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We pulled a 30 foot Holiday Rambler (5000 pounds) with a Chevy 1500 truck with an auto trans. It was terrifying running along I-77 from Ohio to NC. The 350 gas motor (186K miles) fought for every mile. We picked up a 98 12 valve cummins in a Dodge (ugh)2500 auto 4 X 4 and now pull a 33 foot 14,000 pound 5th wheel. What a difference a 3/4 ton makes. Not to mention the diesel power.
There are still quite a few nice pre-24 valve Cummins to be had for less than $13,000 with moderate to low milage. Ours had 180,000 miles when we bought it for $4000 three years ago.
Thank you all for the information. I live in my travel trailer all year round so I just might buy a 3/4 ton Van or truck with a V-8 engine. What about buying a Ford E-250 Van with a 4.6 engine to move this trailer? Vans are cheaper to buy over a pick-up. I can get a 2012 Ford van with a 4.6 V-8 engine for under 20,000 dollars with only 9,000 miles. Van will also be a cargo van.
Thank you all for the information. I live in my travel trailer all year round so I just might buy a 3/4 ton Van or truck with a V-8 engine. What about buying a Ford E-250 Van with a 4.6 engine to move this trailer? Vans are cheaper to buy over a pick-up. I can get a 2012 Ford van with a 4.6 V-8 engine for under 20,000 dollars with only 9,000 miles. Van will also be a cargo van.
I like the 4.6 engine. However it will be doggy pulling a camper. A 5.4 is a better option. Look at the capacity of the van. I don't think a 3/4 ton and 3/4 ton pickup are the same beast.
Is the 6.8 engine a DIESEL? What about a 5.4 Ford engine which I think is Ford's biggest gas engine that like Ford's 360 V-8?
Thanks.
6.8 is commonly referred to as the V-10. I've never owned one, but it seems to be reliable and develops considerable h.p. and torque for a gas engine. Ford quit putting it in pickups a couple years ago but (I think) still offers it in their vans. I think it would be a good alternative if you don't want a diesel.
I've heard good things about the 5.4, but I don't know how it does for towing a load. I had a 350 in an '88 Chevy 2500 years ago that was way underpowered for the 10' truck camper I had. Heading west against the wind on I-80 in Iowa once, I could barely maintain the 45 mph minimum speed limit.
With maybe the exception of a GM 8.1 , the Ford 6.8 is probably the best gas engine built for grunt work ever made. They now only offer it in Super Duty Chassis Cabs trucks now, but there are tons of Excursions and E350/250 Vans out there with this engine. You should be able to find one at a good price with the current price of fuel. You won't notice much of a hit on empty mpg compared to the 5.4 but towing will be night and day. Pair that engine with a 4.30 rear end and you have a vehicle that will out perform just about any gas rig out there. My Excursion and my travel trailer has a combined weight over 16K pounds and the 6.8 tows it nicely. The only down side to towing with a gasser is getting used to the higher rpms to get in the power band. Let that 6.8 rev and she will do anything you ask it to at a way lower cost than any diesel out there.
The 6.8 is offered in the F350 up. We have a v10 in a 2012 F550 rescue truck. Loaded with gear and crew it will run 95 mph without a doubt. It will get on the stick really fast. The v10 is an awesome engine. But it loves the gas.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phone man
..... Let that 6.8 rev and she will do anything you ask it to at a way lower cost than any diesel out there.
really...
I would love to run the numbers on THAT statement. (I have several friends with Ford V10's and have NEVER heard such a comparision from them).
Many of us vintage Cummins 5.9'rs would tend to differ, You can find MANY used trucks for under $3000 and they will run 20 mpg for over a million miles WITHOUT ANY engine work (using FREE / alternative fuel of MANY varieties)(no spark plugs / wires / ignition to fail or maintain).. Mine drops to 12 mpg towing a GCVW of 30,000#, but with only towing 5k#, it will consisitantly deliver 15 MPG. I change oil and filters (air and fuel) every yr, not what I would call EXPENSIVE or burdensome to maintain.
VINTAGE CUMMINS?.....WHAT DID YOU SAY?..... CAN YOU PLEASE TURN OFF THAT LOUD FREAKING MOTOR SO I CAN HEAR YOU BETTER?....
I know that a gasser will never tow as good as a diesel but the 6.8 will do anything you want as long as you are willing to pay at the pump. And while it may not go 1 million miles, the V10 should go 300K easily.
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