I Want to talk TRUCKS! Trucks for Hauling Trailers! Diesel Vs Gas.. 2500 vs 3500 etc.

SirScrap- Thank you sir.. I'm crossing my fingers. P.S. I won't get to go.. but my wife will be in your great state in November on a Business trip. Wanted to go too- but rules are rules I suppose.

Focker: Thank you sir. I think I spotted a few of those trucks while hunting the same site. My "pickle" right now is I think I found "THE TRUCK" but I need someone to buy mine. Guy has a saweeet one and will be out of town for another week or so.. so I'm busting tail to see if I can't get mine sold off before he gets back!!! I tried to post an ad here on the forum in the for sale section and apparently it didn't get approved.. not sure why, I had posted another thread and it got taken down because the one in the "for sale" section was waiting for approval. I guess I'll hold my breath that I don't get in trouble but if anyone wants to see the pics or know the particulars of mine, just send me a PM or email and I'll get someone hooked up.

No worries Sledge. You'll want to come when the weather is warmer, then again..being from where you are, are winters will be a spring breeze for ya.

Good luck on getting that truck sold my friend, an getting that new one.

Sirscrapalot - I got jokes, and doughnuts.

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Originally Posted by Sirscrapalot

No worries Sledge. You'll want to come when the weather is warmer, then again..being from where you are, are winters will be a spring breeze for ya.

Good luck on getting that truck sold my friend, an getting that new one.

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Thanks man. Maybe she will be so smitten with NC that she'll say "WHOA.. we HAVE to take the kids there over Blah Blah Break... and I can say "ooh OOOOH.. How's about somewhere around the OBX????" Mwaaa Haa Haaa.. (That's my evil plan laugh!)

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Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

There are shops that do Cummins conversions. Or you can buy a diy kit. Doubt either option comes cheap. But I do like the combo you described.

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And there are some guys that do Cummins conversions.........:D 2000 Dodge Dakota 4x4 crew cab 4BT swap - YouTube

:D

We are on a scrap forum and one thing I rarely see is a thread about bio-diesel. While a lot of the diesel trucks don't get the best gas mileage, it would seem pretty simple to off set this with bio-diesel. You can get cooking oil pretty easy from businesses for FREE. When my wife ran a bar in Cincinnati, we would give our used oil to a guy that used it for bio-diesel. I just gave him a call and he picked up what I had.

It was good for us because we didn't have to PAY to get rid of the oil.

Keep in mind, the price of gas and diesel is NOT going to go down. It will keep going up. It makes sense to start looking at ways to cut fuel costs PRIOR to gas/diesel costing 8.00 a gallon.

i would just get one from a car lot if it was me.

Also on bio-diesel i am wanting hear at the first of the year i plan on running my truck on a 50/50 blend with diesel and used motor oil.I just need to get some more oil in

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Originally Posted by Focker

i would just get one from a car lot if it was me.

Also on bio-diesel i am wanting hear at the first of the year i plan on running my truck on a 50/50 blend with diesel and used motor oil.I just need to get some more oil in

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Id love to run a 50/50 mix in mine but being a 24v cummins, the injection pump would die real fast with all the particles in the used oil. Yours is a mechanical injection pump, would handle the stuff much better. Id still wanna filter it a bit though... Metal particles arent good for the pumps.

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Originally Posted by Focker

i would just get one from a car lot if it was me.

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I really wish I could.. but I just can't bring myself to do it. When they offer you $5K for a truck that is worth nearly $11K.. and they want to talk with you as if they are doing you a favor.. I just can't suck that up without needing a bottle of Vaseline!

just an example of car lot rates. In Nashville I bought an old Delta 88 with a 350 Chevy for $500. I began an overall inspection and maint/tune up, but the timing wouldn't set right where it should. Wound up with a new timing chain, plus the usual plugs/wires/rotor etc, and did a valve adjustment. 2 or 3 days later I had a car in excellent condition for $700, which ran perfect for the 5 or 6 years I drove it.
probably not a week after getting it on the road, I saw a near identical Delta in a car lot. I parked a couple blocks down and walked back to ask how much they wanted. It had a grease covered 350 Buick engine and ran like crap, and they wanted $2400 (which of course they'd carry the note @ $100 wk for 36 wks ; )

Yeah i am going to filter it down to a 2 micron filter.

