Best older tow vehicle?

[Uvafan15]

Probably looking into a DRW. I can’t spend 30k right now. What is the best DRW diesel to purchase from years 2002-2009? Looking to need to tow 5th wheel with a 15,500 dry weight.

Thanks!

[77cruiser]

2006-7 Duramax

[Frank G]

You might want to look at a Dodge with a Cummins in it. There were a lot of changes in the early 2000's. The article below will help you through the technical stuff. In comparison, there were not a lot of the Dodges built and the 24 valve CTD of the era are highly sought after. The "Cummins Forum" is loaded with information.

https://www.allpar.com/mopar/cummins-diesel.html

Ford had a lot of issues during these years, don't know much about the Duramax.

[Jfreek65]

Cruiser’s list of the 06-07 duramax is definitely sound. That’s the LBZ engine, which is largely considered one of the best before too much smog junk got placed on them.

Similarly, a 24v Cummins is a great engine, though you might find many will be high mileage or else high priced.

Otherwise you can make some sacrifices knowing there’s no perfect Diesel engine. We went with an ‘04 Duramax knowing that era has issues around every 70-100k miles with injectors. It had new ones installed the day before we took it off the lot and we keep funds for the next set in an account when the time comes. Otherwise a great truck and the Allison transmission is hard to beat.

[ChuckS]

My 2007 GMC Duramax LBZ with 6 speed Allison has been flawless. Stock wi th no extras. Easy to care for.. CP3 fuel pump much better than CP4 on later models.

[rhagfo]

Probably looking into a DRW. I can’t spend 30k right now. What is the best DRW diesel to purchase from years 2002-2009? Looking to need to tow 5th wheel with a 15,500 dry weight.

Thanks!

That is larger 5er, 15,500# DRY will be a minimum 17,500# towed weight. You will need to be looking at a TV with 4.10's to help your transmission.

[chuckster57]

And with that weight, you may be into a different driver’s license.

[Tuz5150]

Trucks that old have a lot lower payload capacity. If you get a truck from the rust belt you have to worry about suspension corrosion.

you'll need at least 3,000# payload just for the 5er. trucks back then..... 3/4 ton... that's a stretch.

buy a used xlite RV, lease a brand new 1/2 ton..... use the **** out of it then get a new truck in 24 months.

[travelin texans]

I'm with Chuck recommending the Duramax/Allison Chevy/GMC, good ride, decent mileage empty & towing. Had 2, 05' & '13, with over 300k miles between them, both with 3.73 gears.
Second would be a Dodge Ram with the Cummins.
If it's the Ford with the 6.0, run, don't walk as far away as possible even if it's VERY cheap regardless of how much bullet proofing they claim has been done.
Also just know that most any 10-12 year old diesel truck will have LOTS of miles on them, not that it hurts the engine, but the rest of the truck is just like any other, things wear out.

[Hblick48]

I'm with Chuck recommending the Duramax/Allison Chevy/GMC, good ride, decent mileage empty & towing. Had 2, 05' & '13, with over 300k miles between them, both with 3.73 gears.
Second would be a Dodge Ram with the Cummins.
If it's the Ford with the 6.0, run, don't walk as far away as possible even if it's VERY cheap regardless of how much bullet proofing they claim has been done.
Also just know that most any 10-12 year old diesel truck will have LOTS of miles on them, not that it hurts the engine, but the rest of the truck is just like any other, things wear out.

Stay farther away from the Ford 6.4, it's much worse than the 6.0. 6.0 can be made very dependable with the proper "Bullet proofing. 6.4 not so much.

[Fishsizzle]

I agree, the Duramax, and I’m a Ford Guy.

The 6.0 had a bad rap, buying a used one would be hard as many waited to long to do “bulletproof” mods. But if you do them right, and start with a good engine, they are nice.

Right on with the 6.4, steer clear of them.

I LOVED mine after I did all the mods. Insane amount of power. But.....I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak. It’s has a lot of little flaws even after you fix the big ones. If you have $12k+ you can build an awesome, reliable 6.4.

[crowbar]

Didn't Ford still run the 7.3 up until 2003? Or am I mistaken on that? That was a keeper but I know the 6 and 6.4 were troublesome.

