I am looking for a truck to replace my 3/4 ton v8. I don't drive the truck very much at all, I only drive it when I need to, maybe once a month. My truck has seen about 400 miles this year. I am planning on getting a 3rd gen with a hemi or a v10. I also don't know if I should go for the 2500 or the 3500. I will be towing a 16ft cargo trailer probably loaded to about 10,000lbs and have 2 motorcycles in the bed at around 1000lbs for both. The hitch weight will be around 1000-1500lbs. I am going to pull this load once from WV to AZ and that will probably be all the major towing I will do for a long time. Will the 2500 with the hemi be enough for this job or should I look at the 3500 or a v10? How about the transmissions which setup will be better and what gearing would be best? Thanks.

 

well i would go with an hd if i were you.... couple little things to help you out as far as workin... i wish i had a memory because i could tell you what each truck could tow but none the less im sure someone could tell ya.... i take it you dont wanna cummins bc of the high prices...

 

Yeah don't want a cummins because of the high price and the fact that they don't sit for a long period very well, might only go through 1 or 2 tanks of gas a year. Forgot to metion I am probably going to lean toward a 2wd since I'm moving to AZ where it will never snow and I am not much for off roading.

 

well thats not a bad idea... once again savin ya some money.... 2500 hemi's are great trucks IMO....

 

I was thinking a 2003ish 2500 QC SB 2WD 5.7L 4.10 gears or what ever the higher gears they come with. Will this do the job andbe able to carry up to 2500lbs on the back of the truck combined with 11,000lbs between the bikes and the trailer weight for a2,500 mile trip? I prefer a manual but they are hard to find, how are the automatics and are there any "better years" for this truck? I know my truck's tranny is on its third rebuild.

 

I would say thats probably pushing it for the Hemi. But what do I know?

I have always liked V10s, great power and reliability. Of course those were always Ford V10 engines too.

I would lean more towards the V10 side, or maybe a little older Cummins?

 

IMO, i would shoot for an older cummins.

I think they fixed the tranny problem in the 3rd gens, but dont quote me on it. My 2nd gen sure ate them up.

 

I wanted to stay 3rd gen because I like the styling of the truck and a diesel probably won't be good for me since I rarely drive it. The 11,000lbs is a conservative estimate the trailer is only rated at like 8,000 total. I am considering the hemi now because for regular driving it gets better gas mileage than the v10 but if it can't really handle the load even once then it might now work for me.

 

I think it will handle the load just fine. I am just of the over kill group. Why run a mile in sandals, when you can buy asics...

 

my 06 2500 4x4 is a hemi, 6sp reg cab 4x4 373 LTD slip, On average I'm towing abought 5000 lbs in cribbing fourms, I once had a smaller bob cat on a trailer, A hell of a lot of my drving is higway, thats way I went for the 3.73 6sp combo, I'm not even close to hurting my truck, and the milage is not great, bur D. flue is 17 cents more per LT than mid grade ( Alberta )

410 is better if your on hills, but you have to consider quad cab LB SB exct,

THe hemi is pretty dam good for towing if you stay with in your means, extream towing CTD is the only way to go ( if you can pay for it )