Ok gents. My very first pickup that I personally owned was a 2003 Dodge Dakota 4X4, with a puny V6. After I had started to get the itch to get bigger in my contracting business, as well as, haul a trailer. I upgraded and after a year.. found a saweet 2000 4WD Silverado 1500 LT with the 5.3 V8 Vortec.
I've used my truck to haul a 16 ft flatbed- car hauler with it. I've quickly realized that even though it is a 4WD.. it seems to sag pretty bad, even with the addition of a Weight Distribution Hitch. I've played out many a scenarios and felt like putting some thoughts down.. thinking maybe some folks here could shed some light on some thoughts of my own.
Scenario #1:
Install bigger leaf springs and upgrade the rear shocks to coil overs. May help.. should help- not positive
Scenario #2:
Cop to the "oops" and look to swap the truck and upgrade to a 2500HD or 3500HD- Here is the kicker then. Gas vs Diesel.
My thoughts- Yep Diesel will whoop the gassers behind. I know it, I've done a ton of research on it. But I don't know if:
A. I need a Diesel
B. Do I WANT a diesel.
I will add this into the mix, and I really am not trying to offend anyone. But I owned a Dodge, I hated the dodge, and I won't own one again. I also do not care for Fords. So I know for fact that I'm looking at beefing the 1500, or looking at a Chevy or GMC 2500HD or 3500.
So I'll put it this way. I'm nearly 40 years old, I don't need a super tuned, 15" lifted, coal rolling, semi-truck stack coming out of the bed noisemaker. Just looking for some real world, normal folk work truck that will do the deed.
Here are my thoughts so far, maybe someone can assist me in heading in the right direction:
1. Love my truck.. LOVE LOVE LOVE my truck. If I can beef it that would be the cheapest and most satisfying route. It tows beautifully for what I tow (Generally about 5500 lbs hitch towed)
2. If For some reason plunking $ into beefier leaf springs and coil over shocks would be a waste of $ and I had to go with a "bigger truck" I'm leaning towards a 6.0L Gas 2500.. The Diesel would indeed out-tow it, but the maintenance on a diesel is something that would keep me up at night- huge $ outlay if something goes on it, gas is higher, parts are a lot higher- the pro- in the long long run the diesel would probably outlive ME for as little as I haul, and my "commute" to jobsites are fairly small trips- I keep it that way if I can help it.
3. I'm thinking the 3500 would just be overkill- Since I don't haul 17,000 horse trailers or tri-axle trailers with backhoes on it- I know it would pull the car trailer as if it were not even there- but may just be way more truck than I need.
So after all that- any thoughts gents? I'm all ears! And Thanks in advance!
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