[Fishsizzle]

Didn't Ford still run the 7.3 up until 2003? Or am I mistaken on that? That was a keeper but I know the 6 and 6.4 were troublesome.

Yes Mid 03 they changed to the 6.0. The 7.3 are great and reliable. They just can’t hold the beer for a newer diesel and trans. Plus the 7.3 came with front leafs, 05 Ford went to a similar set up as Dodge with Coils. The old leaf trucks need a lot of room to turn, a lot

[Jfreek65]

Yes Mid 03 they changed to the 6.0. The 7.3 are great and reliable. They just can’t hold the beer for a newer diesel and trans. Plus the 7.3 came with front leafs, 05 Ford went to a similar set up as Dodge with Coils. The old leaf trucks need a lot of room to turn, a lot



Also, (at least in the northwest) it’s near impossible to find a 7.3 with manageable amounts of miles as the average farmer has driven them into the ground 10x over.

[Fishsizzle]

Also, (at least in the northwest) it’s near impossible to find a 7.3 with manageable amounts of miles as the average farmer has driven them into the ground 10x over.

Yep, lots of 99-03 7.3 will have 200k+ miles

[chuckster57]

I work on several customers 7.3 with 250K miles. That’s not that many miles on that engine.

[Fishsizzle]

I work on several customers 7.3 with 250K miles. That’s not that many miles on that engine.

But it’s a lot of miles on the rest of the truck. Ball joint eating fiends. How many sets of glow plugs? How many Injectors and cups? How
Many injector wiring harnesses under the oil soaked valve covers? Don’t get me wrong it’s a great engine, but at 250k it’s going to need work soon.

[Lee]

When I saw the title of this thread I thought you were talking about trucks like mine. ;-) ,... you know,... old!!!!

[JRTJH]

When I saw the title of this thread I thought you were talking about trucks like mine. ;-) ,... you know,... old!!!!

Hell, Lee, That truck's not old, it's new enough to have side marker lights. :cool:

As a "previous owner of a F250 with a 7.3L Navistar engine. That engine will still be "idling strong" (or pulling strong) long after the rest of the truck is "buried in the nearest salvage yard"... Realistically, the 2001/2002 Fords are 17+ years old, everything from body mounts, seat attachment bolts, door locking mechanisms, rear axle bearings, rear end, U-joints, and that "infamous E4OD transmission are all "living on borrowed time"... Trucks in that age group are either "rebuilt classics" or "nickel and dime repositories"... There just "ain't no middle ground" when it comes to trucks sporting the Navistar classic...

[chuckster57]

But it’s a lot of miles on the rest of the truck. Ball joint eating fiends. How many sets of glow plugs? How many Injectors and cups? How

Many injector wiring harnesses under the oil soaked valve covers? Don’t get me wrong it’s a great engine, but at 250k it’s going to need work soon.



One customer- 298K with 1 set of glow plugs, both harness’. No injectors yet. We don’t have the rust issues out here though.

[MickLittle]

Lee. Nice truck!

[cavediver]

We had a 1975 Chevy 1 ton dually with a 454 in it. It was great, empty mileage was 7 mpg, loaded with two Lincoln welders and pulling a trailer with a compressor and another welder, mileage 7 mpg. Easy to plan fuel stops. It could pull anything, within reason. Of course these are hard to find.

[77cruiser]

I talked to a guy a few yrs. back that had a mid 90's GM dually with a 454 pulling a (he said) 18K 5th wheel. He did say it was a little slow but was good enough for him. BTW the truck was cherry.

[Badbart56]

Yes Mid 03 they changed to the 6.0. The 7.3 are great and reliable. They just can’t hold the beer for a newer diesel and trans. Plus the 7.3 came with front leafs, 05 Ford went to a similar set up as Dodge with Coils. The old leaf trucks need a lot of room to turn, a lot

There are still a few nice 7.3's around but they hold their value. I sold my old 97 a couple of years ago for $9000 with 250K miles on it. Here's another one:

https://tallahassee.craigslist.org/ctd/d/1999-ford-350-lariat-crew-cab-dually-73/7073595718.html