thinkin about jumping ship .....

[JHardwick]

Depending on your loaded weight, I'd just put a Kelderman air-ride on the Ram, and they have a kit for trailers, too. Can get air-ride seats with low profile suspension that will sit lower than your stock seat when the air is out of the bag. All those together, should ride like a Caddy.

I've talked with my road tractor mechanic about putting a big compressor with bags on the truck and the trailer ... ... ... 3-5 gallon tank and quick disconnect in the bed. Thing is, the Dodge won't make into a bed in the back seat.



I could get a mega cab, do all the air-ride mods and rip out the fold flat to make a bed of sorts ... ... ... . but, it just seems like the Chevy would be more comfy. I only get 4-6 hours of sleep a day on the road, I'd like it to be quality sleep :-laf



The 4x4 is an issue, but I can get 4x4 in the 4500 Chevy too.



Oh, I don't have a CDL and don't want one. 26,000 is the majic number.

 

[AKaiser]

The International Trucks CXT spec with a DT466 or DT570. If you get that little MXT, which gets the VT365, the base for the Power Choke. The RXT gets a MaxxForce 7 V8. That's the 6. 4 L version. A true Medium Duty 4300 LoProfile comes with the DT466. The DT466 has one of the longest, most storied histories in modern Diesel history. IH tractors with DT motors were known to be the best pulling and easiest to make a puller, owing to their cross flow head design the Deeres didn't have at the time.

 

[SAndreasen]

if you are only hauling 26k why buy that piece of crap

 

[JHardwick]

if you are only hauling 26k why buy that piece of crap

Now see, this is the kind of intelligent, well thought out, insight, that I keep re-upping my subscription to hear:-laf

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Now see, this is the kind of intelligent, well thought out, insight, that I keep re-upping my subscription to hear:-laf

:-laf :-laf :-laf



YUP - why EVERYONE knows all we DC fans need do is trot down to the local dealership and get the truck Dodge makes in that class...



Predjudice often isn't just blind - sometimes it ain't too SMART, either! :-laf :-laf



And I sorta liked THIS one too:

It's a shame the American truck has a japanese engine. Other than that & I'd be interested.

. . all that ignoring that the Dodges are made in Mexico, the tires are from a French owned maker, and the engines can easily be sourced out of the USA as well, etc. , etc. - yeah, by all means, let's "Buy American"...

 

[JHardwick]

I will say, those Internationals look like the way to go for medium duty. And, I'm only really looking for the cab space.



I thought about one of them toter-homes, but they can get pretty heavy too.



I guess, I'll eventually have to break down and do the CDL test.

 

[JHardwick]

Predjudice often isn't just blind - sometimes it ain't too SMART, either! :-laf :-laf

LOL, y'aint gettin no agrument here :-laf

 

[Forrest Nearing]

:-laf :-laf :-laf



YUP - why EVERYONE knows all we DC fans need do is trot down to the local dealership and get the truck Dodge makes in that class...



Predjudice often isn't just blind - sometimes it ain't too SMART, either! :-laf :-laf

am I missing something? that's a 4500... didn't Dodge come out w/ a 4500 and 5500?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

am I missing something? that's a 4500... didn't Dodge come out w/ a 4500 and 5500?

In the Cab/chassis perhaps, I remember an announcement about them, but haven't seen any on the road though - the GM one pictured seems a bit more "finished" - and one business owner down at the foot of the mountainside we live on has the GM version sorta like the one pointed to in this thread he recently bought to haul his stuff around western states - I was impressed with it's outward appearance when he bought it - guess I'll stop in and ask what he thinks of it...



I wonder if any here has experience or info on any Dodge versions?

 

[Forrest Nearing]

just put a pickup bed on it...



I'm not brand loyal by any means... I'm loyal to the Cummins because I think it's the best powerplant. If it was avail in those Top Kick/Kodiacs, I MIGHT consider, but only if they were the only truck that came with them. I'd rather have a Dodge and just put a bed on it. You can get white take-off beds at any truck outfitter.



but on top of being equipped with an inferior engine, they look like Dumbo in a diaper to me... just ugly and disproportionate

 

[JHardwick]

am I missing something? that's a 4500... didn't Dodge come out w/ a 4500 and 5500?

Yeah, but it's got the same cab as my 3500 Quad cab.

 

[AKaiser]

Just a thought for a tow vehicle for a large 5er travel trailer/horse trailer.



http://www.rvsearch.com/findrv/index.cfm/a-d/tc-36260/vid-291516/

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

just put a pickup bed on it...

but on top of being equipped with an inferior engine, they look like Dumbo in a diaper to me... just ugly and disproportionate

AH - you mean sorta like a Peterbuilt tractor without a trailer attached? :-laf :-laf



C'mon Forrest, put an appropriate load behind it, and it looks just fine!



ON the other hand, the Dodges I've seen in the higher capacities seem undersized by Comparison - sorta like the the Little locomotive that HOPED it could...



In addition, if I read the latest TDR correctly that just came today, it sounds like DC's focus is on regular and Quad Cabs for the 4500/5500 - not good news for larger familes or RV towers needing full cab access and capacity...



Even in the TDR piece, it was admitted that Ford and GM were well ahead in build options on their versions...

 

[JHardwick]

I love my Dodge, in fact my last 2 Dodges ... ... ... ... . but spending a week or 2on the road at a time, leaves a little to be desired.



I dunno

 

[hilda]

Having the same thought

Has anyone thought about an FL 60 Freightliner for a puller? CTD allison with air ride, chassis and cab.


1998. 5, 2500, Auto, Quad Cab, LWB, 2wd, 3:55 rear, BD Torqloc/Exhaust brake, AFE Stage 2, bhaf and JuiceW/Attitude in the wings.

1998 25' Aljo 5th wheel

New toy 2005 38' Cedar Creek.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

We all - including me - laughed at the GM Duramaxes with their aluminum heads - but power-wise they are making their mark on the road and in competition - and I sure haven't heard unusual horror stories as to durability or lifespan with them, either...

 

[Forrest Nearing]

AH - you mean sorta like a Peterbuilt tractor without a trailer attached? :-laf :-laf



C'mon Forrest, put an appropriate load behind it, and it looks just fine!



ON the other hand, the Dodges I've seen in the higher capacities seem undersized by Comparison - sorta like the the Little locomotive that HOPED it could...



In addition, if I read the latest TDR correctly that just came today, it sounds like DC's focus is on regular and Quad Cabs for the 4500/5500 - not good news for larger familes or RV towers needing full cab access and capacity...



Even in the TDR piece, it was admitted that Ford and GM were well ahead in build options on their versions...

you make some good points... I guess I've never seen one of those things actually "working". They always have a pickup bed on them, and it's some trust-fund redneck tooling around in it... no trailer in sight.



oh, and FYI, I think a bobtailing Pete is still a FINE lookin' rig!



heck, I think if they did something different w/ the mirrors, I'd like it better

 

[jnelson]

there is a lady hot-shotter here in Corpus christi thats trying to sell hers. It is the same thing your looking at but in silver. It is an 06 so it will have a lot fewer miles.



Reason she's selling it, it is a peice of junk. she cant keep it out of the shop.



But if your interested, drop me a pm.