Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 94 3500 dump...what to expect compared to my 97 dually?

[Trusty Steed]

I have a 97 Dually 4x4 with auto and cummins. I love it to death! Just a dream of a truck, and makes my 95 Ford Powerbroke seem like a tin can.



Anyway I am looking at buying a dump truck for my business. I may be able to get a 94 3500 with 9ft dump, 90,000 miles and is 2wd auto. I am sure it is more then adequate to pull a load in the bed and a 7,000 lb trailer which it will be expected to do day in day out city and highway. I believe the transmissions in these were in some way inferrior to the one originally in my 97, but am not sure.



I would like to know what to expect from this truck as a puller, and for maintenance and possible weaknesses compared to my 97.



Thanks in advance

Jay

 

[bmoeller]

I have a 97 Dually 4x4 with auto and cummins. I love it to death! Just a dream of a truck, and makes my 95 Ford Powerbroke seem like a tin can.



Big improvement isn't it? My 6. 9L in the '86 is a dog compared to what my truck was when stock. :-laf



Anyway I am looking at buying a dump truck for my business. I may be able to get a 94 3500 with 9ft dump, 90,000 miles and is 2wd auto. I am sure it is more then adequate to pull a load in the bed and a 7,000 lb trailer which it will be expected to do day in day out city and highway. I believe the transmissions in these were in some way inferrior to the one originally in my 97, but am not sure.



IIRC, the '94 is rated at 160hp/400 tq, and the '97 is 180/420. The '94 will get you there, but not a fast as a '96-'98. 4 truck with a manual transmission (215/420). They all can be turned up for more power. I did.



I would like to know what to expect from this truck as a puller, and for maintenance and possible weaknesses compared to my 97.



They are pretty much on par with each other, for the most part. The '97 does have better brakes than the '94. Both have the KDP to contend with (easy fix ). The '94 is 2wd, so ot won't have the same front-end issues as the 4wd trucks do.

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