Truck upgrade for occasional towing

[RHanna]

I currently have a ram 1500 that I use to tow my jeep and while it can tow it safely I always worry about the payload. I think with my current jeep and the trailer I borrow from a friend +3 passengers and travel items I have to be really close to the max payload.

I'm looking around for a slightly used 3/4 or 1 ton truck, gas, not brand loyal. I wasn't even thinking 1 ton but the prices are not much different and I'm guessing the ride and mpg is almost identical. Right now I have my eye on a F-350 with the 7.3. Any advice? I realize the ride won't be as nice but is it awful? Do the suspension modification things really work (Sulastic Rubber Shackles)?

 

[NDSpeed]

Solid Axle trucks, drive like trucks.

the only time i even realize is the concrete cut lines on the interstates and it gets into a rhythmic bounce. that is super annoying.

i don’t remember too many Concrete interstates out east

7.3 Gasser or Diesel, huge difference in those two trucks

 

[RHanna]

Gas, I don't drive long enough distances frequent enough to keep a diesel happy. Plus the cost of diesel kind of kills the better mpg and the higher maintenance.

 

[NDSpeed]

I forgot the newest Is a 7.3 gasser until right before i posted.

my son and his group of friends are into restoring 7.3Diesels.

 

[Apparition]

On the F250 vs F350 thing, if they have the Tremor package they are the same truck with different badges and ratings. Can't speak for non Tremors or the lesser brands. For me the 1 ton had advantages in my state but other states it's opposite.

I have the diesel version and I'm sure the weight affects the ride so I'd say go find a truck with a 7.3 and test drive it. See what you think and if the extra size is something you want to live with.

 

[Zorba]

Check insurance. Years back, a 1 ton was far more expensive to insure than a 3/4 at that time where I was with that particular insurance company.

 

[RHanna]

Check insurance. Years back, a 1 ton was far more expensive to insure than a 3/4 at that time where I was with that particular insurance company.

Just checked with my agent and the rates were about $40 more per 6 months.

 

[Apparition]

Just checked with my agent and the rates were about $40 more per 6 months.

Yeah, insurance difference was barely anything for me but I saved significantly in my yearly registration rates with the 1 ton.

 

[RHanna]

Yeah, insurance difference was barely anything for me but I saved significantly in my yearly registration rates with the 1 ton.

We don't register based on vehicle value, that was a shock when I lived in Kansas.

 

[MtPockets]

D

Yeah, insurance difference was barely anything for me but I saved significantly in my yearly registration rates with the 1 ton.

Did Mn change how they charge for tabs?
I bought a used 85 GMC K3500 back in like 97 or so. When I went to the county to get tags, they charged me as if it was a commercial truck instead of like if it was a beater truck. It was insane what they charged!

 

[MtPockets]

We don't register based on vehicle value, that was a shock when I lived in Kansas.

I would check with the DMV about costs for registration.

As for what to buy, I've towed with a lot of different rigs from underpowered gassers to overpowered diesels.
Diesels are expensive both to buy and to maintain, and a pain in the ass in winter too.
That said, if you tow up/down many hills it sure is nice to have the power to pull.

I don't have any personal experience with a 7.3 gasser but a coworker has one in his service truck. He seems to like it.

 

[Apparition]

D

Did Mn change how they charge for tabs?
I bought a used 85 GMC K3500 back in like 97 or so. When I went to the county to get tags, they charged me as if it was a commercial truck instead of like if it was a beater truck. It was insane what they charged!

For my 1 ton it's $125/year. Had I bought a 3/4 ton it'd been based on the value. Eventually that benefit flips but if you have a brand new diesel truck the value isn't like that of a 12 year old truck.

