Max Tow test by TDR Issue 75

[NIsaacs]

You have any pics of your truck Nick? I've seen a few trucks on youtube with twin-sticks and they were fun to watch as the drivers row thru the gears.

I do, thank you for asking These were when it was first completed.



Nick

 

[mwilson]

I do, thank you for asking These were when it was first completed.



Nick

Very Nice!!!!



Now, about that 10 speed... ..... Oo.



Mike.

 

[NIsaacs]

Does anyone know if the 3500/5500 C/C trucks have been upgraded beyond the 26,000 GCW? The last time I looked I could not find an update. I will be kind of silly if the 3500 max tow pickup will out tow the bigger trucks.



Nick

 

[HBarlow]

I was a subscriber of Truck Trends for a year or two when it was new. I cancelled and forgot about it years ago. I don't even read the comparisons and have no interest in them. I don't think they are credible or trustworthy.

When I was transporting several years ago my high mileage '01, factory original except for Bosch 275 injectors, would outpull any Furd or GM up any grade in the country. I never sought them out or tried to race them, I just moved over to the left lane and motored past them when they were holding up traffic.

I have no idea what GMs and Furds will do now and don't care. I also place no trust and confidence in the magazine comparison reports. Ram and Cummins are both conservative in nature. I assume they send over an ordinary production Ram for the journalists. We have no way of knowing whether GM and Furd adjusted power up for the trucks they sent to compete.

My Dodge only produces 305 hp and 610 torque and it pulls my 14k lb HH over any grade I encounter at highway speed. I'm satisfied. Let Furd and GM claim anything they wish. It doesn't effect my truck or my wallet.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Nick,



Looking at the photo of the Cummins in your Ford, is that air box with the Cummins "C" on it a water cooled CAC?



Bill

 

[NIsaacs]

Bill



Yes, it is a factory 1990 CPL 856, 180hp. /457trq. Industrial 6BTA 5. 9 crate engine. Notice the belt driven vacuum pump in front of the #1 valve cover.



You will probably recognize the power steering reservoir, it is off a 1972 IHC 7400, also the small air tank, it is off the same truck, originally used for one emergency maxi brake release.



I probably zoomed past Harvey a few times in this big rig back in the day



Nick

 

[JMetzger]

If you look around you see a lot of articles about Ford putting in the Cummins engines & a few Chevy's putting in The Cummins engine but you do not see any people putting in that piece of crap Power Stroke or the Duramax in other cars or trucks.

 

[Mark31]

The only engines available in Ford 650/750s are their V10 gasser and the Cummins 6. 7. Even Ford apparently knows when you want tried and true, heavy duty, git-er-done diesel power, go to Cummins. That, to me, says it all. Mark

 

[HBarlow]

Bill

Yes, it is a factory 1990 CPL 856, 180hp. /457trq. Industrial 6BTA 5. 9 crate engine. Notice the belt driven vacuum pump in front of the #1 valve cover.

You will probably recognize the power steering reservoir, it is off a 1972 IHC 7400, also the small air tank, it is off the same truck, originally used for one emergency maxi brake release.

I probably zoomed past Harvey a few times in this big rig back in the day

Nick

You should have waved or given me the middle finger salute so I'd know I know you.

 

[AH64ID]

Does anyone know if the 3500/5500 C/C trucks have been upgraded beyond the 26,000 GCW? The last time I looked I could not find an update. I will be kind of silly if the 3500 max tow pickup will out tow the bigger trucks.



Nick

Some of the 4500's/5500's go to 30,000 lbs, the 3500 C&C is still 26,000 which is the same as the non max tow 3500 DRW's with 4. 10's (if that's still even an option).

 

[NIsaacs]

Some of the 4500's/5500's go to 30,000 lbs, the 3500 C&C is still 26,000 which is the same as the non max tow 3500 DRW's with 4. 10's (if that's still even an option).

Thanks AH, I was just curious and was wondering. I haven't seen any news or heard anything about the bigger trucks. It's kind of a competition thing I guess with personal use vehicles so Dodge used the smallest of the 4 duallys to jump up the GCW. They probably figure the commercial guys with the C/C's will haul heavy anyway.



Nick

 

[TLane]

X4 on the 10 speed manual - see my avatar over there? That's my (dream) shift knob...

