RobertN
Super Member
Some various rambling from my expieriences...
I have towed with an older Chevy S10('86), Chevy 1500hd('76), Ford F250('89), and my Current Ram 2500 Cummins('01). I also used a Ford F450('01). All of the trucks were 4x4, except the F450.
The quality of tow went in that order too. The S10 towed ok, but was not very powerful(early 2.8-v6). I hauled a lot in the bed, but did light towing. The Chevy 1500HD towed ok, small tractor, and a few 1-yard concrete buggies.
I notice a big difference when I moved to the F250/Ram2500 series. They are more sure on the road, handle better, track better, and brake better. I have had 8000lbs on the rear hitch of both, as well as hauling an 11' camper. They are heavier trucks, they hold the road better, and just plain work better when towing heavier weights.
The F450 towed very well. Towing the same 8000lb Bobcat load, you hardly knew it was back there. Had the trailer plug come loose once; even when braking without the trailer brakes, it did it no problem. It towed a bit better than the 3/4 tons, and MUCH better than the 1/2 ton.
Right now we have two trucks. One is the '01 Ram2500 4x4 xcab longbed Cummins/auto. The other is an '04 Ram1500 quad cab shortbed 4x2 4.7/auto. I have towed a little with the 1/2 ton while the other truck was having brakes done. It towed ok, but what a difference! Just the way the lighter truck handled the road, braking, turning, was way different from the 3/4 ton. It did it fine, but I would not want to do it often. I do not think it was something just in this 1/2 ton; I think stepping from the 3/4 ton to any 1/2 ton would have shown the differences...
Based on using our 1/2 ton pickup, and others I have been around, I would not tow a 24' trailer with it, even it the weight is less than the 7000lb gvwr. The truck will handle the weight, but the size out on the road, and if you get a wind just or cross wind... Nope...
I have driven the Ram1500 from Sacramento to just past Palm Springs, well as local driving. The 4x2 quad cab sure handles and drives nicer than a 3/4 ton 4x4...
My only dislike with the Ram1500 is the 5spd auto seems to shift a lot. Guess a 5spd would though...
My understanding is the Ram Hemi likes Premium fuel??? If this is true, it would be more expensive at the pump.
For mileage, here is my recent comparison. I made two trips from here to Indio, which is just outside of Palm Springs. I made the trips a little over a week apart, same route, similar weather and conditions. The route had flat valley driving, and then mountian driving through Tehachapi. I took it easy, trying for a bit of mileage, but was not overly thrifty about it. My '01 Ram2500 4x4
with Cummins, auto, and 4.10 gearing got the best mileage I have since having it new. It pulled 18.1mpg combined flatland and mountian.
A week later, I took the other truck "04 Ram1500 quad cab shortbed 4x2, 4.7/auto with I think 3.55 gears. The best I got was about 18.3mpg.
Woul the 1500 tow your load? Yes. Would I do it? Maybe if it was a 10 mile run from the shop over to the track. Past that, no...
Whatever you get, make sure it has the tow package. If possible, the camper package is good too(usually has a larger rear sway bar).
Having been around stock cars when I was growing up(just street stocks, 1/4 mile paved oval), and done a little trailering, I would look at:
3/4 ton
Long bed crew or quad cab
Tow and camper package
extended mirror option
I would use a 3/4 ton. We never had the luxury of a big trailer like yours. We had the car on the trialer, and a bed-load of tools, spare tires, spare parts, fuel, compresser, generator, sometimes camp gear for weekend races. Even with room in a big trailer, I could see extra stuff going in the truck... I like a long bed. I can haul more, it handles the road well. I would go right for a quad or crew cab. You can carry pit crew, extra guests, and have a little more lockable space too. Since having xcab and quad cabs, I could never go back to a regular cab... Even in a 3/4 ton, get a tow and camper package. You'll get better cooling for the engine and tranny. You get overload springs, and bigger sway bars.
If I were in your position, IMHO, I would go right to a Dodge Ram2500 Cummins with quad cab and tow packages. I like the Ford F250 too, but like the Dodge just a little better. You would do well with any of the "big-3" heavy duty pickups. I think they are pretty even competitively.
