I plan to purchase an Equispirit 2 horse GN w/2 extra ft. in dressing room. I've driven other people's rigs, but don't know much about trucks except that I need a 3/4 ton to do this job. I know I want 4x4 and I figure I need gas instead of diesel since I will only use it to haul and when it's snowy. I live in VA now, but will be moving out west in the next year or so, so I will be in "real" mountains.I guess my questions are:1- Does brand really matter--I've always liked Fords best, but not due to great data knowledge. 2-What are all the other things I need to make sure are on this truck?3-I'll be buying used (no older than 5 years), so are there any particular model years for the Big Three that should be avoided?Any other education is appreciated!
Posted 2006-06-19 6:46 AM (#242 - in reply to #240) Subject: RE: Truck 101
Posts: 242
Location: La Crosse, WI - God's Country
Agreee - if the budget allows, diesel is outstanding for pulling applications: better mileage, long lasting, etc.
All of the big 3 have nice trucks - both Dodge and Ford are rolling out significant changes to their engines. If you're going used, for Ford, I'd look at the 7.3l for durability (the newer 6.0's have been somewhat troubled). Dodge, the 5.9 is a workhorse and the model of simplicity (I-6 design), and lots of folks have been quite pleased with the Chevy Duramax. I don't think you can really go wrong with any of these.
Posted 2006-06-22 9:10 PM (#247 - in reply to #240) Subject: RE: Truck 101
Posts: 40
Location: Richmond, VA
Thanks for the info so far. Can someone go even more basic for me? Why is diesel a must in mountains? What about a v10?Also, what is torque and axel ratios and how do you know what you need in relation to the engine?Thanks!!
Posted 2006-06-23 6:59 AM (#249 - in reply to #240) Subject: RE: Truck 101
Posts: 802
Location: Hagerstown, MD
Don't get too hung up on all the technical stuff about ratios, torque, engine hp and so on. I personally would buy a used Ford with the 7.3, but that's just my opinon. I'd buy one with a clutch/manaul setup as well. Just my opinon. Some people just flat don't don't like deisels for a ton of reasons. If you want a truck to; pull a load, get relative good fuel milage, no tune ups, work hard and not require a lot of attention, get a diesel. Buy at least a 3/4 ton, 4X4 with floating axle rear. Happy trails.
Posted 2006-06-23 8:08 AM (#250 - in reply to #240) Subject: RE: Truck 101
Posts: 1563
Location: North Carolina
Originally written by chevalnoir on 2006-06-22 8:10 PM
Thanks for the info so far. Can someone go even more basic for me? Why is diesel a must in mountains? What about a v10?Also, what is torque and axel ratios and how do you know what you need in relation to the engine?Thanks!!
First, a mountain is something over 5,000 feet. Here in the East, the mts are really hills. It's not just a diesel in the mountains. The requirement is a Turbo diesel. (All of the big three are turbodiesel.) As the altitude increases, the amount of oxygen in the air decreases. The engine needs oxygen to burn the fuel, less oxygen mean less power. A turbodiesel is superior to a ordinary gas engine because the turbo forces more oxygen into the engine. It's like taking a tank of oxygen to climb Mt Everest. The engine doesn't lose power at high altitude.
Posted 2006-06-23 8:27 AM (#251 - in reply to #240) Subject: RE: Truck 101
Posts: 1681
Location: PA
From my research, and I've done lots of it lately, go for a Chevy with the LBZ engine and allison transmission if you can. If you can't find a good used one, and do try to find out what the former owner hauled with it!, get a Ford with the 7.3 only!
Posted 2006-06-23 8:27 AM (#252 - in reply to #240) Subject: RE: Truck 101
Posts: 2621
Originally written by chevalnoir on 2006-06-22 9:10 PM
Thanks for the info so far. Can someone go even more basic for me? Why is diesel a must in mountains? What about a v10?Also, what is torque and axel ratios and how do you know what you need in relation to the engine?Thanks!!
Diesel for mountains because at higher altitudes the air is less dense and (to some extent) the turbo gets some/most of that back for you. Also, by their very nature diesels are better pullers.
V10s have power, but it is more like a sports car power vs farm tractor type of power in the diesel (lay analogy). Not everyone here agrees with my point of view on this, but I think that too much acceleration when towing horses is not good. You don't get much of a choice to use the power as accel OR tugging power, think Cheetah vs Elephant, you want hauling power not sprinting speed.
Don't worry too much about things like axle ratios, just be sure to get a high enough tow capacity, within which axle ratio will be accounted for. Axle ratio is not as meaningful as it once was (way long ago when "top" gear was a direct drive 1:1) due to overdrive transmissions and all indirect trans.
Ford seems to have the weakest transmissions, but the widest "hip room"
(a polite euphamism for the fact that they build it to accomodate America's growing population).
Truck 101