 

[bucky]

When you go to 3/4 ton or larger truck you are getting a real truck and the ride will be harsher. 1 ton and above tend to have 2 stage springs so the ride unloaded is comparable to a 3/4 ton. I got rid of my F350 SWD and my F550 4x4 diesels a few yrs back. Never had death wobble on the 550 but my current F250 4x4 got it at 7,000 miles and had the front end rebuilt which lasted for 20K and was fixed then with new tires. DW appeared again at 58K and an aftermarket steering stabilizer fixed it. 61K now with no issues. Mine’s a 6.2L 3:73 axle ratio Super Cab. The 7.3 gas came out 1 yr latter and I would have waited for that if I’d known it was coming out. My 6.2L easily pulls a 12K trailer but milage is sub 10mpg.

 

[ColoJeep]

DW appeared again at 58K and an aftermarket steering stabilizer fixed it.

I've seen this work several times , however group think says " It can't work , and it's only a band aid " .

 

[RHanna]

Just bought a 24 ram 2500 with the Hemi yesterday . I liked the Silverado but the transmission worried me and the truck I was considering had 50000 more miles and was more expensive.

Cost me 7k out the door and it was a year younger than my 1500 with 11000 less miles. I’m hoping I’ll be able to use alfaodb to get remote start working like my 1500.

What’s everyone’s thoughts on MDS? I’ve seen an argument from both sides. I think changing the oil every 5k would keep the engine happy.

 

[ColoJeep]

Just bought a 24 ram 2500 with the Hemi yesterday . I liked the Silverado but the transmission worried me and the truck I was considering had 50000 more miles and was more expensive.

Cost me 7k out the door and it was a year younger than my 1500 with 11000 less miles. I’m hoping I’ll be able to use alfaodb to get remote start working like my 1500.

What’s everyone’s thoughts on MDS? I’ve seen an argument from both sides. I think changing the oil every 5k would keep the engine happy.

Congrats on the new pickup ! The price is right . I question everyone's MDS and variable valve timing . I worked for a county and saw a different problem on Ram 5.7 engines , the roller lifter would turn 90* from normal and the cam would destroy the roller and the resulting debris would destroy the engine. These were 2010/2012 trucks . 2 trucks out of 16 had the issue. Clean oil could help many things , however the HEMI , GM "LS" engines and Ford 302 Coyote all have adjustable valve timing issues . One of the worst engines is the Pentastar 3.6l Jeep engine in my opinion . Hopefully you truck provides many years of service , you payed a great price , so you're way ahead on the cost per mile game ! Post a photo of the new ride .

 

[RHanna]

My 1500 and this one are both big horns. I lost dual climate control and heated seats.

 

[RHanna]

So I've owned the truck about a month. It definitely doesn't ride as nice as my 1500, I know it's a heavy duty truck. It's just a little frustrating to go onto hdrams.com and hear people say "it rides just as good, if not better than my 1500". Well your 1500 must have rode like shit. I've dropped the psi down on the front and rear tires and that helped. I'm researching suspension upgrades but I don't want to waste my money.

Anyone on here know much about the 2500 suspension options?

 

[Zorba]

Put a 1,000 lb train wheel in the back - it'll ride like a Cadillac.

 

[B1Toad]

So I've owned the truck about a month. It definitely doesn't ride as nice as my 1500, I know it's a heavy duty truck. It's just a little frustrating to go onto hdrams.com and hear people say "it rides just as good, if not better than my 1500". Well your 1500 must have rode like shit. I've dropped the psi down on the front and rear tires and that helped. I'm researching suspension upgrades but I don't want to waste my money.

Anyone on here know much about the 2500 suspension options?

How much did you drop the air pressure? My experience with a 1 ton truck straight axle 4x4 was great (Ford), I kept it for 17 years and I always loved the ride. Maybe it was because I kept a 300 lb topper and probably a few more hundred pounds back there all the time, but both my wife and I loved the ride on or off road. I kept the tires at 65 front and 50-55 rear when not towing. The ride was firm but not jarring, ever. My new 1/2 ton truck actually feels more mushy and boatlike compared to my old 1 ton.

If you are not familiar with tire load and inflation tables look it up, you can go a lot less than 80 PSI on your 10 ply rated tires when not fully loaded. I go with the table's recommended pressure for each axle weight plus 10% to allow for uneven side to side load distribution.