the i6 is a much better more efficient design.... most semi's use inline motors... the hemi can handle 37's with gears.... it would be fine look at some of these powerewagons...

 

well can a hemi handle 37s with a 8in lift... towing 8000+ pounds and actually get at least 14mpg like i bet the CTD can. because when i tow that load about 4-5 times a month(could be more, depending on work) I usually tow it about 250-300miles round trip.

Thats when I think the hemi will struggle... Iv never owned a hemi or a diesel so I only know what I read about them.

 

if you're gonna be workin the engine like that you are much better off with a ctd... its a lot more money but worth it.... just keep savin!

 

If you are waiting a year, you could see what the new (09 model year) hemis have for power and mileage. Plus there's always the longshot that the 79REM tranny will be included in the 4th gen, although I think only the 62TEM is planned for the 2010 model year.

 

Bigger tires, + towing= diesel hands down. the Hemi is a great gas motor.

 

you said this thing is going to see mud. sorry but i have never understood this. Why pay 50 grand for something and risk the paint and damage by mudbogging. My 07 will never see mud. I have toys for that.
Build yourself a mud truck out of something you wont mind if it gets a scratch or two. My opinion... sorry if I offend anyone.

 

Two sides to the story. you buy a nice expensive truck to preserve it. or you buy a 4x4 to use it.

 

im not saying dont use it, but there is a big difference between taking a truck off road to do various things, verses jacking it up and mud bogging with it.
Like I said before, my nice expensive truck tows the mud toy around....

 

i love playin in the mud i wouldnt take my truck trailing or climbing though... thats just me one thing to remember with diesel plus mud is weight!! need some wiiiide tires

 

If you want a ctd, go for it. I would stay away from the chevy. The duramax has a bad history with warped heads and engine trouble, yet chevy still uses aluminum heads. I agree the CTD has far more options and is a medium service engine vs the duramax which is only light duty. As for truck durability, the new chevy, that i have been hearing, arent standing up too well in the heavy use word areas. I have a friend who, now, works the oil fields and the new chevy duramax are requiring major work before the 25k mark. I trust him totally cause he is a master mechnic and worked for chevy for many years. He prefers the dodge ctd. So thats my two cents m8.