Towing..I need some opinions..
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: South Georgia/East Florida
You won't do as well with the Cummins as you'd think, but you'd beat the sh*t out of towing mileage with a Hemi.
The problem is that an enclosed trailer is a big wind trap, pure and simple. The torque of the Cummins will make it better, but not as much as if it were just a weight issue.
Same with re-gearing, it would do wonders with a weight issue, but a wind catch issue, not so much.
By comparison, I have a buddy in Ga. with an '06 MegaCab Hemi. We all kinda share a big 7700# Kubota tractor and it gets pulled with either that MegaCab, my truck or the tractor owners grandson who has a '98 Cheby Z71 1500 350 V8 with 3.73s.
Unlike RHs Mega with 4.10s, this Mega has 3.73s and I can easily out pull it AND get better gas mileage when doing so. Of course this is not a fair fight, the Mega is bone stock so it's at a good HP and Torque disadvantage, plus it's gotta pull it's own weight also which is a good bit more than a 1500. Of the three of us, the Mega consistently gets the worst gas mileage towing the tractor, despite having a SFA and a much stouter frame.
Now because pulling that tractor and the big a$$ dual axle trailer it sits on, if he had a CTD, he'd blow me away.
I honestly don't know why Dodge even offers the 3.73s with the Hemi in a MegaCab or QCSB 2500 for that matter. People buy 2500s as work trucks. Although they offer QC 4x4s with 3.55s too, which IMO is just as stupid.
OP: I'd get the diesel if you could afford to swing both trucks, sounds like the price is a steal if the truck has no issues. I bought a used Furd diesel in the early 90s I used solely to trailer my bass boats when I was traveling a good bit for tournaments throughout Georgia, Alabama, north Florida and South Carolina. It's a good investment. I wasn't trying to dissuade you from doing so, but merely stating you might be a little disappointment when you don't get 20 mpg pulling an enclosed trailer...
The problem is that an enclosed trailer is a big wind trap, pure and simple. The torque of the Cummins will make it better, but not as much as if it were just a weight issue.
Same with re-gearing, it would do wonders with a weight issue, but a wind catch issue, not so much.
By comparison, I have a buddy in Ga. with an '06 MegaCab Hemi. We all kinda share a big 7700# Kubota tractor and it gets pulled with either that MegaCab, my truck or the tractor owners grandson who has a '98 Cheby Z71 1500 350 V8 with 3.73s.
Unlike RHs Mega with 4.10s, this Mega has 3.73s and I can easily out pull it AND get better gas mileage when doing so. Of course this is not a fair fight, the Mega is bone stock so it's at a good HP and Torque disadvantage, plus it's gotta pull it's own weight also which is a good bit more than a 1500. Of the three of us, the Mega consistently gets the worst gas mileage towing the tractor, despite having a SFA and a much stouter frame.
Now because pulling that tractor and the big a$$ dual axle trailer it sits on, if he had a CTD, he'd blow me away.
I honestly don't know why Dodge even offers the 3.73s with the Hemi in a MegaCab or QCSB 2500 for that matter. People buy 2500s as work trucks. Although they offer QC 4x4s with 3.55s too, which IMO is just as stupid.
OP: I'd get the diesel if you could afford to swing both trucks, sounds like the price is a steal if the truck has no issues. I bought a used Furd diesel in the early 90s I used solely to trailer my bass boats when I was traveling a good bit for tournaments throughout Georgia, Alabama, north Florida and South Carolina. It's a good investment. I wasn't trying to dissuade you from doing so, but merely stating you might be a little disappointment when you don't get 20 mpg pulling an enclosed trailer...
Last edited by HammerZ71; Jun 20, 2010 at 11:35 AM.
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Jacksonville, Ar (USAF)
If it's in good shape, and it'll fit my 05, and it's a dual 10", then you have yourself a deal!
Can you send me some pics of it?
Can you send me some pics of it?
Last edited by Trupiano; Jun 20, 2010 at 01:22 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: Georgia
You won't do as well with the Cummins as you'd think, but you'd beat the sh*t out of towing mileage with a Hemi.
The problem is that an enclosed trailer is a big wind trap, pure and simple. The torque of the Cummins will make it better, but not as much as if it were just a weight issue.
Same with re-gearing, it would do wonders with a weight issue, but a wind catch issue, not so much.
By comparison, I have a buddy in Ga. with an '06 MegaCab Hemi. We all kinda share a big 7700# Kubota tractor and it gets pulled with either that MegaCab, my truck or the tractor owners grandson who has a '98 Cheby Z71 1500 350 V8 with 3.73s.
Unlike RHs Mega with 4.10s, this Mega has 3.73s and I can easily out pull it AND get better gas mileage when doing so. Of course this is not a fair fight, the Mega is bone stock so it's at a good HP and Torque disadvantage, plus it's gotta pull it's own weight also which is a good bit more than a 1500. Of the three of us, the Mega consistently gets the worst gas mileage towing the tractor, despite having a SFA and a much stouter frame.
