Opinions: Best daily driver Truck to tow an 80 series safely long distance

[TioChachie]

I am looking to buy a pick up to replace my regular cab Tacoma now that I have a family, and although my 80 still runs great on the road, it would be great to trailer it to the rocks for peace of mind. I know a 3/4 diesel is great for towing, but I also would like it to be an around town grocery-getter. Is a Tundra 5.7 with trailer brakes good enough to tow across the country plus a better daily driver? I also may purchase a medium-small travel trailer in the future but have no other heavy duty needs at the moment What do y'all think?

 

[greentruck]

The 80 will weigh close to 3 tons on its own, depending on how it's set up. A trailer will add another ton. Plus whatever else you're going to throw in as supplies, spares, fuel, etc.

So you need a minimum capacity of 8,000 pounds, which is usually right at the edge of, if not over the upper limit for 1/2 ton trucks. If you want an extra margin of safety and capability over long distances, bump that to 10k. That generally puts you in 3/4 ton diesel territory, but as they say YMMV.

 

[TioChachie]

Thanks for the reply. I am debating between ram 2500 tradesman diesel 4x4 and a 5.7 tundra if I buy new. Prices are similar, but the emissions crap on the diesel with around town driving concerns me a little.

 

[John E Davies]

Where do you live and how long is your typical commute? Diesels are VERY slow to warm up in cold weather (they take forever in no-load conditions like idling in traffic), so if your commute is say five miles of slow driving, it will never reach full operating temperature. This is really hard on the vehicle! A diesel has no throttle plate, so vast amounts of cold ambient air are continually entering the engine under light load. Once the turbo is working - developing boost - the inlet air temp rises dramatically and the engine warms up.

You can help this by using a winter front and pre-warming with the block heater, but the fact remains that diesels simply are a poor choice for lots of short trips. Short trips (20 minutes or less) plus emissions equipment (DPF especially) equals major headaches and expense, and poor fuel economy from frequent regens. (For a classic example, Google "Mazda Skyactiv diesel problems")

Are you determined to buy new? If not you should be considering a 2006/07 Ram 5.9. The transition year to the emissions was 2007, so you will find some '07 models with the earlier engine.

How long will your road trips be, and is fuel range an issue?

I bought a 2006 Ram 3500 last September with just 78K miles, and it's a great truck, but I won't take it on short hops.

I think the Tundra would be a great choice for short trips while towing your 80, but if faced with a 1000+ mile highway trip that involved high altitudes and steep grades, a 3/4 ton diesel would be top choice. It's all about compromises - which features mean the most to you?

BTW the new Ram 2500 has major, MAJOR upgrades for 2014, with an all new air-bagged coil spring rear suspension. If you are looking at new diesels, this should be your first choice IMHO. Or the new 6.4 Hemi which should give super towing power and towing mpgs, and will run on 89 octane gas... Test drive a 2500 6.4 before you decide to go with a Tundra or other gas truck.

http://www.allpar.com/trucks/ram/2014-heavy-duty.html

BTW the higher end late model Ram interiors are drop dead gorgeous. The Tradesman, not so much.... I've not looked in a recent Tundra so I can't comment there.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[se2000]

The Tundra is the way to go. I have one with a 4.7 and it pulls fine. A 4.6 or 5.7 will allow you to accelerate faster.
You will be able to tow the taco, trailer, stuff and your family and not exceed its rating.
I also agree that being in cold climates add to the diesel issues.
You really have to drive a lot of miles to overcome the costs of a diesel.

 

[Metal Twister]

Just my 2 cents and nothing more...
I have a Dodge 3500 dually diesel with 352,000 miles on it and still going strong. For some silly reason diesel is a bit more expensive than gas but the gallon goes a lot further. I love my old Dodge Beater truck and wouldn't think of replacing it except for another like vehicle. Im in San Diego so the warm up thing isn't an issue for me. But if it was Id just kick back and let the thing warm up its worth the wait. Thing has serious balls and can pull a house and stop it just as well. Use mine for pulling all my junk to the desert and it is a wonderful vehicle. Anything pre 2007 in Ca. does not require smog inspections for what ever its worth.

 

[TioChachie]

Thanks for all of the responses, I live in tx, and I wheel about 40 miles from my house but I have also driven my 80 and wheeled in tn, and I plan on going to Moab, super lift in hot springs, and who knows where else. My 80 runs well with 166k on the clock but at some point it would be nice to wheel without fear for the return trip. Thanks for all the advice, time to take some test drives.

