tow vehicle

[redcow]

First of all if this is not excel related, please delete.

I have been looking for a new truck to tow my 30ft Excel.
I looked at a Dodge 3500 cab and chassis and found one that has a flatbed RV box on it. It has the 4.10 rear end and an automatic. I am also looking at Dodge 3500 4x4 but the bed to rail clearance concerns me. Also looking at Dodge 3500 4x2 but wonder if I will miss 4x4.
I would like some feedback about the 4.10 rear end, automatic, 4x4 versus 4x2. So many options that I might just keep my 99 3500

Rockin, no comment about a Dodge.

Thanks,
Jim

[redcow]

First of all if this is not excel related, please delete.

I have been looking for a new truck to tow my 30ft Excel.
I looked at a Dodge 3500 cab and chassis and found one that has a flatbed RV box on it. It has the 4.10 rear end and an automatic. I am also looking at Dodge 3500 4x4 but the bed to rail clearance concerns me. Also looking at Dodge 3500 4x2 but wonder if I will miss 4x4.
I would like some feedback about the 4.10 rear end, automatic, 4x4 versus 4x2. So many options that I might just keep my 99 3500

Rockin, no comment about a Dodge.

Thanks,
Jim

[RustyJC]

Are you looking at new Dodges as any comments regarding engines, transmissions, etc. will certainly vary by model year.

Rusty

[redcow]

Rusty,

I am looking at 2008 models, diesel engine, quad cab.

Jim

[Bob Wilson]

Hi Jim,

I tow a 2004 36RDO Excel with a 2004.5 3500 Ram Quad Cab Long Bed Dually 4x4 ... it has the 5.9 Cummins with 48RE automatic. Bought the truck new, and it now has 106,000 miles.

First, although the engine, transmission, dash and grill have changed, I think the new 3500s are pretty much the same in terms of ride height, frame, suspension, etc.

We (wife and I) love the truck ... even after all the miles. We've never had any 'conflict' between the trailer and bed rails; but for the first few years we ran 'nose high' ... that's the trailer nose ... we're not stuck up.

Over the years I've put larger wheels and tires on the trailer, and smaller tires on the truck ... both helped, but still nose high. Then the service added an additional frame rail which raised the trailer 4 inches I think (suspension was changed at the same time so the exact difference I can't say). In any case, now we ride level between the truck and trailer.

There have been several places where I appreciated the ability to shift into low range 4wd for traction ... not all parks are level, and some are grass which can get pretty slippery when wet.

But, if I had it to do over again, I'd rather have a 2WD ... save a few pounds on the truck, get a bit better fuel mileage, and not have to mess with the ride height problem.

The 48RE has done better than I expected ... figured I'd need to rebuild by now given the 17k travel weight of the 36RDO and our gear (we fulltime), but so far so good.

Best wishes,
Bob

[LindaH]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by redcow:
I have been looking for a new truck to tow my 30ft Excel.
I looked at a Dodge 3500 cab and chassis and found one that has a flatbed RV box on it. It has the 4.10 rear end and an automatic. I am also looking at Dodge 3500 4x4 but the bed to rail clearance concerns me. Also looking at Dodge 3500 4x2 but wonder if I will miss 4x4.
I would like some feedback about the 4.10 rear end, automatic, 4x4 versus 4x2. So many options that I might just keep my 99 3500 </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
We have a 2007 Dodge 3500 dual rear wheels, Cummins 5.9 engine, 4x2, so I can give you some information based on our truck...I don't know if the 2008 with the ULSD engine has different weight ratings.

First, unless you're going to be doing off road with your fifth wheel, a 4x4 isn't really necessary -- we've never had a 4x4 to pull a fifth wheel and haven't missed it. Plus, a 4x4 is going to lower your tow rating.

By the same token, the 4.10 axle ratio has 2,000# more GCWR (for the 2007 we have, at least) than the one with the 3.73 axle ratio: 23,000# vs 21,000#.

The automatic also has a higher tow rating than the manual does...don't remember now exactly what the difference was, and since I no longer have the Dodge brochure, I can't look it up. However, if you haven't already done so, I'd recommend picking up a Dodge Ram brochure and specing out the different configurations to see the difference in towing capacity.

From our research, the Dodge 3500 with dual rear wheels, 4.10 axle ratio, Cummins engine, 4x2, standard cab, and automatic transmission has the highest capacities of any other configuration. Any changes from the above will reduce capacities.

[MakinSmoke]

Red,
I love Overkill and would not go back to a PU unless my circumstances changed drastically. However, the one and only thing I miss from my Ford is the 4 wheel drive. I have wished several times that Overkill was 4X4.

[camperguy]

Jim
I can't comment on a Dodge truck because we own two Chevy trucks. One is a 4x4, the other is a 4x2 with a flatbed. If I had to go to just one, I would buy a 4x4 cab/chasis model and put an RV flat bed on it. I just don't like to have to worry about hitting the bedrails everytime I go through a dip on an angle. Although we live in the North Country, I probably use the 4x4 as much on wet grass in the summer as in snow in the winter. The 4x4 option is one I would hate to give up.

[Still Working "NOT"]

Jim,

Ditto what Virgil said. Much more comfortable to drive. Plus I have the same model as you. Towed mine this last Memorial Day 4 miles and seriously thought about getting the HDT to bring it home.

What was I thinking pulling with the pickup.

[redcow]

I want to thank all of you for your replies.
This has been a hard decision for me but I think I have it narrowed down to a 3500 quad cab, diesel, automatic, 4x4, 3.73 rear end and will go with a flat bed on it. I have discovered that flat beds with any storage boxes on them are very expensive.
Like camperguy said I do not want to worry about hitting the bed rails or redoing the trailer just to have clearance.
Any more ideas will be appreciated as I have not made a final decision yet.

Jim

[CD]

redcow
I would go with the 4.10 with that much load. We had an '01 with 3.54 and I didn't like having to drive 65/70 to keep enough RPM's to stay in the power range in high gear. I was glad when it was totaled and we got the 4.10. The milage was only about 1/2 MPG less on the same trip to Ca.

[rockintom]

I agree whole-heartily with CD. I would give anything to have a 4.10. Unfortunately, GM only offers 3.73 on Duramax up to and including the 3500. They refer to this as "build simplicity". Yet you can get a number of different ratios with the gas rigs.

[fixintodoit]

We also had a '01 with the 3.54 rear end and agree with CD on that truck-- how ever we now have a 2007, 3500 Dually, QC. 4x2, long bed. This is a completely different truck, with the 6.7 L Cummins, the 6 speed auto trans. exhaust brake and the 3.73 rear end. It does a great job and the 5th rides level with about 7 " clearence to the rails. I don't see the need for the 4x4 and the 4:10 rear end, due to the extra weight, extra $$$ and the leveling problems.But we don't like snow, ice and mud. Alot of different opinions here, that what makes it a great forum. Good Luck

[K-Star]

I had an `02 GMC 3500. Great truck and the Duramax was awesome. Problem was with the 3:73 rear it was struggling to pull my trailer on any kind of a hill. Thus the reason I went back to Ford. 4:30's makes a world of difference.