How old is too old?
There always seems to be a question posted every so many days that asks "need a new/replacement TV, what about this..." The answers that the usual suspects provide are always pretty good IMO. I'd...
Forum Discussion
i have held fast to my position that an f150 or 1500 is not a TOW VEHICLE .
there are many who get all upset over this .
towing a big square box is the toughest service that any of these pickups / suv's will encounter .
towing an rv is done at the Maximum capabilities of an f150 / 1500 .
this reduces service life .
if you go to a tire shop and observe an f150/1500 with it's wheels off and then compare that to and f250/2500 you will see that the 3/4 ton has Four Large / Thick / Ventilated disk brakes that fill the entire wheel diameter . The 1/2 ton brakes are sometimes drums on the rears , which are worthless for RV usage .
i have a 2002 duramax hd 2500 purchased new .
the maintenance costs have been in line with a 1500 because i am able to get it serviced where the charges do not include the " diesel truck fee " that some chains want to charge . that requires some shopping is required .
i am still on my original brakes . the big brakes do not get worked in every day usage .
plus with the 5 speed allison transmission i frequently use a lower gear ascending with diesel compression .
i have not replaced the diesel injectors .
i have replaced the diesel fuel filter on the recommended schedule.
i have fully drained and replaced the tranny fluid and both filters .
i have fully drained and replaced the coolant .
i have replaced both batteries with Exide Edge AGM batteries .
i use michelin LT 265/75R16 load range E tires that i inflate to 50 psi for normal usage and 65 psi for towing/hauling .
i get about 60,000 miles by that upgrade, to one size larger tire .
i was in the habit of buying a brand new truck every 5 years since my first new car which was a 1972 Suburban big block 402 .
this diesel was ahead of it's time when introduced .
4 huge disk brakes , huge radiator, big driveline components , allison transmission , big rear axle , and at 520 foot pounds torque , well under the design limits of the block and transmission capabilities .
the later models feature 765 # torque from the same components .
so at 520 # the old components are not taxed , even at max usage.
i have many rv friends .
some powerstrokers and some cummins owners .
the life expectancy of all of these diesels is twice that of the equivalent half ton .
heavy duty used lightly = longevity .
there are many who get all upset over this .
towing a big square box is the toughest service that any of these pickups / suv's will encounter .
towing an rv is done at the Maximum capabilities of an f150 / 1500 .
this reduces service life .
if you go to a tire shop and observe an f150/1500 with it's wheels off and then compare that to and f250/2500 you will see that the 3/4 ton has Four Large / Thick / Ventilated disk brakes that fill the entire wheel diameter . The 1/2 ton brakes are sometimes drums on the rears , which are worthless for RV usage .
i have a 2002 duramax hd 2500 purchased new .
the maintenance costs have been in line with a 1500 because i am able to get it serviced where the charges do not include the " diesel truck fee " that some chains want to charge . that requires some shopping is required .
i am still on my original brakes . the big brakes do not get worked in every day usage .
plus with the 5 speed allison transmission i frequently use a lower gear ascending with diesel compression .
i have not replaced the diesel injectors .
i have replaced the diesel fuel filter on the recommended schedule.
i have fully drained and replaced the tranny fluid and both filters .
i have fully drained and replaced the coolant .
i have replaced both batteries with Exide Edge AGM batteries .
i use michelin LT 265/75R16 load range E tires that i inflate to 50 psi for normal usage and 65 psi for towing/hauling .
i get about 60,000 miles by that upgrade, to one size larger tire .
i was in the habit of buying a brand new truck every 5 years since my first new car which was a 1972 Suburban big block 402 .
this diesel was ahead of it's time when introduced .
4 huge disk brakes , huge radiator, big driveline components , allison transmission , big rear axle , and at 520 foot pounds torque , well under the design limits of the block and transmission capabilities .
the later models feature 765 # torque from the same components .
so at 520 # the old components are not taxed , even at max usage.
i have many rv friends .
some powerstrokers and some cummins owners .
the life expectancy of all of these diesels is twice that of the equivalent half ton .
heavy duty used lightly = longevity .
