hemiram
Cazenovia NY
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Joined: 07/23/2004
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Real world experience here. I normally tow with a Hemi powered ram and to get home I have to climb a 3 mile hill that rises 1200 feet. With the ram I typically could maintain 25-30 mph in second gear to get up the hill. A friend loaned me his F350 PSD to try and see if I like it. I hitched up the 38' 10,000# camper and did a trial run both down and back up the hill.
With the ram slowing and stopping at the bottom weighed heavy on my mind the whole way down. With the PSD in tow/haul mode it seemed as though I didnt even have the TT hitched up. On the trip back up the hill the PSD didnt even grunt to maintain 50 mph. I was really impressed with the diesel. It may cost more to purchase and maintain and that may be an issue. But the safety I felt both going down the hill and being able to maintain speed uphill is more than worth it.
03 Dodge Ram QC 1500 Hemi powered
05 Coachman Capri 27TBS
Reese 10000# WD hitch
Reese dual cam sway control
Prodigy brake control
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sack1
Kent, WA
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Joined: 08/16/2002
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The current Hemi and the turbo diesels are NOT rated to tow the same. Case in point from my last post on this thread.
Why is it people seem to want to compare apples to oranges and then declare a winner?????
To make the comparison today you need to try either the GM 8.1 like we have or the Ford V10. The Dodge V10 died on the vine but there is a larger displacement Hemi on the way.
As for reeling it in and using the binders we have the Allison tranny and like a standard shift in league with a gas engine's ability to slow when off the gas retards our rig quite nicely. There are many mountain passes I have come down and use little to no brakes in keeping my speed in check. The diesels need an exhaust brake to retard speed effectively.
For a 38' trailer I'd bet you're over capacity with the Hemi.
'03 Chevy 2500HD 4x4, LT, Ext. cab, LB
8.1/Allison, 4.10
'03 32' 2955 Montana 5er
XM Radio/OnStar
Valley Hitch
Honda EU1000i
1984 VF700F Interceptor
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tgatch
Meridian, ID
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Joined: 08/13/2003
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Hemi Ram,
Even though I own a diesel, I agree with sack. Go try an 8.1 with an Allison now. I would say that you would be equally impressed pulling the hill. Might not be so impressed at the pump, but the diesel is more expensive to start out with.
Tom
* This post was
edited 08/07/04 09:10pm by tgatch *
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PSDExcursion
Millstone NJ
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Quote: In another thread (seems like years ago ), I asked what would make a better tow vehiicle a Dodge QC 4X4 2500 with a CTD or a Hemi. The problem here is that we are using the very subjective term "better". I pointed out that I test drove a 2003 Dodge 2500 QC 4X4 CTD SO 5 spd and, because of its empty weight, my 5er would put it over its GVWR. However, the exact same truck with a Hemi would be fine as far as GVWR is concerned. So, which engine is the better one here? Sice I would be illegal if I bought the CTD, then the Hemi would be better in this case.
A small block gasser will tow a 5th wheel TT better than a Cummins Diesel .![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/rolleyes.gif "rolleyes")
* This post was
edited 08/11/04 07:28am by PSDExcursion *
2002 Chevy Express 3500 8.1 155" WB passenger van
41 Ft 2003 Thor Citation 41-ZBSR TT w/ Hensley Arrow
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BertP
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Joined: 11/07/2003
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Quote:Quote: In another thread (seems like years ago ), I asked what would make a better tow vehiicle a Dodge QC 4X4 2500 with a CTD or a Hemi. The problem here is that we are using the very subjective term "better". I pointed out that I test drove a 2003 Dodge 2500 QC 4X4 CTD SO 5 spd and, because of its empty weight, my 5er would put it over its GVWR. However, the exact same truck with a Hemi would be fine as far as GVWR is concerned. So, which engine is the better one here? Sice I would be illegal if I bought the CTD, then the Hemi would be better in this case.
A small block gasser will tow a 5th wheel TT better than a Cummins Diesel .
Try rereading my post, Joe. I didn't say that the Hemi would tow better than the CTD. I said that my 5er would put the CTD engined truck over its GVWR making it illegal to take on the highway. The same truck with a Hemi would not be over the GVWR and would be legal. So, which truck would be "better"? If you include "legal" in your definition of "better", then the Hemi would be "better".
Bert
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PSDExcursion
Millstone NJ
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Quote:over its GVWR making it illegal to take on the highway.
I guess you can't take a 4x4 F250 weighing 8,900 lbs with a 8,800 lb GVWR sticker and LT265/75R16E tires on the highway but you can take a 3500 Chevy 15 passenger Express Van weighing 9,600 lbs with a 9,600 lb GVWR sticker and LT245/7516E tires with 1,200 lb less capacity than the 265's on the F250 .
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BertP
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Quote:Quote:over its GVWR making it illegal to take on the highway.
I guess you can't take a 4x4 F250 weighing 8,900 lbs with a 8,800 lb GVWR sticker and LT265/75R16E tires on the highway but you can take a 3500 Chevy 15 passenger Express Van weighing 9,600 lbs with a 9,600 lb GVWR sticker and LT245/7516E tires with 1,200 lb less capacity than the 265's on the F250 .
You got it. If I put tires from a big rig on my 2500HD, do you think that that will increase the GVWR of my truck to 16K or 17K? The tires will certainly take that weight, but the rest of my truck may complain.
Tires are only one factor in establishing the GVWR of a vehicle. If Ford says that the GVWR of the F250 you mention above is 8,800 lb, then it is 8,800 lb and that is what the law uses to determine if your vehicle is overweight or not. I understand that there are ways of legally increasing the GVWR of a vehicle, but simply changing the tires is generally not one of them.
Bert
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PSDExcursion
Millstone NJ
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Quote: I understand that there are ways of legally increasing the GVWR of a vehicle, but simply changing the tires is generally not one of them.
The 4x4 F250 comes with the LT265/75R16E tires and has stronger frame, axles etc. Try looking under a 4x4 F250 vs a 3500 passenger van and see which one has the HD chassis.
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BertP
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Joined: 11/07/2003
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Quote:Quote: I understand that there are ways of legally increasing the GVWR of a vehicle, but simply changing the tires is generally not one of them.
The 4x4 F250 comes with the LT265/75R16E tires and has stronger frame, axles etc. Try looking under a 4x4 F250 vs a 3500 passenger van and see which one has the HD chassis.
What's your point, Joe? I didn't set the GVWR on those vehicles, Ford did. If you have a problem with the numbers, you will have to take it up with them. All I am saying is that if Ford says the GVWR is 8,800 lb, then that is what is being enforced through legislation. In the case of the Dodge I was referring to, my 5er would cause that truck to be a couple of hundred lb over its GVWR. I am not prepared to buy a truck in that situation partially because it is illegal and partially because with my 5er attached, I can add nothing else to the truck in the form of extra fuel, firewood or anything else one might bring on a camping trip. Yes, I could probably have made it work by aft loading my 5er, but why would I do that? I bought a Chev 2500HD and I have a few hundred lb available for the extras without aft loading my 5er. To me, that is safer.
Bert
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PSDExcursion
Millstone NJ
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Quote:All I am saying is that if Ford says the GVWR is 8,800 lb, then that is what is being enforced through legislation.
Yeah right, with people reporting all kinds of idiots with small trucks towing big TT's like S10's towing full size 5th wheel TT's why would a cop pull over a 4x4 F250 weighing 8,900 lbs ?
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