Yeah i understand about the trade in stuff.But just pay a down payment buy a truck then sell yours to a individual!

If i can get rolling like i want to i will be going to a car lot somewhere and buying me a newer truck.Thinking of a 03-04.5 dodge ram 2500 4door 4x4 diesel of course.

Mechanical injection pump is the key. so anything after 98.5 for a cummins is out of the pic.

Focker and others interested in Bio, check out Easyrecycles posts about it down in Texas.

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/day-l...io-diesel.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/tools...o-pump%5B.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/day-l...sel-truck.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/day-l...el-trucks.html

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/gener...ee-diesel.html

i dont want bio i want wmo waste motor oil

Well, sadly the guy that I really wanted his 2500hd.. his wife's car crapped out so he has to keep the truck until the beginning of 2014.
I put mine up for sale and didn't have any interest in it at all.

So.. for the moment. I'm going to replace the rear leaf springs and upgrade from a 2/1 leaf pack to a 4/1
Just ordered my new Fuel Filter and Fuel Pump.

Hoping this will assist it in "doing the deed" for a while longer.

I took a measurement today.. this will make ya cringe:
Empty truck with an empty bed: Truck sits at 36 5/8" from ground to top of wheel well
Add onto my EMPTY 16 ft trailer. It sags the truck to 35 1/8"

Basically it squats 1.5" just putting an empty trailer on it. Imagine what happens when I add an additional 4000 lbs onto it with a vehicle! The WD hitch does help- but I still get far too much squat for my liking!

sounds like you need some helper springs lol

sledge, find you a pair of used 8 ply tires for the rear, I think you'll find your tires are squatting

Cummins: Well that is why I'm just going to upgrade the springs all together. Stock (13 year old stocks I might add) are a 2/1 Pack- Rated for 1500lbs each, I'm upgrading to what a 2500hd would run and ordered a set of 4/1 leafs that are rated for 2025 lbs each. I could only find one place online that sold a whole kit- since I'll be adding more leafs I really liked the idea of getting a "package" where they were designed with all the hardware TO the leaf springs instead of piecing all kinds of stuff together from different sources. Here is what the kit includes:
Kit Includes:

(2) New Chevy Rear Leaf Springs with pressed in Bushings. 4/1 (5)Lvs. 2,025 LBS CAPACITY PER LEAF SPRING.

(2) Leaf Spring Shackles with pressed in Bushings

(4) Grade 8 9/16x4-1/2" Spring Eye Bolts with lock nuts and washers

(2) Grade 8 5/8x4-1/2" Spring Eye Bolts with lock nuts and washers

(4) U-Bolts with deep nuts and thick washers

So basically the spring company has already done all the work to calibrate the hardware with the springs, AND that they will be going on a 1500. The price was a bit salty, but I found buying the springs one place and all the hardware to mount them somewhere else didn't save any $ and it opens the door to having an issue with them once the truck is torn apart- no "Oops guess I can change that later" Just be dead in the water. Also with changing the hardware, I won't have to torque and bust my bag trying to get the bolts off and save for re-use- just torch em and be done.

Mechanic: You're going to poop.. but I run 10 plys on my truck all the way around! That is squat on the springs and shocks, the tires don't bow out at all. Pretty sad an inch and a half squat even with 10 ply "E-rated" tires huh?!

firestone air bags are worth every penny

i would go buy one from a car lot and sell yours later.No matter what you do you still have a 1/2 ton truck and brakes and such.

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Originally Posted by Focker

i would go buy one from a car lot and sell yours later.No matter what you do you still have a 1/2 ton truck and brakes and such.

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You are right on that. I actually thought of that when you posted it a few days back. It is still an option for me.

my concern is the size of your rear axel, and brakes. those front caliper bolts snap pretty easy. adding leaf springs and replacing the hard ware is just a band aid. if your going to haul more then 2000lbs you need the truck to do it.

