A little over a month ago I picked up a 2007 Ram 2500 with a 5.9 Cummins and tonight I got my first taste of towing with the new truck.  All I can say is WOW!!!.  Dips in the road way that would leave my Ram 1500 bouncing were silky smooth.  Hills that taxed the Hemi hard were as simple as can be.  Had I known the difference would be this significant, I would have done this a long time ago.  Even my wife was astonished at the difference.  It's gonna be a long winter waiting to get some good long tow's in, but at least the wife will feel a little easier about going longer distances (or at least that's what she said earlier). 

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John Capuro
Fenton, MO
2005 266BR towed by a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 with a 5.9 Cummins

I know what you mean, we have a 2005 2500 with the 5.9 Cummins and it pulls our 225CCR like a bear.. I thought the 07s had a 6.7L Cummins??? Either way, you have an awesome engine there. Just keep the oil and filters clean.

Gilly 

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1994 225CCR
TOBACCO Money

The 2007's started out with the 5.9 and switched to 6.7 at the beginning of the year.  I got one of the few 2007 5.9's still remaining.  Ironically it came with just about everything I would have wanted had I ordered it!!!

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John Capuro
Fenton, MO
2005 266BR towed by a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 with a 5.9 Cummins

No doubt that a 2500 Dodge CTD is a tow beast....     I towed my 216LS from central Texas to Kentucky and it was pretty much a stress free event in my 2004 Ram.   I made the same trip a few years earlier, with a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.9 gas engine (and an 18ft Stingray boat) and there's simply no comparison.  The power of the CTD, coupled with the big *everything* of the 2500 platform makes for a great towing experience....  

 Also.... gotta love the 4x4 on those steep, slippery ramps....  no more wondering if I'm gonna have to recruit bystanders on the ramp to jump in my truck bed so I can pull the boat out... 

 

Christopher

Anyway you look at it Diesel power in the 3/4 ton and 1 ton pickups is night and day difference from a gas hauler.  I had a 2004 Tahoe with the 5.3L Vortec V8 and we used it to pull our 2006 236LS up to Lake Cumberland in 06.  Although we made it with no issues it was a very stressful trip.  Driving in 3rd gear to keep the tranmission from shifting all the time and trying to maintain anything over 35 MPH up those steep hills was a nightmare.  I was worried we weren't going to be able to pull the boat up the steep hill at Jamestown resort.  It did a fine job towing around town to our local ramps.

We upgraded to a 2006 F250 with the 6.0 Powerstroke in Nov 06 and all I can say is WOW!!!  You can't even tell that the boat is back there.  I think we towed for 2 or 3 weekends in a row with the brakes on the trailer out and I didn't even realize it.  We towed up to Lake Norris last year with the new rig and you just can't beat towing with the cruise control on passing cars and semis.  You can't beat when a Semi goes by and the boat doesn't wag the back of your tow vehicle like a wet dog.

 In addition to the extra weight of your tow vehicle, beefed up brakes and suspension, one of the most beneficial pieces are your tires.  I don't know what you guys are running but I have load range E tires inflated to 65 pounds of PSI and that is alot better than those "car" tires they put on the half ton trucks with thin sidewalls.

 Happy Towing and Boating!!

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Hmmmm....

I'm in a feasibility study... My gasser was a company vehicle for me, with a lease that is due in April.  I can buy my 3/4 with new tires in April outright or.... if I can justify it, I'd like to goto a 1500HD Diesel or a 2500 Diesel.  As i tow hog of a boat as it is...  But the buyout on my gasser is  only about 17G's
 
Now part of the rational is pocket book, not necessarily performance.  I have not been hampered that greatly by my gasser.  Sure, I stop 200miles with the boat in tow, but for practicality sakes, i welcome the stretch when on the long haul to Arkansas etc... and an occasional trailer tire change.

I have yet to not be on time due to my fuel preference, but I do envy my buddy and his dually when the price/gallon is the same and he's whooping me by 30% on MPG.