One other idea... Get a used truck, and use the money saved so you can race more
Curiously, what are you racing? Where? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I have towed with an older Chevy S10('86), Chevy 1500hd('76), Ford F250('89), and my Current Ram 2500 Cummins('01). I also used a Ford F450('01). All of the trucks were 4x4, except the F450.
The quality of tow went in that order too. The S10 towed ok, but was not very powerful(early 2.8-v6). I hauled a lot in the bed, but did light towing. The Chevy 1500HD towed ok, small tractor, and a few 1-yard concrete buggies.
I notice a big difference when I moved to the F250/Ram2500 series. They are more sure on the road, handle better, track better, and brake better. I have had 8000lbs on the rear hitch of both, as well as hauling an 11' camper. They are heavier trucks, they hold the road better, and just plain work better when towing heavier weights.
The F450 towed very well. Towing the same 8000lb Bobcat load, you hardly knew it was back there. Had the trailer plug come loose once; even when braking without the trailer brakes, it did it no problem. It towed a bit better than the 3/4 tons, and MUCH better than the 1/2 ton.
Right now we have two trucks. One is the '01 Ram2500 4x4 xcab longbed Cummins/auto. The other is an '04 Ram1500 quad cab shortbed 4x2 4.7/auto. I have towed a little with the 1/2 ton while the other truck was having brakes done. It towed ok, but what a difference! Just the way the lighter truck handled the road, braking, turning, was way different from the 3/4 ton. It did it fine, but I would not want to do it often. I do not think it was something just in this 1/2 ton; I think stepping from the 3/4 ton to any 1/2 ton would have shown the differences...
Based on using our 1/2 ton pickup, and others I have been around, I would not tow a 24' trailer with it, even it the weight is less than the 7000lb gvwr. The truck will handle the weight, but the size out on the road, and if you get a wind just or cross wind... Nope...
I have driven the Ram1500 from Sacramento to just past Palm Springs, well as local driving. The 4x2 quad cab sure handles and drives nicer than a 3/4 ton 4x4...
My only dislike with the Ram1500 is the 5spd auto seems to shift a lot. Guess a 5spd would though...
My understanding is the Ram Hemi likes Premium fuel??? If this is true, it would be more expensive at the pump.
For mileage, here is my recent comparison. I made two trips from here to Indio, which is just outside of Palm Springs. I made the trips a little over a week apart, same route, similar weather and conditions. The route had flat valley driving, and then mountian driving through Tehachapi. I took it easy, trying for a bit of mileage, but was not overly thrifty about it. My '01 Ram2500 4x4
with Cummins, auto, and 4.10 gearing got the best mileage I have since having it new. It pulled 18.1mpg combined flatland and mountian.
A week later, I took the other truck "04 Ram1500 quad cab shortbed 4x2, 4.7/auto with I think 3.55 gears. The best I got was about 18.3mpg.
Woul the 1500 tow your load? Yes. Would I do it? Maybe if it was a 10 mile run from the shop over to the track. Past that, no...
Whatever you get, make sure it has the tow package. If possible, the camper package is good too(usually has a larger rear sway bar).
Having been around stock cars when I was growing up(just street stocks, 1/4 mile paved oval), and done a little trailering, I would look at:
3/4 ton
Long bed crew or quad cab
Tow and camper package
extended mirror option
I would use a 3/4 ton. We never had the luxury of a big trailer like yours. We had the car on the trialer, and a bed-load of tools, spare tires, spare parts, fuel, compresser, generator, sometimes camp gear for weekend races. Even with room in a big trailer, I could see extra stuff going in the truck... I like a long bed. I can haul more, it handles the road well. I would go right for a quad or crew cab. You can carry pit crew, extra guests, and have a little more lockable space too. Since having xcab and quad cabs, I could never go back to a regular cab... Even in a 3/4 ton, get a tow and camper package. You'll get better cooling for the engine and tranny. You get overload springs, and bigger sway bars.
If I were in your position, IMHO, I would go right to a Dodge Ram2500 Cummins with quad cab and tow packages. I like the Ford F250 too, but like the Dodge just a little better. You would do well with any of the "big-3" heavy duty pickups. I think they are pretty even competitively.
One other idea... Get a used truck, and use the money saved so you can race more
Curiously, what are you racing? Where? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