Now because pulling that tractor and the big a$$ dual axle trailer it sits on, if he had a CTD, he'd blow me away.
I honestly don't know why Dodge even offers the 3.73s with the Hemi in a MegaCab or QCSB 2500 for that matter. People buy 2500s as work trucks. Although they offer QC 4x4s with 3.55s too, which IMO is just as stupid.
OP: I'd get the diesel if you could afford to swing both trucks, sounds like the price is a steal if the truck has no issues. I bought a used Furd diesel in the early 90s I used solely to trailer my bass boats when I was traveling a good bit for tournaments throughout Georgia, Alabama, north Florida and South Carolina. It's a good investment. I wasn't trying to dissuade you from doing so, but merely stating you might be a little disappointment when you don't get 20 mpg pulling an enclosed trailer...
The problem is that an enclosed trailer is a big wind trap, pure and simple. The torque of the Cummins will make it better, but not as much as if it were just a weight issue.
Same with re-gearing, it would do wonders with a weight issue, but a wind catch issue, not so much.
By comparison, I have a buddy in Ga. with an '06 MegaCab Hemi. We all kinda share a big 7700# Kubota tractor and it gets pulled with either that MegaCab, my truck or the tractor owners grandson who has a '98 Cheby Z71 1500 350 V8 with 3.73s.
Unlike RHs Mega with 4.10s, this Mega has 3.73s and I can easily out pull it AND get better gas mileage when doing so. Of course this is not a fair fight, the Mega is bone stock so it's at a good HP and Torque disadvantage, plus it's gotta pull it's own weight also which is a good bit more than a 1500. Of the three of us, the Mega consistently gets the worst gas mileage towing the tractor, despite having a SFA and a much stouter frame.
Now because pulling that tractor and the big a$$ dual axle trailer it sits on, if he had a CTD, he'd blow me away.
I honestly don't know why Dodge even offers the 3.73s with the Hemi in a MegaCab or QCSB 2500 for that matter. People buy 2500s as work trucks. Although they offer QC 4x4s with 3.55s too, which IMO is just as stupid.
OP: I'd get the diesel if you could afford to swing both trucks, sounds like the price is a steal if the truck has no issues. I bought a used Furd diesel in the early 90s I used solely to trailer my bass boats when I was traveling a good bit for tournaments throughout Georgia, Alabama, north Florida and South Carolina. It's a good investment. I wasn't trying to dissuade you from doing so, but merely stating you might be a little disappointment when you don't get 20 mpg pulling an enclosed trailer...
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Joined: May 2010
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From: Lafayette, LA
As for the towing I don't see why your having trouble. I pull a 25' camper just fine getting 10 mpg on highway, and with my 10' utility trailer loaded with 2 bikes in the bed, and 2 quads in the trailer I get about 10 mpg also. Only thing I added was some O/L springs for towing the camper.
Last edited by Dunno207; Jun 20, 2010 at 06:45 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Ontario, Canada
You guys are getting some terrible mileage towing! I used to get 10-11 MPG pulling my trailer and race car (about 5000 lb including gear) with my 2002 4.7 1500 QC with 3.55's. Now I get about 13 MPG towing with my Hemi 2500. If you are getting 5-6 MPG and pulling less than that, even with wind resistance, something is wrong.
Either that or you are trying to go 80 MPH!
Either that or you are trying to go 80 MPH!
i gotta agree with moose. 5.8mpg is awful. I can do 9-11mpg towing my 8300lb travel tailer at 60mph with the hemi and 3.92s. CIty I would expect about 5 or 6 but i dont even want to know what im burning then.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: South Georgia/East Florida
For comparison, when I had my bass boat, 2600# plus maybe another 200# or so in gear I got damn close to the 15.5 MPG I got pulling nothing, maybe down about .5 mpg.
When I pull that Kubota and boxblade combo at 7700# plus I'm guessing at least another 1200# in trailer, I get about 11 mpg on mostly 55-60 mph back highways.
The one time I pulled an enclosed trailer from Fernandina Beach in Florida to south central Georgia, I got 9.5 mpg even though the trailer weight and all it's contents were not much over 3500 lbs.
That's why I said to NOT be shocked when the diesel (or gears) do no do as well as you expect...
When I pull that Kubota and boxblade combo at 7700# plus I'm guessing at least another 1200# in trailer, I get about 11 mpg on mostly 55-60 mph back highways.
The one time I pulled an enclosed trailer from Fernandina Beach in Florida to south central Georgia, I got 9.5 mpg even though the trailer weight and all it's contents were not much over 3500 lbs.
That's why I said to NOT be shocked when the diesel (or gears) do no do as well as you expect...