6.4cor 6.7?

[Flashman]

Fell in love with the Host Mammoth Truck Camper. So am in market for a 3500 DRW - my 2500 Mega short bed has been great but it will not hold the BIG camper.

I was all ready to get the Cummins but then realized I might be happier with the 6.4 gasser - more payload.

Any thoughts?

[jerem0621]

Grit dog wrote:
If you get the gasser then plan on keeeping it til the wheels fall off if you're concerned about overall cost (which you are or you wouldn't be asking about the cheaper option).
Reason being, aint nobody wants to buy a used dually gasser. May as well be a Ford Exploder from the Firestone days.......

Yes it will get you where you're going safely though.

That is totally not true! There will be plenty of people willing to give 10k less for a gasser Dually 😉

I know I did. When I bought my 99 F350 CC Dually 2WD the 7.3 PSD versions were selling for way more than $15,000.00. I bought my Gasser v10 Dually for $5,500.00. And the body and interior were nearly perfect.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[Me_Again]

Cummins and Aisin tranny. 3.42's will make a Freeway cruiser. Run loaded in 5th. I tow at over 24k combined with 3.42's with a 3500 SRW.

Tall gears will hurt resale a bit, but not extremely like the gasser. Chris

[Cummins12V98]

Bedlam wrote:
A large camper filled and loaded can be a 6000 lb payload. If you tow behind something like this, it will be with a 3-4' extension which also loads up the rear axle. Depending on your tongue weight, you can overload a Dana 80 or AAM 11.5" rear axle. Almost no weight transfers to the front axle and sometimes the front axle can actually unload some weight.

My pin on my 5er is about 6K and that puts me at my RAWR, there is also about 900# available on the front axle for some of that camper. Hook a boat or enclosed trailer behind that and go have fun!

[Grit_dog]

If you get the gasser then plan on keeeping it til the wheels fall off if you're concerned about overall cost (which you are or you wouldn't be asking about the cheaper option).
Reason being, aint nobody wants to buy a used dually gasser. May as well be a Ford Exploder from the Firestone days.......

Yes it will get you where you're going safely though.

[Bedlam]

A large camper filled and loaded can be a 6000 lb payload. If you tow behind something like this, it will be with a 3-4' extension which also loads up the rear axle. Depending on your tongue weight, you can overload a Dana 80 or AAM 11.5" rear axle. Almost no weight transfers to the front axle and sometimes the front axle can actually unload some weight.

[Cummins12V98]

Flashman wrote:
Less payload

OK, how much does a BIG Camper weigh? How much of that weight will transfer to the front axle? How much to the rear? THAT is what matters! A 3500 Dually's PAYLOAD is based on a irrelevant 14K GVWR that is placed on these trucks to keep them in the Class 3 segment to save on licensing and insurance.

[ib516]

I towed a 12k 5er with my 6.4L Hemi, and, as most of you know, I was completely happy with the performance.

I was about 21,000# GCW and it did just fine. 5th gear at 2200 RPMs on the flats, and 2nd or 3rd at 5000 RPM plus on the steep grades, but able to hold 60 mph. On all but the steepest mountain grades, I could accelerate (albeit slowly) if I wanted to. I wouldn't judge the 6.4L Hemi based on the "Ike" video as that was completely the opposite of my experience.

If the TC you will be hauling will be ~6000# and you'll be adding another ~3500# behind the rig, you'll be at ~10K lbs.

I think you'll be fine.

This was my set up.

[billyray50]

Bedlam wrote:
My Host Mammoth is 4712 lbs dry. By the time you add 60 gallons of water, occupants and personal gear, you're pushing 6000 lbs. The 3500 will be able to carry it, but don't plan on towing anything with tongue weight at the same time using that truck.

The 6.4 Hemi will do fine just carrying around the high profile camper even if it does sing pulling grades. If you plan to tow behind this combination, you need to look at the 6.7 CTD. Although the gasser is lighter than the diesel, all the weight is up front. In real world use, that rear axle will be loaded about the same regardless of your engine choice.

X2....

[ACZL]

Sounds like the 6.7 is the winner.

[Grit_dog]

Don't let the payload scare you out of a diesel if you have the means. Diesel pickup will haul just as much weight safely (arguably safer in some conditions) as a comparable gasser.

[Flashman]

Less payload

[blofgren]

I would go with the 6.7L CTD without a doubt. Yes they are more up front but the effortless towing/hauling power, awesome exhaust brake, good fuel economy, and excellent resale value make it a no brainer in my mind.

[ScottG]

The Diesel is a lot more up front but you get it back in the end.
Meanwhile, you get to enjoy the torque of the mighty Cummins.

The 6.4 is a great platform too. I have one in my SRT and it rocks!

[PAThwacker]

mega useless.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

If you are towing in the mountains a lot I would get the oil burner. Why? Because of videos like this. (Go to about 16 minutes if you get bored.)

Less than 30 MPH up hill. That's not fun. Been there done that and got the T-shirt.

A non supercharged engine loses a lot of HP if you are high up. A TD loses next to nothing.

It just depends on what you tow and where you tow.