Forum Discussion

mhawk4's avatar
mhawk4
Explorer
Apr 15, 2017

towing with older diesel trucks

Good day people, I am in the process of looking for a pick up truck with a diesel engine (older model), also looking to not break the bank with the purchase. I will still have my excursion to tow my TT (my sig). Would not mind to have a diesel to tow as second vehicle.

Question for the members towing 1998 to 2003 5.9 cummins or 7.3 power strokes. How much weight are you towing or towed in the past with these types of trucks. I have never owned a diesel before.

Yesterday i was looking at a 1998 dodge DRW with a 5.9 cummins, how much will be able to tow with a truck like that?

please keep it civilized...thanks
Tow Vehicles
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Apr 15, 2017
    Quad Cab 4X2......
    GVWR---10,500#
    GCVWR--20,000#
    Tow ---13,450#

    Quad Cab 4X4.....
    GVWR ---11,000#
    GCVWR --20,000#
    Tow ---=13,000#
  • Stefonius's avatar
    Stefonius
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2017
    I have a 2003 F450 chassis cab dually with a 7.3 powerstroke. I tow a 15,000# fifth wheel without issue.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Apr 15, 2017
    Either diesel was a dependable engine, the transmissions were the weak link, if used for heavy towing.

    Jerry
  • 4x4ord's avatar
    4x4ord
    Explorer III
    Apr 15, 2017
    My brother had a 98 Ram with that horrible diesel engine in it. We had to listen to him come driving into the campground at 11:00 at night. I think the campgrounds should outlaw those old Cummins engines. They got much quieter in 03 I believe.
  • KD4UPL's avatar
    KD4UPL
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2017
    If you go for the Dodge I'd get a manual transmission. Those automatics were terrible.
    Either the 5.9 or the 7.3 was a pretty good engine.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Apr 15, 2017
    The auto's in the Dodge's of that era were not terrible. They were only bad if the power was increased without upgrading the trans. I personally put more than 100K on one that was unmodified but had extra power form the eng.
    Also that 98 Cummins was a great engine. If it was loud it was because the timing had been advanced, which gives a big boost in power. Otherwise that is a dead reliable engine.
  • Tom_Barb's avatar
    Tom_Barb
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2017
    5.9 Cummins is the best engine out there, yes it is noisy, but our 2002 RW 2500 would pull anything and every thing we hooked to it. we normally pulled a 14,000 pound equipment trailer with it. 157,000 miles and nary a problem, and it averaged 20 MPG. I wish I had that truck back.
  • Tom_Barb's avatar
    Tom_Barb
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2017
    KD4UPL wrote:
    If you go for the Dodge I'd get a manual transmission. Those automatics were terrible.
    Either the 5.9 or the 7.3 was a pretty good engine.

    We never had a problem, And I know many others that had no problems either.

    That bad rep. was mostly internet gossip.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Apr 15, 2017
    Well I will duck all the weight police after this post!
    2001 Ram 2500 4X4 CTD 5.9 with NV 4500 and 3.55 rear end with Camper Package and optional 265/75-16E tires.
    We added a small 50 hp/140 lb. ft. Of torque chip.
    Towing a 32' 12,360# GVWR Copper Canyon
    19,500# GCVW
    Well over TV GVWR, needs no help to stay level.

  • campingken's avatar
    campingken
    Explorer
    Apr 15, 2017
    We have owned a 2003 Dodge 3500 SRW 4x4 5.9 since we bought it new. It has 180,000 on it and probably 80,000 of the miles are from towing (a travel trailer and a 2 horse trailer). Per the manual it will tow a 15,000 pound 5th wheel.

    Our Dodge has the weak link 47RE auto trans and we rebuilt it at 140,000. The trans was working fine but we decided to be proactive and not wait until there was a problem. The rebuild, with a new heavier Bullet torque converter, was $2500.

    We are very happy with the truck.

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