why no dodge wreckers???

[CFowler]

im tryin to talk sence to my brother in law,but he got his eye on the f-350. he did burn me on only one thing though. how come we dont see dodge wreckers? i didnt know . anybodt tell me? thanks carl

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Last I heard, the Dodge frame was not accepted or certified by many of the wrecker bed installers for installation - should only be an issue for those wanting to get in the wrecker business to clean the broken down Fords off the freeways...



I sure know it's not an issue with me...



ON the other hand, ask yer Bro-in-law why you hafta go clear up to a Ford 650 to be able to get the SAME Cummins WE get in our 2500-3500 trucks - aren't the Ford 250-350's GOOD enough to rate a Cummins?



God only knows their miserable 6. 0's can't cut it!

 

[David Oxland]

I think broken down vehicles feel more comforted seeing one of their own coming to pick them up; (Sorry, cheap shot)

 

[RACE427]

Dodge Wrecker

There is a Cummins powered Dodge RAM wrecker in the town next to mine. It is usually seen at a local service station. They are out there just not is great numbers.

 

[Rattler]

Friend of mine has a wrecker service and has a couple of dodge wreckers. He is not a dodge man, but has really gotten good service from his trucks.

 

[klenger]

I suspect most wreckers are bigger than 1 ton trucks too.

 

[WyattEarp]

Oo. In North Carolina. there is a wrecker/service station right next to appalachian State Univ. that has 3 dodge wreckers with the cummins, actually had them pick up the armored van one morning when the powerstroke (former company i worked for) fuel filter decided to take a crap on me. to my surprise that wrecker handled that large over weight van very well but He did smile and say thats alot heavier than it looks.

To the best of my knowledge all 3 of those are 6 speeds and they run constantly especially in the winter time.

Oo.

 

[C Schomer]

Why you don't see too many Dodge wreckers??? Because they pull the towed junk apart if not driven nicely!

 

[bmoeller]

There is a Ram wrecker in the town west of me. Has a V-10 in it.

 

[ata]

I use to work for a Service Truck and Body outfit and I'll tell you why you don't see many Dodges used as Service trucks. Weld or Drill the frames end of warranty. Splice in to the Electrical system end of warranty. Theres no room to mount or hang anything under the hood or in the cab. They are a real pain in the A$$ to work on. If a customer wanted and had to have a Dodge it would cost them almost twice as much for the build. I don't know about the 2003 and 2004 Dodges but the1994 to 2002 have weak frames and crap for front ends for Heavy Duty trucks. (But they make a good Pick-up truck) 70% of the trucks we built where FORDS 29. 75% where CHEVS & GMC's . 25% where Dodges. We have shops in Wash. Or. Cal. Nv. Id. so we built a lot of trucks. Sorry guys but it's the truth and the whole truth.

 

[WyattEarp]

I guess it depends on the area you live in, like i posted before, that place has 3 3500's set up as wreckers and i believe they were 98 or 99 models, I asked the guy how they handled when they picked me up that morning and he said that they would handle anything up to a 1 ton but he was surprised that morning when i told him the van he was towing weighed over 9000 lbs. and it handled i perfectly of course the driver in those situations has alot to do with it also(just my opinion).

 

[Will24]

Place near me has a 12valve 4x4 and an 01 24v 4x4 both setup with wheel lifts, the company has 8 trucks, but those two dodges see the most use, pretty neat, everything on them is remote control

 

[bfriskey]

I know what ata is talking about. Worked for a place that built tow trucks. The dodge trucks sucked to put a wrecker body on, I did a few 1st gen trucks and the frames were to wide, had to make custom mounts just to bolt the body's on. The bodys we used were jerdan. The did fit like a glove on the f*#@ though.

Chev no problem, except they all receive new rear springs.

 

[JR2]

I am guessing that the reason is the same as why you don't see many Dodge pickups in the oil field in Alaska. Dodge does not make a plain truck, ford does. The Fords up here come with rubber floors, AM/FM stereo and cloth seats... . plain jane pickups. Dodge does not really want in that market as they have enough troubles keeping up with the demand they have now.



By the way, there are a couple of cummins wreckers here in Anchorage, AK.

 

[Hohn]

YOu won't see Dodge wreckers for a number of reasons:



1) Fleet pricing. No one can touch the low-ball prices Ford gives to fleet to prop up it's "#1 selling" image. Thats why you see so many businesses with Fords.



2) The Dodge just isn't heavy enough. Most wreckers want a 450-size or larger. A 3500 Dodge wrecker isnt too useful. A 5500 Dodge would be!

 

[HENCHR]

My uncle runs a towing service here in NJ. He has been looking for a Dodge wrecker for a while but every time he adds a new truck or rpelaces one the wrecker companies awlays tell him the frame is too weak and too narrow on the Dodge. he even wanted to put Vulcan back on one a few years ago but it would have cost way too much and wasnt worth it. I don't think I have ever seen a Dodge wrecker around here, everything is Ford, even a chevy is rare. The Internationals are by far the most popular now, everything is flatbeds anymore, small tow trucks are far and few these days.

 

[nickleinonen]

there is a rather large towing company near me and a good amount of their fleet is 2nd gen dodge's with the cummins engine, and i believe manual transmissions. they have fords and chevys too. their fleet is probably close to 100 trucks [williams towing out of markham, ontario]

 

[DieselPuter]

I use a 3500

I use a 01 3500 with a www.sneekerlift.com for recovery work, I did have the frame boxed in and added some air bags in the back. My truck will handle anything up to a 1 ton. I use it to tow 4 or 5 cars a day anywhere from in town to 50-60 miles.



Never had a problem with the frame or anyting else for that matter, the unit is driven by a hydro clutch pump mounted over the alternator. The mounting kit i bought from Fleet Pride.



I would love to have a Dynamic or Vulcun unit, but finding one mounted on a dodge is next to impossibile, rather then give up my Dodge and drive a ferd I went with the sneeker lift... ... ... ...



I have a pic of the truck towing a car, just not sure how to post it... ... ...

 

[DGFoster]

there are quite a few around here and diesel too.

 

[Jff24Gordn]

Originally posted by JR2

I am guessing that the reason is the same as why you don't see many Dodge pickups in the oil field in Alaska. Dodge does not make a plain truck, ford does. The Fords up here come with rubber floors, AM/FM stereo and cloth seats... . plain jane pickups. Dodge does not really want in that market as they have enough troubles keeping up with the demand they have now.



By the way, there are a couple of cummins wreckers here in Anchorage, AK.

My truck came with a rubber floor and an AM/FM stereo, manual windows and locks, cloth 40/20/40 seats, behind the seat soreage bins, 4x4 and AC and a 5 speed. Thats it. Ive got a buddy that has the same except a 3500 2x4 with a cloth full bench and no trim behind the seat (no floor rubber, no bins, just sheet metal. ) So how much farther do they strip the ferds up there? 5 gallon buckets for seats and expanded metal for the floor?