Upgrade Tow Vehicle or Power Adders?

[Nick The Great]

How often do you pull the TT and how far?

The gears would be cheap and easy

 

[66nova]

I'll have to agree with most of the people before me. This is coming from someone that has been in very similar shoes. The key difference is I started with a little more truck and a little less trailer.

I started with a 2007 1500 with 6.0 and 3.73 gears. I tow a 27ft car hauler fewer times a year than you are.

I have headers and magnacharger. Airbags and good equalizer hitch. The truck does pretty good and I'm content with it for the frequency I tow, but my dads 2005 Dmax is so much nicer to tow with. Much more relaxing. Doesn't look for gears as often. Set the cruise and go.

I would try gears. If not happy take what you get from your truck. The left over of that $7000 you would have spent and put it into a 3/4 ton.

 

[Bigredmariner]

Keep in mind that a front and rear gear change is gonna cost roughly $2K, unless you are equipped to do it yourself.

 

[stadt11]

How often do you pull the TT and how far?

The gears would be cheap and easy

20-25 times a year, longest distance was last weekend around 500 miles

 

[stadt11]

I'll have to agree with most of the people before me. This is coming from someone that has been in very similar shoes. The key difference is I started with a little more truck and a little less trailer.

I started with a 2007 1500 with 6.0 and 3.73 gears. I tow a 27ft car hauler fewer times a year than you are.

I have headers and magnacharger. Airbags and good equalizer hitch. The truck does pretty good and I'm content with it for the frequency I tow, but my dads 2005 Dmax is so much nicer to tow with. Much more relaxing. Doesn't look for gears as often. Set the cruise and go.

I would try gears. If not happy take what you get from your truck. The left over of that $7000 you would have spent and put it into a 3/4 ton.

That would make a nice down-payment

So is a newer truck with 6.2L w/ 3.42 or 3.73 gears out of the question? I see more recommendations here for a diesel than gasser.

 

[stadt11]

Keep in mind that a front and rear gear change is gonna cost roughly $2K, unless you are equipped to do it yourself.

That would be something I look for an expert to do.

 

[66nova]

I'll have to agree with most of the people before me. This is coming from someone that has been in very similar shoes. The key difference is I started with a little more truck and a little less trailer.



I started with a 2007 1500 with 6.0 and 3.73 gears. I tow a 27ft car hauler fewer times a year than you are.



I have headers and magnacharger. Airbags and good equalizer hitch. The truck does pretty good and I'm content with it for the frequency I tow, but my dads 2005 Dmax is so much nicer to tow with. Much more relaxing. Doesn't look for gears as often. Set the cruise and go.



I would try gears. If not happy take what you get from your truck. The left over of that $7000 you would have spent and put it into a 3/4 ton.

That would make a nice down-payment



So is a newer truck with 6.2L w/ 3.42 or 3.73 gears out of the question? I see more recommendations here for a diesel than gasser.

It's not a bad option, but it's never going to give you ease of towing that the diesel will.

My truck is a beast for a daily driver. It has been dynoed at 500hp 500ftlb of torque at the wheels. It still has NO WHERE near the flat torque curve that a diesel will give you and it gets no where near the mileage that a diesel will while towing.

When I eventually pull the trigger on a new truck it will be a coal burner. It will very possibly be Scott's truck twin.

I also think your $7000 estimate to do what you're talking about is on the low side unless you come across some really good deals.

Magnacharger is the only way to go if you do end up going that route. It will give you the lowest rpm torque curve.

 

[stadt11]

I also think your $7000 estimate to do what you're talking about is on the low side unless you come across some really good deals.

Magnacharger is the only way to go if you do end up going that route. It will give you the lowest rpm torque curve.

I came across a certified used Maggy for just over 4k, but I think you're right as I didn't include the cost of labor for the gear swap.

 

[Black02Silverado]

How often do you pull the TT and how far?

The gears would be cheap and easy

20-25 times a year, longest distance was last weekend around 500 miles

This amount of time towing and distance tells me one thing, you really enjoy camping.

No seriously, it is great that you get out and spend the time with the family. It is something they all will remember and will cherish.

That being said, if you continue to tow this often to me upgrading to a 3/4 ton would be the way to go. Now gas vs diesel is the next decision. I'm sure those on here can tell you what to expect with both. To me a coal burner would be the better option and I'm sure you could find a good used one.

 

[stadt11]

How often do you pull the TT and how far?

The gears would be cheap and easy

20-25 times a year, longest distance was last weekend around 500 miles

This amount of time towing and distance tells me one thing, you really enjoy camping.

No seriously, it is great that you get out and spend the time with the family. It is something they all will remember and will cherish.

That being said, if you continue to tow this often to me upgrading to a 3/4 ton would be the way to go. Now gas vs diesel is the next decision. I'm sure those on here can tell you what to expect with both. To me a coal burner would be the better option and I'm sure you could find a good used one.

It was between buying the TT or finishing the basement this year, so we decided to start spending more time outside when the weather is nice.