I would only go 4" and 35's on a working truck like the Cummins. Otherwise, you'll lose too much power to increased wind resistance, rolling resistance, and the taller tire making the effective gear ratio taller.

 

Dont lift it at all.. Just put some bags in it and some good mud tires and call it a day.. Lifting a truck that is going to be used to tow is just not the smartest idea... You dont need to lift it for hauling hay.. We use stock dodge 2500's and 3500's around here and have no issues out in the fields at all...

 

other than the lift pump advise, most of the rest is a bit off, (sorry not picking on anyone here)

the CR will be way eaiser, cheaper and more reliable to make the power you want, and they have much better driving abilities compared, especially with a lift, for the power, all you need is the basic things you will need with either engines, gauges, intake, exhaust, a clutch, and with the CR a smarty programmer will get you all the power you will want, i have 7.5'' lift and 37's on my mega cab and i tow all the time without problems,

the 24v vp44 engine will cost quite a bit more to get the power out of it, with a lot more upgrades needed, and higher HP engines tend to eat up the vp44 quite fast witch is not fun or cheap to mess with

 

^what he said...
Common rail is easier to make power with and the cp3 is much better than the vp44 reliability and power potential wise. The steering is better....they look much better than 2nd gens imo...and towing with lift wont yeild as mich of a problem as these guys make it out to be. However the initial cost of buying a decent 2nd gen vs 3rd gen is much less.
And saying the 24v is better/worse than the CR makes no sense, theyre both 24v lol.

I vote 1st gen cummins like wombatranger has

 

Like other's have posted towing with a lifted truck is not a big deal. As for what oil burner you get, I have no worth while comment.

 

My rule of thumb is always get the newest, lowest millage truck you can afford. Deisel trucks are a dime a dozen now a days. you should be able to find what you are looking for with no problem, may even have some of the mods done already.

 

Dime a dozen? You're kidding me, right?


Down here, everyone wants $8+k for a 2nd gen that's half-beatup. And $12k for a nice one.

 

We need a d@mn acronym definition sticky....lol...wth is all that?

 

VP44 is the lift pump on the 2nd gen 24 Valve Cummins engines. CR is Common Rail, I think that was used on the 3rd gen Ram Cummins.


Don't quote me on it though. lol

 

Meaning, there are more high school kids with diesel trucks these days than ever before. They have no reason to own them other than it being cool, they do not work them, now with diesel costing more they (mom and dad) are trying to get rid of them.
You prove my point, 12 grand for a nice one is correct, op says he can spend 25k. Should be able to find one with most everything he wants done already.