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Originally Posted by cummins

my concern is the size of your rear axel, and brakes. those front caliper bolts snap pretty easy. adding leaf springs and replacing the hard ware is just a band aid. if your going to haul more then 2000lbs you need the truck to do it.

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I'm concerned too. I'm going to keep hunting for the right deal for a 2500hd, but for now I think this should assist in the interim.

If your concerned about the squat then check out an equalizer hitch, it'll take the weight off the tongue and distribute it evenly.

http://www.pplmotorhomes.com/parts/r...-zer-hitch.jpg

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Originally Posted by Mechanic688

If your concerned about the squat then check out an equalizer hitch, it'll take the weight off the tongue and distribute it evenly.

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I have one.. I followed the instructions to the letter and it does help, but the truck with load is never as "Level" as they show in the etrailer videos. I literally went out there with every measurement, trailer, truck, wheel well, trailer level etc. I still get some squat. I will be honest- I called my local trailer place that I go to and asked if they would take a look at it- they said they didn't have an appt for another MONTH. Which I thought was crap. Hard part of getting there is there HAS to be a car on it to set it properly- with the weight on it- setting it empty you can get close-ish, but you really need a "real world" load on the trailer with the truck. So I still need to ensure THAT is set up correctly as well.

You have the wrong truck for the car scrapping business lol.
I have found a few good 2500hd's for you.If i where you i would get a powerstroke or a cummins

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Originally Posted by Focker

You have the wrong truck for the car scrapping business lol.
I have found a few good 2500hd's for you.If i where you i would get a powerstroke or a cummins

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Scrap the powerjokes. Sorry in advance to all you ford guys but the 03+ powerstrokes are JUNK. Dont get a fors diesel unleas its a 7.3. Cummins and dirtymax are better.

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Originally Posted by Focker

You have the wrong truck for the car scrapping business lol.
I have found a few good 2500hd's for you.If i where you i would get a powerstroke or a cummins

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Yes indeed you have.. and I am grateful for that.

So much bad advise.

Cummins are jokes unless there ISM/ISX motors.

Dirtymaxs are the most car like, but a 6.0 will do the same job at just a little more cost in gas.

Powerstrokes are Junk.

People act like diesels are the end all. Rolling coal is a joke. It means you have a bad tune that is ruining your engine.

There loud, they ride like junk and don't believe the 7-10k oil changes. Its really 3k and at that 3k your replacing 10-15 quarts instead of 6-7.

Parts are a lot more and there mpgs are not what people say.

Sure, on a old 5.9 cummins you might see 18mpg empty. A 7.3 maybe even more with a good tune. Same goes for early gen D-maxs.

The current smoged diesels are junk. Mpgs are barely double digits.

And no, a 6.0 power stroke is not powerful. Its the biggest dog I have ever driven and it returned a best of 15mpg empty on 100 percent highway trips at below 2,000 rpm. And yes I tried different speeds, from 65-80. I finally decided I would rather loose 1mpg and roll 80 and get home sooner.

Your max weight loaded on the trailer is at most, what 8,000 pounds?

This is on a trailer with what I will assume has one set of trailer brakes. It should stop just fine for that weight.

Get new springs, and if that doesnt help (it will) try air bags.

And I have never seen anyone replace LEAF SRINGS with COILOVERS for better load capacity. If you ran true coil overs one the rear of your truck you would have too weld mounts, probley in side the bed just too make them work.

Not trying too sound like a ****. But I will assume its coming off that way but I will assume the "diesel boys" will have much too say.

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Originally Posted by Sal

Your max weight loaded on the trailer is at most, what 8,000 pounds?

This is on a trailer with what I will assume has one set of trailer brakes. It should stop just fine for that weight.

Get new springs, and if that doesnt help (it will) try air bags.

And I have never seen anyone replace LEAF SRINGS with COILOVERS for better load capacity. If you ran true coil overs one the rear of your truck you would have too weld mounts, probley in side the bed just too make them work.

Not trying too sound like a ****. But I will assume its coming off that way but I will assume the "diesel boys" will have much to say.