So I ask you, can the miles running without tow Diesel, offset the cost of with tow Gasser?  And what about all that extra cost for filters, oil, yada yada... I think the cost was $135 for filters and oil for a diesel vs. $30 for Oil/Filter Gasser

Gotta admit, my Biodiesel fantasies are peaked as well...LOL... I'd prefer to fill up at KFC or Dunkin' donuts for free

Hmmmmm

 

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High Life
2004 "slightly modified" 270BR
5.7 GXi DP
Port of Highland, IL

"Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but having the perspective to dance in the rain."

I had a 1500 dodge hemi that averaged about 15-16mpg without tow combination highway and city driving. That was also with a little practice working the pedel.  My 3500 cummins gets 17-18 combination highway and city driving and higher if I really try hard on staying out of the pedel.  The fluid changes on my diesel run about $75 every 7500 miles vs the hemi at $30ish every 3000 miles.  If you do the math that adds up to about the same cost for fluid changes per mile.  The other thing to consider is that a diesel will usually last longer than a gas motor.

Dane

 

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2007 250 Crownline Cruiser
pulled by an 06 Dodge MEGACAB
Cummins Power.

This may not be an apples to apples comparison but the ONLY time I see difference in fuel milage between my old tow (2003 1/2 ton Subby) and the new (2006 2500hd w/a D-Max) is when towing my pig (10,000 pounds on the trailer).  When towing I get 3mpg better with the D-max than I did with the Subby.

Rod, I'm like you...I have a company truck and I'll probably be going BACK to a gasser because the cost difference isn't made up in the fuel savings over 3 years.  My overall fuel milage might be 1-2 mpg better with the D-max but I only put on 10-12k per year so it's pretty pricey to say "I have a diesel".

 Just my $0.02

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Russ Handy
Oshkosh, WI

TYPE-A
2005 Cruisers Yachts 300 Express
1998 Merc 270 w/a Merc 4hp

Part of the difference between the Chevy and Dodge diesels is the Chevy (and Ford) are V8 engines and the Dodge is an inline 6.  Funny thing is that the Dodge has as much or more power than the other two..

Dane

 

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2007 250 Crownline Cruiser
pulled by an 06 Dodge MEGACAB
Cummins Power.

The other thing to think about is resale value.  You'd have to drive a diesel for a good 7 years before the gas mileage would even come close to offsetting the higher cost vs a gasser.

 But.... when it comes to resale value, diesel is going to net you a higher asking price than a gasser.  Everytime I fill up the truck (~ $75) I wonder if I made the right choice buying a diesel.   But then I hook up the boat and get 12 - 13 MPG towing in overdrive.

I change my oil every 5,000 miles and it costs me $60.  Fuel filters get changed every 15,000 miles to the tune of $40.

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thanks for the feedback fella's... probably just buy my 3/4 ton as is and then consider new tow vehicle, when i get the family car figgered out first.  Damn kids ruining my fun!  LOL

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High Life
2004 "slightly modified" 270BR
5.7 GXi DP
Port of Highland, IL

"Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but having the perspective to dance in the rain."

Family Vehicle is easy.  Dodge MegaCab. Never have to worry about being able to fit everyone and everything in the vehicle!

Dane

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2007 250 Crownline Cruiser
pulled by an 06 Dodge MEGACAB
Cummins Power.

Not really,  with a family of 5, we tend to get a little cramped when we need to pickup cousins etc.

 

I had 7 kids and me and the wife the other day in my 4 door truck... what happened to the good ole days..." you kids sit down in the back, when I get on the Highway, ya hear me!, your not being safe by standing up back there..."  LOL

 

 

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High Life
2004 "slightly modified" 270BR
5.7 GXi DP
Port of Highland, IL

"Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but having the perspective to dance in the rain."

Rodney, they quit making them after '05, but there are plenty of used Excursions out there. With the bench second and third row seats you can haul a bunch of offspring. If you think a diesel is what you want, by '05 most of the kinks had been worked out of the 6.0...

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"Toy Story"

Y2K 266BR
454 Mag B-3

Good point Tony... Its like a bus...

Rumor is you can get one of them school buses pretty cheap and they are like new, they are diesels and with the dually tires, it'd be a good ramp vehicle.  Plenty of seats!  Wonder where I'd mount the hitch/reciever?

8^D
 

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High Life
2004 "slightly modified" 270BR
5.7 GXi DP
Port of Highland, IL

"Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but having the perspective to dance in the rain."