Diesel Towing Experience - Page 3

**Sunline Fan** · 11-18-2007, 10:43 PM

Close, it was the 6.9L, made from about '82-'94.

Jon

nickster60 · 11-19-2007, 01:17 PM

Now hold the phone. The 6.9l Ford/Navistar diesel is a great motor and they do run for ever. I had one with 329000 miles. But tthe power stroke is a diifferant beast. They arent as reliable and the parts can be as much as much as 10 times the amount. ( injector 6.9l $30.00 vs $340.00 for the power stroke). 7.3l Powerstroke is a good motor the 6.0l and 6.4l not so good . Lots and lots of trouble. Do your research before you plop your money down a diesel they are not all created equal.

**Sunline Fan** · 11-19-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickster60

Now hold the phone. The 6.9l Ford/Navistar diesel is a great motor and they do run for ever. I had one with 329000 miles. But tthe power stroke is a diifferant beast. They arent as reliable and the parts can be as much as much as 10 times the amount. ( injector 6.9l $30.00 vs $340.00 for the power stroke). 7.3l Powerstroke is a good motor the 6.0l and 6.4l not so good . Lots and lots of trouble. Do your research before you plop your money down a diesel they are not all created equal.

Nick,

You've heard bad things about the 6.4? I really haven't heard much about it either way.

Jon

nickster60 · 11-19-2007, 02:13 PM

I have heard they are going to abandon the motor. If I remember right head gasket where a big problem. The 6.0 where pumping the engines dry thru the turbos in hot climates. I am sure there is a ton of post at the Diesel Stop about the engine.

Steve Collins · 11-19-2007, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTHutch

Kitty,

Thanks, now I know exactly what to look for. Pictures are great

Hutch

Tom,

I believe that pump is the same one that all the Lowes and Home Depots around here sell for feeding kerosene heaters. Should be easy to find this time of year in our neck of the woods...

Steve Collins · 11-19-2007, 05:06 PM

OK, OK, you guys talked me into it. I've watched this thread with great interest since it started.

Today, Gail and I did something about it. The loan was approved around 4:30 this afternoon, and we pick it up Wednesday morning.

Truck is a 2002 Dodge Ram 3500 Sport Quad Cab, long bed dually with the 5.9 Turbo Diesel. It is all set up for both TT and FW towing, and the only thing I need to buy for it before spring is a new brake controller. (The rails are in place for a Reese FW hitch, but the previous owners kept the hitch itself and the brake controller.) It's got the 4.10 Limited Slip rear end, and the interior is virtually identical to the '98 that we're trading in. It's also got full running boards so Gail can climb up into it fairly easily. 43,000 original one-owner miles; they traded it because their son is the truck manager at the dealership. Basically they got a new one because they could, not because this truck has any problems.

I personally prefer the 1994-2001/2 body style over the 2001/2-2008 one anyway, so this truck really works for me, appearance-wise.

Our budget is such that there is no way we could afford a new or nearly new vehicle with all this capability, so this looks like a fine compromise for us. We are both retirees, and are also trying to see our way clear to a much larger trailer next year or the year after.

For those of you familiar with the Adirondack Mountains, I am now chomping at the bit to haul the trailer up that "little" hill outside of Blue Mountain Lake.

Abby likes the Quad Cab with her own doors.....

**Sunline Fan** · 11-19-2007, 09:16 PM

Congrats on your new ride Steve!

Jon

emam · 11-19-2007, 10:18 PM

Congrats on the new ride, I know you'll be amazed the first time you tow the Sunline up a steep grade and have plenty of power left!!