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Sal.. No offense from me on this. I appreciate any/all opinions.
--Basically I have ordered a set of 4/1 Leaf Springs to install on the truck. Weight rating on them is 2025 lbs per spring vs my current 2/1 leafs that are rated at 1500 lbs each.
-- My shocks are a recently replaced set of Monroe Sensatrac's all the way around the truck- I'm going to stay with them to see how they pair with the new Leaf Springs I ordered. Hoping they might balance it out well. (Since the Leafs carry the weight and the shocks just try to absorb any road bump.. seemed logical to keep the "softer" shocks while beefing up the leaf springs since that is what carry's the weight and not the shocks i.e. coil overs)
-- My trailer is one of those older iron horses. It is a 1995 "Jersey" brand Trailer- it weighs nearly 2000 lbs on its own.
-- Trailer Brakes: Yes, it is a dual axle trailer with all 4 wheels having brakes. They were recently checked and wired to work as the previous owner of the trailer decided to only have a brake on 1 of the 4 (Blew my truck brakes finding this out)

So for now, I am going to beef the rear-end of my 5.3L half ton and see how she does. My truck has the 3.73 gears so they are built for hauling heavier loads and it does tow really well, just trying to get her to the point I don't feel like I'm going to worry about wearing her out and balance the load better.

I'm certain you will get some chime in here. Know that I appreciate your candor.

Sal seems too me like you dont know what you are talking about.

Sledge i am thinking of in about 6 months or so getting me a f-450 powerstroke.So i can haul 3 cars at once.
I would love a dodge 4500 but i cant afford a 07 or newer truck lol.

Why run a diesel, when I average 5-10 gals of reclaimed fuel from every car I pickup. If I had to travel 10 miles to get it and there's 5 gallons of gas in the car, I'm gas ahead. Ive burnt many gallons of recycled fuel, the only downside is after a year or better, gas really looses its whammy. I've driven diesels hauling cattle and admit the power is awesome, but for the price of one reman injector pump or injectors I can afford to buy Lots of gas and spark plugs ! Besides that I run whatever sbc motor I can find, which is what I'm running now, and have several spares if I need em. Paid 350 for the truck I pulled my motor from, sold trany and transfer case for 550, scrapped the rest and had a small block to boot, remind me again how a diesel is cheaper.

Yes i agree on the free gas.I just hauled a car in with a half a tank.That is reason i was thinking about getting a v10.But on the trailer gas would be a pain to drain.If i had a lift then i would drain a crap ton of gas.
Yes diesel parts are expensive but last a whole lot longer.So when your gas truck reaches 300k you have done had the motor rebuilt or a new motor put in and how many other gas failures have happened who knows.
Also diesel are built for heavy towing so if you tow alot a diesel is for you and it will get 5-10 more mpgs towing than that gas truck will.

I would like to see the proof on the 5-10 mpgs while towing ! Yeah a diesel can run to a million miles but at 300k the rest of the truck will be need rebuilt anyhow, besides that I never keep a pickup longer than 4 years so I don't really care if it will run to 2 million miles.

I've seen many gassers run to 300k without any problems, my father in law's 99 Chevy has 302k on it and never been touched, not even a water pump ! My old boss man sold a 95 Chevy that had 350k on it, never been touched either, to a guy who still drives it, and that was 5 years ago !

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Originally Posted by Focker

Sal seems too me like you dont know what you are talking about.

Sledge i am thinking of in about 6 months or so getting me a f-450 powerstroke.So i can haul 3 cars at once.
I would love a dodge 4500 but i cant afford a 07 or newer truck lol.

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Thats why i drive the truck i drive....got a good deal on mine. she's old and hauls. but i couldn't say no to the 4500 to take it home. maybe in a couple years I'll look for a new truck. but i think a hook lift would be smart. to me a good work truck is one that works. and one your not scared to scratch the paint on.

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Originally Posted by taterjuice

I would like to see the proof on the 5-10 mpgs while towing ! Yeah a diesel can run to a million miles but at 300k the rest of the truck will be need rebuilt anyhow, besides that I never keep a pickup longer than 4 years so I don't really care if it will run to 2 million miles.

I've seen many gassers run to 300k without any problems, my father in law's 99 Chevy has 302k on it and never been touched, not even a water pump ! My old boss man sold a 95 Chevy that had 350k on it, never been touched either, to a guy who still drives it, and that was 5 years ago !

