What should I do?

[camsv3500]

I was ready to buy about 2 months ago and started the "custom order a 6. 7. . or buy a 5. 9. "... .

after much searching. . many bids. . alot of research I came back to the 5. 9...



It appears I may have made the right choice. . I am NOT hearing good real life mileage number out of the 6. 7...



add the financial incentive of buying a new 5. 9 quadcab vs a 6. 7 reg cab (30,500 with a brake(stock bed so far) vs 45,000 SRW/CC(flatbed with boxes) it became a no brainer



Looking in the engine bay and underneath the 6. 7 did not inspire confidence about the add ons. . I think it will take millions of miles and many sold units before it cleans up and we know some true answers. . I love that it is cleaner for the environment... but I equate it to smog controls of 73... it took the auto companies a while to integrate everything into a neat package... when you look under the 6. 7 and see all the stuff on the exhaust,, man,, I wouldnt want to have to replace anything where I had to pay for it



Fortunately guys like Jim are blazing the trial. . opps I mean trail... for us and we will get some real life info starting to roll in soon...



see my buying experiences... over in the 6. 7 forums. . I have several different posts

 

[SLightfoot]

Great info guys - thank you.



I am now leaning more towards the 5. 9L.



I'm hoping that I can add about 80-100 extra ponies without having to go in and replace the stock clutch, like had to do with my '99.

Hopefully the new stock clutches have a bit more margin than the '99 era's did.



Shawn

 

[Bekim]

It's not quite as bad as it sounds - Hitch weight is 2050 lbs and trailer weight is 11,900 lbs.

At least according to the GVWR and GCWR specs on the Dodge website for the 3500 SRW, it should be well within the limits.
They spec 2700 lbs payload weight and 23,000 lbs combined trailer weight.
We don't travel with water tanks filled and pack pretty light, so this should be fine, no?

A loaded 40 ft 5'er is going to weigh far more than 11,900 lbs. I know people with 32-34 footers that weigh in at nearly 15,000 unloaded. Put in the rail, quads, 100 gallons of water, 5 people, full tank of fuel... ... . you're up there.
Get the DRW 3500 at least. I'd look into a Topkick with that kind of towing.
And drive some economy car for the daily driver! Time to change from 8,000 lbs daily driver to 3,000 lbs daily driver!!
Mike

 

[Balzac]

Shawn

I do live in Balzac area, but am in AZ till April.

Are you near Dunbow Rd. ?



Jim

 

[pwerwagn]

Not true. Dana 70 on the 2500, and Dana 80 on the 3500 in 1999. The only way a 2nd gen 2500 came with a Dana 80 was if it was a 2500HD, which I believe only came as a regular cab long bed.

Are you sure? My 98 has a dana 80 in the rear (2500 5-speed) and my buddy's 2000 has a dana 80 rear (2500 5-speed).

Unless the 99's are different, all trucks that were 5-speed had the dana 80 rear.



--Jeff

 

[LEPage]

It's not quite as bad as it sounds - Hitch weight is 2050 lbs and trailer weight is 11,900 lbs.



At least according to the GVWR and GCWR specs on the Dodge website for the 3500 SRW, it should be well within the limits.

They spec 2700 lbs payload weight and 23,000 lbs combined trailer weight.

We don't travel with water tanks filled and pack pretty light, so this should be fine, no?

I'd be more scared of a 40' 5er that only weighs 11,900# than what i was going to pull it with. If those weights are correct, I'd be wondering about the construction of the coach. If it really weighs under 12K, I'd pull it with the '99.

 

[Duluth Diesel]

Hmm, I'm getting educated. I always thought that 2500 trucks had Dana 70 rears, unless it is an HD 2500. Was it a manual trans thing that gave them the 80? That seems backwards in a way, since auto trucks tended to have a higher towing capacity.



Hmm.....

 

[BarlowCummins]

Shawn, I have the Hot Edge Juice with Attitude and on the top 2 settings which I think is 120 and 180 I can make the clutch slip. This is also after 75,000 on the clutch with the juice, but on levels 1-4 which I think is 40 -100 hp I can not make it slip at all.

 

[SLightfoot]

Shawn, I have the Hot Edge Juice with Attitude and on the top 2 settings which I think is 120 and 180 I can make the clutch slip. This is also after 75,000 on the clutch with the juice, but on levels 1-4 which I think is 40 -100 hp I can not make it slip at all.

Thanks for the info. Looks like I'll be OK with moderate HP increase.

I'd be more scared of a 40' 5er that only weighs 11,900# than what i was going to pull it with. If those weights are correct, I'd be wondering about the construction of the coach. If it really weighs under 12K, I'd pull it with the '99.

I've given the build construction a thorough checkout, and it's a welded one piece aluminum frame on all sides. Well built, but they can build 'em lighter now than they used to be able to for sure.



I'm looking forward to the 4 wheel discs though... .



Shawn

 

[pwerwagn]

Hmm, I'm getting educated. I always thought that 2500 trucks had Dana 70 rears, unless it is an HD 2500. Was it a manual trans thing that gave them the 80? That seems backwards in a way, since auto trucks tended to have a higher towing capacity.



Hmm.....

Yup, an 80 was available on 5-speeds, 70 on autos.



And actually, the 5-speeds are sometimes rated to tow more. For example:

2001 capacities:

2500

A4/3. 55---9,300lb tow

M5/3. 55---13,250 tow

A4/4. 10---11,300 tow

M5/4. 10---13,250 tow

having the 6-speed decreased tow cap 200lbs over the 5-speed.



3500 all capacities are reduced except:

A4/4. 10-- 12,000 tow

M6/4. 10-- 14,300 tow



--Jeff