 

[Bill Stockard]

Bill



Yes, it is a factory 1990 CPL 856, 180hp. /457trq. Industrial 6BTA 5. 9 crate engine. Notice the belt driven vacuum pump in front of the #1 valve cover.



You will probably recognize the power steering reservoir, it is off a 1972 IHC 7400, also the small air tank, it is off the same truck...





Nick

Yep, I saw the belt driven vacuum pump and that power steering reservoir looked famaliar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen it and what it was mounted on. Thanks for jogging my memory... it's been a while.



Bill

 

[MA2LA]

One thing have found in my 2011 is that the transmission does not always down shift. The 6. 7 does like to rev a bit and al it takes is a tap of the shifter button and it down shifts and picks up speed. Now I haven't towed as heavy or in the mountains they tested in but its been damn impressive even compared to my bombed 06 . When I tow heavy I'm between 21 and 24k cgvw and I do not baby it one bit last year I came east on 68 through pa,Ohio and MD running about 22k and decided to see what it would do and it really impressed me and would run 80 plus if I wanted and I had to slow down to wait for cars to get out of the way.
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[WStephens]

I have had not trouble keeping up or passing Ford or Chevy trucks in the high country of UT, WY and CO pulling my 40' 18K gross 5th wheel with my '12 Max Tow 3500. I shift my transmission manually towing or not. I have had one guy with a Ford towing a light 5th wheel and a Jeep pull over at the top of one pass to let me pass because he was tired of me pushing him up the pass. In NM I was able to pass a Ford pulling a 40 car hauler with not trouble and stay a head of him on all the hills

In the high passes in CO you don't even see Chevy trucks towing heavy just Ford or Rams.

 

[promisedland]

Great article! I read it all. Lots of balance to 'bragging' rights.
I have the 48RE and while i like the set up for D.D. when it comes to towing the gears are [3-4] soooo far apart! 68rfe or the Aisin would be real nice!

I really wish for a better TC lock-up set up. Sooner and able to stay on when coasting down hill. I'll prob do something with a box or DIY TC switch.

 

[SnoKing]

Yep, our old 2001.5 with mods towed the 5th wheel pretty good with 4:10's, however it was missing a second overdrive and a gear between 3rd and OD. Or lower transmission gears in first and second and taller rear end. I called it "gear bound"! When I cam out of OD on mountain passes, I had to slow down a lot to keep it a comfortable RPM range. I see the Aisin and 3.42 in the new truck doing much better in that regard. SNOKING

 

[MarkEkberg]

Yep, our old 2001.5 with mods towed the 5th wheel pretty good with 4:10's, however it was missing a second overdrive and a gear between 3rd and OD. Or lower transmission gears in first and second and taller rear end. I called it "gear bound"! When I cam out of OD on mountain passes, I had to slow down a lot to keep it a comfortable RPM range. I see the Aisin and 3.42 in the new truck doing much better in that regard. SNOKING

I got caught up in the HP wars in the 90's when I had my 96 Stroke. Liked it, put injectors and chips in it. Pulled incredible for its day, and was super reliable. Most I towed with it was 20K which was way over for the rated amount. It worked very hard and it was tough keeping egt's in line. Then Ford ruined everything with the 6.0. Bought my used 03, put a smarty in it and will not do anything else power wise. Recently was over 40K combined weight and it did amazing well. I went up a 10 mile 9% grade at 27mph. I can't ask for anything more and really don't want more.

The poor saps buy the new unreliable crap can have it. I will put another 100K on it and then start looking for another 03/04 with 200K or so like mine when I bought it. HP and TQ mean nothing to me. Winning one race means nothing, getting there every time means everything.

 

[6speed]

Markekberg, I'll be lookin for you when I get ready to sell my 04 305/555 6-Sp when and if I decide to ever sell it which has 240K on it now. Until I even start to have problems, it is not going anywhere any time soon. Like you it tow's everything, anything and goes up and down the highway. I'm not racing, just steady pulling all my wagons when and where I want to go. I have taken VERY, VERY good care of it. It sits in the man cave when not in use along with the Harleys. I open the hood every now then just to admire that awesome pulling power plant bolted between the frame rails. Sure I would love a 385/900 Asian (SP?) with all the bells and whistles. Just not in the budget at this time. Retiring in about 2 1/2 yrs and maybe by then it will be
400/1000 rating. Ok I have cooled down now. Merry X-Mas