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Ok case in had John has a 08 v10 truck gets 10 mpgs doing whatever.My truck empty on the highway gets 19-21mpg and loaded pulling 12k lbs with a messed up speedo gets 14.5.Also not keeping something for more than 4 years.Why not if it is paid for and making you money and is good then why go to something else.
Yeah a gasser going to 300k is far and few between and no the rest of the truck would be fine if you do the proper upkeep which is no different than a gasser.You need to read up on diesel towing mgp vs a gasser towing mpgs lol.

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Originally Posted by cummins

Thats why i drive the truck i drive....got a good deal on mine. she's old and hauls. but i couldn't say no to the 4500 to take it home. maybe in a couple years I'll look for a new truck. but i think a hook lift would be smart. to me a good work truck is one that works. and one your not scared to scratch the paint on.

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Yeah thats why i am thinking of going with a older f-450 lol

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Originally Posted by Focker

Ok case in had John has a 08 v10 truck gets 10 mpgs doing whatever.My truck empty on the highway gets 19-21mpg and loaded pulling 12k lbs with a messed up speedo gets 14.5.Also not keeping something for more than 4 years.Why not if it is paid for and making you money and is good then why go to something else.
Yeah a gasser going to 300k is far and few between and no the rest of the truck would be fine if you do the proper upkeep which is no different than a gasser.You need to read up on diesel towing mgp vs a gasser towing mpgs lol.

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Find me a trany that goes to 300k without needed rebuilt, A front end that doesn't need ball joints at 300 k, transfer cases, clutches, none of them will go that far. You diesel boys HAVE to run em that just to recoup your initial investment, I want to own a pickup not be married to it! Twenty mpgs ? What going downhill with 30 mile an hour wind at back in georgia overdrive ? What about the additional cost during winter time ? Powerservice and electricity, they still arent free ! I've never plugged mine in and can't remember it ever gelling up. Not to mention winter fuel looses power which lowers mileage, maybe you should read up on that, lmao !

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Originally Posted by taterjuice

Find me a trany that goes to 300k without needed rebuilt, A front end that doesn't need ball joints at 300 k, transfer cases, clutches, none of them will go that far. You diesel boys HAVE to run em that just to recoup your initial investment, I want to own a pickup not be married to it! Twenty mpgs ? What going downhill with 30 mile an hour wind at back in georgia overdrive ? What about the additional cost during winter time ? Powerservice and electricity, they still arent free ! I've never plugged mine in and can't remember it ever gelling up. Not to mention winter fuel looses power which lowers mileage, maybe you should read up on that, lmao !

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Seems to me that you just dont like diesel.a 300k tranny front end ball joints,transfer cases,clutches no different than on a gas truck but they wont even still make it anywhere near that lol.Yes 20mpg my truck on interstate driving will go 670 miles on 32 gallons you do the math.In the winter i have a older dodge never plug it in will start just fine.Let it run 5 minutes and its good to go.You plug them in then that means you get in and go.My mileage doesnt change from the summer to the winter sorry.Seems like you need to learn more about what you are talking about.

Also the newer diesels dont have to be plugged in at all.

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Originally Posted by Focker

Seems to me that you just dont like diesel.a 300k tranny front end ball joints,transfer cases,clutches no different than on a gas truck but they wont even still make it anywhere near that lol.Yes 20mpg my truck on interstate driving will go 670 miles on 32 gallons you do the math.In the winter i have a older dodge never plug it in will start just fine.Let it run 5 minutes and its good to go.You plug them in then that means you get in and go.My mileage doesnt change from the summer to the winter sorry.Seems like you need to learn more about what you are talking about.

Also the newer diesels dont have to be plugged in at all.

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I work on diesels, day in and day out, as well as gassers. And sold quite a bit of fuel, close to half million gallons last year, and beleive me winter blended fuel does NOT get the mileage like summer fuel. And you don't run powerservice in the winter ? That stuff ain't exactly cheap, it all figures in to the cost per mile. Ive sold twice of much as fuel than most people will ever use, don't believe I'm the one who's lacking in knowledge here.