Posted: 5/28/2005 10:29:15 PM EDT
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It will be used for towing my Jeep Cherokee and camping gear when the family goes off roading. It will also be used to haul stuff around town. It will see some off road duty but not extreme. Wife has a car for the kids and I have a motorcycle so it wouldn't be driven much. Maybe 6 times a month. Do these trucks do well off road? How about hauling 6000 lbs with another 600 in the bed? Is it worth it to go for the 2500 or the 3500 with the diesel? Those were running about $12,000 more. |
They do as well offroad as any stock truck. In other words, not worth a shit.  The 360 will tow 3 tons with a 1/2 ton in the bed pretty easily. A friend of mine has a 04 and we frequently abuse it's hauling capacities when I would prefer not to feed one of my trucks. (Ford FE motors are notorious guzzlers. Great for power, but can't pass a fuel station.)  Edit: Yes, I know that 600lbs is not half a ton. Oh, and make sure it is a stick. |
...and leave your transmission on the side of the road to boot.
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My dad got a 2001 1500 4X4 quad cab auto SB He went thru several trannys, first one at about 35,000, the Dealer (Jerry Reneos, in Paso Robles CA, the place were it went out ) gave him every excuse why it was out of warranty, said it'd cost $6000 for rebuilt tranny! Ok, dad gos for it, they say "it (the new tranny) is warranteed at ANY dodge dealer nation wide". Yeah right, it went out again 3000 miles later in Cottage Grove OR, the dealer there says they won't warranty it, "go fuck yourself", Then the cocksucker in the service department tells us that Jerry Reneos in CA put a note in the computer system that my dad tows with it and it ain't warranteed! My dads got just under 100,000 miles, he's on his 5th auto tranny!I towed a tracter with it the other day, I was going up a hill in town and we damb near came to a stop with the motor cranking 5000 rpms!!!!!!!!!!! I looked over at my dad and we both just kinda looked at each other with our mouths hanging open!  Mean while, I've got a 2000 1500 4X4 SC SB, 3" lift 15X10" wheels, 33X12.50 mudders 318, 5 speed stick. NO PROBLEMS AT ALL!(other than fuel pump at about 85,000.) Used and abused!
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I think that whole "break in" thing is BS, if it's built within tolerances it shouldn't need breaking in, IMO. ETA: Mopar will likely tell you to "break it in" for about 7 years/70,000 miles before towing with it. Then you're SOL! The way we got treated at the 2 dealers we went to, I figure consider it un-waranteed! They must have the worst CS and use anything they can to get out of fixing it, then totally rape you on the price to fix it. I wouldn't use an automatic for towing (at least not a dodge auto), I read A LOT of off road truck mags and I've heard that no new computerized tranny will live past 35,000 towing. My dad had to get the auto, 'cause his wife is about 4'9" asian woman and cant reach the pedals, but if this is just a weekend warrier / dedicated tow rig, I'd get the stick shift. I'd also get the longest wheelbase possable, it give you more stability when towing. My little short bed standerd cab can get hairy pulling some of the loads I've towed with it. AND DEFINATLY get a weight distributing hitch. J C Whitney is were I got mine. |
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I have a 1996 Ram 150 4x4 that has about 120k miles on it, but I have had to replace the transmission at 65,000, electrical problems galore and bad over-heating problems with the factory auto tranny cooler. The trailer I towed was only 2500 pounds, with tanks empty. I say go Toyota Tundra or factory extended warranty out to 100k, but that is just my opinion. Eric  PS: Justa_TXguy, I'm glad someone has a Dodge like mine without the headaches. I've talked to many with the problems I have.  I love the truck, just hate the problems... 
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NEVER tow with a Dodge automatic. 6,000 lbs. is pushing it for a 1/2 ton. You have a LOT more flexibility with a 3/4 ton, but just make sure you get a standard transmission. I had a '97 1500 with an automatic that I just sold. Had to replace the tranny at 120K miles, then replace the torque converter at 150K. Have an '01 3500 now. I have the HO Cummins diesel and 6-speed transmission. It can pull a small town from coast to coast and never blink. If you keep the truck long-term, the diesel will pay for itself again and again. Go heavy. You won't regret it. |