Opinions on trucks

[jimmyj]

Hey, don't take it personal GreenWannabe by the way! We are just chewin' the fat.

If you like your truck, that is all that matters 'cuz it's yours and yours alone.

 

[GreenWannabe]

I appreciate the spirit of your responses. There are those who would argue as to the Ridglines's truck status, but I'm not one of them. The biggest thing I would probably ever haul is my daughter's JD LX176, all 600 pounds or so of it. The main thing that sold me on it was the anecdotes I've been hearing on its traction in adverse conditions, pulling through with half and three quarter ton 4x4's off in the ditches. Of course, I took ithem with a number of grains of salt, but hearing anecdotal reports from a number of different sources helped convince me. Plus of all the vehicles I've had over the past 50 years, the Hondas have been the most reliable. Depending on canoetrpr's needs, I simply presented my experience as one more alternative he might consider, certainly one more affordable to me than a low mileage diesel which has much more capability than I personally need.

 

[patrick_g]

About vehicles sitting for periods of time...

Standby generators typically exercise themselves once a week for 12-20 min (depending on mfg etc) just to keep everything lubed and ready, seals wetted etc.

Cummins recommends that you install a fuel cutoff switch on their B5.9 diesel engines (Dodge Ram) and if the vehicle has not been started for a couple weeks (was it one week??) then crank it with the fuel shut off till the oil pressure registers a bit and then let it have fuel and start up. This eliminates most of the damage of dry starts. Dry starts are generally believed to be on the order of 1/2 of the engine wear in "normal" use.

Pat

 

[LBrown59]

I want a 3/4 or 1 ton truck that is the same size as the import pick ups but still have the same towing and payloads of the full size pickups.

 

[LBrown59]

I agree with Dmace as well. A truck is a cab with a 6 - 8ft bed sticking out the back, not a glorified SUV. Also, why should I be impressed with a 3.5L V6 w/ a towing capacity of 5k lb. that only gets 21 mpg when you could get a real truck in a 3/4 diesel that has around a 15k lb. towing capacity and will definitely get 18 - 20 and most likely even 21. Even today's 1/2 ton's will get close to that and there you get a much bigger truck with around a 10k lb. towing cap.

I don't want a bigger truck but I want it to have the towing cap.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Nice looking truck Diamondpilot!

I'm interested in hearing why you decided on a Titan after the Ford. I had not quite even considered the Titan - perhaps I should?

Well actually just bought a Titan this morning. I will pick it up on Monday evening. Two main reasons going with the Titan. First, I sold a boat to a guy that I had towed with a F-150 and had the opportunity to drive his with that boat in tow and was really impressed. The second is the features like the factory sprayed in bed liner, cargo holding system, tow rating, Detroit Locker locking diff, storage compartments, and the overall styling. Drive one and you will be impressed.


Chris

 

[LBrown59]

Well actually just bought a Titan this morning. I will pick it up on Monday evening. Two main reasons going with the Titan. First, I sold a boat to a guy that I had towed with a F-150 and had the opportunity to drive his with that boat in tow and was really impressed. The second is the features like the factory sprayed in bed liner, cargo holding system, tow rating, Detroit Locker locking diff, storage compartments, and the overall styling.* Drive one and you will be impressed.

Will it do as well towing a trailer as the full size 1/2 ton U S A pick ups?


Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Yes, they will tow with the big boys. This one, the way its set up is rated to tow 9,300#. The 2 wheel drive version will tow 9,500#. Like I said, they have a Detroit Locker, Dana Axles, 4x4 2 speed transfer case, about 320Hp and 385 Ft torque, fully boxed frame, heavy duty battery/alternator, traction control, 4 wheel disc brakes, hitch and 7 pin plug.

Here is a few pics I took before I left.

Chris

 

[Builder]

I want a 3/4 or 1 ton truck that is the same size as the import pick ups but still have the same towing and payloads of the full size pickups.

How about a full size with a short bed? That would be more comparable to the size of an import, but much more powerful & capapble of towing heavier loads.

 

[Wis Bang]

About vehicles sitting for periods of time...

Standby generators typically exercise themselves once a week for 12-20 min (depending on mfg etc) just to keep everything lubed and ready, seals wetted etc.

Cummins recommends that you install a fuel cutoff switch on their B5.9 diesel engines (Dodge Ram) and if the vehicle has not been started for a couple weeks (was it one week??) then crank it with the fuel shut off till the oil pressure registers a bit and then let it have fuel and start up. This eliminates most of the damage of dry starts. Dry starts are generally believed to be on the order of 1/2 of the engine wear in "normal" use.

Pat

After college, I worked for a small construction company we had (2) CATs w/ pony engines [12 Grader & a D-8] and they were an interesting setup.

On the D-8 the 2 cyl gas pony engine exhausted thru the main engine intake manifold [warm things up] and there was a compression release for the main engine.

They taught me to start the pony engine and start turning the main engine over w/ the compression release open until the gauge showed a few pounds of oil pressure. Then you closed the compression release and the main engine barked to life & you de-clutched and shut down the pony. They said you had to have an oil film thru the main engine b/4 you let it light off...