It's getting to be about that time....

[bbaCJ8]

I'm gonna finally be getting myself a tow rig sometime in the next 6 months. I was gonna wait till early summer but I'm thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to get something sooner instead of waiting for something major to go wrong on my truck and have to get something else in a rush. My truck could tow but it's far from ideal and it's had a rough life.

Current rig:


The options I'm considering are, in no particular order:
-03-07 CTD. I'd do 3/4 or 1 ton depending what I find for the right price ($20-25k)
-New 1/2 ton Ram, crew cab, 4wd, and before long a 3" lift and 35s just for looks ($30k with rebates)
-07+ GM 1/2 ton ($20-25k used)
-New Ford SVT Raptor ($40k, no rebates available)

For towing obviously the CTD wins but realistically I'm only gonna be doing that 10% of the time. Any of the options listed will certainly do the job and each has its pros and cons that I'm well aware of. No need to point them out, I'm aware of what they are. I guess I just wanted to post my thoughts and see more opinions fly around. I'm sure 90% of it will be "Get a Cummins!!!" but I really love a nice healthy V8 and it'd do what I need it to do. So feel free to post up some thoughts, that's what this thread is for.

As for the Raptor, I just fukking love those things. They look awesome and it'd be a blast at the dunes and even just all the backroads around here. I could easily swing the $700 a month payments right now but it'd be really stupid to do since I'm planning to buy a house this year too. Still, a DD/tow rig with 11-13" of suspension travel would just be sweet even if not the most practical thing out there. The tow rating is lower than other 1/2 tons but I could fix that with minimal tweaks!

Raptor:


New Ram


07+ GM


And we all know what the CTD would look like. I'd probably go silver or dark gray with 35s.

[JEEPJERK]

There's a couple of Raptors running around town...I like 'em, so you should get one.

[awheelterd]

of your list, id go for

1. Raptor, just because its cool as shiit
2. CTD, tons of power you could get out of it, and it would do the best for towing
3. GM, they look sharp as hell, the new ones with the 6.4 make some nice power stock
4.?????
5.??????
6.???????
7.????????
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
298. Ram

[Aidan]

I'd love a raptor, but the not quite adequate towing and stupid high payments turned me away from it. I've always been a Chrysler/Dodge guy myself (just what we've always had and what I'm used to) so I'd vote for the CTD or 1/2 ton. I think the new Dodge half tons are pretty sweet too. I went with the CTD cause I found a decent priced one and its just so much nicer to have. I do miss the nice rumble of a big V8 with a nice exhaust, but the my 4" turbo back sounds pretty nice as well. I think the best bet is the CTD with the Dodge half-ton a close second. The Raptor wins in overall badassery but the high price tag sends it down the list, plus its slightly lower tow rating. I don't know about GM trucks really, so I left it out of my list.

[fearfact]

it seems you want domestic, completely understandable..but if you arent against "foreign" the tundra is a badass 1/2 ton...i loved my titan too, dragged my jeep easily and towed a good size trailer(14 ft enclosed stiffed full, bed jammmed full to top of camper shell and back seat packed tight) from NH to SoCal and didnt even know it was there

[bbaCJ8]

Yeah as fun and cool as the Raptor would be it's just too damn expensive. In comparison to the MSRP of other 1/2 ton trucks on the market it's actually an outstanding value, the big difference comes in when there are no incentives, rebates, or employee discounts because it's a limited production specialty vehicle. If I could get one for within a few grand of the other 1/2 tons I'd have one on order right now. I priced out a 1/2 ton crew cab 4wd Hemi Ram back in March, sticker was $41.5K and I was gonna be out the door for around $29.5k. Sticker on the Raptor I'd buy is $39.5k but I'd be out the door for over $40k. If it were my only vehicle I could justify it but I'll have the Jeep to launch across the dunes and whatever else stands in front of me.

Originally Posted by fearfact

it seems you want domestic, completely understandable..but if you arent against "foreign" the tundra is a badass 1/2 ton...i loved my titan too, dragged my jeep easily and towed a good size trailer(14 ft enclosed stiffed full, bed jammmed full to top of camper shell and back seat packed tight) from NH to SoCal and didnt even know it was there

I've been in a couple new Tundra's and they're definitely nice as hell and have great powertrains......but I hate the exterior styling and I'm from the motor city and just can't bring myself to buy a foreign truck. I DDed a Subaru for a while but that's a different story, for trucks I'll definitely go American, especially since nothing about the foreign ones stands out to me and says "buy me!!!"

