Re: [A/S] Dodge Ram 2500

["Harvey Barlow" <harveybarlow@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Don,

First, you are on the right track considering a Dodge 2500.  It is a solid
3/4 ton truck with light truck tires,  strong frame, big brakes, strong
springs and axles, etc.  The truck will provide an excellent margin of
safety for towing.

Before I express an opinion, let me get my own personal bias "on the table."
I am a member of the "more is better" school of thought when it comes to
towing large travel trailers.

I have towed no-name trailers since 1972 and A/Ss since 1993, always with a
3/4 ton p/u.   I recently retired a well-maintained '94 Ford F250HD with
fuel injected gas 460 engine, trailer equipment, etc. and it is listed for
sale locally.  It was not frugal on gas but performed very well for 158k
miles, about 60k of those towing.  It would routinely produce 14 mpg light
and 10 mpg towing and stay in overdrive with cruise control engaged on all
but steep grades.  I recently purchased a new Dodge 3500 QC with HO Cummins
& 6 speed close ratio manual transmission.

The Dodge you described, if well maintained with records to prove it and
priced right would probably make an "adequate" trailer puller.  But, in my
biased opinion, not a "good" puller and certainly not an "excellent" trailer
puller for a 30' or 31' A/S.  If you downsized to a 25' or 26' it should be
okay.

Many will disagree, and many have towed with one for years, but a truck
powered by a small block gasoline engine and 3.55 gears is set up for fuel
economy when unloaded and would be marginal for towing a trailer as heavy as
a 30' or 31' A/S.  You would continually have your foot "in it" to gain
speed or maintain speed on a grade.  If your truck will be used primarily
for commuting to work, and only occasional towing, limited to mostly flat
terrain, you may consider it adequate.  The same truck with 4.11 gears would
be a little better but still lacking for a big A/S.  The truck you describe
will produce decent fuel economy running light but attach a heavy trailer
and that engine will actually produce worse fuel economy than a big block
(460 Ford/454Chevy) towing the same load.  The Dodge gas 5.9/360ci is an old
push-rod design that dates back to the mid '50s when Plymouth-Dodge
introduced their first V8.  It is a short stroke design that produces its
maximum torque at around 3500 rpm.  That factor would require you to shift
down and spin the engine in that range for pulling grades.

Several year old Dodges can be found at very reasonable prices with Cummins
turbodiesel engines.  The Dodge-Cummins combination cannot be beat for
towing power and fuel economy.  The Cummins' website discusses design
average miles to overhaul as being in the 300k range for the earlier 12
valve engine and 400k for the later 24 valve engine.  Cummins claims many
run to 800k, almost 1000k before overhaul.  If you find a clean used truck
that has been well maintained, you can buy a used Dodge-Cummins that will
run another 200k or so with only routine maintenance.

Ford Powerstrokes are also excellent towing platforms.

My apologies for telling you what you probably didn't want to hear.  Of
course my opinion is worth exactly what you paid for it so feel free to
disregard it.

Good luck on your search for a good towing vehicle.

Harvey Barlow
Lubbock, TX
WBCCI # 1171, WDCU, VAC