Burbman Crosses over to the Dark Side....
The Burb has been a trusty TV for many years but sadly she won't carry our truck camper. After launching a nationwide search I was lucky to find our new truck just a few hours away in NJ. Wasn't l...
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BurbMan wrote:
So I guess it's time to sell the Burb. They are super rare to find with the 8.1 anymore.
I've been a Ford man all my life but switched to a Chevy when I bought my current truck.
I towed this snowcat several winters with a 2007 1-ton dually regular cab with the 8.1L Vortec and 3:73 gears. That's the truck in the picture taken in Jan 2019.
Total combined weight was close to 27,000 pounds. 5000 over what the truck was rated for.
I totaled the truck when a boulder rolled off a hill onto the HWY right in front of me in a blizzard while I was towing the cat. That was pretty exciting. ;)
This is the truck they replaced it with. A 2009 F-450 with the 6.4L diesel. It is a "heavy duty" which gave it 4:88 gears and it added 2500 lbs to the GVW over other F-450s with higher gear ratios.
What a pile of junk. :M
Climbing up HWY 24 towards Fishlake both trucks climbed the steep grades within just a couple of MPH of each other.
They both got 4.5 mpg towing the cat.
The 8.1 got about 12 mpg empty on the HWY.
The 6.4L for 9.5 mpg.
The F-450 LIVES in the shop. Its in there right now.
Due to the added wheel base, weight and limited slip in the rear the F-450 did "handle" the weight better and was more aggressive than the Chevy when the conditions got bad.
Those old 8.1L were pretty impressive for an old gasser.
I have no doubt that you will really enjoy your new Dodge.
Congrats on your new truck and camper. :C