donreitz · 11-20-2007, 05:03 AM

This is so cool. I started the thread on October 14 never thinking it would generate this much interest--or inspire a diesel purchase. Talking about diesels at this forum is much better than doing the same at RV.net. There, most diesel discussions degenerate into diesel-vs.-gas punch outs. Here you get solid information.
Don

nickster60 · 11-20-2007, 07:19 AM

I agree Don.This is a very civilized user group. I guess us Sunliners must be a cut above the rest of the RV crowd. I am not sure one is better( GAS VS DIESEL) than the other. I have had both and like them both. I am now using gas trucks, it is what I got the best deal on. That V10 Dodge I have I think would pull anything you put behind it. All of the newer model deisel have there advantages and there draw backs. I think the Allison is the best transmision, the Dodge transmissions is the worst. The Ford motors just arent what the where, the Cummins is still a very good motor. The Duramax I have heard good and bad. I think one thing you have to put into perspective about web forums is many people use them to vent. If a couple of guys on a forum have a problem with there XYZ truck the world get to read about there problems. The problem may be a small percentage of total sales.

EVERYONE HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING. WE ARE GOING CAMPING IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS FOR THE HOLIDAY.

emam · 11-20-2007, 11:03 AM

Hey Don, I couldnt agree more. I've almost stopped checking out he RV.Net forum as everything results in a knock down drag out argument. On this site, it's usually just quality comments and useful information.

Applause to all of you!!

nickster60 · 11-20-2007, 12:10 PM

Enam
I also gave up on the other RV sites. Someone is always fighting about something. It is odd when you are at the campground the folks are very freindly and helpful if needed. Put them behind there computer and out come the gloves. My truck is the best, my trailer is the best and etc. etc.
I do have to concede that on one of the other sites I learned about Sunlines, for that I am very grateful.

**PTHutch** · 11-20-2007, 12:55 PM

Steve,

Congrats on the new truck. You mentioned at the Fall M&G you and Gail were thinking about a bigger trailer. Well you got the truck to pull it now, no worries there

Don & Pat,

I agree wrt RV.net. I may check it once a month or so, but basically have stopped viewing that forum.

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.
And to those that may be traveling - safe travels.
And to the lucky ones that are camping, I'm envious.
Here in the NE, we have 4 months until we can start thinking about getting the trailer out of moth balls.

Hutch

mbart5fan · 11-20-2007, 01:14 PM

Steve,

Congrats on the new truck. Looking forward to seeing it next year.

Mike

Steve Collins · 11-20-2007, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbart5fan

Congrats on the new truck. Looking forward to seeing it next year.

Mike,

I'll have a pic of it in my sig within a day or two. Just have to get it home, take a pic, and manipulate it into the sig. Haven't got a ghost of a chance of taking a pic of the new TV hooked up to the Sunline until spring, so I'll figure something out in the meantime.

I'm thinking this truck will ignore most of the hills in the 'dacks...

kanyonkitty · 11-20-2007, 05:20 PM

Steve,

Wahoo, you'll think your towing "nothing" with that huge truck. Congrats on your purchase. Does the group need to be on the lookout for another T310SR?

My F350 is my first personal diesel, and I love it. I do drive diesel school buses, they are dogs compared to my truck :P

When I was ready to purchase, I tried my best to research all of the Big 3, and like you heard all the stories about this one and that one. It just finally came down to me needing to make a decision, and with help from my diesel bus mechanic, he told me drive all 3 and choose which ever one I liked the best, as any of them can be great, or any of them can be toublesome. Just hope ya get a "great" one. I guess my purchase was based on a body style and features that I really liked, as it definately was "NOT" based on a car like ride.

It just proves this group has GREAT taste in travel tralers and trucks

**Sunline Fan** · 11-20-2007, 05:28 PM

Message content deleted by author.

**Sunline Fan** · 11-20-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donreitz

Talking about diesels at this forum is much better than doing the same at RV.net. There, most diesel discussions degenerate into diesel-vs.-gas punch outs. Here you get solid information.

Don,

I do check rv.net every day, but only for Sunline specific stuff. Just in case anyone else would like to check RV.net more often, but not the whole site, here's the bookmark I use. For the most part, this is all I look at on RV.net:

RV.net Sunline link

Jon

rich2500 · 11-22-2007, 08:40 AM

Congrats Steve on that new Dodge I think you will enjoy pulling with a diesel,I know I did when my truck ran right.