[mcamish01]

A CTD with some KORE goodies would keep pace with a Raptor, drag your buggy around like it wasn't there, and leave you a couple grand to blow on a sweet Moab/Hammers trip...

[awheelterd]

are you not open to a dirtymax? when i get out of school, an 06 dmax will be one of my first major purchases.

[Mills89YJ]

I like the looks of the Chevy/GMC more then the Dodge/Ford... but CTD's are sweet. Im in somewhat the same situation, trying to decide on buying a CTD 03+ and getting rid of my current truck, or keeping my truck and buying a 07+ Tahoe...

[bbaCJ8]

Originally Posted by mcamish01

A CTD with some KORE goodies would keep pace with a Raptor, drag your buggy around like it wasn't there, and leave you a couple grand to blow on a sweet Moab/Hammers trip...

Excellent point. I also like some of the other goodies on the Raptor like the electronic locker and different tune in "off-road mode" but a CTD could be made to do the suspension part at least. I don't need to that crap at all since I'll have the Jeep but it'd be fun. I plan to leave the tune alone if I get one but exhaust and intake are likely. I'd do a leveling kit and 35s for sure but a 6" lift and 37s with a homemade longarm kit would be cool if funds permit....but again completely unnecessary.

Originally Posted by awheelterd

are you not open to a dirtymax? when i get out of school, an 06 dmax will be one of my first major purchases.

I love the Duramax/Allison combo, I've actually done a lot of towing with it and it's an awesome combo. I don't like the IFS but that's pretty minor for a tow rig if I keep it stock. My biggest problem with them is that for some reason the exhaust smell gives me a headache 80% of the time. I'm not sure what it is, but something about the sweeter smell of the D-Max makes my head hurt. Other diesels or gassers don't bother me.

[mcamish01]

Just something to note about the Ford/Dodge/GM diesel debate that I've come across lately; simple scheduled maintance on the newer Powerstroke and Duramax engines is rediculously more expensive than the Cummins. I had never thought of this fact as I've never serviced anything but CTDs, but my buddy mentioned doing the 60k maint. on his father's '08 F350 with the 6.4 and spending over $300 for everything. This included air filter, fuel filters, oil filter, and oil. For comparison, the same maint. on my CTD is around $65 (and yes, I use only the best NAPA/Wix stuff recommended through TDR) As for the Durmax, I doubt its as bad as the Fords (don't know an actual number, but hey, it can't be worse than a Ford ), but as I had to help a buddy get his broke down D-max off the hwy about a month ago I bought a new fuel filter, which was $45 dollars (with my wholesale discount) compared to my CTD filter at around $6.

This doesn't really surprise me when you think about all the over the road engines Cummins has out there where maint. cost is major portion of a driver's overhead, but just some food for thought.

[bbaCJ8]

Good to know. I've never had to deal with diesel maintenance or up-keep so info like that is definitely helpful. I'm used to my truck that doesn't require much of anything.

[champ]

There's no good answer when it comes down to it. The Dodge truck isn't as bad as everyone says it is. Front end parts on all three manufactures are suspect to accelerated wear due to the weight of the engine. Late model 6.0's aren't as bad as every says they are, the d-max has had injector issues and head gasket issues (just did a set for a customer and a friend had his go out at 80k). The Cummins motor in the dodge trucks are the cheapest piece that Cummins produces, anything else would be too expensive for the average joe (in other words its nothing special). Any motor that has seen abnormal fueling conditions is not fit to buy, in my mind. Over fueling a cylinder is bad news.

The cummins motor is the most worthy in my opinion. Like mcamish01 said, maint starts adding up quick when your fuel filters are 50$ a pop.

Whatever you do, don't buy a gas powered truck, you'll regret it.

[wrath]

I thought long and hard about this last summer. Mostly because I was prepared to buy a Duramax if I wanted one. I ended up getting a gasser 1/2 ton that was only a couple grand less than a Duramax (employee discount).

The neat factor of a diesel wears out quick so before long you've got a 650hp/1000ftlb part eater diesel guzzling whale. Then all you can look forward to is sooting people on the sidewalk.

