Towing vehicle question

[80srockandrum]

I currently have a 2016 Keystone Cougar 26RBIWE and using a 2005 GMC 2500Hd for towing. Looking a bit newer truck to pull. Looking at a 2008 Ford f-250 HD Short Bed diesel. Decent decision?

 

[triplethreat]

Do some research on google. That year, the 2008 would have the 6.4L Powerstroke and there were many, many issues with that engine, although probably not as many as the previous 6.0L engine from 2003 thru 2007/2008 The "new" 6.7L Powerstroke came out in the 2011 models and has been a much more reliable motor, along with Torque and HP increases over the years from 2011 to present times.

 

[bigb56]

I've heard the 6.4 referred to as a "throw away" engine. I personally know someone who drove one back and forth between Tucson and San Diego, one day it died and after having it towed in it was determined it needed a new engine and the truck was not worth it so he had to buy something else. At least the 6.0 is rebuildable and can be bullet proofed. A bullet proofed 6.0 is a great engine IMO and no DPF/DEF.

If you're going to go Ford and diesel and are not a mechanic the 6.4 advice above is probably your best bet, or maybe an old 7.3 but they are so old now that good ones are getting scarce and even those are getting to the age where they will be needing some work, even if it's just seals and orings. The other dis-advantage is the 7.3 and the 6.0 are HEUI (Hybrid Electric Unit Injection) engines and there are not a lot of mechanics around anymore who are familiar with how HEUI works.

 

[CharlesinGA]

As they say, you would be going from the frying pan into the fire. I'd take the '05 Duramax and Allison (5 spd?) anyday over the Navistar crap Ford used.

Even the Ford manufactured 6.7L can be troublesome (esp. 2011 to 2015 or so) and all (6.7 ford) suffer from the potential failure of the CP4 fuel pump, which is easily fixed IF you replace the fuel pump BEFORE it fails, with a S&S Diesel Motorsports pump conversion kit.

RAM automatic transmissions, depending on year and type can be problematic so they all have issues. If you have already replaced your head gaskets and injectors on the LLY Duramax, you should not have any issues.

I buy a keeper and constantly improve it.

Now, if the '05 is rusting out, thats a different story, buy a southern truck and start over.

Charles

 

[John From Detroit]

I remember when Ford came out with a new Transmission a few years back and said it was "The Answer to the Allison" So even FORD admits Allison transmissions are better... I'm not going to argue with Ford.

 

[CharlesinGA]

I remember when Ford came out with a new Transmission a few years back and said it was "The Answer to the Allison" So even FORD admits Allison transmissions are better... I'm not going to argue with Ford.

If you are referring to what I posted, I did not mention the Ford automatic. With the exception of the current crop of 10 speeds, the previous Ford automatics behind the diesels seem to hold up rather well from what I have read. Personally I conder the 6 speed Allison the gold standard for diesel automatics. (the five speed Allison is the same transmission in almost all respects, but cannot be "converted" to 6 spd)

GM implemented the software poorly, partially releasing the lockup clutch each shift to make the shifts smoother, while Allison software used in medium duty trucks, and such, just lock up the converter in 3rd gear and do the shifts without unlocking it. Makes for hard shifts but Allison designed the transmission to handle that and last a half million miles.

Older RAMs with the 5.9L Cummins had the worst automatics, and the early 6 speeds behind the 6.7L Cummins had issues too. New RAM/Cummins have an 8 speed ZF transmission which is a true medium duty transmission (the Asin was medium duty also, but was only a 6 speed, and you gotta keep up with the competition)

I really like my 6 speed manual and an engine with no EGR, no DEF, but runs smooth and reasonably clean due to the electronic fuel injection (common rail).

Charles