 

[Metal Twister]

Thanks for all of the responses, I live in tx, and I wheel about 40 miles from my house but I have also driven my 80 and wheeled in tn, and I plan on going to Moab, super lift in hot springs, and who knows where else. My 80 runs well with 166k on the clock but at some point it would be nice to wheel without fear for the return trip. Thanks for all the advice, time to take some test drives.

I know it sounds kind of weird but the dodge ram diesel really shines in the grunt mode. You cant believe how it pulls! Too bad you couldn't do a test drive with a load on the back... Or maybe ya can? Might be worth while to ask?

 

[TioChachie]

Yeah, who knows if they would let me tow on a test drive. The more I think about it, I am sold on a dodge diesel either the old 5.9 or a new 6.7, I just can't let the salesman know that when I walk in the door. After looking into it, the only way I would get a 1/2 ton is if I ditched the 80 for a 40, but with two young kiddos that like to ride, I probably won't go that route.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Here's mine a 5500. It's a rough ride, if you're not use to it. I upgraded from a one ton. It pulled that 55 all around the West. No problems.


We had to fly to Idaho, to buy it and drove home to Missouri with no bed on it. We could hardly talk, it was so bouncy.

 

[Metal Twister]

There ya go... Now thats a truck right there! That could tow a dozen 55's

 

[scrapdaddy]

The dump bed comes in handy too!

 

[Elbert]

3/4 or 1 Ton..pick your flavor. Towing capacity and the ability to stop when you want to.

 

[booty]

I faced the same issue last summer. Everyone said the same thing, get a diesel. But this was to be my daily driver and the only towing was the 40 once or twice a month. So I went with the Tundra, and love it. Tows like there is nothing behind it, and stops on a dime, trailer brakes are a must for any thing.

My issue with going diesel was the added cost up front, and the higher maintenance costs. Here in the midwest diesel is about 80 cents more on the gallon, and most any future maint. costs are more.

Gumby tows a goose neck trailer with a slide in camper on the front and his 55 on the back behind his 5.7 Tundra and does fine. So the weight of your 80 will be no problem.

Just my opinion, and I have no regrets on going with the Tundra.

 

[TioChachie]

I appreciate the vote for the tundra, thanks for your experience. I know they are great trucks, have you considered an extra leaf spring or anything to beef up the suspension?

 

[booty]

Yea, air bags are the one upgrade Gumby has made to level out the truck under the weight of the trailer. I have considered it but have not had any problems with just the weight of the 40.

 

[Elbert]

Make sure you understand the "tow rating" for the vehicle you buy. I'm an old school GM guy so I tend to stick with GM products. I run a 07 2500 HD 6.0 gas with 3.73 gear, short bed 4wd. My next truck will probably be similar configuration except long bed and 4.10 gear. With GM you get the larger fuel tank with long bed. I like the looks of the short bed but the utility of the larger fuel tank is a big plus in my mind.

Plus for the GM (not saying others can't do the job. Integrated brake controller, 6.0 gas engine is dependable and makes good power, frame & suspension handle 10K towed load fine, brakes are good, 6 speed auto trans works well, tow-haul mode on the transmission (great feature in the mountains/hills). Setup from the factory to tow...no mods required.

The only modification I've made to the above is I swapped out the GM furnished trailer hitch receiver to one that is rated for the max load the truck can pull (just to be safe, my preference).

My only real aggravation with the above noted truck is the small gas tank (25 gallon or so), yest it gets crap for fuel mileage but that's part of the deal.

The other thing to me that is important is the handling of the tow rig under load. Formerly I had a 3/4 ton suburban with the 8.1 engine...which towed fine etc.. I wanted a pickup so I got the above...the 07 pickup handles and stops better than the suburban....I'm not talking about race-car stuff...but more of a sense of stopping , not being pushed around by the trailer, predictable characteristics in curves etc.

 

[Wallygator]

I used to be a big diesel fan (have owned 2) but by the time you factor in the extra entry cost, extra maintenance costs (big difference here), extra price of fuel, etc...., it's going to take a long time to make up the savings of just buying a gas truck like an F-250 or Tundra. In fact you might not ever make it up. These gas trucks are extremely reliable and everyone can work on them. YMMV.

 

[rubicondon53]

Go down to your local race horse track and take note what 99% of those horse people are using to drag their horses around with--- 2 words--- Dodge Cummins, If I ever have the desire to purchase a pickup to drag my junk around on, I'd find an older Dodge, with the Cummins mechanically injected motor, and a standard transmission... They are out there, they aren't cheap, but I'd find one in pristine condition with around 150,000 miles on it.. Baseline it, and be good to go for another 400,000 miles ...

 

[se2000]

I am near a major horse track and I rarely see those old dodges. I think the bodies fell off a long time ago.