I couldn't find a 6.2L gasser that had a 14SF rear. The LTZs were rare so that left me with Denalis and they're all AWD and crewcab. And I didn't really want LTZ interior as I don't like the car dash or leather. So I ended up with a L76/6.0L. Still got my 6L80e, 14SF, and 4 wheel disc brakes. It's still portly at 3193lbs in the front and 2142lbs in the rear. But I'm portly as well.

It runs alright on 87 octane but it reduces it to about 15° of advance. Dollar per mile works out best on an honest 89 octane. Once it's out of the bumper-to-bumper warranty I'll tune it for 93.

I removed the rear blocks, threw on an adjustable 28mm sway bar (currently set to the stiffest) that matches the front 36mm sway bar in stiffness (my truck is the replacement for the SS/Vortec Max... the NHT max trailering gets a 34mm front sway bar and 300lb heavier rear springs), and put on airbags. It tows everything I want and is rated for 10,400lbs. And I can DD without smelling it or hearing it.. and oil changes are the most expensive maintenance item. And I can beat old BMW X5s in the corners. Not going to do that with any diesel pickup.

[Hypnotik Robot]

Powerstroke!

[agoldxj]

take a trip down to texas and buy a ctd. it seems like there's lots of them down there for good deals.

[bbaCJ8]

I've already got it covered, just working on finishing off the deal and getting it in my possession:

[myjeepsbigger]

Damn that's f'n sweet.

[WagoneerXJ]

maybe a little too late....but 7.3L Ford

[xj_man_646]

Originally Posted by WagoneerXJ

maybe a little too late....but 7.3L Ford

[bbaCJ8]

Originally Posted by WagoneerXJ

maybe a little too late....but 7.3L Ford

Meh. They're a good solid motor but there's really not anything about those trucks that makes me want one more than what I'm getting.

[agoldxj]

Originally Posted by bbaCJ8

I've already got it covered, just working on finishing off the deal and getting it in my possession:

i know that truck, is it faststang on cumminsforum? i bought my blackberry from him. good dude.

[jeepkid05]

Thats a sweet truck. Crew cab ftw

[bbaCJ8]

Originally Posted by agoldxj

i know that truck, is it faststang on cumminsforum? i bought my blackberry from him. good dude.

Yes sir, that's the one.

[OkLaHoMaTJ]

Good decision bbaCJ. Any specs on the truck? Looks like an 07+

I tossed around the idea of getting the 2009-10 6.2L GM motor in a CC Silverado/Sierra. The 6.2L in 2009 only came in the LTZ package trucks and just came available to most models (ext cab/CC) in 2010. The 6.0 Vortec Max has been dropped this year. The CTD truck looks like a better all around truck. I want an auto and most say I'm an idiot.

I would take either the
05-07.5 5.9L CTD auto...nervous about the auto a little.
07.5-09 6.7L CTD auto with H&S deletes and just rock the CEL until it need some warranty work and then just slap on all the stock stuff. I have heard the 6spd auto is awesome in these trucks.

[bbaCJ8]

Originally Posted by OkLaHoMaTJ

Good decision bbaCJ. Any specs on the truck? Looks like an 07+

I tossed around the idea of getting the 2009-10 6.2L GM motor in a CC Silverado/Sierra. The 6.2L in 2009 only came in the LTZ package trucks and just came available to most models (ext cab/CC) in 2010. The 6.0 Vortec Max has been dropped this year. The CTD truck looks like a better all around truck. I want an auto and most say I'm an idiot.

I would take either the
05-07.5 5.9L CTD auto...nervous about the auto a little.
07.5-09 6.7L CTD auto with H&S deletes and just rock the CEL until it need some warranty work and then just slap on all the stock stuff. I have heard the 6spd auto is awesome in these trucks.

It's an 07 5.9L CTD, 48RE auto, 45k miles, pretty mild mods.....4.5" Fabtech lift, 35" Cooper STTs, aftermarket exhaust, cold air intake, nice stereo setup, tinted windows, Rhinoliner, boost, EGT, and trans temp gauges on pillar, etc.

