While an HDT will out pull any pick up truck all of MR. Cobs analysis is based on his 2003 model. Pick ups have improved and increased capacities and features quite a lot since 2003. A 2013 DRW diesel from any of the big three will not struggle pulling Mr. Cobbs rig.
I agree they will not compare to the HDT but they will be night and day vs. the 03
You are correct. With around 800 foot pounds of torque for the big three now under the hood things are a little different than back in 2003. We cannot ignore the fact that the HDT has about twice that torque. However, even today the highest pickup tow ratings/payload ratings are for stripped non- optioned regular cab models and most of us want some options and crew cabs. With the HDT none of that matters. The only real minus I see with an HDT is the daily driver part of it. Maybe an F550 could have done the towing job in a very satisfactory manner (or any MDT) and still be used as a daily driver but that is not the option the OP took and I think for towing he has the optimum rig. And with the automatic transmission driving it should not be any more of an issue than any pickup.
I am glad to see the pickup truck manufacturers are making heavier duty trucks for both the construction trades and RV's. The emergence of heavy toyhaulers sort of upped the RV towing game and most
stock pickups prior to 2003 were not really up to continually towing 18,000 pounds all day every day. Even today's pickup with a 30,000 pound tow rating is still just over a third of the 80,000 pound HDT rating. There
really is a huge difference.
