / handling.

Chevy 5.3L/4L60e/3.73s (1/2ton) - Decent, no slow down on hills (not much accelleration though). Keep an eye on the trans. Good mileage without anything behind it & unloaded, horrible during towing.
Chevy 6.0L/4L80e/4.10s (3/4ton) - Better power, but honestly pretty similar until you hit the hills, then you can move up them a bit better. Horrible mileage both unloaded and loaded.
Ford 5.4L (both F150, 3.73s and F250, 4.10s) - Dogs. Horrible hill performance, expect slow lane and loss of speed with 3.73s. 4.10s a little better, but still worse than the Chevy's.
Dodge 5.7L Hemi (1/2ton only experience, and this was with a 4k lb camper) - decent, pretty close to the 5.3L Chevy performance with worse mileage.
Dodge V10 1ton dually - (same 4k lb camper as the 5.7L) Towed very well with horrible mileage. Pretty good until the very steep hills then lots of shifting.

None of the above means you can't tow with a particular gassers (so F150 and like owners don't start a argument here), but given what I've driven and witnessed I'd stick with the Chevy or the Dodge gassers. Ford also offers a V10, but I have no experience. Again really with $15k you should be able to find a nice Dodge or Chevy diesel.
Click to expand...
I haven't towed over any distance with the V10, but have hauled heavy loads in a crew cab F350 4x4, stake bed dually. Climbing the grades between 29 Palms and Bridgeport (net gain of around 3000-4000 ft, but only about 1000-2000 being steep - it's a 600 mile trip) with about 2000-3000 pounds in the bed (approaching GVWR but not in danger of exceeding it), they were gutless. On all but the smallest hills, they'd either start hunting a lot for gears, or we'd just give up and cruise it at low speed, watching the Geo Metros go flying by.
 
The only experience I have towing with a gasser was a 5.3l Chevy and it sucked. It was 6 years ago so I can't remember exactly but the mileage towing a ~5000# trailer was around 8mpg's. I wouldn't tow over 5000# with a 1/2t and this is just my opinion. I care about my safety and those that I share the road with.

Stick it out and wait for a 7.3l Ford or a 5.9l Dodge. You can find them in the early 00's for under $15,000. Did you check autotrader?

I don't know if you want a DRW or not but here:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...pe=b&num_records=25&cardist=53&standard=false

SRW:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...pe=b&num_records=25&cardist=79&standard=false
 
For a gasser, I would definitely go with the 3/4ton Chevy 6.0L But as already stated, a CTD powered Ram will get you where you want to go with decent mileage.
With the lack of mileage of the Ford V10. Possibly consider an older F250/F350 with a 460. More power and typically 11 mpg unloaded/loaded.
 
First to start off if you plan to tow more than 2500lbs get a 3/4 or 1ton its not worth your life or some one elses. You need the breaks and suspension to hold the load and stress. As far as a gasser goes I have a 96 F350 with a 460 as my daily driver. I have installed the banks power pak average 13mpg in town. I towed ruffly 15k pounds from coast to coast and averaged 7mpg but it has the power to keep up with the speed limit except on hills. I have towed up to 20K pounds through the mountains up 7 percent upgreads and could only do 25 mph and 4mpg. Its what I have and I use it. You can find the older 460 fords for $8k or less. But with the price you are looking for you should have no problem finding a mid 90s-early00s diesle. I see 5.9l Rams sell $10-13k all day long.
 
I have to second the comment about not towing over 2500 lbs with a half ton. It's just not safe.









I have a Ram with a 5.7 Hemi and it tows great. Plenty of power and not much worse mileage than my buddy's old Cummins Ram in my experience. I endorse a gas tow rig for weekend towing.
 
Phil said:
I have to second the comment about not towing over 2500 lbs with a half ton. It's just not safe.

I have a Ram with a 5.7 Hemi and it tows great. Plenty of power and not much worse mileage than my buddy's old Cummins Ram in my experience. I endorse a gas tow rig for weekend towing.
Click to expand...



I never had a problem and I was towing with the "small" chevy half ton. Brakes on both trailer axles, properly setup controller, WD hitch. It can be done safely if you're not an idiot, it is far from the 3/4 ton hitch it up and go because the truck can handle 3 times that load.

but really, if you want to be really really really safe, I already provided you with that option.

MDT FTW.
 
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