I'm pretty picky about what I want when I'm droppin this kind of money and it's almost exactly what I've been looking for for a LOOOONG time. My plans for it are pretty minimal: lengthen the front control arms to recenter the tires in the wheelwells(currently rub the mudflaps), lengthen the rear shackles to give it some rake back(just has 3" rear blocks), traction bar, 1.5" wheel spacers to give it a bit more aggressive stance, and replace the ugly aftermarket grill with a color matched factory grill and Speed Grill inserts. After a little while it'll probably get a Smarty Jr, then after a long while if funds permit I'll get the trans beefed hardcore and throw some more power mods at it just for fun. For now it has PLENTY of power but eventually 1000+ lb-ft of torque would be fun. I would've been happy with an auto or manual and this one just so happens to have an auto. Fine by me, it'll just cost more to build when the time comes, whereas with the manual I could throw in an upgraded clutch and be good to go. For a daily driver that'll be towing 7k lbs most of the time I don't foresee any issues, especially after seeing the stupid amounts of abuse that my best friend's 48RE holds up to.

The 6.0L and 6.2L GM trucks are definitely nice. Lots of power and a great platform for sure.....obviously I like them since that's what I put in the Scrambler. I looked at gassers for quite a while but when it comes down to it pretty much everything about this truck will do what I need better than any of the gassers would've.

The 6.7L CTD and 6 speed auto are definitely nice too, but I'd rather the 5.9L at this point. The 6 speed and factory exhaust brake would be sweet, but I don't like the idea of having to throw a few grand at the 6.7L to reliably get comparable mileage to what the 5.9L will pull off the shelf. With just a Smarty on the 5.9L I should be pulling well over 20mpg if I can keep my foot out of it. My buddy has a very similar 6.7L CTD and averages 14-15mpg. Plus I couldn't find any 6.7L trucks that I liked as much, and not for a comparable price.

[OkLaHoMaTJ]

Nice truck for sure. I'll be in the market for the same truck shortly. 05-07 (preferably) and even an 08 if it's the right price. The way I look at is if you throw the $1000 at the 6.7L it'll blow the balls off most 5.9's. I have found several 6.7's for around $25k with 50-75k miles on them. Not bad IMO but I still prefer the 5.9L even though it still goes for the same price as the cheap 6.7's.

On ebay there are several really clean and decently priced 5.9's...and yes they are mostly in Texas. They range in price from $19-27k. Seems to be the going rate for these trucks lately.....

[bbaCJ8]

Yeah the prices are definitely up there. I've seen lots in Texas too but I haven't come across any I wanted more than this one.

[champ]

Originally Posted by bbaCJ8

With just a Smarty on the 5.9L I should be pulling well over 20mpg if I can keep my foot out of it..

Maybe if you drive 55mph. Any faster and that figure goes down drastically.

I get 18.5 going 65 in the flats, the computer says 19.9 though.

[agoldxj]

sean check out jimsautoparts.com for a grille. that's where i got mine from when i did my sport swap. it was half the price of the dealership.

[bbaCJ8]

Originally Posted by agoldxj

sean check out jimsautoparts.com for a grille. that's where i got mine from when i did my sport swap. it was half the price of the dealership.

I'll have to check that out. Cheapest I've found so far was $200 from LMCtruck

[agoldxj]

for factory colored? no **** that's a good deal. my pr4 grill was 295 from jims. the dealer wanted 600.

[bbaCJ8]

Originally Posted by champ

Maybe if you drive 55mph. Any faster and that figure goes down drastically.

I get 18.5 going 65 in the flats, the computer says 19.9 though.

My daily commute is mostly 55mph with a little stop and go, so I expect 18-20 during the week. Most trips I go on are partly 75mph, partly 60mph, so getting upwards of 20mpg shouldn't be too much of a problem. A buddy of mine has a stock 05 CTD on 33s and claims he got just shy of 23mpg at 85mph driving across the lower peninsula of Michigan. I find it hard to believe but he's not one to BS and he knows how to do the math. I'll be taking this thing to Florida in a month so I'll be able to get a good idea on mileage then.

Originally Posted by agoldxj

for factory colored? no **** that's a good deal. my pr4 grill was 295 from jims. the dealer wanted 600.

Nope, that was for a black paintable one. I scanned through Jim's pretty quickly after I posted that and saw that they were painted for about $100 more....pretty reasonable, but my color wasn't listed. Once I get the truck I'll give them a call and ask.

[agoldxj]

i just noticed that too, im sure they can get it. they have always been very helpful and you get a human when you call so that's always a plus.

[agoldxj]

when i had my 35s the best i ever got was 17.5 on the highway hand calculated, last 2 tanks with the 32s i got 19.3 hand calculated.